longtooth

QUOTE(Milford @ Sep 24 2005, 05:44 PM) [snapback]19538[/snapback]The media is as dumb as it gets: "But by betting big on a redesigned fleet of 12 full-size SUVs, including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade, GM is trying to buck a consumer shift toward smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and crossover vehicles." GM isn't trying to necessarily buck this shift. The products were four years in the pipeline at least. These products were coming out anyway and GM is unfortunately releasing them at a time when gas prices are going up. That's just a coincidence of the time, not necessarily bad planning. But GM just can't scrap 4 years of already finished products just because of the circumstances right now. What good would that do? Nobody knew that we were going to get by two hurricanes at nearly the same time four years ago and gas prices were going to skyrocket. These SUVs had to be redesigned anyway. The media bashes GM for having the older GMT800s on the market so GM was working right along the correct timeline that they should have been. So f*** the media. They can burn in hell for all I care. They think they are the smartest folk out there just because they can use current circumstances now like they actually predicted the future. Hindsight is great but I doubt the media was saying four years ago don't let the GMT900 program go ahead as planned because in the year 2005 gas will go up at your release date. No, they were telling GM to redesign the GMT800s. They only thing GM did botch is GM Powertrain not being up to speed once again. Although I understand they want to try the new 6-speeds in small batches and use the proven 4-speeds, hybrid technology and 6-speeds across the board can't come quickly enough. We got the Lambdas coming really soon! I can't wait. Still the same debate after nearly three years. The more things change...

Much better at pandering it'd seem. (imo)

Explains the 'success' of Disneyworld, Hannah Montana, "High School Musical" (I thru XVII) WalMart* etc...

That's about right. GM almost never does, save in the case of Malibu. They hype the sh*t out of something, then seem genuinely puzzled when their child stumbles out of the gate. Examples of late: The SSR. Lots of noise, big thud, no ripples as it slid beneath the surface. And, about 8 years ago (in-house mostly) it was the Aztek. I need say no more. Aztek. Now it has been for the past 2.5years Camaro! As I see really stunning Mustang variants slaying mostly everything under $45,000. I've stopped wondering about these guys, but the press never does. Here's an article from "Seeking Alpha" which outlines their take on GM's woes. My, my. http://seekingalpha.com/article/91249-gm-f...up?source=yahoo

One Generational Shift. 2028. There's the 'hope'. But every move GM makes will be scrutinized with potential conquest customers circumspect. GM needs a grand slam every time they're at bat. Should be doable with the UAW 'boogey-man' contained. The age of the informed, educated and discerning consumer is upon us. Except that generally, and in my opinion, the average consumer knows not sh*t from shinola.

If they re-kindle the faith, slowly and with due diligence. And a $35,000 Corvette.

He's too busy buying unsold Durangos to be melted and rolled into Camaro sheet-metal.

From the same society and the same strain of mental discipline which authored the Bataan Death March... http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=586 "The Dark Side of the Toyota Prius," In These Times By Paul Abowd July 16, 2008 The National Labor Committee (NLC), a New York-based human rights group, has been investigating working conditions at Toyota Motor Corp., and the labor used to produce its best-selling Prius hybrid cars. In its 65-page report released in June, NLC includes first-hand testimony of factory conditions in “Toyota City,” outside of Nagoya, Japan — less than 200 miles southwest of Tokyo — where the largest auto company in the world employs some 70,000 people. The report alleges that Toyota exploits guest workers, mostly shipped in from China and Vietnam. According to the NLC, these workers are “stripped of their passports and often forced to work — including at subcontract plants supplying Toyota — 16 hours a day, seven days a week, while being paid less than half the legal minimum wage.” Workers are forced to live in company dormitories and deported for complaining about poor treatment, the report finds. Low-wage temporary workers make up one-third of Toyota’s Prius assembly-line workers, mostly in the auto-parts supply chain. They are signed to contracts for periods as short as four months, and are paid only 60 percent of a full-time employee’s wage. Parts plants run by subcontractors advertise standard, nine-hour, five-day-a-week jobs. But according to the NLC, “the typical shift was 15 to 16.5 hours a day, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. or 1:00 a.m.”

Hear, hear. My next Firehawk (i should be so lucky)

May we be pleasantly surprised whichever it is.

Coming to the U.S. by 10-31-08. The main provision being: No retroactivity for those which took the most recent package. For once and for all.

Did you construct this posting from your research? If so, very impressive when contrasted with the usual Saturn-Pontiac feud ongoing here. Thank you.

No so inscrutable. http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080724/zhongxing_merger.html?.v=2

As 'good' as those "corollas kias and camrys" are perceived to be by their constituencies, it demonstrates to a degree the actual level of the lowest common denominator that GM needs to pander to. It somewhat explains the success of homogenized bits of Americana like Disneyworld, "High School Musical(s)" 1 thru 15, Hannah Montana, the entire 'Rap Music'-genre, "Step Up 2-The Streets", Wal*Mart etc... and ad nauseum. We're Americans damn it. Cheap chatzkes enthrall the sh*t out of us as we clap each other on the back for being possessed of a singular discernment. America where crap is king. This also explains the relative success of Corvette, which slices through traffic as a shark terrorizes stunned bait-fish. Well maintained 6 year-old WS6 Trans Ams and Camaros can produce a similar effect. They're unique, set against the bland vanilla backdrop of a dumbed-down nation. America, love it or market to it.

Semper Mum.

Then dump "her", leave "her" cluelessly lost, 2 months 'late', and crying to "her" friends on MySpace. Like an Avril Lavigne song.

I saw the concept Camaro when I was working in Doraville, GA in April '06. 25k or thereabouts was discussed as one price-point for the model as envisioned on the show circuit. If they could bring the SS in at around where the G8-V8 is presently I think they'd sell very well. I was so taken with the concept that at the time I thought it out-classed the Corvette for style and visceral appeal. I've seen the pilots and I still think they're gorgeous. This size of vehicle provides such a fluid medium for the stylist to work in. We already have a conception of what Corvettes should look like and they pretty much conform to expectations. Camaro is different. It's venerated for different reasons.

I've said this also. Surprise us once in a while. We drive by the dealership and do a triple-take. That'd be nice.

How backward is the rest of the world (or how advanced are we?) that in this highly touted global-mess of an economy that these can't just be shrink-wrapped and FEDEX-ed here? Some vote of confidence for GMS.

Pathological behavior?

I understand. But GM, by 'looking' Toyota off can keep Tundra down permanently and GM can re-focus on the cars it allowed to languish. Good opportunity for GM if it pursues their new course with zeal. Good night 87'...

If Toyota's bogged down as everyone else, the re-deployment of truck engineers into cars could hasten whatever revitalization is at hand. Pick a course of action, finance it and remain committed. Don't forget trucks, but re-prioritize them to where they rightfully belong. Make Toyota regret the twist-o-flex bedded Tundra.

So then, define the strategy and seize the moment.

'Biz, I hear you. The "dumbing down" is nearly in full effect. Couple that to apathy and the formula is nearly ready for wide release. We've either become too complacent or content. I've written and e-mailed my political representatives. I sure that they are aware of the situation as it applies to both of our countries. To amplify the term "dumbing-down". It isn't merely slack-jawed stupid as it could imply. It could mean partially educated as to the mechanics of some thing, or concept as I like to rail about, but it is also the inexperience and the lack of rounded development of those who've passed through our educational institutions. They come out of college so narrowly focused so as to be unable to see how current events are situated in the context of history. The saying goes: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I feel that we are about to repeat some dreadful mistake. Perhaps old "Mad Money Cramer" can booyah our @sses out of the frying pan, and away from the fire. I don't put any faith in the 'princes' of this world. Not even my buddy MM Cramer...

A link to the IMDb web-site for the 1994 film "The Madness of King George". Just for sh*ts n' giggles. The title really says it all. No real need to link to the site unless you're a fan of practical irony. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110428/