We want the General back!

[Duramaximum]

After seeing and reading all of the material about selling this brand and keeping that brand, investing in this one and cutting production on that one it has left me with the same feeling it always has: GM needs to get back to it's traditional brand lineup.

Chevrolet/Pontiac/Buick/Cadillac/GMC/and maybe someday Oldsmobile

Saab has got to go. They said the other day they weren't going to because it was profitable. All the more reason to sell it. People are more likely to want it if it's making money. It isn't a traditional GM brand, never has been and GM needs the cash. Goodbye Saab.

Hummer has definitely got to go. I don't care where, but it wasn't ever a traditional brand so no one cares what happens to it. Goodbye Hummer.

Saturn is pointless. If you want to import rebadged Opels, do it under the Buick name. Goodbye Saturn.

Stop neglecting the traditional brands like Buick and Pontiac for the Johnny-Come-Lately brands and then turn around and wonder why Buick and Pontiac are so mediocre. It's no wonder they are performing like crap. You pumped money into Cadillac that gave it an identity and a direction for the brand, and look, it's giving BMW and Mercedes a run for their money. It really isn't my grandpa's Cadillac anymore.

Ditch the new guys, support the traditional brands and take your place as the General once more.

[leelander]

holy crap!!!! someone actually making sense for once. i've been reading all of these 'Save GM' or 'How GM Should Be Restructured' posts, and I agree with some-but this sounds like it makes the most sense. it dies seem like GM has forgotten about the brands that were their bread and butter.

[PA Dweller]

Thats even too many brands. I am no expert, but this is how I think it should be:

Chevy: Everyman Cars.
Pontiac: Affordable Performance.
Buick: Entry Luxury.
Cadillac: Full out, top of the line luxury.

Anything else isn't needed.

[Cdesign]

I agree to some extent. But Hummer was bought out to capitalize on the name and the Government contracts.

Hummer should not be discarded but rather brought back to it's core, developing military vehicles.

As for saturn, I could go either way.

Saab? I think GM has a lot to learn from Saab.

[Xtreme08]

You guys should be running GM with your brilliant ideas.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by Cdesign

Saab? I think GM has a lot to learn from Saab.

Well..they don't seem to be attending class with Professor Saab, or they are sleeping in the back row. I don't think GM is going to take advantage of Saab's potential, at least not any times soon. It would take time, attention, and money to get Saab to where it needs to be. Rather than think of what GM COULD do, people need to start thinking about what they actually WILL do and focus more on seeking to prevent the small mistakes within the actions of GM's predictable routes. I don't think we can expect any born-again, miracles from GM anytime soon...I would rather them make wise simple decisions than take risks that they have proven time and time again unable to follow through with from start to finish. I mean, this is the same company that took on Hummer, claiming to make it the ultimate off-road brand..rather than sticking to their word, they chopped off the only "truth" to that statement (the H1) and followed up with models that are more noted for their urban appeal than getting dirt on their tires. It's a joke.

[mlplap7902]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

I mean, this is the same company that took on Hummer, claiming to make it the ultimate off-road brand..rather than sticking to their word, they chopped off the only "truth" to that statement (the H1) and followed up with models that are more noted for their urban appeal than getting dirt on their tires. It's a joke.

I'll agree with that. I mean the ultimate off road truck shouldn't have leather seats, and carpeted flooring and all the same bells and whistles that a Cadillac has. It should be more like the work truck package for the Silverado. Bare bones and rugged and less costly than they are now. Of course the H-1 was expensive but heck there weren't many placed it couldn't go unless there were a lot of closly spaced tres around. My thoughts on the ultimate off road truck is like the H-1 or a lifted Pickup that's got about the same interior appointments as an Internation Scout, no cloth to have to clean, rubber floor mats that you can take out and hose off, and interior that's meant to get muddy because you know it will. Take away the glitz and use the extra money from that to do something useful llike treat the underside and body with Line-x or some similar covering that will help prevent corrosion.

[sonjaab]

GM learn from SAAB? They already know how to lose money!
They already know how to LOSE market share in their home market.

Saab did learn to dump the crappy Triumph-Herald design engines and use QUALITY
GM drivetrains ! Saab did learn to use GM-Delphi steering/electrical components
instead of the other troublesome mutt pieces (Lucas?) they used before.

GM bought a piginapoke with Saab and Daewoo as well !

[KITT222]

Pontiac needed to be killed in my opinion. Chances are you arent going to like me for saying this but they were just rebadged cars. The only cars in Pontiacs lineup that GM didnt have something similar to in other divisions was the G8. Thats it. The G6 was Pontiacs version of the Impala, the Solstice was shared with Saturn as the Sky, the G5 & G3 were Chevys with Pontiac grills instead of Chevy grills. Pontiacs day was back in the day of the GTO muscle cars.

Once GM learns to make subcompacts in America they can throw Daewoo away.

[m100]

Once GM learns to make subcompacts in America they can throw Daewoo away.

They've been saying that since the Corvair era...hope they can start soon.