GM Year In Review 2007

[mkaresh]

Nice write-up, NSAP.

Originally Posted by Buick61

Every year we keep saying GM is gaining momentum, but I think we have to stop lying to ourselves. GM's current market share is where Chrysler was ten years ago. CHRYSLER!

A small solace: if GM is on its way out, the CTS is one hell of a swan song.

Was Chrysler's share really in the 20s ten years ago? I know Ford's was, not so sure about Chrysler.

[FenwickHockey65]

Over the last year, I've seen more and more new GM vehicles on the road. I haven't seen this many people buying new Saturns in my life. People are starting to sit up and take notice of GM.
Furthermore, I wouldn't say that GM only has 4 decent products. How is Chevy "an epic mess?" The new Malibu is widely popular, the GMT-900s are selling very well. Sure, Buick isn't doing too well with the exception of the Enclave, but I'm sure that they have something in the works up at Detroit.

[FenwickHockey65]

And like nsap said, nobody ever said that GM's revitalization was going to be quick and easy. It's going to take time. For all we know, this may be just the beginning of a whole new generation of GM products.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

How is Chevy "an epic mess?" The new Malibu is widely popular, the GMT-900s are selling very well.

See above.

[CmicasatheGreat]

Originally Posted by jlmartin99

Greetings Buick61 and Happy Holidays,

Cadillac is prime example from my view point of GM's transformation in product design. I did not consider Cadillac at all prior to my viewing the Cadillac Evoq concept car. I had two Lexus sedans and began my review of the BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar luxury sedans with Cadillac's STS V8 winning my dollars. In my way thinking that says a lot for what Cadillac has created when I directly compared their products with the world’s very best offerings and now I include Cadillac as world class.

Additionally, when I completed my evaluation of a world class luxury sports car, only two products made it to my final purchased consideration, Cadillac's XLR and Mercedes-Benz's SL500, both superb luxury performance roadsters in my view. Cadillac's XLR won over Mercedes-Benz's SL500 for the best in class and I purchased it. Two Cadillac models I chose over the worlds best offerings after extensive evaluation, this states so very much for Cadillac and I came to the conclusion, the luxury brand models I reviewed all are world class and I see nothing but stellar products offering from all of them, but Cadillac offers something really special in its style and design.

Recently I completed my evaluation for replacement of my Cadillac STS V8 and XLR with high performance versions and the BMW M5, Cadillac's STS-V, and Mercedes-Benz's CLS55 AMG were my final three candidates for purchase. Cadillac again rose to my top preference over BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Cadillac's STS-V will be my choice and it again says so very much for Cadillac to offer a world class product that is distinctively Cadillac in this elite segment of the luxury market.

JLM

U and I have often thought alike it would seem. I too went thru almost the same evaluation when I purchased my STS, with Infiniti in place of Jag at the time... The STS won my cash for various reason, but most of all the perfect blend of "sport and Lux" in a unique looking package that did not SCREAM "European Cliche." I am a firm believer that with the exception of Caddy and Jag... all Luxos essentially look like BMWs, or at least have the same basic shape.

As for the replacement of your STS with the STS-V... I say EXCELLENT choice. I too wrestled with this idea but have decided after seeing just pictures of the upcoming CTS-V... it is the #1 choice for replacement of my STS in 2009. NOW... if the XLS is as sweet as I believe it will be and does not go to far to the Luxo side (ala S-Class) then I may be changing my mind. I don't see the CTS as a "downgrade" either, since the CTS is essentially going to move up a class when the STS dies.

As for the replacement of my C5 Vette... I considered the XLR, but the C6 or Z06 will undoubtably win that war. The Z06 is where I leaning but the lack of "open air" is stressing me a bit.

[dindak]

GM may not be #1 in sales for 2007 but it's turning big time with strong product, strong international growth and better quality each and every year. I like what I see today (and the last year or two) more than what I have seen in the past 20 years. Good work Bob and GM, more of the same in 2008!

[CobaltSScrazy]

very encouraging, GM is making strides leaps and bounds and the ONLY reason its marketshare is decreasing outside of some weaker products (colorado/canyon, mid level cobalt, aveo, impala, torrent, equinox (powertrain/interior), lacrosse, lucerne, g5, g6, etc.) however we already know the laundry list of great products: malibu, cts (given to both), aura, yukon/tahoe/escalade, silverado/sierra, hybrids, acadia, outlook, enclave, astra, sky/solstice, HHR, vue, etc.

CobaltSScrazy

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Buick61

See above.

I don't know. Chevy still sells cars. You may think that they're an epic mess, but I'd say that the 151,642 vehicles sold by Chevy just for the month of November says otherwise.
Like I've said, as long as GM capitalizes on the success of the Malibu and CTS, they'll be perfectly fine.

[ChevroletRevived]

Great article NSAP! GM certainly does have momentum and I can't wait to see what 2008 brings in product and sales. It's undeniable that things are changing. The pace of success and change at GM is being brought about as quickly as GM can redevelop and introduce the new models. Every single important new product brought out by GM as of late as been a success with the exception of maybe the Aura sales wise. I think that's impressive and certainly a change from the normal. It's only going to get better; GM hit rock bottom in 2005.

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Great article NSAP! GM certainly does have momentum and I can't wait to see what 2008 brings in product and sales. It's undeniable that things are changing. The pace of success and change at GM is being brought about as quickly as GM can redevelop and introduce the new models. Every single important new product brought out by GM as of late as been a success with the exception of maybe the Aura sales wise. I think that's impressive and certainly a change from the normal. It's only going to get better; GM hit rock bottom in 2005.

Maybe financially they hit rock bottom in 2005 but product wise they hit rock bottom in 2003.

1. No Camaro for the first time in 35 years.
2. Impala was 3 model years old and stale.
3. Malibu was dying fast, was still on the N-body.
4. Cavalier was still in existance.
5. S-10 truck and Blazer were gasping for life
6. No sub-compact car
7. Mini-vans worse in class
8. 100% pushrod lineup with the exception of the 2.2 ecotec in the Cavalier making import sedan buyers cringe.

This applied to Chevrolet but extend that to all divisions and you see my point.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Name another brand whose all-new lineup has stacks of cash on the hood.

SRX and Escalade are trucks. I said car. Note the difference. But if you insist on talking about the Cadillac trucks: the SRX needs some intense attention to detail, and the Escalade is out of its league. Solid rear axle? Joke of a non-folding-flat third row? Tahoe in disguise styling? Right.

Chevy completely fumbled the crossover SUV craze. They have no high-mileage subcompact or compact. They have no full-hybrid car, the full-size SUVs were a tens of millions of development dollars away from being great, the inventories for BOF SUVs and Pickups is ballooning, they have no clue what to do for an Impala encore (they can't even decide FWD or RWD yet), the Cobalt was barely competive in 2004 and even less so today...

...They don't have a clear plan to differentiate the Malibu and Impala, the Corvette is rarely marketed, so the "halo" it casts over the rest of the Chevy lineup is dubious, the Camaro is still years away, the Volt may never happen, and if it does, it's going to be in the next decade, they don't have a minivan of any value, the mid-size trucks are completely ignored by consumers, and the mid-size SUVs came out in 2001 with no clear mid-size replacement on the horizon. Somehow, the Traverse is supposed to replace the Trailblazer and the Uplander?

My bias? You see my signature, don't you? I forked over the cash for a new GM product this year.

nsap, that means ALL of GM has precisely 4 decent products: Enclave, Corvette, Malibu, and CTS. Four. Out of how many? FOUR, and people are throwing a parade.

Yes yes yes, we've all heard about your epic luxury car search in the past.

I bought a new Cadillac in 2007, so I'm not talking out of left field. I've been to the Cadillac dealerships, I went through the buying process, I've went through the service and body shop experience, and everything else that comes with being an owner.

Good analysis here as well.

Those of you who have bought the STS and XLR--I really hope you leased them. Especially if they're V's. I've rarely seen uglier resale values. There's a 2007 STS-V for sale on Autotrader for $47,999:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=235

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Name another brand whose all-new lineup has stacks of cash on the hood.




SRX and Escalade are trucks. I said car. Note the difference. But if you insist on talking about the Cadillac trucks: the SRX needs some intense attention to detail, and the Escalade is out of its league. Solid rear axle? Joke of a non-folding-flat third row? Tahoe in disguise styling? Right.



Chevy completely fumbled the crossover SUV craze. They have no high-mileage subcompact or compact. They have no full-hybrid car, the full-size SUVs were a tens of millions of development dollars away from being great, the inventories for BOF SUVs and Pickups is ballooning, they have no clue what to do for an Impala encore (they can't even decide FWD or RWD yet), the Cobalt was barely competive in 2004 and even less so today...

...They don't have a clear plan to differentiate the Malibu and Impala, the Corvette is rarely marketed, so the "halo" it casts over the rest of the Chevy lineup is dubious, the Camaro is still years away, the Volt may never happen, and if it does, it's going to be in the next decade, they don't have a minivan of any value, the mid-size trucks are completely ignored by consumers, and the mid-size SUVs came out in 2001 with no clear mid-size replacement on the horizon. Somehow, the Traverse is supposed to replace the Trailblazer and the Uplander?



My bias? You see my signature, don't you? I forked over the cash for a new GM product this year.



nsap, that means ALL of GM has precisely 4 decent products: Enclave, Corvette, Malibu, and CTS. Four. Out of how many? FOUR, and people are throwing a parade.



Yes yes yes, we've all heard about your epic luxury car search in the past.

I bought a new Cadillac in 2007, so I'm not talking out of left field. I've been to the Cadillac dealerships, I went through the buying process, I've went through the service and body shop experience, and everything else that comes with being an owner.

Hi Buick61,

Super, which Cadillac model? I simply see it differently specifically in regard to Cadillac and what better way to evaluate Cadillac than with some of the world’s best comparative products within segment. I am not SUV or Truck, so I have not evaluated in detail the SRX or Escalade, but I have driven them and they are world class and I have nothing from another luxury brand that would make jump from Cadillac, if I were in the market for a SUV or Truck, it would be an SXR or Escalade over any other luxury brand model. Clearly other Cadillac buyers agree in regard to Cadillac's Escalade and SRX.

From a GM standpoint, I have been impressed with each new model announced, the product refresh of Saturn, simply extraordinary. Saturn is simply working with its new line of products from Aura, to Sky, Outlook, to Vue and the upcoming Astra. Other than Cadillac's line up, Saturn is the most impressive changed brand in GM in my view, from a product perspective. Then there is Pontiac's G6 Convertible, Soltice/GXP and soon G8 offers a very competitive product line up. One of my favorites is Saab's 9-3 Convertible, I simply adore this convertible. Buick's Enclave is an excellent product in its segment. Chevrolet’s Corvette/Z06 and soon to join the line up ZR1. One really must drive these cars to appreciate them, simply world class sports cars.

I simply see a different GM than you do.

JLM

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

Good analysis here as well.

Those of you who have bought the STS and XLR--I really hope you leased them. Especially if they're V's. I've rarely seen uglier resale values. There's a 2007 STS-V for sale on Autotrader for $47,999:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=235

Hi mkaresh and Happy Holidays,

I often see comments like this. Total Cost of ownership is how I evaluate cars I am interested in and on average over 4-5 years ownership all luxury models fair closely together, when you consider purchase price with comparative features, insurance, maintenance, retained value and fuel cost. Cadillac in my review of the STS V8/STS-V and XLR/XLR-V fair right in line with Mercedes-Benz's SL500/SL55 AMG/CLS55/CLS55 AMG and Jaguar XK/XKR of the cars I listed in my final list of purchase.

JLM

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by jlmartin99

Hi Buick61,

Super, which Cadillac model? I simply see it differently specifically in regard to Cadillac and what better way to evaluate Cadillac than with some of the world’s best comparative products within segment. I am not SUV or Truck, so I have not evaluated in detail the SRX or Escalade, but I have driven them and they are world class and I have nothing from another luxury brand that would make jump from Cadillac, if I were in the market for a SUV or Truck, it would be an SXR or Escalade over any other luxury brand model. Clearly other Cadillac buyers agree in regard to Cadillac's Escalade and SRX.

JLM

The 2007 SRX4. It's not world class, it drives very well, but as a whole it's not world class.

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by Buick61

The 2007 SRX4. It's not world class, it drives very well, but as a whole it's not world class.

Hi Buick61,

Compared to what by category and do you have a preference in categories?

JLM