General Motors

[wrench459]

Hummer is a goner.
Whos next
Pontiac?
Buick?
GMC?

[Opelmn70]

Personally I think that Buick would be next in line between the three choices. Buick is like Oldsmobile. Pontiac has the performance mystique while Buick has the semi luxury/ alternative to Chevrolet mystique. GMC is viewed by myself as the commercial version of the Chevy truck. Hummer was just out there for a specific part of the population. A very BIG status symbol that appealed to some.
Just my 2 cents
Gerry

[BobCGT]

I have just retired from GM and this is a subject of interest to me.
Having hired into Buick in Flint Michigan,and having been relocated a couple times through the years,it is interesting to see how the company has changed.
At one time,while parts of the corporation lagged,Buick led in sales,sort of carrying some of the other divisions along.
Alas, it seems they have kind of been left to "wither on the vine".Nothing in the way of exiting new products.
Chevrolet and Cadillac,have always had the lions share of control of the corporate attention,Chevy being the "cheaper" end and Cad the more expensive line.

I tend to agree with the last poster,there has been noise for a few years,well,since Oldsmobiles demise,that Buick was next for the axe.

We will see...

[jeff denton]

There seems to be some educated opinion going around that all Big Three manufacturers will go under by the end of the year.
I wish GM would step up the process of getting the Volt into production. I want one as soon as possible.
I've decided that instead of being involved in any form or class of racing next year, I'll be channelling my time and money into building an electric car if the Volt isn't available by then.
I've truly lost all interest in using a gas powered car to do the basic daily running around town.
I think a lot of people have. They are waiting for an alternative. The American automakers have now failed miserably to supply what we need.

[Aardvaark]

Speaking of racing, how much longer will Generous Motors pump hugh sums money into NASCAR and other forms of racing? When times are good they can afford to. But is there really a payback in sales now? They currently have by far the most teams in NASCAR and help fund many of the best.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by wrench459 Hummer is a goner. Whos next Pontiac? Buick? GMC?

SAAB for sure. Saturn maybe. Only really Cadillac and Chevrolet make
any sense to hold onto in NA, and maybe the overseas divisions like Opel, Vauxall, Holden.....

[West Coast GT]

Originally Posted by jeff denton The American automakers have now failed miserably to supply what we need.

Automobile manufacturers are not in the business of selling us what we need, they are in the business of selling us what we want. It's kind of a "Field of Dreams" scenario; "It we will buy it, they will build it".

[newman27]

Growing up in the Flint, MI area I remember the good days when Flint was "Buick City" and "Autoworld" was open (car themed amusement park). I hope I can get my G8 out of Pontiac before anything else happens. My 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue crossed the 160K mile mark earlier this year and is still going strong. I've done my part - with the exception of one transgression (a Jeep Grand Cherokee) I've only bought GM.

Matt

[2 Fast 4 U]

Originally Posted by West Coast GT Automobile manufacturers are not in the business of selling us what we need, they are in the business of selling us what we want. It's kind of a "Field of Dreams" scenario; "It we will buy it, they will build it".

that should be: "what they think we want"

I remember the time, while sitting in the car, ['63 Chevy Biscaine or something like that] my dad would ask us, my brother and my self, what kind of cars would pass by, and from the, lets say 100, we would know about 90, make and year. But now I can't tell the difference from a German, French, Japanese or Korean car, they all look the same

[Phoenix]

I read an article once about the fate of GM. The article stated that they had too many brands, they were spread too thin, there was some competition between the brands, and that there were a lackluster models throughout all the brands. The article stated that GM needs to make decisions about some of the things that they've been going back and forth on for many years including the rear drive platform and the world market cars. They talked about the "it" cars that caused people to run out and buy them in the first couple of years and then sales just dropped off, H2 was one of them.

They also mentioned that GM had too many obligations to their dealships to axe Buick or Pontiac currently. Buick is the semi-luxury brand and is the direct competition to Mercury. If Mercury were to die off then maybe GM would get rid of Buick. Both Buick and Pontiac are pretty lackluster in my opinion, with the exception of a few models. They're all pretty similar and it difficult to tell the difference between some of the models for myself. Also, they come out with a new model but is there buzz about it? We really don't care. Daimler Chrysler seems to be the only one that keeps bringing it constantly.

[Gordy]

I heard Saturn may go due to weak sales...maybe they'll start just selling them as Opels, huh? Buick used to be advertised as the best selling car in Chicago but no more LeSabers, Park Avenues, or Electras anymore. It's sad what is sold now compared to the great days with the big 3 plus Rambler and later AMC and Olds, Plymouth etc still around.....

[West Coast GT]

Buick going?
They've had some good cars.

• Reatta
• Grand National
• Riviera with the superchaged 3.8 V6
• Regal

[namba209]

Originally Posted by West Coast GT Buick going? They've had some good cars. Reatta Grand National Riviera with the superchaged 3.8 V6 Regal

Don't wanna forget about the GSX and the GNX. They both were Hi-Per cars for their time, and could give some of the newer cars a run for their money today.

[newman27]

The Buick Lucerne has gotten some good reviews and press. I've never driven one but have ridden in one and it was a very comfortable ride.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark SAAB for sure. Saturn maybe. Only really Cadillac and Chevrolet make any sense to hold onto in NA, and maybe the overseas divisions like Opel, Vauxall, Holden.....

I hope Saab doesn't go. I have one and they are great cars. I'd drop the 9-7x and only keep the turbo charged ones like the 9-3 and 9-5. the 9-2x was just a rebadged Subaru and they have been discontinued.

They are nice sleepers. They look like family cars, but they go like hell and get good MPG's when you don't overuse the turbo and are very comfy.

Saturn is just becoming another line of Opels, which is a good thing.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by jlthunder I hope Saab doesn't go.

If GM gets rid of brands, expect most to sell to other owners, not
disappear entirely. Saab would change hands (again) I expect.
I owned a 99GL for many years and, while a fun to drive car, had
a few too many problems compared to my Opels I had at the same time.
GM I hear exorcised many of the demons from Saabs and increased their
quality allot.

[traytodd]

How long has it been since you saw a new car for the first time and said "Wow!" Where have all the original designers gone. Only Chrysler has tried new, unusual designs. All the rest look like jelly beans or cubes. The cubes are the ugliests. If they were trying to imitate the 1920 cars, they failed. Even the Sky/Soltice/Opel looks like an imitation of the Miata/Z3/Z4.

Cars such as the original Avanti, Mustang, Corvette, T-bird, etc., are still great looking cars. Is there anything today that will hold that appeal for 50 years?

Terry

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by traytodd How long has it been since you saw a new car for the first time and said "Wow!" Where have all the original designers gone. Only Chrysler has tried new, unusual designs. All the rest look like jelly beans or cubes. The cubes are the ugliest. If they were trying to imitate the 1920 cars, they failed. Even the Sky/Solstice/Opel looks like an imitation of the Miata/Z3/Z4. Cars such as the original Avanti, Mustang, Corvette, T-bird, etc., are still great looking cars. Is there anything today that will hold that appeal for 50 years? Terry

Truthfully I found the Avanti and later model T-birds to be ugly cars… Take my opinion with a grain of salt given that I am half the age of most people here.

Chrysler seems to have developed their own style in recent years… I'm not sure I really agree with everyone's statement of "cookie cutter cars" although I've heard that complaint a lot from the previous generation. Driving down the road I can name a large number of vehicles just by the general shape. VW, BMW, Volvo, Dodge, Chrysler, newer Toyotas, Honda/Acura, newer Fords, Cadillac, etc all have a very distinct style. I will agree that most American made sedans in the 90s all looked WAY to similar.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by traytodd How long has it been since you saw a new car for the first time and said "Wow!" Where have all the original designers gone. Only Chrysler has tried new, unusual designs. All the rest look like jelly beans or cubes. The cubes are the ugliests. If they were trying to imitate the 1920 cars, they failed. Even the Sky/Soltice/Opel looks like an imitation of the Miata/Z3/Z4. Cars such as the original Avanti, Mustang, Corvette, T-bird, etc., are still great looking cars. Is there anything today that will hold that appeal for 50 years? Terry

I bought my Solstice without even being able to test drive one. I wasn't really even in the market for a new car especially one with only two seats and no trunk (to speak of). However, there was one sitting in the service bay where I have my Olds repaired that I was allowed to sit in. I was so smitten that I promptly got out of the car, walked into the sales department, plunked down my $1,000 to get on the long waiting list (yes I paid over list price for my car), and endured the next four months on pins and needles until she arrived. Two years later I still sometimes just stare at the car in the garage - she is a rolling work of art (as is the classic Opel GT of course). The Miata IMHO is a bar of soap on wheels (just my opinion - no offense meant to the Miata owners and also I fully recognize that the Miata reinvented the segment without which there there wouldn't be a Solstice - so props go out to the Miata for that). However, styling wise, the Solstice beats 99% of the new cars out there to my particular eye. Again, this is all just my personal taste but I can tell you that it is nice to have a new car too that really makes your heart race and puts a smile on your face. I think GM deserves a lot of credit for taking the risk on the Kappa platform.

[Phoenix]

Soltice is one of those exceptions in the Pontiac line. Miata is a pretty tough car. Though styling has never been its strong suit. Later models seemed to emulate Jags. MR2 kicked the pants off the Miata though.

Originally Posted by West Coast GT Buick going? They've had some good cars. Reatta Grand National Riviera with the superchaged 3.8 V6 Regal

Notice nothing with in the last decade. Don't forget that we have Pontiac to thank for the Aztek.