'Substantial doubt' for GM future

[Nickdfresh]

Or the headless ex-employee laying in the street...

[Nickdfresh]

...

I do not believe the quality of the American cars is much of an issue anymore. Maybe for the smaller disposable ones. But, for the midsize and up, I'd say our quality is now as good as any.

...

The irony being that GM's worst car quality-wise is made in Korea by Daewoo: the hideous machine known as the Aveo...

[twonabomber]

They spend more time trying to figure out how to get out of work, than they do, doing their fucking job.

i worked in a UAW shop that was a Ford supplier. i agree with this statement.

[hideyoursheep]

Goddam GM! They could have introduced the new Camaro to compete with the retro-looking 05 Mustang and taken some of that market away from Ford, who basically ran the table on that one.

Mustangs are a dime a dozen now. And all the aftermarket add-ons they came up with? Faghettaboutit!

GM dropped the ball. So did Dodge, who waited too long to introduce the Challenger.
The Chargers are gag-nasty ugly.
I never purchased a car based solely on appearance in the past, but if I were going to use that as a reason for any of the newly re-introduced domestic sport models, I would have to consider it as an investment, and would definitely pass the chance at a Charger, which looks like the fucking trucks in the front, and the Mustang, which are so plentiful, you can't unload it unless you're willing to take a loss. None would be daily drivers of course...not too practical.

[Terry]

Just seems like a sinkhole at the moment...

How much cash has been dumped into that money pit over the last two decades, never mind the last two years...

In all honesty, with all the money being thrown around these days, I'd just as soon see every already previously on-the-books head-of-household in the US be given one million tax-free dollars and let these businesses go the way of the dodo bird if that's what ends up happening.

Either that, or just let the government step in, totally take over these dying car industries and undertake a massive retooling of the existing plants combined with new construction for new plants and just go green. New American jobs for American workers.

The recent government stimulus packages are bold in terms of the cost, but not nearly bold enough in terms of scope and ambition; just tinkering around with old ideas.

Shoot the fucking moon or don't bother to belly up to the bar; no such thing as a little bit pregnant.

[hideyoursheep]

i worked in a UAW shop that was a Ford supplier. i agree with this statement.

I can honestly say that about nearly half of the people everywhere I've ever been....including the Army.

[Romeo Delight]

I can't get past the fact that someone paid the sticker price for a new car.

[Nickdfresh]

I can't get past the fact that someone paid the sticker price for a new car.

Not unless it was a high demand item. I understand if you want a Minicooper, you're paying sticker for it...

[Big Train]

Legacy costs (based on 2005 numbers, add another four years...ouch)

Why GM is so oppressed by legacy costs - BusinessWeek

Why GM is so oppressed by legacy costs
Posted by: Michael Mandel on July 13

I’ve been trying to understand why General Motors is so oppressed by legacy costs, and I think I finally have got it. Look at this table:

1985 Latest* change
employment (thousands) (percent)
General Motors 811 324 -60%
Honda 54 132 145%
Toyota 80 264 231%
*2004 for GM, 2003 for Honda and Toyota
Data: Compustat
GM, a company with 300,000 employees, is supporting the number of retirees appropriate for a company with a workforce of 800,000, almost triple the size.

Meanwhile, Toyota and Honda, both growing companies, are supporting a retiree base which is relatively small compared to their current workforces.

Definitely a case where GM is still being punished today for mistakes it made in the past.

As for the companies, GM and Chrysler aren't going to survive in their current forms. GM is now asking foreign governments for assistance. They will be parted out and the stronger parts will thrive.

As for the Camaro, they made a huge mistake in going with the standard big motor. If they made a "green" decision, say going with a big diesel motor, or some hybrid, you could get a better reaction. They were clearly trying to market to the mid-50's guy who wants one more crack at youth. Collective yawn..