[Perian]

Link: http://www.autonews.com/article/20081013/ANA03/810130323/1178/TOC

Automotive News - October 13, 2008 - 12:01 am ET

PARIS — General Motors COO Fritz Henderson is ruling out a U.S. GM minicar for now. Although the Smart car has gotten "good receptivity as a bit of a phenomenon," Henderson said, he added that U.S. small-car buyers are more likely to stick with compact cars the size of the Chevrolet Cobalt or subcompacts such as the Chevy Aveo.

 

[Perian]

So, do we assume he is speaking about the "Beat"?

 

[Grymm]

This is one example of why GM is in on the verge of collapse. They're blind. They think they know America. They're just not telling anyone the truth. The truth is, they want so bad to hold on to their fat paychecks they won't give up their ridiculous margins. Even the Aveo, which is being moved to Mexico in order to increase margins.

After talking with my wife about it, we both agreed. Today I'm on my way to Honda to buy a scooter. 80-100 mpg for less than 3k. I commute 8 miles to work every day. I'll use maybe 20 bucks a month in gas, if that, saving me over 150 bucks a month. This will also save me a bundle by lengthening the life of my car, which means GM just lost me as a customer for the forseeable future.

I was waiting. Waiting for the Volt, but it's too expensive...waiting for a better mpg Aveo...but that's not happening....waiting for the Beat...but now GM has pulled the plug on that.

As I said before, GM deserves their fate. This stupid merger with Chrysler will help nothing. Mark my words. GM as we know them, is done.

This is what greed gets you.

 

[osv_alero]

Question for GM executives: How about blazing new waters instead of riding the waves?

 

[paul8488]

As I said before, GM deserves their fate. This stupid merger with Chrysler will help nothing.

Yeah, if anything it's going in the other direction. Currently Chrysler doesn't have anything smaller than the Caliber, which is far from being a mini-car. Maybe they're right and America doesn't want a mini-car... but I suspect that some other manufacturer is going to be brave enough to try and find out that, in fact, they do, and reap all the rewards.

 

[johnnyl321]

are the honda fit and toyota yaris considered a "mini" car? those seem to be selling well. low priced and great on mpg.

 

[kenman923]

This is one example of why GM is in on the verge of collapse. They're blind. They think they know America. They're just not telling anyone the truth. The truth is, they want so bad to hold on to their fat paychecks they won't give up their ridiculous margins. Even the Aveo, which is being moved to Mexico in order to increase margins.

After talking with my wife about it, we both agreed. Today I'm on my way to Honda to buy a scooter. 80-100 mpg for less than 3k. I commute 8 miles to work every day. I'll use maybe 20 bucks a month in gas, if that, saving me over 150 bucks a month. This will also save me a bundle by lengthening the life of my car, which means GM just lost me as a customer for the forseeable future.

I was waiting. Waiting for the Volt, but it's too expensive...waiting for a better mpg Aveo...but that's not happening....waiting for the Beat...but now GM has pulled the plug on that.

As I said before, GM deserves their fate. This stupid merger with Chrysler will help nothing. Mark my words. GM as we know them, is done.

This is what greed gets you.

I was done with GM several months ago. Look at my signature and see what my future car is going to be. I was going to buy a Saturn Aura, then a Chevy Malibu, but now I am going to an Acura TSX.

 

[skylark68]

I was done with GM several months ago. Look at my signature and see what my future car is going to be. I was going to buy a Saturn Aura, then a Chevy Malibu, but now I am going to an Acura TSX.

So, you are buying a TSX because GM doesn't offer a minicar???

What does the TSX offer that the CTS doesn't?

 

[kenman923]

This is just one more nail in the coffin for GM. Their arrogance is going to be their downfall.

 

[kenman923]

So, you are buying a TSX because GM doesn't offer a minicar???

What does the TSX offer that the CTS doesn't?

Of course I'm not buying a TSX because GM doesn't offer a minicar. I am buying a TSX because GM doesn't offer a car that I want to buy. I drove a Malibu and while I was impressed, it offers no nav. I know all about Onstar turn by turn, but it's not the same. The foreign manufacturers offer more high tech features, while GM offers yesterday's technology today. When GM makes a car of Honda quality, has high tech features, and one that I want to buy, I will buy it.

What does a TSX offer that the CTS doesn't? Well, lets see. How about a significantly lower price tag, front wheel drive, a four cylinder engine for fuel economy, and a car company with a proven track record for quality.

 

[FierySolstice]

So, you are buying a TSX because GM doesn't offer a minicar???

What does the TSX offer that the CTS doesn't?

Umm there is about a $8k difference in price there! And that's just base. I feel the same as some of the people above. I currently have an Aura, but I'm ready for something non-GM. I want a small hatch therefore I'm going to Volkswagen. The US Astra doesn't even compare to the GTI and GM doesn't have anything else in it's class. They really don't know the American customer anymore. We all don't want bigger cars!!!

 

[wescoent]

Meanwhile, Fiat moves full steam ahead on bringing the Fiat 500 here, and Ford will likely be right behind them with the Ka as a low-volume city car companion to the Fiesta.

 

[bone]

This guy, I believe, is an accountant. What does he know about cars? Yeah, bring in the G8 ST but not a very fuel efficient mini-car. Ludicrous. It's interesting that Ford, which could be the lone surviving U.S. car company, is seriously considering bringing the KA to America.

 

[Bokl]

Do you see people why GM should not get any money from GOV. Again they are saying people do not want fuel efficient cars? Well idiots at GM look at Smart? IT is sold out. Look at mini? It is sold out. Toyota will have mini car called IQ as a scion and again gm will be left with nothing. This company deserves to go out of business. I am done with gm.

 

[Whitesky]

Mini-cars like the Smart will not sell enough. If they put together a great small car, that will sell 100x more than any mini-car.

 

[jzchev28]

^HA! he said he's done with GM.....good quit posting here

 

[kenman923]

^HA! he said he's done with GM.....good quit posting here

This is America and I have as much right to post as you do. If you don't like my opinions, don't have them.

 

[sepi]

This is one example of why GM is in on the verge of collapse. They're blind. They think they know America. They're just not telling anyone the truth. The truth is, they want so bad to hold on to their fat paychecks they won't give up their ridiculous margins. Even the Aveo, which is being moved to Mexico in order to increase margins.

After talking with my wife about it, we both agreed. Today I'm on my way to Honda to buy a scooter. 80-100 mpg for less than 3k. I commute 8 miles to work every day. I'll use maybe 20 bucks a month in gas, if that, saving me over 150 bucks a month. This will also save me a bundle by lengthening the life of my car, which means GM just lost me as a customer for the forseeable future.

I was waiting. Waiting for the Volt, but it's too expensive...waiting for a better mpg Aveo...but that's not happening....waiting for the Beat...but now GM has pulled the plug on that.

As I said before, GM deserves their fate. This stupid merger with Chrysler will help nothing. Mark my words. GM as we know them, is done.

This is what greed gets you.

Can't agree with you more - for over a year I've been SHOUTING about the reality of GM while many here were too busy blowing smoke up our keisters with the company line - the rose-colored glasses fantasy version. Fact is that GM is in serious trouble. Its management is incompetent, its products are truly mediocre and not compelling, its vision for the future is a rear-view mirror, and it won't take any risks (the Volt isn't a risk - it will sell the 10,000 it can build but the results will do nothing for profits).

Word is GM has been seeking $5 billion for liquidity for day to day operations. If things stay the same in the marketplace, GM will be on the verge of true bankruptcy in 14 to 16 months. Basically three years ago was the watershed period for the survival of GM - it has squandered its cash reserves and the change in products is too late to have much impact. It niche invested instead of tackled volume and profit potential. It didn't substantially change its products to make their world class. Every vehicle launched until the Cruze (sic) is a bandaid. And even the Cruze (sic) is a mediocre looking vehicle that won't attract much attention - it is as invigorating to look at as a clump of moss.

 

[4gm]

I'll bet the reason they don't want to bring mini-cars to the US is because they don't want sales of their higher priced cars cut into. It's the same reason they put money into developing all their trucks instead of the cars. But whatever. GM needs to declare bankruptcy already. They can shed their debts and blame it on this horrible economy. It's the season for offloading debt!

 

[prototype66]

Bad move not bringing the triplets here!If built and priced right I bet they would do fairly well, not gangbusters but well. Not everyone wants minis.
Still a bad decision not to have them offered here.