GM Suspends Dividend Payments..........

[al_bundy]

Honda, Toyota and Nissan are pretty much the same thing. the only difference between a Toyota and a Lexus in a lot of cases are different body panels, interior and some other things. they spend an extra few thousand $$$ to build it and charge you double what a Camry costs and make a lot more money. Mostly same thing as a Camaro and Firebird

there is even an initiative between all the automakers around the world to use standard parts for their cars

 

[FinanceDude]

Honda, Toyota and Nissan are pretty much the same thing.

Uh, no, those companies are distinctly different, but have one thing in common, they built their brands on affordable reliable small cars, where the Big Three did not.........

Mostly same thing as a Camaro and Firebird

Well, the build quality is probably a little better in the Honda/Toyota/Nissan..........

 

[al_bundy]

The Japaneese carmakers also build their luxury brands with a lot of common parts as the regular brand. not just GM and Ford. they have also sold a lot of SUV's. Toyota has a lot of different SUV models with a few of them being truck based SUV's.

big difference is that the Rising Sun Big 3 can sell their small cars at a nice profit, while GM and Ford lose money or barely break even on their small car sales. that's why all the democrats from states where GM and Ford have a large presence are always against CAFE when the dems are supposed to be enviromentally friendly

 

[CitricAcid]

Hummer, Saab and Saturn for GM as well.

 

[Milton]

Uh, no, those companies are distinctly different, but have one thing in common, they built their brands on affordable reliable small cars, where the Big Three did not.

Correct, on all counts.

 

[FinanceDude]

Hummer, Saab and Saturn for GM as well.

More "quality" brands..........resale?? Yikes............

 

[SecondCor521]

I heard on the news that GM was considering selling the Hummer brand. I found myself wondering how much [-]anyone[/-] someone would [-]demand to be paid[/-] pay for it.

2Cor521

 

[Marquette]

I heard on the news that GM was considering selling the Hummer brand. I found myself wondering how much [-]anyone[/-] someone would [-]demand to be paid[/-] pay for it.

2Cor521

I might buy the brand name. There's this tattoo I've always wanted....

 

[Milton]

I heard on the news that GM was considering selling the Hummer brand.

GM Could Sell Hummer to Chinese Company

Selling Hummer. Cutting production. Closing factories. Laying off staff. Restricting retirees' benefits. Soon there won't be much left.

 

[Art G]

For all you that are bagging on GM, do you actually own a GM car? I'll readily admit that in the 70's and 80's, American car makers got complacent. However, from any mechanic I've ever spoken with recently, they all tell me that there are no unreliably built cars any more. I've owned GM's and I've owner almost every other brand as well, and have been very happy with my GM's. Personally, I think a Buick is the car to own (although I don't at the moment). You can buy them a year old, for half price and get half that money back in two years. It'll cost ya' three grand a year or less total for a good quality, loaded up car, that's under warranty for the most part.
I recently traded in my bigger SUV for a Chevy Equinox. It's fully loaded and looks almost identical to the Lexus crossover. I can assure you I'll spend much less than that Lexus owner over the life of the vehicle.

 

[Marquette]

I owned a 2001 Olds Intrigue. The electrical went wonky for the window and radio controls. I needed some suspension work at 125k miles, but then the roads around here can be rough in the spring. Oh, and my front driver left turn signal burned out every 3 months.

Still, I'd be tempted to make my next car a Volt unless Tesla comes out with something a bit cheaper by the time I'm shopping.

 

[Zathras]

I don't think Tesla will beat the Volt with their sedan model. A better bet is Think's new model coming out next year. Home - Think
Art, Saturns were my favorite. It isn't quality that stops me from buying GM, it is poor fuel efficiency.

 

[Marquette]

Sorry, I mean cheaper than their current offering, not necessarily cheaper than a Volt.

 

[Zathras]

Ah, well then it may be a tie
Tesla's next model is a sedan slotted for 2010. Current estimate is $60,000 vs $40,000 for the Volt. So it is much cheaper than their roadster.
Tesla's plan is to have a family sedan next (2012/2013?).

 

[Milton]

For all you that are bagging on GM, do you actually own a GM car? I'll readily admit that in the 70's and 80's, American car makers got complacent. However, from any mechanic I've ever spoken with recently, they all tell me that there are no unreliably built cars any more.

Hello Art,

You may well be quite right. But for many people it doesn't matter if American manufacturers have finally improved their quality to acceptable levels. Honda, Toyota et al. got it right a long time ago, and there is no compelling need to experiment; especially when GM, Ford and Chrysler have such poor reputations.

I'm not looking for an argument, or implying that you're a fool for preferring your Chev. I merely point out that, rightly or wrongly, perception is often just as important as reality.

The American 'Big Three' pretty much squandered their huge lead and inadvertantly alienated a generation of consumers. They will have a difficult winning back those potential customers.

 

[FinanceDude]

For all you that are bagging on GM, do you actually own a GM car? I'll readily admit that in the 70's and 80's, American car makers got complacent. However, from any mechanic I've ever spoken with recently, they all tell me that there are no unreliably built cars any more. I've owned GM's and I've owner almost every other brand as well, and have been very happy with my GM's. Personally, I think a Buick is the car to own (although I don't at the moment). You can buy them a year old, for half price and get half that money back in two years. It'll cost ya' three grand a year or less total for a good quality, loaded up car, that's under warranty for the most part.
I recently traded in my bigger SUV for a Chevy Equinox. It's fully loaded and looks almost identical to the Lexus crossover. I can assure you I'll spend much less than that Lexus owner over the life of the vehicle.

I turned in my last GM car in 2006. I had owned FIVE NEW ones in a 20 year period. Here's the carnage:

1989 Grand Am - Tranny went at 41,000 miles. Head gasket problems, rattles everywhere.......

1993 Bonneville SSEi - Supercharger went at 20,000 miles. Heads-up display went at 34,000 miles. Other than that, it was a nice car.

1996 Pontiac Grand Prix - tranny went at 27,000 miles, 3 MONTHS after warranty. If I wouldn't have been in the business, Pontiac would have made me pay for everything, as it was I was out $700.

2000 Chevy Malibu - I can't even list all the problems I had with that.....

2003 Buick Rendevous - Probably the best GM car I owned, although the gas pedal detached while I was driving on the interstate, and the brake fluid reservoir failed while I was 500 miles from home, which pissed me off. Try getting a car fixed on a Saturday night in a strange town..........

The reason I owned a lot of GM cars was I worked at GM dealers, and DW and I used to build up our GM card rebates so we would have money to put down............

When the Rendevous was up on lease, I bought an off-lease 2003 Honda Accord with 34,000 miles. I just hit 80,000, and the only thing that I had to replace (other than tires and wiper blades) was the rear brakes (at 72,000 miles), not bad at all.

My buddy sold me his one-year old Honda Odyssey with 18,000 miles for a wholesale price. I have not had ONE problem with the Hondas, so I am now all Honda all the time. I still have $2800 on a GM card rebate to use, but GM has a LOT to prove to me before that happens. If the THREE YEAR reliability on the Malibus turns out well, maybe then.........

I am SURE there are MILLIONS of former GM car owners that have done as I have, which is sad for GM.............

 

[Art G]

Has everyone forgot what garbage cars Toyota, Honda, and Datsun were in the 70's? The Honda Civics were no for rusting so badly that eventually the hood would just cave in. The Datsun B-210's were pure junk. Toyota had garbage with the Cressida and Corolla, and the pickups were toys. The difference was that few of us owned them, so we didn't have to deal with the problem.
I've owned Cadillacs for years, and not only have I had little problems with them, but whenever I go to the service dept., they've been great. I will readily admit that most GM dealerships haven't given the customer service in the service dept. that Lexus or Infiniti has. However, when I owned my Infiniti, they wore me out with surveys and other garbage. There can be too much harrassment by the dealership.
Anyway, I currently own a Mercedes 380SL Convertible that I rarely drive. It's my toy that I put maybe 4000 miles a year on. The service has killed me! I've spent $3k a year over the last three years just to keep it running. Where's the value in that?!!

 

[Marquette]

I've never, ever, ever heard of someone buying a Mercedes for value. You should check out Consumer Reports, they seem a bit biased in their car guide, but fairly consistant with my experiences... you might find them useful as well.

Having been born in '77, I can't say I remember the quality of import cars in the '70's... but I'll keep that in mind if I get the urge to trade my '06 Accord in on a '73 Datsun.

 

[al_bundy]

my first car was a '92 firebird i bought used, good thing i got a warranty on it. had to replace the water pump and alternator in the 5 months i owned it and then i wrecked it.

family has owned GM cars. Pontiac Grand Prix the AC died after a few years. replaced by a Buick Regal and now mom is telling me it's costing a lot in repairs and it has maybe 40,000 miles. i drove it a few years ago and it felt like it was about to fall apart.

knew someone with a pontiac sunbird whose brake disks literally broke in half

i hear that with mercedes when you do an oil change you have to pay for some test where they analyze the oil

 

[FinanceDude]

Has everyone forgot what garbage cars Toyota, Honda, and Datsun were in the 70's? The Honda Civics were no for rusting so badly that eventually the hood would just cave in. The Datsun B-210's were pure junk. Toyota had garbage with the Cressida and Corolla, and the pickups were toys. The difference was that few of us owned them, so we didn't have to deal with the problem.
I've owned Cadillacs for years, and not only have I had little problems with them, but whenever I go to the service dept., they've been great. I will readily admit that most GM dealerships haven't given the customer service in the service dept. that Lexus or Infiniti has. However, when I owned my Infiniti, they wore me out with surveys and other garbage. There can be too much harrassment by the dealership.
Anyway, I currently own a Mercedes 380SL Convertible that I rarely drive. It's my toy that I put maybe 4000 miles a year on. The service has killed me! I've spent $3k a year over the last three years just to keep it running. Where's the value in that?!!

Been down that road too. I owned a 78 Corolla I bought from a buddy who needed money. The rear bumper was held on by a bungee cord. However, it got 41 on the highway (stick shift).

I got an 85 Nissan 200SX turbo in 1986. NEVER put a dollar into it, and the college girls sure liked it.......

DW owned a 1987 Nissan Maxima once. OK car, except it ate front rotors........

Since about the late 80's, Toyota and Honda have been smacking GM Ford and Chrysler around............

 

[FinanceDude]

I've never, ever, ever heard of someone buying a Mercedes for value. You should check out Consumer Reports, they seem a bit biased in their car guide, but fairly consistant with my experiences... you might find them useful as well.

Having been born in '77, I can't say I remember the quality of import cars in the '70's... but I'll keep that in mind if I get the urge to trade my '06 Accord in on a '73 Datsun.

A 240Z would be a sweet ride, if you could find one.........

 

[Art G]

I know someone who has a 240Z sitting in their underground parking. He moved from the East Coast, lost the title and can't seem to get a new one. He'd sell the car for $2k, but you can't get license plates for the thing! The car has 32k miles on it. Not sure of the year.

 

[Midpack]

For all you that are bagging on GM, do you actually own a GM car? I'll readily admit that in the 70's and 80's, American car makers got complacent. However, from any mechanic I've ever spoken with recently, they all tell me that there are no unreliably built cars any more. I've owned GM's and I've owner almost every other brand as well, and have been very happy with my GM's. Personally, I think a Buick is the car to own (although I don't at the moment). You can buy them a year old, for half price and get half that money back in two years. It'll cost ya' three grand a year or less total for a good quality, loaded up car, that's under warranty for the most part.
I recently traded in my bigger SUV for a Chevy Equinox. It's fully loaded and looks almost identical to the Lexus crossover. I can assure you I'll spend much less than that Lexus owner over the life of the vehicle.

I have not owned a GM vehicle since 1978. But I travel on business frequently and end up with an American rental car almost every time, and very few of them have made a good impression. And I work with about 80 people, many who have bought American made cars all along, and the horror stories are too frequent for me to be comfortable. The horror stories with Honda and Toyota must be rare, because I have never personally heard one.

Chevy Equinox comparable to the Lexus. That's awfully generous.

But most important, I doubt there are any Americans who arbitrarily prefer to buy Japanese cars, I know I don't. I would be more than glad, even prefer, to buy American as soon as they build a small car even remotely comparable to a Honda or a Toyota. And I can't believe they can't, they just haven't been interested in my business for the past 30 years...

 

[OAG]

I have owned a Lexus 470GX V8 for 3.5 years and my maintenance cost has been 5 Oil changes (about $100). Coming up on the next one and the 6 quarts of Castol and Fram Oil filter are awaiting installation (6th Oil change) cost about $20 more. I too wish the American Car Makers could build something well that I would buy but the last one I owned was in 1975 and it is a piece of junk IMHO within about 2 years (lots of problems). I doubt they have improved THAT much.

 

[StJohnsWood]

My buddy sold me his one-year old Honda Odyssey with 18,000 miles for a wholesale price. I have not had ONE problem with the Hondas, so I am now all Honda all the time. I still have $2800 on a GM card rebate to use, but GM has a LOT to prove to me before that happens. If the THREE YEAR reliability on the Malibus turns out well, maybe then.........

I am SURE there are MILLIONS of former GM car owners that have done as I have, which is sad for GM.............[/quote]


I own a 97 Honda Civic, I replaced a set of tires 2 batteries and oil filters/air filters that's it. I'm going for 200,000 on this car. Honda had me at hello.

My wife has a 2004 Odyssey and we just replaced the tires and the oil.