Posted on 09/05/2006 1:26:07 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
Why should he? McNerney is a sharper CEO than Mulally. And Scott Carson smokes Mulally as well. :-)
What a dyke-y vehicle.
"GM sold its stake in Subaru last year, which is why there are no more WRX's being sold as Saab 9-2X's."
One of many questionable business decisions, by GM in recent years.
I'll spare you the rest of my list, but Subaru knows how to build quality performance oriented vehicles (WRX, their turbo boxers, the Outback come to mind for me).
GM can't or won't do stuff like that. I think the potential GM customer and shareholders continue to lose due to horrible management.
I just replaced a Saab(sedan) with a Volvo(SUV). Had owned a GM vehicle for 12 consecutive years (Chev. pickup, then Saab). Both were excellent.
Now Volvo is my pick from Ford's lineup.
With few exceptions, domestic GM and Ford passenger vehicles have held no attraction for me. Cadillac, Mustang, GTO--that is all.
You might want to look again. International is in bed with Ford.
Not really - the 9-2X was heavier, slower, and more expensive than the parent WRX, not to mention uglier.
"Good. Maybe now they can get back to selling cars instead of funding homo-marriage efforts and p!ssing off every God-fearing person in the country."
Yeah, I HOPE SO.
"Not really - the 9-2X was heavier, slower, and more expensive than the parent WRX, not to mention uglier."
The 9-2X was a rebadged Subaru. So what you are saying is that it wasn't as good of a Subaru as the WRX.
You apparently missed my point. My point in fewer words is this:
By going away from Subaru, GM gives up a connection with a company that knows and builds performance.
One of the BIGGEST problems facing GM, Ford and Chrysler is demographics.
The longer they stuck to vinyl tops and V8s, the more of the youth buyers they lost. It has been going on since the 60s.
Today young performance buyers go for Subaru, Mitsu Lancer, Acura, Honda, etc. Little competition from domestics. (Although Saab and Volvo can/do high output turbo motors in the homeland--over 500 hp 2.0 ltr. Saab turbomotor)
And in a slightly different market, they go for Toyota's Scion line, which is pretty cool.
Little competition from domestics.
Mullaly? They should have hired Chihuly!
Them cars are gonna fly. :)
Or maybe even Jeff Gillooly!
I'll grant you that there are segments of the second tier market in which they can make money. Otherwise, they would not be in business at all. However, those segments are too small to support two companies the size of Ford and GM in the long run. The Mustang for example has not always been a money maker. There was once a time not too long ago when Ford was planning to discontinue it. The fact that it is now their best money maker is more indicative of the fact that their other lines are doing so poorly.
And if you think that Ford and GM could make money competing head to head in the small car sector (which is where the money is now being made), then you're just not getting the full picture. These guys can't compete with nonunion factories. Nonunion Toyota and Honda have the lower costs, and can choose whatever turf they want. That means that Ford and GM are relegated to "meeting the need" in a segment of the market that Toyota and Honda don't want to be in at all, which as you acknowledge, is not a very desirable segment.
And the idea that the problem is not unions, but quality, equally misses the point. If you are the low cost producer, you can produce a quality product and still offer it at a lower price and yet make a profit. Your competition is left offering a product that cuts corners in all areas--higher price, lower quality, and less profit. They stay in business only because there are some consumers who are willing to do business with them even with those demerits.
Mulally cars and trucks. Just doesn't sound the same.
Aw Jeez, please tell me what Ford is doing that all the other auto manufacturers aren't also doing, and more of.
What cars does Ford produce that are targeted at the gay crowd?
As far as the workplace, people like to decorate their cubicles with pictures of their family. I have seen single people decorate their cubicles with pictures of their dogs and cats. I have never seen a cubicle that was decorated with gay flags and pictures of one's same sex partner--almost all of the people that I work with are straight middle-aged redneck white guys.
"One of the BIGGEST problems facing GM, Ford and Chrysler is demographics.
The longer they stuck to vinyl tops and V8s, the more of the youth buyers they lost. It has been going on since the 60s.
Today young performance buyers go for Subaru, Mitsu Lancer, Acura, Honda, etc. Little competition from domestics. (Although Saab and Volvo can/do high output turbo motors in the homeland--over 500 hp 2.0 ltr. Saab turbomotor)
And in a slightly different market, they go for Toyota's Scion line, which is pretty cool.
Little competition from domestics."
I guess you forgot about the Shelby GT500 or the Charger or maybe the soon-to-be Challenger and Camaro. I even hear that the GTO is coming back and is no longer ugly.
Have you heard of the Boeing BEAGLES?
http://www.outandequal.org/awards/2005/default.asp
Down the web page a bit.
Here is Part of their "consititution":
BEAGLES--Puget Sound Constitution
Preamble
The BEAGLES--PUGET SOUND (Boeing Employee Association of Gays, Lesbians, and Friends) is sponsored by the Boeing Company under the auspices of Global Diversity and Employee Rights and shall operate in accordance with Company Procedure PRO-1005 Boeing Employee Affinity Groups, and all other relevant Affinity Group guidelines. BEAGLES--PUGET SOUND is organized for the purpose of promoting inclusion and involvement of employees in the achievement of company objectives, the pursuit of education, community involvement, and other items of mutual interests
Vision
To be an influential community that promotes professional growth within Boeing through education, mentoring, networking, and leadership opportunities.
Mission
The mission of BEAGLES--PUGET SOUND is to partner with all employees, of all affiliations, to share our knowledge and experience to create opportunities for personal and professional development, an inclusive environment of involved employees who work together to achieve Company objectives s in support of Vision 2016, and the Integrated Global Diversity Strategy.
Our mission includes facilitating understanding all of the cultural traditions that comprise Boeing and the communities in which it operates. The following goals make up our mission:
To become a proactive, involved organization that provides benefit to its members and the communities in which it operates.
To support and promote multicultural understanding within our workplace and our communities.
To encourage participation in accomplishing Company goals and objectives.
To encourage inclusiveness and community by operating with mutual respect, trust, and commitment.
Objectives
The specific objectives of BEAGLES--PUGET SOUND to achieve its goals are:
To proactively benefit our members and serve as a resource group to support Boeing’s Diversity strategy
To create a forum within Boeing where employees can nurture, encourage, mentor, and support each other in their personal and professional development.
To develop leadership potential within the Boeing BEAGLES--PUGET SOUND population that has a measurable and positive impact on Company performance.
To promote the value of diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace.
To partner with Boeing in creating a welcoming community for all employees.
... etc etc
Boing loses another top exec? hmmm,
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