Rallying to GM's Side in Dark Times: What can we do?

[phire]

Originally Posted by driver

Buy stock in GM.

The grandparents have about 175,000$ in GM stock, which has taken a big fall as of late, but I keep convincing them that it will soon soar...

Grandma is also toying with the idea of buying the new Lusurn(sp?). She's gone and looked at them and loves it. I haven't done my homework on it yet though to see if it's really worth it.. The dealership I beleive quoted her a price of $18,000 brand new, fully loaded (leather/heated seats, all of it.) I could be wrong but I think that's what I heard. Our family buys only GM cars 95% of the time and so does my wife's family. The only time I've bought non-GM was when I bought a car for say $500 when it was worth $2,000 so I could make a profit. :P

[maxaccel]

Originally Posted by KENB

Selling GM cars over competition is easy! Just ask........ can your Maxima, Accord, or Camry do this???? http://videos.streetfire.net/Player....0-2354ABC81DD2

this is exactly why I will never buy a front wheel drive,
you cant make it hook up and increasing hp just makes it worse,probably has an awfull lot of torque steer too.

while you kids drool over smoking tires,(a waste of rubber IMO)
a serious racer will always prefer Rear wheel drive,
it handles better, has better balance,and it will beat front driver every time.

even in snow it can be easier to get traction,just throw some sand bags in the trunk and you will get thru anything.
front drive svcks imho!

until GM starts making some affordable Rear wheel drive cars,I dont see myself buying anything except a truck.
and since mine is only 5 years old and paid off,I'll most likely keep it another 5
as its been pretty good runner.

sorry but if GM brass who no doubt receives way more money for their work than I will ever see,and still is too dense to KNOW how to succeed in this car making busines ,why should I care??

I've been driving GM for very long time...Camaros TAs,vans,trucks, G bodys Montes,and they were all great and very reliable cars,
right now GM has NOTHING I would care to buy

gimme Camaro or Monte carlo heck even the Grand prix or Impala with rear wheel drive and optional ALL wheel drive and price it SAME or less than competition and Im there.
and make sure the QUALITY is there too
otherwise stop whining when people buy imports.

[nailhead425]

I sing the praises of the Gen III/IV small block to anyone who will listen.

The last (new) GM product I purchased was in 2000, a C2500 C6P w/ 454.

I love the GTO, but it isn't a practical 1st car and is too expensive for a second car. Sorry, but front-drivers don't get me excited, even with a V-8.

I currently have 5 GM vehicles and 2 DCX vehicles.

[KENB]

Originally Posted by maxaccel

this is exactly why I will never buy a front wheel drive,
you cant make it hook up and increasing hp just makes it worse,probably has an awfull lot of torque steer too.

while you kids drool over smoking tires,(a waste of rubber IMO)
a serious racer will always prefer Rear wheel drive,
it handles better, has better balance,and it will beat front driver every time.

even in snow it can be easier to get traction,just throw some sand bags in the trunk and you will get thru anything.
front drive svcks imho!

until GM starts making some affordable Rear wheel drive cars,I dont see myself buying anything except a truck.
and since mine is only 5 years old and paid off,I'll most likely keep it another 5
as its been pretty good runner.

sorry but if GM brass who no doubt receives way more money for their work than I will ever see,and still is too dense to KNOW how to succeed in this car making busines ,why should I care??

I've been driving GM for very long time...Camaros TAs,vans,trucks, G bodys Montes,and they were all great and very reliable cars,
right now GM has NOTHING I would care to buy

gimme Camaro or Monte carlo heck even the Grand prix or Impala with rear wheel drive and optional ALL wheel drive and price it SAME or less than competition and Im there.
and make sure the QUALITY is there too
otherwise stop whining when people buy imports.

Of course you don't have to smoke the tires if you do not want too, but it's nice knowing you can should you feel the need. I'm a RWD guy at heart, after all I do own a 96 Impala SS, but in my opinion racing a FWD requires a lot more skill and makes things pretty interesting getting a routine down that works. Though these cars are FWD, put a guy that knows what he is doing, and you'll embarass most stock F-bodies or Mustangs.

As for driving these cars in the winter... a FWD car with decent weight to it (ie W bodies) with snow tires, will pretty much plow though anything in it's path.....without the need for sand bags in the trunk.

[Joe in T.O.]

I continually write to newspapers that Bash GM or not include GM as competitive models. In the Toronto Star, the Wheels section is very biased against GM and pro Toyota and when Toyota articles outnumber GM 5 to 1, it infuriates me so I write in and they do get published.

[importedtuna]

I think letters like that do some good. I usually get responses when I write with facts that refute the ingrained stereotypes of GM.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Joe in T.O.

I continually write to newspapers that Bash GM or not include GM as competitive models. In the Toronto Star, the Wheels section is very biased against GM and pro Toyota and when Toyota articles outnumber GM 5 to 1, it infuriates me so I write in and they do get published.

That surprises me since GM seems to be pretty strong up in Canada. Maybe the media types in Canada are like the media types here, self-important in their Starbucks-sipping way, enamored with the Prius, and too "above" cars from General Motors.

[303montecarlo]

Originally Posted by KENB

Of course you don't have to smoke the tires if you do not want too, but it's nice knowing you can should you feel the need. I'm a RWD guy at heart, after all I do own a 96 Impala SS, but in my opinion racing a FWD requires a lot more skill and makes things pretty interesting getting a routine down that works. Though these cars are FWD, put a guy that knows what he is doing, and you'll embarass most stock F-bodies or Mustangs.

As for driving these cars in the winter... a FWD car with decent weight to it (ie W bodies) with snow tires, will pretty much plow though anything in it's path.....without the need for sand bags in the trunk.

I would suggest the Monte Carlo SS with the 64% front weight is the best for traction in snow or for power to the wheels unless a rwd has sandbags in it and this weight is all extra.

[303montecarlo]

Originally Posted by Ming

That surprises me since GM seems to be pretty strong up in Canada. Maybe the media types in Canada are like the media types here, self-important in their Starbucks-sipping way, enamored with the Prius, and too "above" cars from General Motors.

This is another story when GM slapped the star for its interpertation of the truck crash law suit. The star hasn't been nice to GM ever since. Then having said that GM never published in the Star after that.

[gulfsolar]

Originally Posted by Ming

Rallying to GM's Side in Dark Times: What can we do?
Commentary by Ming
www.gminsidenews.com

In these days of negative news articles about General Motors coming from every media source, it can be easy to feel like we have no say in the General's fortunes. The anonymous mass of humanity known as the "buying public" makes up its mind to buy GM cars or not, and we're helpless to do anything but watch, right?

I don't think so.

Support for a political candidate starts at the grass roots, even for an embattled candidate with low campaign funds and media-hyped "scandals" galore. That enthusiasm and loyalty is what can get a politician through the rough patches. The "Vote Adams" sign in a neighbor's yard can be the slight nudge that tips a voter one way or another. Little things like that - multiply that single sign by 500 - can really add up.

Similarly, I think there are things that we as GM fans (assuming that you are a GM fan) can do to help our favorite car company. The action taken could be as simple as bringing up a good GM car when a friend says he's looking. When everyone around him is telling him to buy an Accord and you tell him to consider an Impala instead - and back it up with specs and pricing - that can mean something.

There are a multitude of other ways to back GM up in its time of need. The following are some ideas I came up with. With a little effort, together, we might be able to turn all of this media negativity on its head:

Get the word out and let your enthusiasm be known - There are plenty of places around the Web where you can make your own "free" blog, such as BLOGGER. This may seem like a statement of the obvious, but creating buzz around the web for GM's cars in many cases depends on fans like us. I strongly believe that enthusiasm for modern GM cars - cars GM is selling right now - is needed most of all. There are plenty of fan sites for old F-bodies and muscle cars of the 1960s. The (over)exposure that GM muscle cars of 30 plus years ago get in movies, TV, music and video games is what has led to this idea that has surfaced in movies like 2Fast 2Furious that has modern Import brand cars competing against GM cars that haven't been sold new since before many of us were born. If you think GM has a great car that the Automotive Media "experts" are ignoring - something that's flying under their radar just because its a GM, then write about it where others can read it. Maybe your favorite GM vehicle is only available when ordered specially, like a GMC Canyon 2WD SLE-3 ZQ8 Sport I-5, or a Pontiac G6 GTP Coupe with manual 6-speed. Web publishing a fan forum, blog, or personal website for your favorite GM car is where grassroots support and enthusiasm begins. Maybe its not just performance that interests you. Perhaps you are all excited (like me) at the prospect of E-85 Ethanol, and GM's 31mpg Impala Flex Fuel V6 appeals to you. Or, if you're just into specs and seeing things accurately represented, you can contribute to sites like Wikipedia, and get those OHV 3.5LVVT specs out there for all to see. Finally, if you're just too lazy to do anything like that, and if you've been a long time lurker here, then post at GMI or our "sister" sites like NewAgeGTO.com (see the bar at the top of your browser window for more) and let your thoughts be known to the rest of us!



Show off your GM vehicle - Have a nice GM vehicle? Let the rest of us see it! Document it digitally for all time by taking some good photos and sharing. If you need to host your photos there are any number of quick, easy and free ways such as Imageshack available out there now. I've gotten so used to hosting photos it takes me about 30 seconds to do it and use the img tag here to add a photo to my posts. And while we're on the subject, I think it does a disservice to GM fans everywhere when you let months of grime build up on your GM car, making it look like a Domestic beater. Take some pride in your ride, clean it up, and show it off in our Garage Discussion forum.



Follow GM motorsports and root for your favorite - Do you like the Pontiac GTO? Then show up at that local SCCA or Drifting event and represent your fellow GM fans! Follow your favorite driver / car and write them into a Blog. Take photos of live races and contribute to the community. Last but not least, join in the discussion HERE.



Support GM's best efforts when you buy - Of course the most obvious way to support GM is to buy a car or truck. Not all of us can afford to do that on an annual basis, or even every few years. But one thing we CAN do is to focus on buying the best examples of GM's engineering within our budget range. Of course, it goes without saying that these tough days are not the time for a true GM supporter to go out and buy a Nissan just because it has nicer taillights or you think your girlfriend and neighbors will approve. No matter how things go, I want to be able to say that, as a fan, I was there for GM. That said, I'm not going to buy a half-baked effort from the General, and I don't think you should either. If the styling is poor, the interior a mess, or the engine a throwback to 1994, stay clear of it. Buying a car with serious flaws "just to buy GM" is not going to get them on the right track. Even if it is only one purchase, the numbers add up. Force your dealer to order that Flex Fuel Impala or the navigation option on your favorite GMC if the dealer doesn't have any in stock. Don't settle for mediocre GM product at your price point - demand the best when you buy and GM will have reason to keep producing it.



Personalize and customize your ride - Nothing says "blah" more than a silver, beige or gray base sedan that blends in to the mall parking lot. No, I'm not saying you need to Pimp your Ride with a neon underbody kit and spinner rims. Rather, at the point where you buy your GM car - choose that option that sets it apart visually from the other mall fare. Get the optional chrome wheels, or fog lights, or special suspension package. Or, if you have a "blah" GM car already, then put a little effort into your next tire change beyond going for the cheapest tires at Wal-Mart. Maybe get a tasteful set of wheels to replace your steel wheels with the plastic hubcaps. Swap out those old yellow halogen lightbulbs with something nicer and more modern looking when one side goes out. Its the details that say whether or not you like what you're driving.



Display your enthusiasm - Who made the rule that at work you can only display photos and models of exotic Italian and German cars (maybe a classic Corvette)? Is it to win the approval of your peers? To show that you aspire to one day own a car more expensive than your home? Get that 2005 Pontiac GTO Millen Drift car Diecast or another modern GM favorite and put it on your desk for all to see. Maybe something brash like a 2006 Silverado. Take the best photo of your car or truck and have it professionally printed and framed or put on your coffee mug at a printing outlet like Snapfish so not only can you can look back at your GM ride with fond memories years from now, but others can see right now how much you like your GM vehicle, too. Go to the GM Photo Store and order something big and nice. Who knows, maybe some of that enthusiasm will rub off on those Import fans around you.



Finally: Tell us what you're going to do! - Whatever you decide to do, let us know right here, and link us to whatever it is, be it a blog, photos, or something you bought to display. It doesn't have to be something I've listed here, of course. I'm just one guy with a few ideas. Maybe you've already done something significant, and want to share. Building enthusiasm for GM products is not the job of a handful of enthusiasts or even GM Marketing Whiz Kids, and certainly can't be left up to the guys at Car & Driver or Motor Trend. It depends on an effort from all of us. So, what's it gonna be?

why shouls the buying public support GM? For years all they built was junk now that ths ship sailed all is sorry they missed it. Pay attention to your core bussines build a better productand cusomers will flock to your show rooms.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by gulfsolar

why shouls the buying public support GM? For years all they built was junk now that ths ship sailed all is sorry they missed it. Pay attention to your core bussines build a better productand cusomers will flock to your show rooms.

I would only support product that deserves support. I'm not going to buy a weak effort, rebadge or lazy refresh using a 10 year old engine from GM just because its GM. There's the difference.

I also love my 2000 Bonneville and I think GM deserves to hear credit where credit is due.