andy82471

I would hate to be a GM stock holder right now. :( While Chapter 11 might not entirely be out of the question sometime in the future, IMO it is still too early to talk about it. I am sure GM still has a few weapons ( upcoming GMT 900, Saturn Aura, Crossover SUVs, etc) up its sleaves. But right now things do look really really bad. :unsure:

Here is the article: GENERAL Motors will this week reveal that sales collapsed in October, taking its US market share to a 25-year low and fuelling fresh fears that the world’s largest carmaker is heading towards bankruptcy. Its US sales dropped 26% compared with the same month last year, according to early estimates, putting its monthly US market share at 20.5% – the lowest since at least 1980. The figures were compiled by Deutsche Bank analyst Rod Lache. Goldman Sachs also believes October will be the worst month for US car and truck sales in years. GM – whose brands include Cadillac, Pontiac and Hummer – is confronting its biggest financial crisis for 13 years. A bankruptcy filing by the Detroit carmaker would spell the end of an era for US industry and change global car manufacturing for ever. Last week, it emerged that Toyota is poised to unseat GM as the world’s biggest carmaker measured by units produced. The Japanese giant, which already dwarfs the US carmaker in profitability and value, intends to ramp up production next year. The GM sales slump – blamed on high fuel prices, unease about the US economy and the end of special summer offers for its staff -– is the latest in a stream of bad news to hit GM, all sparking market fears that the carmaker could go bankrupt. General Motors has denied it is drawing up any plans to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Last week, America’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intensified an inquiry into how GM accounts for its pensions and employee benefits. So far this year, GM has posted record losses of $3.8bn (£2.1bn, E3.2bn) and its crucial credit ratings have been reduced to junk by the main rating agencies. The company is burdened by $90bn in pension obligations and a $77bn healthcare plan. Two weeks ago, it was forced to renegotiate the terms of its healthcare plan with the United Autoworkers Union. It managed to agree a deal that will cut $3bn a year from costs. On Friday, General Motors recalled 106,000 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to fix a door latch. Sales of the SUVs have been falling faster than those of other vehicles as fuel prices remain high. The spectre of bankruptcy at GM loomed again last week as the markets digested the news that the SEC had issued subpoenas related to GM’s financial reporting for pension and other post-employment benefits, and to transactions and obligations between the company and auto-parts supplier Delphi, which itself entered Chapter 11 earlier this month. Until now, the SEC inquiry, which is also looking at other companies including rival carmaker Ford, has been informal. GM is Delphi’s former parent and its biggest customer. The carmaker may be responsible for $12bn in benefits at Delphi because of guarantees it offered when it spun off its former parts arm in 1999. Analysts have warned that Delphi’s Chapter 11 filing under the weight of high wage, healthcare and pension costs, may foreshadow a similar drastic move by the world’s largest auto maker, whose labour woes could be compounded by the crisis at its supplier. Bank of America analyst Ron Tadross said earlier this month: “It is our view that bankruptcy protection for GM is increasingly looking like a reasonable way to properly address the company’s retirement liabilities and job security benefits.” Steve Miller, chairman and chief executive of Delphi, said last week that unless Delphi’s bankruptcy process goes smoothly, it could “fatally wound” GM. GM’s North American operations have been in crisis for some time, with commentators accusing it of spotting consumer trends too late. It has lagged Toyota in developing fashionable petrol-electric hybrids and launched the retro Chevrolet HHR after sales for retro vehicles peaked at other carmakers. Last week the Detroit car company revealed plans to launch several crossover models – vehicles that have the interior space of SUVs but are built on the car rather than truck chassis. But the new models in the Buick, GMC and Saturn brands will have to compete with the crossover models that Toyota, Ford and DaimlerChrysler already have on the market. In another desperate bid to get the ailing carmaker back on track, chief executive Richard Wagoner is seeking a buyer for all or part of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation, its finance arm. But there are fears the SEC investigation will hinder the sale. GM is hurting the most among the US carmakers but Ford and the Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler all experienced dismal sales performance last month. * On Saturday, GM signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese carmaker SAIC to explore opportunities for energy efficient and environmentally friendly hybrid cars in China. http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.a...2E-D07EB5AA1CEE Those GMT 900 better do damn good in terms of sales.

http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.a...2E-D07EB5AA1CEE A sobering article on GM's problem. That combined with the SEC investigation, one has to wonder if bankruptcy remains the only available option for GM. HOPE NOT :unsure:

Actually this is one car that can give the Z06 a run for its money. And there is a huge Skyline fan base in the USA especially in California.

Yes, nobody in their right mind would even dare to touch GM. Reminds me of a news I saw about 2 weeks ago about a python trying to eat an alligator only to explode due to the huge size of the gator. That is what will happen to GE, Toyota, or anyone else trying to aquire GM.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6448213/did/6895261 In April, Toyota's Highlander hybrid will go 0-to-60 almost a full second faster than a conventional Highlander. I think MSNBC is more correct than FORBES. Other reviewers also said that the HH is quicker than the regular H V6. But nobody buys a hybrid for drag racing anyway. People who buyhybrids rightly or wrongly think they are helping the enviornment, lessening our dependance on foreign oil etc. I agree, from a purely financial point of view, Hybrids do not make any sense. And a front heavy hybrid certainly isnt going be a good handling vehicle. But a lot of people are guided by hype rather than logic.

Actually the HH ( Highlander Hybrid ) is a lot faster than the regular H. The electric motor really gives it some great low end torque. I believe 0-60 for the HH is like 7.3 seconds or something like that whereas the regular V6 H goes to 60 in 8.5 seconds. Although as has been pointed out, mpg gain is minimal only about 2 or so. But HH was never meant to be a fuel efficient hybrid but rather a performance hybrid.

Look, I understand your frustration but your solution is extremely unrealistic and unlikely to happen. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are likely to embrace your solution. Maybe you can start a third party called the People's Party or something like that and run on a Pro Domestic platform. I am sure there are people who will embrace your solution. Until that happens let us be realistic. The only way GM can recover from their downward spiral is to (a) reign in legacy costs (B) build cars that will actually sell close to MSRP and not at Employee Discount. The Solastice and the Corvette are good examples that GM can do it right sometimes. Now that success has to spread towards the bread and butter sedan aka the mid size and full size cars. This an area where GM until recently had pretty much conceded to the Asians. They put all their faith in light trucks and SUVs. With gas prices hovering around $2.75 a gallon that is one market that will not be growing hence GMs huge drop in market share. Maybe GM has seen the light of day and start concentrating more on compact, mid and full size cars rather than BOF trucks and SUVs. If they want to be successful in selling cars their cars will have to be like GMT 900 aka great interior combined with class leading powertrain and fuel efficiency. Can we petition the moderators for a spell checkers. Cmon guys we really one.

Stop living in a dream world. It ain't gonna happen. The new TUNDRA and SEQUOIA are going to be built in Bush's home state. You really think he will be stupid enough to impose tariff on Texas built TUNDRAS ? I dont think so.

And who in your opinion is that traitor ? The consumers who buy Japanese products? I think that is an extreme statment. :o

That is so true. Ford is slowly killing the Ranger by refusing to change. Just compare the TACO and the FRONTIER to the RANGER and it is hardly surprising that FORD is steadily losing ground.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/051019/toyota_recall.html?.v=1 Seems like some of the complaints about shattered sunroof due to faulty glass was right after all. Oh boy Toyota is suffering Growing Pains.

Well the only problem with that scenario is that we don't know when and if Zeta is coming. And given GM's financial crunch it will be difficult for GM to finance any brand new platforms for quite some time. The deal with the UAW sounds promising although too early to tell if there will be any meaningful cost savings. But GM does have two good DOHC powertrains that it could have used. I think the base engine should have been the 3.6L VVT engine used in the LaCrosse and not the antiquated 3.8L engine. The 4.6L engine sounds promising although I am dissapointed they didn't use the Higher Output version of that engine. It is these small shortcomings in GM's execution that causes them to lose market share month after month year after year.

If we all started driving Priuses, we would probably do more harm than good to the environment. Can you imagine all Ni-Cad battery that has to be disposed every year. That by itself would be an environmental nightmare. As a Chemist I know Ni is a toxic metal that can cause cancer. And I imagine the recycling process of all those disposed battery pack could itself cause atmospheric pollution. If you want to save gas and do your part to help out the enviornment, the best solution would be to buy a 4 cylinder economy car that meets ULEV emission and gets close to 40 mpg.

The BMW 3 series is a luxuary car in your opinion ? I don' think so. It is BMW's entry level sedan that appeals to people who cannot afford the 7 series but still wants to enjoy a Bimmer. Same thing with the LEXUS ES which is basically somewhat luxurious Camry. But the LUCERNE is suppose to be BUICK's top of the line flagship car. Do you know any other company that puts a sub 200 HP V6 engine in their flagship ? GM better correct this situation soon or very soon you will find LUCERNE selling at EMPLOYEE PRICING>

A car with a 3.8L 195 HP pushrod V6 does not qualify as a luxuray car. It also brings down the value of the V8 powered versions. GM really goofed on this one. GM really really cannot afford more slipups like this.

Found it. 21/29 for SE V6 20/28 for LE and XLE V6 http://www.toyota.com/camry/specs_v6.html

20/29 I think. Btw, thanks to SAE's new rating system the Camry SE V6 Hp is down to 210.

MEMO TO GM : Don't do it. Unless you want to sell it later at a loss.

Toyota does own Heavy truck maker HINO so it is unlikely they would need ISUZU for the their diesel engine. HINO is more than capable of supplying diesel engine to TOYOTA should the need arise. Toyota is a fairly conservative company that really doesnt believe in buying out the competition unlike GM. So any ISUZU buyout by Toyota anytime soon is highly unlikely.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story...972E93065C67%7D So much for Toyota not aquiring the competition to expand. Wonder what Subaru really has to offer anyway ?

Toyota will not buy GM. It doesn't need GM to be the global No.1 automaker. Toyota typically expands market share by building new products and not aquiring financially struggling automaker like GM. Buying GM and all its legacy costs would be suicidal for Toyota. And also GM still has too much fat and not enough meat.

You are giving GM and its fan a bad name. While GM certainly appreciates you buying the Cobalt it doesnt like you being the spokesman for them.

I am not upset at all. But it is hard to believe those people you try to shame will remain your friends. I know if someone try to shame me for anything they won't be my friend. Plus, if your intention really is to make people switch from import to domestic, shaming them for their personal decision probably is not going to be the best method. As for my Camry costing more than the Malibu, I knew that fact before I purchased the car and I don't have any regrets for it.

The good thing about living in the USA ( and to a lesser extent Canada) is that we do have freedom. That includes the freedom to choose. I don't think just because your friend or colleague drives a Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura or any other imported car means he is stupid or dumb. In fact people who drive imports probably do a lot more research before choosing a car. A larger percentage of domestic buyers buy GM, FORD, DC out of loyalty. But I agree that the big2.5 has greatly improved their quality and are worth considering for anyone in the market looking for a new car. I myself am patiently waiting for the upcoming Saturn Aura. My present car is a 03 Camry LE V6 which serves my purpose pretty well. If the Aura gets good reviews I will trade my Camry for the Aura.