Chicagoland

"I see the EXT's all the time" Where? The market for these is dying down from the hyped up 1990's. The Explorer is down 60%, to the one poster saying they are "doing all right". If the '07 Tahoe can get the same MPG as the TBlazer, why bother with it? And no, GM isn't ever going to "re-open a plant" again, sorry.

One thing for sure, you are not going to see the "all RWD lineup" some predcited. Also, yeah car history enthusiasts get mad about brand cuts, but where are they when sales are needed? Driving 1992 Centurys and 98s, and wishing the old cars were still in production.

Even at that, no one will want the old metal with the 2007's coming in afew months. ALl the people who wanted these old beasts got them in the Employee Pricing sale. Then when then 07's are sitting around a while, of course the next ''blow out'', and on and on.... Big BOF SUV's are O-U-T, out, :P Case in point, Ford's "all new" Explorer is sitting on it's ass collecting dust.

I totally agree. Some even claimed there would be a 2005 Camaro. I posted some thoughts about disbelief and was flamed big time. Don't know where people got the idea that the could whip up a whole new RWD car line, and re-tool a plant in just two years time. Chrysler has officially announced the return of th Challenger. Where is the official announcement from GM? No, a post on the net saying "I swear..." with no pics, docs, or sources doesn't count.

June was the "Employee Pricing blow-out", so comparing to then isn't fair. It is certainly not a flop as some have said, and it is doing better than the 2 old models that were dying on the vine.

Torrent isn't going anywhere, it is selling, and crossovers are a hot segment. But, the Firebird name is gone for good.

Yeah, that 1962 model was a sales flop. It and the 62 Plymouth Fury caused Mopar to lose profits then. Some dealers even quit selling them! The designer was fired [or quit], and then the 1965 full sized Moaprs brought back customers.

Still doesn't mean anyting. More likely any RWD Chevy sedan will get a different name [Caprice or Chevelle?]. And Impala will eventually get a 'better' FWD platform, [with maybe AWD optional?]. Some forget that even though the Chrysler 300 is hot, sales of FWD mid sized cars are still rolling along, and outnumber RWD by far. Most car buyers are NOT car nuts or drag racers demanding RWD with sold axles for a day at the tracks.

Subtact GM's rental fleets sales, and see. Go to National or Avis and see rows of Malibus/G6's now that the old N body is gone.

Impala is selling well, so it's looking like the speculation that it will switch to a large RWD car in 2008 won't happen.

Well, the CD3 cars are selling! And the naysayers that hate the Zepher, since it isn't BOF RWD, can eat crow.

To an earlier post, there is no 2006 DeVille. It is now DTS. Accord has not been on list about 2 times, example was 1997, in a final year of a design. At least there was only one Acura and no Prius!

Most likely GM will rush a Chevy 2+2 coupe to answer to th Mustang. And some were not around in the good old days to know that not all old Chevelles were muscle machines, those were the SS's. Most were average Joe/Jane cars with vinyl tops and 2 barrel carbs. In fact some people called them Malibus. So much so, that the '78 Mid-size car was re-named Malibu.

The theory "Rental cars are test drives, so they sell cars" doesnt work and hasn't worked for decades. If true, GM would be still 40% share. :P

Gas is not cheap anymore, and Pontiac is not a company that "makes" cars, they SELL what GM makes. Not everyone wants a race car, and CAFE is still the law of the car sales fleet. The real world couldn't care less about Pontiac's image being "ruined" by a 4 cylinder car. It would sell, and the sun would still come up tomorrow. Back in the 1960's 'glory days', Pontiac actually sold more station wagons, sedans, and 6 cylinder cars than the GTO's. Some don't understand BUSINESS. You need to have bread and butter to sell, to support the desserts.

Somebody is living in the past.

If GM closed the "Poletown" D-H plant, there would be heck to pay, after all the buildings torn down, lawsuits, and tears shed to build it! I see Crossovers going in before any RWD big cars. And remember BOF fans, Zeta is unibody.

"Ron Zarella"? wake up! "AMC numbers"? Look at Jeep's

People are complaining that the Lucurne won't be #1 large car anymore. but Buick isn't a high volume brand. Also, they need to sell more profitable units instead of the seep discounted money losers. Having a new car to promate, rather then an old one with $6000 off, is a better long term strategy. Also, to the Car and Driver reader type complaining becasue the car isn't a 100% new platform. No, the Asians do not have "all new" each generation. And anyone who isn't biased would know this.

Not GM haters, but realists. GM can't live in the pst and think that they can put cladding on a car and say "it's different, pay more". Olds was a lost cause, and all the cryers had not bought a new one since 1977. Get over it, and move on. GM shoulda merged Olds with Saturn, avoided lawsuits and payouts. Just said 'here's new product, sell Saturns or get lost.'

When those workers are sitting around should be required to take classes in real world skills to get them another job, once the gravy train ends.

So many years GM stuck with the 3800 cuz it was 'good enough' for loyalists and fleets. Now they finally gotta get with the times.

"Chevy does not make Buicks and Pontiacs and Cadillacs" No, GM makes the cars!!!!!! Go to most GM plants and you will see that the Buick Lucerne is made along side the DTS, and the GP is makde with the Impala and LaCrosse. And the precious Olds Alero was on the line with the Grand Am. Do people actually think that Chevy and Buikc still design and make all separate parts, and all?? People who still think the divisions are 'car companies" better wake up and smell reality. This kind of "fiefdom" thinking is what contributed to GM's slide.

You show a valid point. A GM loyalist embraces badges, while the real world couldn't care less about 100 year old names and the same car offered at other GM brands. All the Buicks mentioned above (except the Rivs and Wildcat) were cookie cutter cars, especially the Skyhawk and Century, with just different trim. [The '90 PA was still the bland Box, the 1991-96 was better.] But to someone who just wants the best car for their $, they are not goign to base buying decision on brand name trim. No more badge jobs like the U body vans and Equinox/Torrnent, but more differentiation like the G body Lucurne an DTS or the GP and LaCrosse.

People blame liberals for GM sliding down. But what did "King Bush" say about the domestic auto company's troubles? "They gotta learn to compete". Not, "lets ban all ferrin cars". If someone as staunch a GM fan as Josh thinks the cuts are needed, you know one has to face reality.