BigPontiac

Here's a reference to the article: Article GM execs to air arguments against alliance-WSJ Thu Jul 6, 2006 12:53am ET NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp.'s management plans to air arguments against a proposed three-way alliance with Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA at a meeting with its board on Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported. Citing people familiar with GM's plans, the Journal said Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner will not dismiss the proposed alliance outright, and he is expected to launch a due diligence review. Wagoner and his management team intend to treat the alliance proposal as a hostile move against management, the sources said. Some GM board members have expressed support for the proposed alliance, disclosed last Friday by GM's largest shareholder, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, a person familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday. Wagoner is scheduled to meet with Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn in Detroit in mid-July, the Reuters source said.

Getting a picture seemed like a good idea at the time! They had hand-built Lucerne prototypes there last year which stopped at a few of the area Buick dealers before the tournament. I can't wait to see an Enclave in person...the Lucerne looked SO much better in person than in pics. GM is making steady progress in every new model they've introduced from 2005 on. The Buick Open is the single event the Hartford, CT Jaycees using for fundraising. So it's an "event" in the state...all the parking is part of how they make money...much like a concert, everyone parks on a big grassy field! Not a good day to take the BMW! But, the truck isn't fun to manuever in close spaces, so there was no good choice...

As I stated above, the best way to silence your critics is to prove it. Deeds, not words.

I agreed with the premise of the article that good design is the solution to a recovery (once they solve labor issues, Delphi, etc.). I didn't agree with the part that Team Wagner needs Ghosn's help. I've owned 4 Nissans...and the newer ones are definitely cheaper than they used to be...and my 6 friends with 2003 and earlier Maximas all HATE the current model! Rick Wagner has a difficult job...I think Kirk is looking for GM to pay him a premium on his investment to go away. And as someone who worked at IBM during the York-era, I don't have much good to say about him. When he started his cost cutting, the "bright-sizing" effect kicked in -- those who can leave, do. Cream doesn't always rise to the top -- sometimes it gets skimmed off by your competitors!

Interesting how "shareholders" were questioning Wagner's ability to be both Chairman and CEO at GM...but no one questions Ghosn's ability to be the CEO of Nissan, Renault AND GM??? Get a grip! I also know a lot of "former Nissan owners" since Carlos took over...he also seems to not comprehend that management is a team sport...moving the Nissan HQ from CA to TN will likely cost them dearly and negate most of the cost reduction...

Another related article/opinion Can GM learn something from Apple? JOHN DVORAK'S SECOND OPINION Can GM learn something from Apple? Commentary: Strong design might yet save automaker

Why not treat "The Plan" like a start-up business looking for angel funding? You have a methodology which you're trying to sell. In a post-dot-com world, in order to get funding you need a prototype to prove the concept. Taking into account that the most common criticism of "The Plan" is the location where you developed the "methodology", why not partner with a PBC dealer on either the East or West Coast and document step-by-step how "The Plan" can have an effect? Applying your methodology in a market which is on GM's radar as a market they want to grow in should capture their attention if you can truly do what you believe you can. Forensic audit of the dealership's books beforehand, followed by careful document and progress reports in an import dominated market would certainly validate which aspects of "The Plan" work and which don't. Do what you want Wagner to do, set a target and either hit it, exceed it, or fail and then resign. Thoughts?

Generalwatch.com isn't setting cookies to track site visitors, so how exactly do conclude that you have 400 unique daily site visitors? Trolling through the http-server log gives a total activity count, but not unique visitors. P.S. - that Flint hosting company you're using should really have upgraded you off of Win2000 to Win2003...

That octane requirement depends actually. My old 2001 Pathfinder SE 3.5 had that Nissan motor. The owner's manual showed that it needed a minimum of 91 octane, however that was RON (Research Octane Number). The US uses the AKI (Anti-Knock Index) octane rating.87 AKI = 91 RON The "premium fuel only" sticker on the gas door lied! It ran fine on 87 and still produced good power. Wikipedia explanation

Almost sounds like Kirk is going for the old "greenmail" play...expecting GM to pay him to go away with some of the cash they've generated lately from GMAC, etc.

There's a "checkpoint" set up where they check everyone for cell phones, cameras, etc...the usual "NO xxx beyond this point!" signs. It's related to the golf tournament aspect of it, not the cars. However, the cars are being displayed AFTER the checkpoint...hence my problem.

Nissan's Ghosn expressed interest in GM stake-source Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:00pm ET DETROIT, June 30 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Renault SA head Carlos Ghosn expressed interest in acquiring a minority stake of up to 20 percent in General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) at a dinner with billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian about ten days ago, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday. The source said the dinner took place in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of Nissan's new U.S. headquarters. Ghosn expressed interest in acquiring a stake of up to 10 percent each for Nissan and Renault, the person said. Article

GM's press release. FOR RELEASE: 2006-06-30 General Motors Statement Regarding Tracinda's Filing DETROIT - General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) has received no offer or proposal from Renault/Nissan with respect to its participating in the Renault/Nissan Alliance, as suggested in the 13-D Filing made today by the Tracinda Corporation. The Tracinda request will be taken under advisement by the GM Board of Directors. At this time, we have no further comment. Source: GM

I ventured over to the Buick Open, paid $10 to park, but couldn't get in with a camera...cameras are only allowed M-W. Outside just beyond the entrance they had a black Lucerne on display and also a Black Ranier. There is a covered exhibition area where it likely would be if it's being displayed, but I couldn't get that far.

Nissan declines comment on GM tie-up proposal Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:46am ET DETROIT, June 30 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it had no comment on the possibility of a three-way tie-up with General Motors Corp.(GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research). One of the largest investors in GM, billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp., has urged the world's largest automaker to consider a three-way partnership with Nissan and France's Renault. In a letter to GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, Tracinda suggested the automaker form a committee to "immediately and fully explore" the possibility of a partnership under which Nissan and Renault would buy a "significant minority interest" in GM. Nissan spokesman Simon Sproule said: "At this stage Nissan would not have a comment." Article (Another IE required links) Full URL: http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybri...omktNews&rpc=44

Renault no comment on GM tie-up proposal Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:33am ET PARIS, June 30 (Reuters) - Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) declined comment on Friday on the notion of a three-way tie-up with General Motors and Renault's cross-shareholding partner Nissan. One of the largest investors in General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) earlier urged the world's largest automaker to consider a three-way partnership with Nissan (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Renault. In a letter to GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, Tracinda Corp., the investment arm for billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, suggested the automaker form a committee to "immediately and fully explore" the possibility of a partnership under which Nissan and Renault would buy a "significant minority interest" in GM. A Renault spokeswoman said, "We have no comment". Article (The link was a little picky and required IE to access) Full URL: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/external/re...ac006599_newsml

AP Tracinda: Nissan, Renault Want GM Stake Friday June 30, 9:29 am ET Renault and Nissan Want Stake in GM, According to Investor Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. NEW YORK (AP) -- Automakers Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. are interested in purchasing a significant stake in General Motors Corp. and including the struggling automaker in their alliance, according to a letter sent Friday to GM from billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's investment company. Shares of GM jumped $3.22, or 11.7 percent, to $30.66 in pre-market trading, having closed Thursday at $27.44 on the NYSE. The letter from Kerkorian's investment company, Tracinda Corp., said it believes Renault and Nissan are receptive to the idea of including General Motors in their partnership and purchasing "a significant minority interest" in the Detroit automaker. Tracinda, a large minority shareholder in GM, said the existing French-Japanese partnership has created "tremendous engineering, manufacturing and marketing synergies, resulting in substantial benefits and cost savings to both Renault and Nissan." Tracinda urged GM's board to form a committee to "immediately and fully explore this opportunity together with management," as it feels the alliance could help GM "realize substantial synergies and cost savings and thereby greatly benefit the company and enhance shareholder value." The letter also indicates that Tracinda has reached out to Renault Chairman Louis Schweitzer and Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to alert them to its contact with General Motors. In a separate letter advising Schweitzer and Ghosn of the GM correspondence, Tracinda noted that "as we recently discussed with Mr. Ghosn, Tracinda believes that General Motors, Renault and Nissan should explore a three-company, partnership-based alliance." http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060630/tracinda_gm...iance.html?.v=1

Is the C&G logo watermark downloadable anywhere in case I get pics?

I'm not sure I'll be able to score tickets this year...but I'll see if I can get over there with my digital camera and take some shots of it if it is out in the open.

Whether you'd like to admit it or not, you participate in a global economy on a daily basis. That Chevy Aveo in your showroom...made in Korea. The engine in that Equinox...made in China. And I hope your dealership doesn't have a Saab franchise...cuz they're made in Sweden of all places! Or Pontiac...the GTO hails from Australia in case you missed it... Your perspective seems to be USA/Canda = good, everything else = bad. So 40 years "nationalizes" the Canadian assembly plants as American? So, 20 more and the Marysville, OH Honda plant gets their citizenship too? Where were the parts for you PC made? Your cell phone? TV? The only constant in the world is change. Adapt or perish, your choice. Wishing it doesn't exist isn't an option any more.

Um, if you're in Canada and you are selling Chevy's you do realize you are selling "foreign" cars by your own definition, right? Where's you national pride? Why not sell Canadian cars??? An AMERICAN car, in CANADA? Why is sending American jobs to Canada any more acceptable than sending them to Mexico? China? India? Read about current events? Heard about the latest trends by American companies to outsource IT service jobs? Offshore was India, China, Russia, etc. NOW there's nearshore. And where is "nearshore"? CANADA.

I'll reiterate, I care about the vehicle cost, not the monthly payment. Focus on the cost of the car first, then the monthly payment. My understanding is that all the car dealers buy their cars the manufacturer, so in buying any car from a new car dealer I am doing my part for the economy. If you were referring to the auto manufacturers themselves...is it better to buy a Japanese car assembled in Japan where the profit goes to a Japanese company which has an American company who owns a large stake, e.g. Mazda and Ford? Or maybe it's better to buy an American car which is assembled in Mexico like the Fusion, which was derived from the Japanese Mazda6. Or better yet an American car like the Buick LaCrosse that is assembled in Canada? OR maybe a Japanese car like the Honda Accord assembled in Marysville, OH USA. How 'bout German car like a BMW Z4 assembled in Spartanburg, SC. Which of these options would be "doing my part"? I give plenty of money to Mr. Goodwrench to keep my GMC Sierra running...my LOCAL economy. Same with the frame-off restoration of my '68 Pontiac. Maybe, just maybe, GM would sell more cars by listening to what buyers want in a car instead of telling me what I should buy. Continuing to focus on the "average" buyer in their dwindling ownership base limits the appeal of their vehicles to everyone else. GM does well in trucks, their cars need work. They've improved a lot during Lutz's reign, but they need to continue to work on the details. Also, my BMW has bumper-to-bumper maintenance included for the 4yrs/50K miles. That covers all scheduled maintenance or even brake rotors.

So you were "undefeated" so to speak in top Buick sales in the U.S. for 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996?

Out of curiosity, what years were the 6 times? I am curious what the product looked like at the time to add some context.

While I applaud your confidence in the product you are selling, I also think you should get out and drive some of the competition's vehicles. For the money, the Cobalt is down a bunch of content compared with the Mazda3 (see previous posts). I'd rather have the xenon headlights over a spoiler. I'll also keep the manual transmission too. From the MazdaUSA website, the moonroof/stereo package I added and the standard side airbags: ABS/SAB/SAC Package (Standard on Grand Touring Package) * Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist * Dual front seat-mounted side-impact air bags * Side-impact front and rear air curtains Moonroof & 6-CD and Bose Audio System Package * Power sliding glass moonroof with sunshade * In-dash 6-disc CD changer * Bose® audio system including: o 222W digital amplifier with 5 channels of equalization o Four 6.5" low/midrange door speakers o Two 1.5" front door tweeters o 5.25" woofer in 4.5-liter tuned ported enclosure under front passenger seat Halogen fog lights were also standard on the US model. I personally look at cars based on merit, not the payment I can get it for. I like to know what I'm paying for the car...potential trade-in also offsets sales tax in my state. I leased, once...never again. I also consult KBB, edmunds, etc before I walk into a dealership and check financing rates online. I also ask for my keys back after my potential trade-in is appraised before sitting down to negotiate. I hate getting the "what kind of payment are you looking for" question. I happily picked up my first CPO BMW on eBay from BMW of Manhattan...fantastic experience all around.