FUTURE_OF_GM

This is just getting stupid.... The Obama administration wants GM at 3 divisions? ORLY? I thought they weren't "in the business of running car companies" And besides, what the hell is the point of GMC without Pontiac or GMC. Not to mention, this KILLS GM's global presence, so what the f*ck is thee point anyway? Do they think GM will survive on a DOWN NA market alone?!?! Looks like the Obama administration is using this as an opportunity to euthanize GM and Chrysler, except make it appear as if the companies killed themselves.

Maybe Chevy, but most likely Ford. (for which I voted)

LOL... Yep... This company is HELL BENT on surviving and reinventing itself... LOL

Ignorance? I don't see the logic behind it either.

LOL.. Not yet.. But the Saab 9-5 (upcoming) is VERY similar. Not to mention, the next Impala looks to be almost the same exact car. LOL, okay And the G6 looks and is tuned like the Malibu?!?! Yeah... No identical interior or anything... You're grasping at straws... The G6 looks nothing like any GM product, not to mention, it has variants that aren't found anywhere else in the GM empire. And the Vibe, Solstice and G8 are all 100% unique. GMC is not an issue because it's profitable. (If GM is seriously considering phasing out GMC, then they deserve to die. Because that's common sense stuff) So could the LaX or the Lucerne And that matters why? Last time I checked, a Ferrari was impractical, but they sure do sell a $h!load of them. (relatively speaking) And the current Lax and Lucerne aren't?!?! Ohh.... A model made by the best auto company on the planet (to all the sheep) And that's a bad thing? NOW you're talkin' *cough* Cop out *cough*

Simple: GM lacks the resources, patience and the talent to correctly market the division to stand on it's own and prosper, Want proof? Look to Oldsmobile and Saturn. (especially Olds -- this occured when GM was mighty and healthy) Buick will get a "BRILLIANT" new line up of cars, the sales will FAIL to materialize and we'll be celebrating (since most of you like doing that with GM divisions now) it's death.

Because the multiple brands, albeit largely the same in some cases, provide the revenue for this to happen. You don't just lop off half of the products an organization makes, and expect them to operate as if nothing ever happened... Wait and see... GM will die a long death if Chapter 11 is utilized.

And this was exactly my point in all of the P.A.G threads when I would say "another american company USED to pave the way for foreign entities to prosper." or "forced to selflessly save that which couldn't be saved unless it was as a parasite on a once healthy american horse." It's likely that Saab will become MORE popular around the world now, and CERTAINLY with the press (As Jaguar has -- Once it's not american owned, it's suddenly !!!1!! FANTASTIC !!!111!!)

LOL, yeah... Because Ford and Chrysler (who are in better or the same financial shape) have done it SO WELL. ORLY? Is that why market share was a core component in the strategy submitted? Keep the five remaining and ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A PLAN FOR ONCE. We ALL know it can and will work, if only GM would commit and get 'the basics' right. But I guess that's too much to ask...

LOL... Yeah, because that would fly.... LOL, Wow... Condescending, as always. (If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black)

Then when Buick fails to attract the targeted demographic, you can kill it and move cadillac down market to take up the slack. Then when Cadillac loses all of it's (remaining) prestige and competes with Chevy on the MSRP point, you can kill it... Then you'll have.... Oh, wait... (Get the picture?)

+1 This is why I feel that GM is accepting defeat... They are closing the company down (gradually, as their market dries up) and bowing out... Then again, they've been doing this for 25 years in some respects.

Umm.... You also said that Zeta would die, the Camaro would be so expensive that it wouldn't sell and that Saab "had friends" that would ensure it's survival at the expense of a few core GM divisions... We all "say sh*t" And we're ALL right 50% of the time.

I though GMC had a small global footprint, no? Not to mention, the loss of Hummer will CERTAINLY open up new markets for them (If GM is smart) What Buick can I NOT find at a Chevy or Cadillac dealership again?!?!?

It's too good to be true though.... GM's stupidity has shown no limit, and now with the government forcing their hand (with the scalpel in it)... Well, lets just say, that's a WHOLE lot of ignorance at the helm.

Couldn't agree more...

A few thoughts... 1) No one is 'out to get' Buick here... Try being a Pontiac fan if you think Buick is hated around here. 2) I have a hard time thinking GMC would not be included in the "good" category, unless 'future consideration' (i.e. trucks continuing to go lower in sales) is used as an excuse to exclude it. 3) I think Buick is also a good bet because of it's strong position in China and because something needs to bridge the gap between Chevy and Cadillac. Not to mention, what is the point of GMC existing without Buick? I also think Fritz might've tipped the cards too with his comments... FEASIBLY (meaning it's possible, but I don't think it's a good idea) Buick could become THE middle brand between Chevy and Caddy. All GMC's could be rebadged as Buicks. With the 2 possible exceptions being; 1) GM no longer is considered a global company, in which case the game is over anyway. or 2) they think that Cadillac can be cheapened to cover the ground Buick occupies (like Northstar said) 4) I have a hard time thinking GM would try and bust up the B/P/GMC dealers, since they are numerous and could be a HUGE asset in the future. Therefore, I think that Pontiac also has a good chance of coming along unless GM thinks it can sell just Buick and GMC in the middle ground and survive the dealer liability (which IS highly likely) So here is how I think it'll shake out: MOST LIKELY: Chevrolet-Buick-Cadillac NEXT MOST LIKELY: Chevrolet-Cadillac NEXT MOST LIKELY: Chevrolet-Buick/GMC-Cadillac LEAST LIKELY: Chevrolet-Buick/Pontiac/GMC-Cadillac I don't think Chapter 11 is a wise idea anyway... I think it will just prolong the death of GM, and make the company a zombie. I do know 2 things though... 1) I probably will NOT buy from a post-bankruptcy GM unless the product is so compelling that it'll make me forget about the crimes against it's history that GM will have committed. 2) Chapter 7 for especially Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer (and Saab, to an extent) kind of makes me happy because I know there is at least a SMALL chance that some company might snatch the brands up and give them the luster that they've apparently been denied at GM for far too long. (Hey, we all can dream)

I can't say that I blame Opel for what they did... They really didn't have a choice, if what Forster says is true.

I just couldn't get through it without laughing..... I mean, it's so ....OUT THERE.... that I don't even have to rip it apart. Jesus, man... You all know how I like to use exaggerated techniques in my rants and articles, but this guy... LOL... I mean, REALLY?!? FWIW, I did leave a comment on the sfgate page. Anyone who reads this drivel and has one iota of common sense can tell that this guy apparently got raped by a Plymouth Superbird when he was young, or something. (How else could his hatred for all that is fun be explained?)

Good review for a BETTER product than the outgoing SRX. Not to mention, the new CTS wagon SLAYS the outgoing SRX anyway. Cadillac is doing exactly the right thing IN THIS SEGMENT. Doesn't look like an Equinox to me....

YAY! The future! Looks like cars will no longer be allowed... What's that you say? You want to drive yourself?!?! LOLOLOLOLOLOL..... NOT ALLOWED! GM, the USV company... Too bad I'm not ultra small and have no desire to EVER drive an ultra small vehicle. But alas, I guess GM has to kiss the greenies/medias asses somehow.

68 is a second class citizen on this board (just like I am and just like balthazar is) because we see things differently. (correctly/clearly:D) Therefore, just like it's okay to pick on second class citizens in society, it's okay to pick on second class citizens in our community. Because, after all, what's different is scary to most. There is a classism that exists on this board that makes me sick. As for the patriotism... Nobody gives a f@#k about "america" anymore. It's all about ME and I Then again, I feel hypocritical because, as you all know, "america" is nd has been dead to me for years now. I couldn't give three $h!s about a country that betrayed me and all that I love. As for the conspiracy theory.... Well, even if it is a conspiracy theory, I'd rather read and have an intelligent discussion about it instead of looking over 14 more lame ass "Excitement" threads. I feel like I'm on a board with a bunch of people who can't grow pubes yet.

LMFAO... What a dumb bastard.

The plan is to introduce Buick vehicles as they phase out Pontiac vehicles according to Laneve. I certainly hope they succeed, but I fear that selling a Buick to a Pontiac buyer, much less an upgrading Nissan or Honda buyer, will be impossible. Buick is weak all around, unless GM can exploit it's badge prestige (old school luxury and excellent reliability) And this is partially GMs OWN fault for reducing the brand to a niche circa 2005-06. I think the Opel to Buick transition is a natural to us, because we KNOW what the brands both represent and can draw parallels. But to the average consumer (the one who matters) GM is going to need one HELLUVA advertising budget to convey the message. And I don't think they can/will pull it off. GM, and the rest of Detroit needs to understand that you can't just "build good cars" and expect people to come drive them... This isn't the 70s anymore and the big three don't have the luxury of being the default choice. I've been saying that this is the very fight for their lives (Detroit) for 4 years now and that they should be of an eye-for-an-eye, seek and destroy mentality... But hey, what do I know? Pontiac is weak on image... And that's why it, IMO, would be easier to fix than Buick. (Not that I want Buick to go away) It already sells in numbers and with the right Opel/Holden products and LESS marketing than the Buick fix, Pontiac could be an iron horse of strength again. GMC is what keeps the channel alive and everyone knows it... But with the renewed media focus on trucks = bad and GMC = clones, they are/will be the next target for termination. We're already starting to see that in the countless editorials that call for the demise of the brand (despite it being PURE profit and GM's second best seller) The lukewarm reaction to the Terrain (the media will try to kill this hot product in a very hot segment -- not through downright degradation, because the product is too strong for that, but through begrudging "why does it exist" and "I guess it's... Okay..." or "buy the same thing cheaper at Chevy" commentary) and the constant Terrain = Equinox/GMC = Chevy drumbeat of the media as is. Not to count, Obama supporters don't like trucks, remember? mark my words, GMC will be the new whipping boy now that Pontiac has been 'dealt with' and Buick is so weak that it's doomed. But hey, what do I know?

LOL @ moltar... Yeah, I can see the resemblance. I think the Graphyte was a nod to the Acadia. (I see some Graphyte influence in the Acadia)