FLASHBACK (not far): Cash for clunkers doesn't boost Cobalt sales

Plain Dealer ^ | 2009.0809 | Robert Schoenberger

[davidlachnicht]

The Lordstown-built Cobalt compact car fell 43 percent, despite being the company's most fuel-efficient offering, a distinction that could have qualified some buyers for a $4,500 government rebate on the vehicle.

[davidlachnicht]

Obama is visiting where today? :)

[staytrue]

There was a time when Hyundai meant “because you can’t afford anything else”.

I’m afraid that distinction now belongs to Chrysler and GM.

[staytrue]

regarding the cobalt,

who would want to trade a clunker just to get another clunker ?

(just joking, or maybe not)

[dools007]

Ping. GM is making cars we don’t need and that no one wants. It’s been doing that for years while it struggles with an uncompetitive rate. I also think the company became too top heavy as well. Anyway, any one of those negatives is a prescription for failure. GM “managed” to afflict itself with all three.

[Charles Martel]

I can believe that Cobalt sales continue to fall - it's a real piece of junk. The Cavalier was a nice car by comparison.

Another bright spot for the company was Pontiac, a brand set to go away after the last of its inventory gets sold this year. Sales of the G8 sports sedan climbed 63 percent.

Naturally, this is a vehicle that won't be transitioning to the Chevrolet model line.

[From The Deer Stand]

A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.

A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average clunker transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles – so that’s 224 million gallons / year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day’s US consumption.

And, 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $75/bbl.

So, we all contributed to spending $3 billion to save $350 million.

How good a deal was that???

They will probably do a great job with health care though.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

LOL! I traded in my clunker and bought a Hyundai Elantra Touring to use as a commuter car and to keep the milage down on my Beemer. A nice little car.

[madison10]

Don’t stop making them, we want one in a year, or two.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Now, now, TDS, you’re letting facts and logic cloud your emotions. Please step away from the calculator and don’t ever again confuse the situation with facts. In your heart, you just KNOW that CFC was the RIGHT thing to do, don’t you?

[beagleone]

As rental cars go, the Cobalt ain’t bad. But I would not buy one for myself. Too boring.

[70th Division]

I have 212K on my Cavalier. I would buy another

[Gun142]

I can believe that Cobalt sales continue to fall - it's a real piece of junk.

Better half has a Cobalt SS. Total piece of junk.
The trunk has fair amount of room but the opening is so small, can't get much in. Parts in the interior have fallen off and\or broken. It's been a real headache, but she still thinks it's cool because it's "SS". (I've had faster 4x4 trucks)

[Charles Martel]

Amazingly, the President has stated that over one thousand GM employees would be returning to the job in order to meet the demand for this car. I think that translates into “lots of federal government fleet Cobalts to be delivered next Spring”.