LaNeve: Hummer is the only brand under review

[DainBramaged]

DETROIT -- Mark LaNeve, General Motors' sales chief, told auto dealers today that the automaker is not conducting a strategic review of any brands other than Hummer.

On June 3, GM said it was conducting a review and considering all options, including selling Hummer. Since then, there has been reported speculation that GM is considering cutting other brands in an attempt to save costs.

In a letter to GM dealers, LaNeve cited an article in The Wall Street Journal that mentioned Saturn as being one of the other GM brands under "examination." LaNeve, who is GM's vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing, denied that is the case.

"We have invested heavily to give Saturn one of the best and freshest lineups in the industry," LaNeve wrote in the letter. "It is true that we constantly review our plan for improving volume and profitability for Saturn and all our brands. This happens literally every day throughout the year."

LaNeve also said he had been asked by reporters as recently as July 1, during GM's monthly sales call with reporters and analysts, about other GM brands undergoing similar reviews. "My answer then and now was the same -- no! Similar to the Hummer situation, we would communicate with you, our dealers, very early in the process if this was the case," LaNeve wrote.

"(LaNeve) felt it was important to send it out because the news article in the Wall Street Journal inaccurately depicted what was going on in GM, so he wanted to clarify it," said GM spokesman Pete Ternes.



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http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/ANA02/185887431/1018


I guess all of the cheerleaders who cheered the demise of GM will have to wait for another day. Especially those of you who decided Saturn was a shit brand (Green Vue Hybrid, some of the most efficient cars in GM's lineup, excellent reliability and annual sales).

As usual, take the word of a Reich-wing newspaper and consider it the truth.
:eyes:

GM designers are rushing to complete a production-version of the highly anticipated Volt by next month and the automaker is expected to show off the final version of the electric car in September at an event that corresponds with the 100th anniversary of GM's founding, people briefed on the plans told Reuters on Monday.

GM was moving forward with a new compact car for the Chevrolet brand that would be sold globally, as well as a replacement for the Chevy Aveo hatchback and a new, fuel-efficient engine system for the U.S. market.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20080708/ANA02/149180738/1078

[madrchsod]

1. what would they cut ?

Pontiac is the only one i could see them actually cutting but there still are a lot of people that buy them. it took years but gm finally decided to build a good saturn product line. the replacement for the aveo has to be be brought up to us standards.

the problem with all these sub-compact cars is that they will never be made here in the usa...

[CRF450]

2. Pontiacs not going anywhere anytime soon, besides...

They do have some great cars now, though not "that fuel effecient" but good quality cars non the less, the G8 being one them and the best in the lineup, and its a damn fine piece of work! Sad to see the Gran Prix go, but the G8 is 10x better.

[EOTE]

7. The G8 does look like an awesome ride.

I'm not terribly sad to see the Grand Prix go. Pontiac, like the rest of the GM, should never have switched to front wheel drive. Now that they're moving back to RWD, I see a lot of promise in GM's future. Now, if they'd only make good on offering the 6 speed on the GT model. Give me rear wheel drive, a 6.0 V8 and a six speed in a nice sports sedan package for around 30k and you've got a combination that will make BMW and Mercedes shake in their boots. I'd so like for that to be my next car.

[DainBramaged]

9. A GM Executive came in here Monday with one

IT ROCKS

Wouldn't let us drive it. Didn't want us to break it.:rofl:

[EOTE]

16. Looks to me like it could be a 5 Series/E-Class killer.

Especially if they bring the 6 speed/V8 combination. A family sedan with a sub 14 second quarter mile and RWD for around 30k? I've always liked 3 Series BMWs, but the G8 seems like a much better value overall. If you could get a G8 GT for around 10 grand less than a 335i, it seems like a no brainer to me.

[DainBramaged]

19. 403+ HP version (GTP) is coming end of the year

A 'last gasp' before the new CAFE standards set in. At least some people will have some fun driving.

[EOTE]

21. Now bring the 6 speed to the GTP and they'll be set.

I know they're going to offer a manual with the 3.6 V6. I hope they have plans to bring the direct injection version of that V6 to the G8 too, like they do in the Cadillac CTS. To tell you the truth, a manual with the DI 3.6 would probably be all the power and control I need. It's just that the prospect of a 400+ HP Pontiac sedan with a 6 speed and RWD just sounds all too awesome.

[DainBramaged]

22. 6 speed stick will be available

The man had the 6 spd. auto version. And such a sweet sweet sound. PS, the G8 GT has NO options (at the moment).

[Tesha]

24. I hate to break this to you, but the people who buy BMW "5" series and MB E-class...

...don't even know where their nearest GM dealer
*IS*! These folks aren't about to trade down from
their imported rides to a Pontiac anything; Pontiac
is in a completely different, far less "posh" part
of the car world.

Tesha

[EOTE]

29. Well, I've considered buying a 3 series several times.

And I was considering getting a 335 as my next ride. If they offer a manual/V8 combination in the G8, I'd definitely pick that over the 335i. The Infiniti G class stole quite a bit of the 3/5 series thunder, and I imagine the G8 will as well. You're right, Pontiac is a world apart from BMW and Mercedes. Mercedes hasn't made a fun to drive car (at least for under six figures) in 20+ years. Pontiac, even when they switched the bulk of their cars to front wheel drive, at least still made their cars fun. BMW still knows quite a few things about making a fun to drive car, but if they can't make a fun car that's also affordable (they're getting close with the 1 series), their sales will suffer for it. Pontiac has always had a good reputation for affordable performance. And recently, with the current generation GTO and the upcoming G8, they've shown that they can still win the performance bang for the buck wars.

[DainBramaged]

3. Personally, I think Saturn should be folded into Chevy

Cadillac made the "Lexus" brand, Pontiac kept as the performance brand, and Buick sent to the dustbin of history. Buick customers are usually retired, read newspapers, don't own computers, and have false teeth. I'm not kidding. TOO much repetition in the GM lineup.

[Horse with no Name]

12. LOL@the Buick broad brush

My mom has purchased back-to-back-to-back Buicks...always the same model, different variant of the same color, etc.
Almost like a uniform.
Apparently she was watching teevee one Saturday and realized it and went and purchased this (talk about a complete changeup)

[DainBramaged]

13. Not a broad brush, marketing statistics, the same as Oldsmobile when

GM dropped them. Old men buy Corvettes too, but the demographic on Vettes is still in the 40's not the 60's.

[Horse with no Name]

15. I was actually agreeing with you

My mom has repeatedly purchased the same car over and over and over and then wonders WHY she never gets "that new car" excitement.:eyes: My grandpa drives the exact car--different shade of taupe and my aunt drives one as well in...you guessed it...taupe. Thank GOD that they are all keyless entry and the front lights come on when we are at a family function...otherwise might be a little humorous to watch them all figure out which is THEIR car.
Your description made me chuckle.:thumbsup:

[Clark2008]

4. Dain, I've discovered that many, many people on this board are

stuck in the 80s regarding their mindset of American cars.

I wouldn't own a foreign car (despite where it's made) because they're simply not as reliable, harder and more expensive to repair and lack personality.

While it's true that American cars were crap in the 80s and early 90s, they are now some of the best-built, most reliable and most affordable cars in the world. In fact, one sees as many American cars in Europe as European cars (and fewere Japanese cars).

Auto manufacturers weren't necessarily behind the curve in mass-producing SUVs - that's what Americans apparently wanted. You can't fault a for-proft business for giving consumers what they demand.

Now, they're coming back with smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

This is one of the few examples of how the free market actually works well... now... if some people would just step into the Double Oughts and give American cars a chance.

[DainBramaged]

8. They pray to the Japan-god for their slice of environmental correctness

Driving a Prius is just so right for them, they can forget recycling batteries, not buying bottled water, not recycling their cereal boxes, using plastic bags from the grocery instead of cloth reusable, and then not realizing how are we going to dispose of the batteries when the life cycle of the hybrid has ended?

[Romulox]

10. I don't buy it. Toyota sold a LOT of Lexus SUVs and Landcruisers

In many parts of the country, a foreign car is a fashion statement, as it is highly unfashionable to support American workers. There is no "green" explanation for a Lexus SUV, or a Nissan Pathfinder, for instance.

While some buyers of Japanese cars are quality conscious, this does not explain the popularity of low-quality marks like Subaru, Volkswagen, and Nissan.

[DainBramaged]

17. Don't buy what? That the Japanese care as little about the environment as GM?

They hit the jackpot with the Prius. And Honda, which makes AS GOOD a hybrid, can't even come close to the Prius in sales.

For some, if they could wear their Prius as jewelry they would.

[Romulox]

18. No, that "environmentalism" is a primary motivation for the popularity of foreign marks

"They hit the jackpot with the Prius. And Honda, which makes AS GOOD a hybrid, can't even come close to the Prius in sales."

There have been many articles about this. The Honda hybrids aren't popular because they don't look distinct enough from the regular cars--thus nobody can tell you are driving one! :rofl:

[DainBramaged]

20. Good point, I forgot about that.

well well well. The truth be known.

SO, is that why we mad the Tahoe Hybrid look like a circus clown bus??


:rofl:

[LWolf]

25. The primary reason I drive a toyota is reliability.

in 3+ decades of driving, I've driven many different american and other models. My last american made car was a Dodge, and it was a pos.

My compact toyota trucks have been champs. The first did 365K miles. The second is sitting in the driveway with 215 miles, and going strong. I put in a clutch and new brakes at 150,000. Plus a new timing chain. Other than tires and oil changes, that's all it's ever needed.

The 3rd is sitting next to it with 47,000 miles.

I've never not made it home. Never had to call a tow truck. Never had a break down. I cannot say the same for the dodge, for the chevys, the fords, and the mercurys I've driven; nor for the hyundai.

I drive the compact to get better fuel efficiency. I drive the Toyota for reliability.

[DainBramaged]

26. Good for you, nice job

Your Japanese cars are neither Union nor American made, just assembled, and from your glowing excoriations of the domestics, you probably haven't owned one in the last, lets say 20 years? Maybe longer?

[Tesha]

28. Well, our Dodge Caravan, made 14 years ago, is an unreliable Piece of Shit too.

Many of the components in this Caravan were *CLEARLY*
not designed for the long run (but were rather designed
for maybe 100K miles or so) and I've seen no evidence
that Chrysler's design philosophy has shifted in the
intervening years.

Tesha

[LWolf]

31. The dodge was in 1991 - 98.

I drove 2 '69 Cougars, 1976 - 1985; a love hate relationship. Loved the car, hated the wobbly front ends, the windows that kept coming off track, the cooling system.

I drove a ford pinto. When it gave out going over a pass, after I'd already rebuilt the engine once, I coasted it down, off the offramp, down the hill and around a left turn onto a street I could pull over on. Got out, with a baby and a toddler in the car, and pushed it 2 miles to my in-laws, where I left it with my bil. I think he took it sold the parts, bit by bit.

I drove a '71 3/4 ton chevy pickup. I loved that truck, and I'd have it still if I hadn't lost it in a divorce.

I drove a buick that I picked up for $300 when I was desperate. I don't remember the year or the model, but it was the 80s. The driver's side door was jammed, and it made funny noises, but it got me where I needed to go for a couple of months until I could replace it.

I drove a '74 honda civic and loved it, in spite of it's tendency to blow around in the wind or the "wash" from big trucks. It had 150,000 miles and was going strong the day I pulled into a station, overheated, to get gas. I got out to pay for gas. When I got back, a station attendant, a newly hired high school kid, had decided to fill the radiator for me, without the engine running. He cracked the block.

If I could afford it, I'd buy a full size Chevy diesel pickup. Then I could haul my horses, my hay, etc.; the heavy jobs the toyota doesn't do. I can't afford it, though. They are twice what I paid for a brand new compact.

I don't buy the "american made" argument. Not only do "foreign made" cars get some of the work in the states, using U.S. workers, "american" car manufacturers outsource some labor, too.

[Romulox]

34. A biblical generation is 20 years. You are talking about cars that were made 40 years ago.

(That's 2 generations ago, for those poor at math!) Talk about an apples to oranges comparison! :eyes:

"I don't buy the "american made" argument. Not only do "foreign made" cars get some of the work in the states, using U.S. workers, "american" car manufacturers outsource some labor, too."

This is a specious argument; the majority of US made cars are made in the US, from a majority of domestically sourced parts; the majority of foreign nameplates are not.

[LWolf]

37. Actually, the dodge was less than a generation ago.

The Chevy, yes, but that's the one I said I'd still be driving.

For the sake of civility, let's leave the "biblical" out of it. Of course I'd be talking about SOME cars a generation ago; I've been driving for more 32 years, and when I first started driving, I was driving used cars.

It's okay to say that you don't agree with my "argument." Disagreement doesn't make it specious, though.

I stand by my statement. I choose a car based upon reliability. My Toyotas have been as reliable as a car can get.

[shanti]

45. i agree with you on toyotas

my caravan is only 4 years old and less than 25,000 miles and is a POS. my 14 year old toyota with almost 100,000 miles runs great, and although the hot cali sun has thrashed the vinyl, no probs whatsoever. if i ever buy another car again, it will only be a toyota or honda. that's a fact.

[LWolf]

46. Yep. I should mention that

my first toyota trucks, the '79 that did 365,000 did them all in the Mojave Desert. The '94 that's done 215,000 did 210K in the Mojave before we finally moved.

[snooper2]

33. Toyota has made the best compact truck in history...ever..

the 22R, 22RE...

But trucks are in a different class than cars keep in mind...

I wish Mitsubishi would bring back the mighty-max, that thing would do 400,000 without breaking a sweat. ( And yes, Dodge can brand it as the D50 again :rofl: )

[LWolf]

38. That's true.

I still like American made full-sized trucks, but I can't afford them.

I live rurally. Or, these days, with encroaching development, semi-rurally. I still drive dirt and gravel roads daily, deep snow during the winter, and use my little truck to haul feed, sheep, junk, a harrow, etc..

If lived differently, I don't know what I'd be driving.

Meanwhile, my Toyota trucks do the job more efficiently than anything else I can find.

[DainBramaged]

39. Right, and my right ass cheek is the best ever

one man's opinion, as valid as beans in a farting contest.

[snooper2]

41. Whatever...

Put a 2008 Tacoma vs. Canyon vs. Ranger


The Tacoma will win every time..

Put a 2000 Tacoma vs. S-10 vs. Ranger..

Tacoma still wins every time...


Oh, and I drive a 1999 S-10 4.3L, will trade in on a Tacoma some day soon...

[EOTE]

42. Win at what?

Towing? Pay load? Fuel economy? Torque? Quarter mile? Ride comfort? Build quality? There are several criteria to use when judging any vehicle. The 5 cylinder in the Canyon is a great engine, and it also has a very compliant ride while still being able to take on the big rocks. And I've seen auto magazine comparos of those very 3 2008 models where the Canyon/Colorado came out on top.

Edited to change the subject line.

[Tesha]

27. You're nuts!

> In fact, one sees as many American cars
in Europe as European cars...

You're nuts! Or you travel in some bizarro-world
completely different portions of Europe than I've
traveled in. An American car in Europe is a very
rare thing compared to any of dozens of highly-
competent, frequently diesel-powered small cars
that you can't buy here. Maybe you were confused
by some of the models where visually-similar
European and North American vehicles are available?

Tesha

[EOTE]

32. Are you familiar with Vauxhall? How about Opel? Holden?

These are all subsidiaries of American car companies and they are all big sellers in Europe. The Ford Focus has been one of the most highly prized compacts in Europe for a long time now. And the many of the cars sold are simply clones of cars that are currently sold in the U.S., or will be brought to the U.S. shortly. And, this may come as a shock to you, but many of these American subsidiaries make small diesel-powered cars for the European market because, shock of shocks, that's where there's a high demand for diesels. Now that demand for diesels is picking up in the U.S., there will be many more diesel models coming in the next few years.

[Tesha]

43. Did you actually read my reply? I mentioned such things.

But it is a plain and simple fact that American (manufactured)
cars are only present in Europe in miniscule numbers.

Tesha

[EOTE]

44. Yes I did read your reply. These are American cars.

Just like the Opel Astra. You can buy it in the states as the Saturn Astra. They're not present in miniscule numbers at all. In fact, there are a number of American cars (the Cadillac BLS for example) made specifically for the European market. And the Corvette, for example, has such a good reputation for being a great value in terms of being a sports car that GM is actually considering making Corvette its own make in Europe so upscale buyers won't have to purchase a mere Chevy. It's clear that you don't know very much about this subject. Your attempts to sound knowledgeable are really just come off as uneducated bashing of American cars.

P.S., it's no longer the 1980s. The bulk of American cars have surpassed the quality of European makes and are tied with many Japanese makes.

[Tesha]

47. As I pointed out elsewhere, my 1996 Dodge Caravan is a Piece of Shit.

> P.S., it's no longer the 1980s. The bulk of American
> cars have surpassed the quality of European makes and
> are tied with many Japanese makes.

As I pointed out elsewhere, my 1996 Dodge Caravan, built
six years (or so) after the 1980s, is a Piece of Shit.
And I see no evidence that modern Caravans are built
any better; upthread, a poster confirms that their
*4 YEAR OLD* Caravan is also a PoS. Meanwhile, our
former 1995 Ford Taurus got scrapped when it ate its
*SECOND* $2700 transmission. How many times do you
expect me to keep trying American brands?

Finally, I guess I'll have to ask you for some citations
that *PROVE* that many American-built cars (not "world
cars" but actual made-in-the-good-ole-U.S.-of-A cars) are
exported to Europe, because my personal experience says
otherwise, as does every photo, movie, or video I've
ever seen of a European roadway. American cars are
generally nowhere to be seen.

Tesha

[gratuitous]

5. GM looking to sell the Hummer line?

What's their sales pitch - Who wants to buy this lovely piece of shit?

[DainBramaged]

6. I guess you don't understand the popularity of the brand overseas

Very high export numbers, and used ones are going over to eastern Europe faster than you can say ruble.

But what would you know about a gas hog like the Hummer? It's the same as the Land Cruiser (Toyota), Armada (Nissan) and LX (Lexus) ALL which get as bad gas millage as the Hummer. Do you consider those cars shit?

"Nuff said.

[gratuitous]

11. Yes

Outmoded technology, using up an expensive and diminishing resource, and from my real-life observations of these vehicles on the road, they can carry only one person at a time, the driver.

[DainBramaged]

14. Ten why (always) broad brush the Hummer when YOU KNOW the Japanese

make the same shit as GM?????

Don't bother.

[gratuitous]

23. Huh?

The article talked about GM re-tooling its product line, and their company mouthpiece said that one of the options they were considering was selling the Hummer line. I didn't think it was a very attractive property, and speculated on what GM's sales pitch might be to a prospective buyer.

I apologize for insulting something that is apparently quite sacred to you.

[snooper2]

30. Saturn is a shit brand...

Very much so...basically a 100,000 mile car

It starts with that whole dash/center console vibration...and move's outward from there :rofl:

The one I had was fun to drive till it broke piece by piece...

[Ichingcarpenter]

36. I didn't know that was common my friend's Saturn did that too

I liked the car on how it handled and he got great milage, but then at
around 100,000 things started to fall apart. He was a decent shade tree mechanic too.
I remember helping him remove the dash to fix that problem.

[DainBramaged]

40. One man's opinion, as good as shit in a farting contest

There are hundreds of thousands of Saturn owners who would strongly disagree with you.

[PVnRT]

35. *yawn* Still beating this drum?

Oh, wait, I forgot, I'm an evil union-hating latte-sipper because I own a Honda. Never mind.