General Motors managment flaws. (for those who love cars)

oldszone ^ | unknown | Speech of Jerry Flint

[XBob]

I saw a new 2002 Chevy Impala a few months back in a parking lot. Mostly full of Toyota's and Nissan's and Dodges. I can't recall seeing another.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Great article, thanks a mill for posting it!

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F
(1965 Mustang, 1989 Corvette, 2000 Ranger... who grew up in his grandfather's Oldsmobiles long before GM lost the plot in the mid seventies)

[dirtbiker]

While Gm does make good and durable products (small-blocks come to mind), their styling has been in the crapper since the '70's. My brother is building a kit (Humvee) using a GM 4X4 truck chassis, his daily driver is a Toyota PU. The closest I came to owning a Chevy was a LUV truck (actually an Isuzu). Their diesel engine program was outdone by every other player in the game (Ford and Dodge). It was Roger Penske that saved Detroit Diesel from extinction at the hands of GM non-management! Even today, their new Duramax is made by Isuzu, which means they finally have a diesel worth owning! (Remember the first 350 diesels they had, the ones that broke cranks and camshafts every 20,000 miles or so?) The styling is bottom dwelling, ex. the Avalance, Aztec (What's up with this?) What's next on GM"s agenda, Government intervention with higher tariffs on imports cause nobody wants to buy their product?

[Chemnitz]

Metros were tiny, were they not? I remember them.

[Johnny Crab]

They are one among MANY "monkey see, monkey do" that seem to have taken over so-called management(mis-management!) almost everywhere(ISO, TQM, 6 Sigma, ETC)...and these guys ignored Demming before he showed Japan how to make quality(but boring) cars...exception to micro-cars could be the WRX with the European high-HP motor. Although I "inherited" a 94 Dodge Shadow(EnviroDeathTrap) that is used for work commute(46 miles)...I also own three V8's(1995 351W in conversion van-mom-mobile-family-plan, 1976 Merc wagon 400 @203k miles, 1978 Merc wagon 400 @130k miles). I make sure we use them all on Earth Day!

As it's been called by former employees "Generous Motors"...and have had the same relay similar stories to those above(i.e. multi-story building full of "engineers" who spend 90% of their time reading magazines or surfing internet)....

I do like SUV's because it keeps the tooling and know-how for RWD vehicles somewhat intact for use in real cars and trucks.

Next vehicle will probably be a DODGE four door PU with the 360(wish they'd put the HEMI in one)....a coworker has a recent DODGE with 260k miles on it and no problems......

[longtermmemmory]

I read about the oldsmobiles of the 60's and their extra nickle engine blocks. I WANT my fathers oldsmobilbe. The modern ones were just a shadow of former glory.

[longtermmemmory]

PS Linda Vaughn is STILL hot.

[Skywalk]

LOL@ Aztek!

You have to seriously start believing that GM is cutting on quality design staff, pocketing the money and locking monkeys in a room with software design templates. It IS the ugliest car ever, and I include all 80s era American cars(what the hell was with Ford's front designs in that time?!!)

Having heavy associations with Asians the last several years, the bulk of them love the Japanese cars because of 1)hot rodding factor, just look at Fast and the Furious 2)affordable 3)some perverted sense of Asian solidarity. I actually had a Vietnamese girl tell me she wanted Japanese cars only because of that. My current girl said something similar(though based on engineering) and I pointed out that Japan did nothing for Asia, while it was American treasure and blood that was spent on keeping them free, be it from Commies or the Japs.

I'd rather have an SUV or pickup and that's where American companies still hold an edge, at least for most of the market. My girlfriend practically shouts out loud when she sees an RSX, and while it ain't a bad car, it is a "ricer" and I have eyes for either 50s designs or larger, modern cars(I like the Jag XK8 from about 4-5 years ago)

[longtermmemmory]

aztek is made in mexico.

I had a korean aquaintence tell me anyone in her family who did not buy a korean or japanese car was somehow unloyal to their family. She was a naturalized us citizen!
When I pointed this out she said its my choice. She drove a hundai.

People have to want to buy GM products. They can't be forced to buy GM. The union needs some serious enlighted self interest, stockholders need to stop the dinosaur managment through the stockholder meetings.

Remember when IBM was so bloated they were going to disapear. They revamped managment and survived.

[longtermmemmory]

Do you know anything about the new Monte Carlo? I am looking for a larger two door (not mustang) american car.

[kellynla]

Now what you oughta do is go to the junk yard and find a nice classic Chevy body style and drop it on top of the 2000 Impala chassis. Better take your tape measure with you just to make sure it'll fit. My next project is taking a 40 Ford(my first car) and dropping it on a new chassis complete with new drive train. LOL

[Tony in Hawaii]

If you're talking about the new Hemi (353 ci) it will be available in the Ram 1500 in mid-year 2003.

[longtermmemmory]

I am looking for a new, off the shelf daily driver.


I have a project car for fun and other uses.

[kellynla]

Okay. You are probably already aware but just in case you aren't may I suggest. Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Consumer Reports and Consumer's Union. All have websites. I like to buy American but the Japenese have done a splendid job of mfg sedans that are economical and dependable. My girl friend owns Honda that she bought new in '92 with no problems. There are lots of great cars out there. May I also suggest you purchase a vehicle from auction. Once you buy new from a dealer you loose about 15% of the value as soon as you drive it off the lot. That sucking sound you hear is your good money going down the drain. Good hunting!