What is GM corporate thinking? Are they cut off from the world?

[Glavinsolo]

In a time where the average American can't go 2mins without hearing something about gas prices GM decides it should do something. What is that something? Why it is make more gas guzzling autos.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu SS SS Malibu
2006 Chevrolet Malibu MAXX SS
2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SSSS Trailblazer
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

I don't know what GM is thinking at this time but if there were a CEO that read the newspaper I could see something like this:

" Ok guys, our cavalier is pretty much a design horror and I think a redesign with a stolen cab from the corrolla is a good idea. And let's get crazy, let's throw some money to the R&D department for more efficient cars and maybe hire some fresh japanese thinkers. "

 

[Rent]

Yes, keep bashing GM, they're the ONLY ones putting out performance versions of their cars.

:roll:

News flash, trucks have big engines, even your prescious imports. The Titan has a 5.8L, the Tundra gets a 4.7L. Neither get great gas milage. And as for the design, WTF, someone does something better than you, you try to outdo them of at least be on par with them. If you've ever sat in a Cobalt, you'd know how different it actually was from a Corolla.

So STFU.

 

[meltdown75]

fyi - I can see GM world HQ from my desk without even moving. :Q (formerly Renaissance Centre in D-town).

 

[Glavinsolo]

Not talking about trucks, talking about cars.

Sat in a cobalt and the only word that came to mind was CHEAP. And what is with the new Chevy's having the names of their cars in a platic label in the center of the dash? Like I would forget.

On the other hand I like the styling of the cobalt on the outside. And I applaud GM for making a Hybrid SUV the new 2006 Equinox which also looks good exterior styling.

 

[DougK62]

Well, GM needs help in a LOT of areas. They needed more fun performance oriented vehicles and they needed more hybrids/fuel efficient vehicles. I guess they're just going performance first.

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Not talking about trucks, talking about cars.

Sat in a cobalt and the only word that came to mind was CHEAP. And what is with the new Chevy's having the names of their cars in a platic label in the center of the dash? Like I would forget.

They why did you mention the Trailblazer? Your arguement is fvcking retarded. Lets compare apples to watermelons.

Why not compare a base Corolla to a base Cobalt. Or is playing fair another one of the things you just *forgot* to think of?

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Not talking about trucks, talking about cars.

Sat in a cobalt and the only word that came to mind was CHEAP. And what is with the new Chevy's having the names of their cars in a platic label in the center of the dash? Like I would forget.

On the other hand I like the styling of the cobalt on the outside. And I applaud GM for making a Hybrid SUV the new 2006 Equinox which also looks good exterior styling.

Cheap compared to what? I molested one at the dealership and it seemed just as nice as a generic Civic or Corolla.

Fanboy?

 

[K1052]

It is taking time but GM is slowly turning into the right direction.

They brough Cadillac back from the dead. Killed off the Olds divison. Chevy is starting to have a few better offerings in the way of cars, of course the Vette is better than ever. Pontiac has been trying and looks finally poised for a major win with the Solstice.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: DougK62

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Not talking about trucks, talking about cars.

Sat in a cobalt and the only word that came to mind was CHEAP. And what is with the new Chevy's having the names of their cars in a platic label in the center of the dash? Like I would forget.

On the other hand I like the styling of the cobalt on the outside. And I applaud GM for making a Hybrid SUV the new 2006 Equinox which also looks good exterior styling.

Cheap compared to what? I molested one at the dealership and it seemed just as nice as a generic Civic or Corolla.

Fanboy?

No not a fanboy. I have a GM platinum card. Plan on getting a 2005 End of year Malibu LT.

 

[StageLeft]

You can't compare the prius to the cobalt. Toyota also makes other cars with more horsepower than the prius. Their new avalon has 280 HP, which while getting good mileage, hardly gets GREAT mileage, as could be expected from a 3600 lb vehicle with that power.

 

[vi edit]

Performance models get people in the door and build interest in a brand. Same concept as having a "flagship" car.

Get people in the door, they look at it, decide they really don't need that much performance and settle on a lower trim level vehicle.

Then, for the people that do want the performance, it's an option available to them that otherwise wouldn't be.

 

[Leper Messiah]

performance cars are like FX-55s/P4EEs. Everyone wants one, 99% of us can't afford it. So we get the closest thing we can to the thing we want.

Unforetunately, there is no true analogy to OCing a car

 

[ArjSiv]

I see a flame war coming on...

I think GM is making a good move by offering more powerful cars. Their cars were way too generic in the 90's.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Sat in a cobalt and the only word that came to mind was CHEAP. And what is with the new Chevy's having the names of their cars in a platic label in the center of the dash? Like I would forget.

I spent a good 3-4 hours walking around the Cleveland auto show last March looking at various entry level sedans. The difference in interior quality among all of them was quite small. The button and switch gear varied in quality, but they all had their weak points.

 

[edmicman]

Because the Prius is fugly? Come on....I'm all for electric/hybrid/whatever, but can you at least make it look like a retarded monkey didn't dream up the design?

 

[Vic]

Paying an additional $7,350 for a Prius over a Cobalt (base MSRP per Edmunds.com) to save $541 dollars per year on gas (per fueleconomy.gov) makes ZERO financial sense. The Prius would take more than 13.5 years to pay for itself, or not until it reached about 203,000 miles on the odometer. If you financed both cars with nothing down at the reasonable rate of 5% interest for 60 months, the monthly payments on the Prius would be $138.70 more than the Cobalt, while the Prius only saved you $45 per month on gas, so you'd actually be losing $93 each month owning the Prius.
In addition, the Prius batteries are toxic, non-recyclable, and must be replaced every 10 years per Toyota.
Does that help you understand, OP?

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

What does SS stand for?

 

[Vic]

Super Sport

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Vic
Paying an additional $7,350 for a Prius over a Cobalt (base MSRP per Edmunds.com) to save $541 dollars per year on gas (per fueleconomy.gov) makes ZERO financial sense. The Prius would take more than 13.5 years to pay for itself, or not until it reached about 203,000 miles on the odometer. If you financed both cars with nothing down at the reasonable rate of 5% interest for 60 months, the monthly payments on the Prius would be $138.70 more than the Cobalt, while the Prius only saved you $45 per month on gas, so you'd actually be losing $93 each month owning the Prius.
In addition, the Prius batteries are toxic, non-recyclable, and must be replaced every 10 years per Toyota.
Does that help you understand, OP?

Economically speaking the argument for hybrids at this point in time is simply impossible to make. People are buying them without doing the math or because they want to have a slightly less imprint on the environment, as your numbers well show. I love to hear of people selling a car they have and buying a NEW hybrid, as if it's going to save them money. Yeah, maybe if gas hits $6/gallon!

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
In a time where the average American can't go 2mins without hearing something about gas prices GM decides it should do something. What is that something? Why it is make more gas guzzling autos.

2006 Chevrolet Malibu SS SS Malibu
2006 Chevrolet Malibu MAXX SS
2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SSSS Trailblazer
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

I don't know what GM is thinking at this time but if there were a CEO that read the newspaper I could see something like this:

" Ok guys, our cavalier is pretty much a design horror and I think a redesign with a stolen cab from the corrolla is a good idea. And let's get crazy, let's throw some money to the R&D department for more efficient cars and maybe hire some fresh japanese thinkers. "

GM's plan for 2006 was probably developed at least two years ago.

 

[boyRacer]

I think I would get any of those cars before I get a Prius.

 

[MikeMike]

wow. i didnt even have to make a comment at how moronic this post is.

MIKE

 

[redly]

uh, from what I can tell, GM's "Gas Guzzeling" performance lineup's MPG numbers are't much worse than their standard fleet
the V-8's have DoD, and when the six speed auto trannies come out in a few years, those mileage numbers will only go up

lots of GM haters on this board

 

[Silversierra]

Originally posted by: L3p3rM355i4h
performance cars are like FX-55s/P4EEs. Everyone wants one, 99% of us can't afford it. So we get the closest thing we can to the thing we want.

Unforetunately, there is no true analogy to OCing a car

Nitrous isn't like ocing a computer?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Silversierra

Originally posted by: L3p3rM355i4h
performance cars are like FX-55s/P4EEs. Everyone wants one, 99% of us can't afford it. So we get the closest thing we can to the thing we want.

Unforetunately, there is no true analogy to OCing a car

Nitrous isn't like ocing a computer?

Nitrous on a car would be akin to getting a chunk of dry ice and putting it over your CPU so that you can get a minute or two of extra speed out of it.