smk4565

Pontiac has zero brand image, they can't move G8s for $30k, they won't make it trying to go above Corvette. Cadillac can't match Porsche or Maserati either, the XLR flop is an example. GM right now doesn't have what it takes to play in that high end league with the Euro exotics. I'd like to see Cadillac try, but that is so far down the priority list, and unless they fund it properly, it will fail.

The future of Buick lies with small to midsize vehicles. The mistake GM made in the past was all the full size vehicles with no focus on small premium. LaCrosse, Lucerne, Enclave are all full size vehicles, and full size sedans are a dying market. Town Car, Deville, LeSabre, Grand Marquis, etc worked in the 90s but times and demographics have changed. Delta II, Epsilon II and the Vue platform are where they need to go.

The XF has real leather wrapped on the dash, not leatherette, and real brushed aluminum, not gray plastic meant to look like aluminum. XF has better materials throughout the cabin.

I m guessing Fed or TARP money, probably TARP. It seems that the big banks already appropriated the money they got, and the smaller banks can't make a loan this big. I'd rather not see the Fed make the loan, they are over extended as it is, and the treasury just printing more money isn't helping our economy.

I agree they did better today and had a plan at least, and asking for $34 billion is nothing compared to Citigroup's $300 billion. But the votes for a bailout probably aren't there, some sort of government bankruptcy plan is probably as good as it gets.

It looks like GM and Chrysler's situation didn't improve much today. I do think congress will do something before they go bust. I predict some sort of reorganization that is like Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but controlled by the government and not called bankruptcy.

Those cars don't arrive for another 2-3 years, Chrysler may not make it that long. If the products are so great and the future looks bright, Cerebus should bail them out, not taxpayers.

No, it would be platform sharing. The Buick Cruze should start at $24,000 (likely a few more grand than a loaded Cruze) Buick Malibu (LaCrosse) priced $28-34,000, above the Malibu LTZ. The Buick Vue/Nox would also be $28-34k. The MKZ and ES350 don't overlap with the Fusion and Camry, Buick needs to follow that model, but focus on small to midsize, right now the baby Buick is longer than an LS460, that doesn't work. Get rid of Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and the product overlap problem is gone. Keep the kappa roadster for Buick. Zeta Buick should be back burner, a Zeta Impala can fill the need for full size car and overlap the LaCrosse in price. If Chevy has 12-15 or so models, Buick has 5 based of Chevy platforms, and Cadillac has 6 models, they'll have 25 or so models, which GM can manage and keep competitive.

I don't think Chrysler has a future because their products are so uncompetitive. They also lag in fuel economy, interiors and reliability. The 300 is old news now and not selling, Jeep still has name recognition, but sales are slow, the Caravan and Ram don't make a company. Cerebus should break up the company and sell it in pieces. Sell the Ram and the factory to Nissan, etc.

Sales don't matter, only profit does. GM has to figure out a way to keep the lights on and make payroll. Bankruptcy is 4 weeks away, anything that isn't essential and unique needs to be cut.

Pontiac might not even be around by the time the Cruze is ready, and they shouldn't get one anyway. There will be a Cruze SS that could be quite good for performance buyers. The Cobalt SS has good performance (3rd place in Car and driver sport compacts), only problem, is that it is a Cobalt. Take away the rental car blandness and match VW in build quality and they are fine there. If they take Delta II (180-182 inch length), make it look elegant and put the 2010 LaCrosse interior in it, they will have a winner. 2.3 DI 4 cylinder can make 200 hp, in a 3300+ pound car that is enough, especially for Buick buyers who are seeking comfort, not 0-60 times. A diesel should be offered also, since the Cruze will need one for Europe anyway, and they can go after the 41 mpg Jetta TDI. Buick's future is going to be in small to midsize premium, I hope they see that.

The 7-series and X6 TT V8 with 400 hp the 5-series gets also. The M5 is likely just a higher boost version to get 500 hp. 113 hp per liter is doable. That engine will save costs which will let them use carbon fiber and aluminum and lower emissions to keep the EU off their back. I believe that is what Edmunds was going for, although kind of dumb.

Buick's badge can't support a $40-48k sedan, and that is Cadillac's range. They need to keep the flagship closer to the Genesis or the MKS price, $35-40,000, low $40s fully loaded. The STS doesn't sell as a Cadillac, turning it into a Buick will make it sell worse. Big cars don't sell well, Buick would be best off making a luxury version of the Cruze for $25-30,000 and a luxury Malibu for $28-35,000. Small premium is a segment that will grow and the Jetta, TSX, and Mini are the only ones in it right now before going to 3-series/C-class prices.

Pontiac may be Solstice and G8 only and the G8 will likely be replaced by an Alpha sedan when that platform is ready.. I could see Pontiac being phased out by 2012 also. The money isn't there to keep them alive. Without a bailout (which 61% of the country and Congress currently opposes) they have to file for bankruptcy in January and probably only Chevy will survive. They have to sell or shut down Hummer, Saab and Saturn ASAP.

Sigma costs more, though it is better. They could do a V6 Zeta car for low $30s to $42k like the Genesis is priced. Sigma or whatever Cadillac goes to in the future has to be exclusive.

Ford can, GM and Chrysler can't. I'd rather see Chrysler fail, that opens up market space for GM and Ford. Otherwise let Cerebus pump money from something else they own into Chrysler. Cerebus is the one that wanted it, let them pay for it.

The 07 model had average sales, so with the new 08 it surged early and is sucking up STS volume. They have sold 54,000 so far this year, 55-60,000 is about what the original did around 2004-2005.

New E-class coming next year, the current model is dated. Plus it starts at $53,000 and the economy is bad.

The M5's V8 is likely 4.4 liters, possibly 4.8, but not 6.2 or 6.3. Same 500 hp, but torque up to 516. We'll find out on the X6 M next year for sure. What will make or brake the next M5 is weight, which isn't a bad strategy. The E36 M3 was never the horsepower king, but it was lightweight and regarded as one of the best handling cars of all time. They didn't put the E63 in here because it is over $90,000 and because of weight, no faster than a C63.

But the LaCrosse and Lucerne don't have those features. My mom is 54 and thinks Buicks are for old people, and wouldn't be caught dead in one. My Grandmother who is 76 though, enjoys her Buick. I stated in the Buick thread that Buick could platform share with Chevy and do a fancier version of the Cruze, Malibu, Nox and Traverse combined with a Zeta sedan and have a lineup that fills the void nicely between Chevy and Cadillac. The potential is there to make some great products, whether or not people will buy them is the question. The Enclave is 13 inches longer and nearly 1,000 pounds heavier than a Lexus RX350, big difference there, some people like big, most prefer midsize.

Body looks very Malibu like, with 5-series wannabe tail lights. I don't mind that though, because I see Buick's future as making a fancy version of the Cruze, Malibu, with the Enclave and Zeta sedan, and a fancy Vue/Equinox if GMC doesn't get one. This will let Buick operate in the $26-40,000 range offering a step up from Chevy, without investing tremendous amounts in R&D. Then Cadillac is all rear drive on it's own platforms, $35k and up.

27, but I don't see any of that as hard to do. The Genesis has a V8, 17 speaker stereo and sun shade, 5-series has sun shades and the billion way seats. Anything Hyundai has, Cadillac should have. The 2010 A6 is aluminum, 5-series has some aluminum in it. The new Fusion gets 38 mpg and has an 8 inch touch screen. If a $200 phone can have touch screen, why not a $25,000 car. It wouldn't be hard to make the CTS and Malibu better if GM wasn't distracted with Saturn, Saab, Hummer, G5s, G3s, Yukons, etc.

Prius sold 8,660 in November compared to 1,000 G8s, 161,000 Prius year to date compared to 14,000 G8s. If it was simply that people couldn't get financing, how is the CTS selling, or the 3-series or any other $30k or more car selling. The G8 was heavily marketed during the NCAA basketball tournament last year, and financing was available in spring and the car didn't sell back then. The G8, regardless of how fast the V8 version is or how well it handles does not sell. Maybe the badge on the hood is the reason to blame.

CTS is easy, build it out of aluminum (at least parts if not all) to cut weight, carbon fiber panels for the CTS-V. 3.6 DI standard, twin turbo V6 (3.0 or 3.6) optional, diesel V6 and 8-speed automatic options, all new DOHC V8 (with turbos for the V). Inside add optional sun shades, 17 speaker, 500+ watt stereo, replace gray plastic with real brushed aluminum, blue tooth, blind spot and lane departure warning, and head-up display. Base price to $50,000. Generally I like the Malibu, but it needs a touch screen navigation system and hard drive for songs, interior materials could be a little softer to the touch, hybrid version that gets 38 mpg, longer warranty, new DI 4-cylinder, 3.0 DI V6 that makes 250 hp, but with better mileage than the 3.6 liter.

Agreed on point 1, Olds was turning around in the late 90s, but it was too late. Buick faces the same dilemma now, even with new product like the Enclave and 2010 LaCrosse, they are a decade behind and it could be too little too late. They need to right-size in 2009, or there might not be a 2010. GM needs $4 billion in December just to stay alive, they have to make big changes fast.