Johnny Quest

Not that I'm trying to be a naysayer, but.... All the new product (which is fantastic) is a product of the old GM, not the new GM. Nobody waved a magic wand and out popped new good-looking high-quality cars. They're not an indicator of how well business is doing under new management or how good new management is. Headcount is down. Good job. This on its own doesn't mean things have changed. How the company functions with fewer people is the real issue, and it's way too early to tell. As for customers, well, it's all about product, product, product. It's easy to sell good cars. GM realized their product flaws and made changes. The economy tanked before they could have an impact which is too bad. As for culture, well, in my view, it's still too early. Don't be fooled by PR focusing on the bankruptcy actions - selling of business units, dropping headcount, cutting costs. Where's leadership taking the company. Easy to say they can make decisions quickly - big deal - but can they make wise decisions quickly - and 90 days is way too early. Where's the vision, where's the direction... Not saying there isn't any, but don't be fooled - there is no substantial evidence of a change in culture yet. There has not been enough time to create a history yet. Everyone is excited now and can "play the game" for short periods. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. The real work has yet to be done. I've said it before, coming out of bankruptcy is not success. How about some humility on the part of management. Taking credit is easy. Taking responsibility is something else.

Without a fundamental shift, even if GM does "okay", GM will be much smaller (and to the chagrin of many US GM executives much less relevant in North America). GM needs a solid business person at the helm -- to hold senior management accountable -- and cut'em loose if they don't achieve. (Whether Fritz is good or not, doesn't matter - I'm not sure he can make it happen as he's jaded by the past...) I'd say folks will give GM one year, and only one year, to show it can change and there will not be a second bailout. The next 90 days will be critical. There are no more excuses. The tough decisions - the real ones - the ones that were never made were the downfall. Great cars, but not a great car company.... GM executives, the "old boys", should be ashamed, not because of the bankruptcy, but because of the institutional denial. Even if it wasn't their direct fault, even if it was the fault of the market or legacy decisions, or prior leadership, it doesn't matter. I don't mean it at a personal level - I mean that as an institution, leadership needs to accept that there is a problem. They failed to act. Again, they didn't do what needed to be done. Anyone left who is "political" needs to be booted - and fast. My concern is that the cutting - the salaried folks and the executive ranks - will be done in a political manner - the exact opposite of what is needed to ensure survival. Cars may be a passion, but a car company is a business. Again, there are no more excuses. Getting out of "bankruptcy" is not success. Any idiot, myself included, can run a businesses into the ground. It takes real geniuses to take what was once the world's largest company and destroy it.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it looks like the love child of a new Sentra and a BMW...

I just want to see what a screamin' chicken plastered over the hood would look like on a new Trans Am...

Look at the bright side. All those folks who want an Element will now have a choice...

What's the plural of Prius? Prii? Prix?

It brings to mind the old addage about Subaru....Ugly, and built to stay that way. The only reason Subarus sell is for the 4wd, not the looks, sort of like Toyotas - not for the looks, but the perceived quality superiority. New Englanders will buy them, no doubt, and park it next to their Prius.

My wife told me I can't trade my G8 yet - it's too new. I told her, no problem. I'll wait for the Camaro Z28 with the 500+ hp. That's where the G8 owners will go. I'd say G8 owners are loyal to big RWD, in your face, vehicles - car guys....

It'll be interesting to see if NH passes a seatbelt law before gay marriage.... Any bets?

There's a good G8 website... do a search for G8board. I'm not endorsing it in any way shape or form. It's not a commercial website - more of a user's group. In any event, there's also a dealer there who's selling low-mileage exec vehicles.)

Sad, but when I was in Toronto a couple weeks ago, they had at least four spankin' new '09 G8's in the Avis fleet at the airport. (Not GT's though.).

Also made me wonder. If the Ute is classed as a truck, wouldn't the duty be a lot higher. Maybe that's what killed it from coming to the US.

I'm not sure. I thought there was at least 2.5% from down under = $500 on $20k. Also, depends on where the Aussie dollar is in comparison.

I don't think Holden would import into the US, they're not low enough on the cost side - the duties would kill them.

At first I thought, I don't buy it. There's no reason to. But then again everything is for sale at a price. The real question is what's Buick worth to the Chinese...$5B, $10B, 20B$? If it's closer to the upper end, I could see it happening. GM wouldn't leave China though - maybe GM gives up Buick and continues to grow Chev in China with the DAT stuff and puts Cadillac up against Buick? The reference to "three brands" in the US makes sense if it's Chev, Cadillac and PBG. But then again, the only real winner Buick has in the US right now is the Enclave. Is there time to rebadge the LaCrosse as a Caprice? Or, maybe a Bonneville? I would hate to strand GMC dealers on their own in that it only sells trucks - so that can't be a serious option.