Whats up with GM????

[Moose]

I hear big changes are on the horizon...Doesnt everyone realize that after today (Election Day) that everything will be all right especially GM!!!!

 

[Rajunz]

Why is that, is the government going to "Bail Out" GM too?

 

[J.C.]

Why is that, is the government going to "Bail Out" GM too?

GM already asked and got the big middle finger from uncle sam!

 

[Bullard Anderson]

When you make cars that the consumer can no longer work on without going to a high price mechanic...well.....that's the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[Mike]

GM is going to ask for the money to buy chrysler again after the election. They also want GMAC back for more bailout money.

 

[jackass]

GM is going to ask for the money to buy chrysler again after the election. They also want GMAC back for more bailout money.

Now see.. i heard the current owners of Chrysler ar big money banker types.. and they offered a trade ...Chrysler for GMAC even swap....lol...

Billy

 

[chop]

I wonder what is going to happen to the GM backed teams? It's hard to see GM or any factory to continue to put $$$$$ into racing. The Big Three were @ Capital Hill with hat in hand seeking $25 Billion from Congress. I hope the Congress are race fans.

 

[clwill]

I wonder what is going to happen to the GM backed teams? It's hard to see GM or any factory to continue to put $$$$$ into racing.

I find it difficult to believe that any of the big three will renew any sponsorships that expire with the current auto market conditions. I'm sure they'll honor agreements outstanding, but I'm thinking this puts a lot of heat on the Mopar teams (DSR), the Force/Ford deals, Tasca's Quicklane deal, WJ's GM Performance Parts deal, the Pontiac/GMC sponsorships of NHRA, and others.

The marketing connection between drag racing and car sales has grown weaker over the last few years -- a long way from the "race on sunday, buy on monday" years. I would think it's difficult at best for the marketing people to sell millions in drag racing sponsorship expenses when the company is losing money hand-over-fist...

 

[yoda]

When you make cars that the consumer can no longer work on without going to a high price mechanic...well.....that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Dead on Steve... It's disturbing when folks that LOVE cars like we do HATE opening the hoods of their daily drivers..

But what really chapps my ass is when car manufacturers become BANKS, and then whine about having no money (even though we haven't actually heard WHERE the money went....).. Dealers here in Tucson are losing on average $100K a month on sales, and then add in the amount of belly up car loans that went bad, and you can bet that some of the Big 3 are wishing that they stayed over in Gasoline Alley instead of venturing over to Wall Street...

 

[D]

GM already asked and got the big middle finger from uncle sam!

$25 Billion is the middle finger? I think not.

S/F
D

 

[NCC250]

I find it difficult to believe that any of the big three will renew any sponsorships that expire with the current auto market conditions. I'm sure they'll honor agreements outstanding, but I'm thinking this puts a lot of heat on the Mopar teams (DSR), the Force/Ford deals, Tasca's Quicklane deal, WJ's GM Performance Parts deal, the Pontiac/GMC sponsorships of NHRA, and others.

The marketing connection between drag racing and car sales has grown weaker over the last few years -- a long way from the "race on sunday, buy on monday" years. I would think it's difficult at best for the marketing people to sell millions in drag racing sponsorship expenses when the company is losing money hand-over-fist...

Ford is commited to Force and Tasca. GM is out totally. Chrysler is in but on a limited basis.

Ive never been to one race and heard so many different things flying around. Usually, you blow it off and wait to see what happens but when you hear the same thing over and over I think there is something to it. Next year will be interesting to say the least.

 

[Demon]

When you make cars that the consumer can no longer work on without going to a high price mechanic...well.....that's the way the cookie crumbles.

That mechanic is high priced because of all the training he must go thru just to be able to work on the things.Not to mention the specialty tools that have to be purchased.

But it's not the mechanics fault.Blame that on our government and the EPA.

 

[Bobby Bennett]

The first key of a GM pullback is the "retirement" of Fred Simmonds, he was the largest reason for their involvement in the first place.

 

[NCC250]

The first key of a GM pullback is the "retirement" of Fred Simmonds, he was the largest reason for their involvement in the first place.

Agreed, 100% Theres nobody left to fight for the (drag) racing dollars.

 

[chop]

The first key of a GM pullback is the "retirement" of Fred Simmonds, he was the largest reason for their involvement in the first place.

Bobby

Did you have a story on this or a rumor? I haven't seen anything about it but don't doubt it @ all.

 

[vegasnitro]

When you make cars that the consumer can no longer work on without going to a high price mechanic...well.....that's the way the cookie crumbles.

They are no more or less complicated than Toyotas or BMWs or VWs ... yet their sales are still expanding.

The bottom line is that the big 3 build CRAP cars that NOBODY wants, so nobody buys them. If not for the F150, Ford would have been dead long ago. If not for SUVs and fleet purchases GM would have been dead long ago. If not for a government bailout back in the day and Daimler, Chrysler would have been dead long ago. The only good cars built in America, the average consumer can't afford (Vette, Viper, etc).

I travel for a living, and I am in a rental car EVERY week ... 90% of the time it is an American car (Impala, PT Cruiser, G6 and Fusion are the most common) and EVERY week when I get home, I get into my VW Jetta and I am like "Ahhhhh ... good to be home".

PS I am glad the cars have gotten too technical for the average mechanic. It normally means the car is more reliable for a longer period of time. Fuel Injection, distributorless ignitions, maintenance free batteries, synthetic oil and the like mean I spend more time driving my car and less time working on it.

 

[Mike]

Chris, you are incorrect. Toyota sales are down 30%.


And if Toyota builds such great cars then why in 07 did Toyota recall more cars than they sold.

 

[vegasnitro]

Chris, you are incorrect. Toyota sales are down 30%.


And if Toyota builds such great cars then why in 07 did Toyota recall more cars than they sold.

I never said they built "great cars". I said they were no more or less complicated than GMs, nullifying the shade-tree mechanic analogy for GMs sales being down.

Secondly, their year-over-year sales are down, but they are still increasing their market share in the USA versus the Big 3. Consumers are still buying more Camrys than they are Fusions or Impalas. EVERYONE's sales are down, Toyotas are down less.

 

[Moose]

Fred is gone and so are the dollars for WJ....what is next...we will have to wait and see more to follow!!!!!

 

[Bill]

You forgot to mention the VW has a higher price point than the comparable GM. Same goes for Toyota or Honda. When you rake in another $500-$1000 per car and aren't saddled with legacy costs, the picture improves considerably.

BTW, I upgraded to from VW's to MB's and guess which spend more time in the shop? I believe my daughter's 07 Jetta is the true hanger queen with more than twenty trips to the dealer.

The big three build fine cars. It's a perception problem they can't shake thanks to the media. BTW, how much support does Honda, Toyota, VW, etc. provide in the NHRA? Zippo!