Brougham-Holiday

Congress is going to take one look at the Pontiac G8 and say "Why should we give you money to build cars in another country?" GM/Ford/Chrysler; Unless you are totally brain dead, don't bring any reminders to Congress of just how many of your cars arn't built by American workers. Also, the Big 3 need to announce plans bring more of their production back into the US.

YES! The Big 3 may finally get it after all!

You answered 25 out of 33 correctly — 75.76 % Average score for this quiz during November: 77.6% Average score: 77.6%

They should drive: GM-Hybrid Malibu Ford-Hybrid Escape/Mariner Chrysler-Hybrid Aspen Bring along Volt, Dodge EV, Ford Mustang I would say bring a Chrysler 300 with MDS or a Ford Fusion Hybrid but they arn't made in America.

Aztec, not only did the sales never take off, but it became the poster child for everything wrong with GM.

Its made in Mexico, end of story.

I've worried lately about the health of our local B-P-G dealer, where my dad bought his new G6 last December, my brother bought a used Buick (traded in my old LeSabre) last August, and where our family gets all of our service done. The last few times the place was empty and there hasn't been a whole lot of cars on the lot, lost of G8 and SUVs but few G6 4drs or LaCrosse.

Volkswagen is union, why can't GM build a small car that beats the Jetta/Rabbit? How did Chrysler become so successful in the 1980's with the UAW? I agree that both sides share blame, but it's not ''Joe Sixpack" (I love that) on the assembly line who decided to build the Cadillac Cimarron or Pontiac Sunbird. I see management as the cause, and the unions as greedy, but a necessary evil. Toyota who has made a business model of hiring temporary employees in its US plants is in now way comparable to GM. Claiming Toyota is competitive in work environment is like calling McDonald's cashiers "job growth", laughable. GM needs this money to make it to the 2011 changes in the contract. The next step is to cancel junk like the upcoming Pontiac G3 and get back to building great cars. If they had taken an Aveo and turned it into a little screamer that looked more like a Pontiac I might be able to accept it, but GM don't p*** in my head and tell me its raining. People didn't stop buying American cars because they were union made, they stopped buying them because of products like the Vega, Grand Am, Skylark, Cavalier, Sunfire, and Aztec.

I work in a private non union company, I've seen what happens when you stand between the boss and his/her pay raise. I've seen what happens when the boss has it out for someone, and I know what others with similar jobs have that I don't (their benefits, pay,etc.) There is still a need for unions in this country, and in private business. At the Big Three the problem is the unions were for decades given whatever they wanted, its as much their fault for being greedy as its GM/Chrysler/Ford for not putting their foot down 25 years ago when they were starting to loose market share. The answer is GM getting UAW under control, it seems the last contract with its major changes that haven't been fully realized yet will if time permits be an important part of the turn around plan.

I voted Buick, I can't see GM tossing out the money Buick makes in China and the solid quality reputation it has kept in North America, which they should do a better job of shouting from the top of the proverbial highest mountain.

I'm very pro-union, and I don't want the UAW to go away. It's not their fault that GM didn't build a world class mid-sized front wheel drive car until the new Malibu/Aura in North America. Having said that, UAW does need to step up and do as much as possible to help save GM.

Is this the first step in a major downsizing? $230million in cash is better then $230million in further losses however you look at it.

The most telling of all is the Pontiac ad, the small print reads "Seeking to cooperate fully in the war effort, Pontiac has voluntarily censored this advertisement."

And of course as a Oldsmobile enthusiast how could I forget....

With all the recent talk about bailing out General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, I wonder if America ever had to call on the foreign makes as we did GM during World War II, would they respond anything like this.... As it was put to me: "When America needed GM most, GM was there, when GM needs America most, will we do the same?" Thoughts...

Did it, I wonder if it will make a difference?

Last night I was talking to my dad and he said how bad he feels, I said "f*** GM your not the one driving an obsolete car." This is really sad though.

I wonder if Heinricy is just getting off the Titanic and into a life boat.

America needed Jimmy Carter to get Ronald Regan, maybe history is repeating itself.

Where in CT, I've yet to see one on the road.

I might agree if Toyota and the rest hadn't kept their MPG game up as well. Remember the Echo, Civic hatchback, and many other small efficient cars that Japan brought here while we were building Tahoes? Does anyone know what year truck sales over took car sales at GM (or if they ever did)? If I recall correctly car sales have been ahead of truck sales for most of the last 10 years. Was GM throwing away 50% of the market by not building competitive products, and is it still by building cars that people don't want? A side note, I got my new Motortrend in the mail yesterday, and its got this hot new sports compact called the G3 advertised next to those boring G8 GXP and Solstice models. Can't wait to see how many youngins trade in their Civics and Imprezas for this sweet new whip. Best of all its got 106hp, just enough to outrun most mail trucks. Pontiac= Fuel for the Soul

I'd like to add to my first post, What GM needs is someone to shake up the entire company. I'm a huge Lee Iacocca fan, Lee is the kind of guy that GM needs (not him as he is in his 80's, but someone with his leadership style) to get the company moving again. Some changes I see that should be made are small (why does the G6 have those cheep looking black plastic lower grilles, why can't the Impala get a 6 speed automatic) and others are large (how long will Saab be on life support before GM pulls the plug). The one question I have that irks me most is Why does GM have both Saturn and Opel? Can't Opel be sold here to simplify the GM line up as much as possible? They are moving in the direction of Saturn being a re branded Opel, but it still doesn't make sense to have two separate brands, just sell them under one brand name (like everyone else does). Also why does everyone else get the Cruise before us? Isn't this the market that kept GM alive for much of the last 100 years? Why are we second class?

I agree that GM has a lot of past issues that are haunting it right now (Chevette, Corsica, 80's Lemans), but the sales are taking a nose dive, and a lot of it seems to be that when cutting back model selections to became lean and mean, they didn't pay cose enough attention to customer wants. Ex Combining the Century and Regal was a great idea, combining the LeSabre and Park Avenue wasn't. Why do I assume Chrysler is in better shape, isn't a large part of why GM wants to merge with Chrysler the fact that they actually have cash. Chrysler also has the Blue Tec diesel coming its way from Daimler, which would be an easy way for GM to get a foothold here in the diesel market.

New radio and climate controls. Also new gages. Reminds me of the Snaple commercial where the guy asks the tea farmer what white tea is, and after its explained he says "Thats it?" and the farmer says "Thats it"...... The new Pontiac G6.........Me: "Thats it?" GM: "Thats it"

What does everyone think of the job Rick Wagoner has done so far, and of the plans he has made known? Why do you feel this way? Who could be better? In the past few weeks of watching the news and reading the papers, GM has been mentioned a lot. None of it good. While all of the other automakers are in a financial mess, and no one can argue that Chrysler and Ford are in trouble as well, GM seems to be the worst off. I see Chrysler teaming up with Nissan (Titan/Ram, and Dodge/Versa) to get a better hold on the market. I also see that slow sellers (PT Convertible, Aspen Hybrid, etc) are getting cut. Over at ford there is a beautiful new Lincoln MKS, other products in the pipeline, and the ability to keep financially afloat longer then GM. At GM the news seems to get worse everyday. At the top of the General, which is a shadow of its former self even just a few years ago is Rick Wagoner. I question is plans at this point. In the last 10 years I have seen: 1. Too much money spent on trucks/suvs. 2. Elimination of Oldsmobile 3. Near elimination of Buick (3 models, only the Enclave is relevant) 4. Many major sellers are aging in the market (Impala, DTS, Cobalt,etc) and should have been replaced yesterday, yet all will be on the market at least 2 more years. 5. A never ending slide in market share, stock price, and sales. What I have seen that hasn't been negative typically hasn't been good either: 1. Saturn sales have never taken off. 2. Hummer is a flop 3. Saab can't turn a profit. 4. G6, Lucerne, etc are good but not great. 5. Closure of plants=fewer Americans working. There have been some bright spots (Malibu, CTS,Enclave, Corvette, Solstice) and some products that should have done well but market conditions have hurt them (G8). I'm wondering if Rick should toss in the towel and GM find someone like Ford and Nissan have to help turn the giant around faster? Maybe I'm just crazy? Discuss...