enzl

You are entitled to disagree, but I work with GM products everyday--the Malibu ads are everywhere--the cars are nowhere to be found---does that make sense to you? Our region is shedding dealers at a 1 per quarter clip---is that good? Monthly sales targets haven't been reached in my region in 2 years---they're currently at 75% for the year! Impy v. Malibu will be cross-shopped by almost everyone--they're sitting across from each other in the same showroom! (& will for 2 model yrs, at least!) I repeat: Where will the lost volume be regained? Answer: It won't.

Unless purchased under the CPO program, I cannot recommend any 9-3's. We sell approximately 150 highline Used vehicles/month and the Saabs have persistent issues that require expertise and patience to resolve. Other than a lease or a real true bargain, I can't in good conscience suggest that anyone buy a 9-3...

I'm still not sold...each and every example above just means that GM will be plugging holes in past volumes---Impala v. Malibu = net no increase in sales Camry sales would go to imports first, then maybe Malibu Corolla is ugly/bland now---and its selling at record high rates--a new one will continue that trend The Pacifica's been a rental queen for 2 years...where are retail sales going? The Accord is out 2 months--lets see where sales go (dissatisfied Camry intenders anyone?) Buick has to replace 3 models with one...sales of the 2 other sedans they sell are tanking The ads I've seen don't indicate that GM's head has been extracted fully from its posterior and the CTS is great--but save GM great?--I don't think so. It'll cannibalize STS sales. Plus the Housing market is taking a dump, draggin GMT900's and their competitors with it. I'm hopeful, but the reality indicates further sinking sales, albeit at higher margins (hopefully).

I wasn't directly interpreting what he was saying, I understood the implications regarding the proportion of sales shifting overseas...but that still doesn't answer where the sales increases will come from to recapture market share and increase NA volume--his statements almost concede that NA will be less important, thus when lowered expectations are realized, Lutz can state that that was the plan. Keep in mind that GM was handing out 30 (share %) buttons not too long ago...I believe there might have been some 28 or 29 buttons as well. Clearly, that hope has been abandoned. Again, there's no indication of where increased volumes will come from...therefore, one can only conclude that a continued downward trend of volume will be the result. Obviously, the new Union contract takes some of the heat off of the need for volume, but other than an overall market decline which boosts % share, I can't see how GM recaptures volume---thus endangering more dealers and more suppliers---which ends up hurting GM in the long/short term.

Desireable is good. GM surviving is better.You've completely made my point for me. There is nothing to dissuade me from thinking that GM is shooting for an 18-20% share of the US market---our buddy Mr. Lutz all but confirmed it with his recent remarks---that leaves alot of dealers, factory workers and suppliers in a serious sh!thole. Pessimistic, maybe. But this is not what management has been promising over the last few years...and keep in mind, GM has made enormous commitments to keeping lots of capacity here in the US--kicking the can down the road is what got GM to its knees in the first place!

You're right, I believe the highest months were close to a third, so, technically, it is an improvement. My issue is with the semantics that go into GM's claims, as they have again violated their own promise to reduce fleeting, another example of managerial amnesia over at the Tubes.I believe the fairest way to measure performance is against the rest of the marketplace, so if GM's numbers were down less than the market as a whole, that is progress--it also means marketshare increase. I just don't see where a steady increase will come from---the Malibu will steal sales from the Impala and noone is foreseeing an improvement in the housing market, so GMT900's will probably not see much volume increases. The CTS will sell (partially at the expense of the STS), the G8 is small volume, the Astra will not equal Ion sales, and any other increases will be wiped out by aging Buick cars, Pontiac's continued death spiral and the continued mediocrity of small Chevy's...if anyone sees a realistic opportunity for growth, I'm all ears.

We have 5 coming in next week and we're a fairly large store...I haven't seen one up close yet, but we have had some interest from customers who were surprised that the ads are out but the cars are not yet available. It'll be interesting to see how quick we turn them and how much of an effect they'll have on Impala sales.

Can you say 'Fleet'? Again, for the 2nd of 3 months of 'up' sales, we see no mention of a reduction in fleeting... According to my calculations, more than 1 of 4 october sales were to fleet customers...

You've made my point... OnStar, Head's Up dispays & Night vision have not been runaway hits or necessities, by any stretch of the imagination. Other automakers have abandoned OnStar for real time Navi, Head's up display never caught on and Night Vision was dropped by Caddy. XM is a GM investment, not a GM technology--that's why it appears in all of their vehicles...the quiet fact is that Sirius is currently cleaning their clock in terms of audience acquisition and growth of subscriber base---I believe that even with a head start, Sirius has closed much of the gap in audience & their re-up rate upon initial subscription expiriation is much higher as well. This doesn't mean that GM doesn't do many things well---their Automatic trannies, pushrod V8's, and many new products have been on the right side of excellence, however, the Hybrid PR successes took them completely by surprise and ceded a valuable position to a deady enemy in Toyota.

*New Tech, not vehicles themselves---I can't think of anything they've brought out first that has become an 'industry standard' or must have....

While I don't think GM has successfully introed anything in the last 30 years or so, I'll concede the point that Toyota has only refined other ideas--but the Hybrid system they developed is clearly a bridge technology to the future of the auto, as most vehicles will be 'hybrids' of some kind in the future.I can't remember a Car Rag really getting behind the Hybrid thing---but C&D cetrtainly isn't the place to get a rave review of a true BOF SUV anyway. If Dan Neil (LA Times) can get behind GM products, you know the worm is turning!

Huh?Share will be down, again, this year.

No pleasing you guys, huh. A decent to good review, an excellent product for its intended audiance (not gearheads, BTW) & some amazing EPA MPG #'s and that's not enough? If the true cost of $15-20k per vehicle is to be believed---and the question of what to do with old hybrid batteries (Prius or Tahoe's) still exists, I don't think it unreasonable for a reviewer to bring up the Diesel Question--and I think it rather flattering that the MB diesel in particular is being compared... The overall 'environmental friendliness' of Hybrids have been debated ad-nauseum on these boards (mostly in connection with belittling Toyonda's efforts)...Why shouldn't a car-rag make the same observation when applying their analysis to a new (to GM) technology? Especially given GM's less than stellar track record with new tech?

I would have like to have seen them try the rest of the lineup here in the states, as a 3/5 dr. hatch could be a platform for the diesel/stop-start tech--- have a unique shape and crazy MPG. The coupe looks like alot of fun!

The car is sharp. But I'd let someone else take the first 1-2 yr/ depreciation hit and buy one just to be different....

I don't get it. An article that is largely positive, including quotes from a guy who had a movie that painted GM in a poor light admitting that his opinion has changed, and you guys are still not happy? The truth is, that much like Toyota's 'full size' Tundra is now being judged against the Big 3's best, the Volt will be judged against the best the market has to offer when it appears! The 'real' hybrids from GM will be out this year and next. Noone here has driven them. I hope they're great, but the same bias you accuse the media of clouds your judgement when it comes to anything GM...I find it hard to believe that the irony isn't apparent...

As one of the naysayers, I'll put in my .02: Big Shrug, as the speed with which Toyota has reached their current sales is still nothing short of astounding. As many here have stated before, the sales crown really doesn't matter--its profitability & product. GM deserves alot of credit for their recent successes, but, unfortunately, all of that means nothing if the future product and resultant profits aren't there. With the Union & Healthcare issues retired, there are no more excuses available...nor is there alot of margin for error. Toyota has now exhibited some weakness---it's up to the competition to take advantage of those opennings...

Oy. GM makes a boneheaded move and the rush to defend the indefensible is on! The bottom line is the bottom line...some people will not consider a vehicle without Navi (& BT, but to a lesser extent.) GM wouldn't be providing the option in ANY vehicles if they really felt that it wasn't needed. The MARKET demands the availability. There are many other ways to throw your money away with dumber options--chrome wheels, spoilers & metallic paint upgrades come to mind--but those options remain available. If GM can pocket the $, who cares?

Calling a spade a spade...this is a warmed over Aura---which is really just a great Epsilon (circa 2005/6). Good, but not great circa 2006/07. This thing has to compete into the 11/12 model years... Many of the products that Lutz has massaged have come out good to great...this one is merely good, at best. There is a general failure to realize that you've got to give people reasons to get OUT of the Camcordima rut. I don't believe that this Malibu will do it. It's especially frustrating when the GMT900's, CTS, Lambdas & Zetas appear to be great...the excellence is trapped in the organization somewhere...it just needs to be consistently there, especially in a segment as big as mid-sized family sedans!

Here's my take: The Aspen/Durango plant was a goner long before the run-up in fuel prices. It was going to a GC platform anyway, with the production realities of the GC & the failure of the Commander, this just seals the deal. The Pacifica has always been a flop--although I don't mind the vehicles themselves. The Crossfire was also doomed. So you've already got some planned consolidation. The rest is easy. The Compass is likely gone (I think that plant will be sending spare capacity overseas.) The Sebring needs an emergency redo (or a shortened LY replacement, as mentioned somewhere else.) The PT will likely be supplanted by a Chrysler Journey-twin, so net-net. there's no loss of product. If the Chinese send us a Dodge A/B segment car--you're still looking at mostly a similarly sized lineup, as the Viper may be finished. I'm just not sure how many models will realistically get cut, as most mentioned above seem to be relatively recent intros.

I think '09 for the full hybrid (& '10 for the plug-in?), IIRCAll of these vehicles do nothing a 500-1000lb lighter wagon/MPV could do. I find it odd that that fact gets little play outside of fan boards & enthusiast press-types. The mileage figures quoted are impressive for a BAS setup, no doubt.

Anyone else see Seat Altea? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...%3Dgao%26sa%3DX

Credit where credit is due. Sales up in an industry-wide weak market. Excellent news. (Our Chevy store broke the single month retail sales record for our location this month as well.)

*No other fullsizers have been similarly tested (for side impacts) Which kind of makes the claims a little disingenuous....It's the only X in a class of 1.

The jobs bank will expand geographically, so that an opening more than 50 miles away (which is the old limit) must be filled by available employees before they can qualify for the jobs bank...They curtailed, but did not eliminate the benefit.