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Great post Coolknight. I agree! Don't disregard GM's abilities with the
current, inadequate car lineup. They know how to build a great high tech
engine, such as the Northstar V-8 or the 3.5 DOHC V-6 in the Intrigue.
They have NO car guys on the board of directors & often a tried & true
pushrod engine from the 50's is what the bean counters go with.
Saturn is what happened to the once great Oldsmobile. When Roger Smith
created Saturn in the early 80's, the R&D money was hijacked from the Olds
division. So, NO new models for Oldsmobile for over a decade. This is a
division that sold over a million cars in 1985. Roughly the same amount of
cars Honda sells today.
Truck sales have saved GM (& Ford). Ford sold 850,000 F-150's alone last
year. GM pickup sales were right behind at over 800,000. You're right, if
gas prices blow up, Detroit is in a world of hurt! That is why Saab & small
efficient cars must remain in the lineup. Chrysler sells the Neon at a loss
but realizes it cannot get out of the small car market. The general has
billions in the bank that were made almost exclusively from truck & SUV
sales. As you have identified, the cars are the problem. I think GM needs
to upgrade their interiors more than anything. Saab's 9-5 interior is drop
dead gorgeous. High quality materials & premium leather aren't that hard to
do. The new Corvette is a beautiful, solid performance car. You open the
door & you go "this car is $43,000!" Looks like the same plastic used in
the Century!
Sorry, for the rambling. My point is I don't know where this giant company
called GM is going. I remember the glory years when GM was the envy of the
corporate world. People like Alfred Sloan, Charles Kettering, John DeLorean
& Harly Earl were brilliant car men. I see NOONE of that caliber at GM
today. Tiny Saab probably has as much upper end talent as GM does. Ford is
doing well with Jag (as you stated) & Volvo. Maybe GM will take some cues
from their cross town rival on how to handle Saab. Saabers are anxiously
waiting!
, Thu, 8 Mar 2001 19:46:04
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