Author Topic: GM filed bankrupcy.  (Read 13826 times)

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Offline Dean Los Angeles

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2009, 06:48:53 PM »
I watched a Chevy Equinox wheel come off of our production line today. It is the last wheel that our plant will produce.

Superior Industries is the world's largest manufacturer of oem aluminum wheels. Three years ago the 7 plants made 19 million wheels. The Van Nuys, California facility made 75,000 wheels a week at the peak.

The Pittsburg, Kansas plant closed last December putting 650 out of work. The Van Nuys facility employed a little over a thousand. Now down to about 50. I've got until the end of the month.
Well, it used to be Los Angeles . . . 50 miles north of Fresno now.
Just remember . . . It isn't life or death.
It's bigger than life or death! It's RACING.

Offline panic

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2009, 07:50:19 PM »
Really funny that Obama is channeling Orwell so accurately: the official name is not based on what it is, but what it is not (e.g.: Ministry of Truth produces lies) to effect a peremptory strike against discussion.

That's not bankruptcy, in that it does not follow any current rules, or resemble any previous filing. Obama has wiped his ass with yet another set of laws.

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #17 on: June 01, 2009, 08:23:22 PM »
Dean, I'm sorry to hear that.

The sad truth is that GM is currently building some of the finest cars I've ever driven, and has made huge strides in the last 15 years.

What the media doesn't seem to understand is that when gas goes to $4.00 a gallon in the period of six months, a company simply can't start making new vehicles the next day.  If I were GM three years ago, you're darned right I'd be pushing out every Suburban and Tahoe I could at a 30% profit margin.  If I were GM five years ago, you're darned right I'd be sinking development dollars into Cadillac and dumping Oldsmobile.  If I were GM fifteen years ago, you're darned right I'd be developing the Saturn line, and looking to buy Saab.

GM actually made some pretty smart moves, and I think the Chapter 11 filing will prove to be another smart move. You simply can't turn a ship this big around overnight.

But what does concern me is that we are all now "reluctant share holders", and our President "doesn't want to be in the car business".  If 60% of a company is owned by reluctant shareholders, and shareholder leadership wants to take a hands-off approach, what does that spell for General Motors' future?

I think we should have not got involved, and quite honestly, forced GM's hand last year.

The Brits have been down this road.

In retrospect - British Leyland was nationalized in 1975 during the financial crisis in Great Britain of the 1970's.  This action did not avert the crisis, which continued into the early 1980's. 

Today, the marques that made up British Leyland are scattered.  Jaguar is now owned by a company in India, MG is owned by a Chinese concern that will probably never build a car bearing the marque, Mini went to BMW, and Triumph is lost, probably forever.  Rover is dead, and Range Rover is up in the air.

« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 08:33:00 PM by Milwaukee Midget »
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline joea

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #18 on: June 01, 2009, 08:48:33 PM »
"What the media doesn't seem to understand is that when gas goes to $4.00 a gallon in the period of six months, a company simply can't start making new vehicles the next day."........

uh.......in 1989....the geo got 53 mpg city..57 highway.....many other
cars got well over 40.....

today they make hybrids that in most cases dont match the gas
cars from decades ago.....for over $30,000........

i guess i dont get it....

landracing

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #19 on: June 02, 2009, 12:12:12 AM »
Personally I feel that GM produced one of the most Cheap feeling cars and trucks around... When researching and almost b. uying a new truck over the winter I researched and test drove 08 Chevy 1500, 08 F150 and a 08 Tundra... Chevy was most expensive of all of them, had the lowest HP rating, worst gas milage and felt and drove cheap. F150 came in second and the Tundra was by far the best of them all.

Most of the options that cost considerable more then the base model price were all included STANDARD on the Tundra at no extra cost and vehicle was a couple thousand less the two comparable models of chevy and F150... not only that the Tundra had more HP, more Torque, better gas milage and more towing capacity then other two..... So in my opinion if you are looking for a cheap piece of crap by a chevy or ford truck... you want quality, power, towing capacity and bunches of features go with Toyota.

I see all brands of vehicles everyday, I fix all brands everyday... Just seems like there are more problems with GM and FORD products.. You give me a vehicle year and make and I can tell you common problems with that vehicle off the top of my head that are common problems... Just dont see that "Common anything" with Toyota's and Honda's.

Ill same German cars for another topic.

Now I do own a 03 Ford Ranger. I love this vehicle. I leased a 2001 and when lease was up I purchased this 03. I had never owned a truck in my life before the 2001 ranger. I love this vehicle. I was searching out a new pickup late last year looking for a good deal.... End result I kept my ranger and did not purchase. My car before that was a 1998 Ford Mustang GT, and a 1997 Mustang base. I have good results with all those vehicle so I am not a Ford hater at all.

I also own a 2007 Chrysler 300 AWD with all the bells and whistles. Love this car and would not trade it for anything. Before that we had a Chrysler LHS which was also a great vehicle.

Am I heart broken GM filed.. Nope.. do I feel for the people who might lose jobs, sure I do.

But I would debate the fact that GM is quality built because of the rate of problems these vehicles have compared to Foreign vehicles.

I would also debate anybody on the fact that Hybrid's are better for enviroment, cost freindly, and have better gas milage, and cost less to produce... The answers are all wrong with exception of a Toyota Prius... Which is again Foreign...
Just because GM and Ford build a vehicle with a electric motor that barely functions as an electric vehicle does not make it good. It's a marketing ploy and read the fine print...

JonAmo
« Last Edit: June 02, 2009, 12:16:15 AM by landracing »

McRat

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #20 on: June 02, 2009, 01:11:37 AM »
Yup, them new full-sized Toyotas make American stuff look like junk:

http://jalopnik.com/5261006/toyota-hybrid-breaks-down-towed-off-track-before-nascar-event

Notice it's a GMC Duramax towing it... :-D


Offline SPARKY

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #21 on: June 02, 2009, 01:22:49 AM »
AS a retired GM guy---I will not ever own a car or truck that is produced after 5-31-09  as long as our Socialist Democrat pinko commie govt has any thing to do with them!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

landracing

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #22 on: June 02, 2009, 01:45:09 AM »
"I prefer the Camaro. It looks so much better hanging from a hook."


McRat

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #23 on: June 02, 2009, 01:59:49 AM »
"I prefer the Camaro. It looks so much better hanging from a hook."



I used to have great fun at the local AutoX events with a bone stock 2000 Camaro.  It's priceless to watch the looks on the Import guys faces when a "dinosaur" with "foul handling" would beat them at their own game.  Guess you can't believe commercials or Motor Trend I suppose. 

I had some real fun going up to Bandimere (Denver) awhile back.  A Tundra tried to pass me in my 2004 GMC 3500 Sierra as we were getting up near Vail.  I decided to see what he had.  It was close, but he just couldn't hang with me past 80mph uphill.  I was towing 7,000lb at the time with 4 people on board.

The locals around here in their Titans, Tundras, and Hemis use to play with us.  Pretty much they all retired.  Getting whupped by something the size of a school bus apparently weakens their macho gland.  Usually it's wifey who does the "schooling".


landracing

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #24 on: June 02, 2009, 02:42:41 AM »
McRat,

We could debate this topic for pages of pages, on who beat who and when... not all vehicles are the same... We all get that... I can only tell you real world data of what I see on a daily basis that come into my bay to be repaired.. I have plenty of work no matter what type of vehicle... I just see more GM and FORDS on a consistent basis with the same problems over and over and I have a game plan of what i am going to specifically look at when they come into my bay + the original complaint... And it's not all GM cars and trucks. Specific models have their problems. For instance I hardly see a GM Diesel Truck with any problems, but when you talk about GM as a whole..... When I get a foreign vehicle I don't know what I am going to get. Thats all i am saying...

And it's all my opinion, however since I deal with them on a daily basis I have a real good idea. And I personally would not own a GM vehicle no matter the style of car, and its based on they just feel cheap to me.... No offense to people who own them.

JonAmo

Offline A2WindTunnel

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #25 on: June 02, 2009, 08:58:32 AM »


GM (Government Motors) proudly introduces the 2010 Obama

The answers are blowing in the wind...
www.A2WT.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AERODYN-A2-WIND-TUNNEL/259986785465
@A2WindTunnel #A2WindTunnel

Offline floydjer

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #26 on: June 02, 2009, 09:29:08 AM »
Yea, saw the union workers on TV this morning wondering how this could happen... this seemed to affect their full pay and benefits when they were not working.....
And there is 50% of the problem. Odd as this may seem, There are  no gov`t/union benefit pks. for us old retired liquor store owners. We have to get by on what we squirreled away after working 80-90 hr. weeks for 20 years. :cheers:
I`d never advocate drugs,alcohol,violence or insanity to anyone...But they work for me.

Offline panic

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #27 on: June 02, 2009, 09:37:49 AM »
Morris predicts that there is no intention of "restoring GM to profitability", it was entirely fictional. The deal was to get the UAW on his side (such as building all small cars here to justify jobs, despite the fact that the higher costs make them uncompetitive).
They will build only the cars that Gore/Pelosi/Reid/Schumer want, that don't work (Volt) and no one will buy, and certainly not for more money than Toyota.
The UAW workers cannot be laid off, and will be subsidized with tax money for the next 20 years.
Easily another $100 billion gone.

Offline SPARKY

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #28 on: June 02, 2009, 10:56:30 AM »
Jon A---what you say maybe true---but the comerical value, cost value, of a vech needs to be determined by the TOTAL cost of ownership over the period you own it---GM vech. usually stack up pretty good ---there are some exceptions---just ask the FORMER owners of mid to late 90's Toyota v-6s
Miss LIBERTY,  changing T.K.I.  to noise, dust, rust, BLUE HATS & hopefully not scrap!!

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   Helen Keller

We are going to explore the racing N words NITROUS & NITRO!

McRat

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Re: GM filed bankrupcy.
« Reply #29 on: June 02, 2009, 11:29:49 AM »
McRat,

We could debate this topic for pages of pages, on who beat who and when... not all vehicles are the same... We all get that... I can only tell you real world data of what I see on a daily basis that come into my bay to be repaired.. I have plenty of work no matter what type of vehicle... I just see more GM and FORDS on a consistent basis with the same problems over and over and I have a game plan of what i am going to specifically look at when they come into my bay + the original complaint... And it's not all GM cars and trucks. Specific models have their problems. For instance I hardly see a GM Diesel Truck with any problems, but when you talk about GM as a whole..... When I get a foreign vehicle I don't know what I am going to get. Thats all i am saying...

And it's all my opinion, however since I deal with them on a daily basis I have a real good idea. And I personally would not own a GM vehicle no matter the style of car, and its based on they just feel cheap to me.... No offense to people who own them.

JonAmo


No offense taken.   :cheers:

There is nothing Toyota makes that I could find a need for either.

The reason you see more GM and Ford trucks in repair bays than Toyotas, is, uh, well, they outnumber Toyotas several times over.  And when used as trucks, they currently have a higher mortality rate than domestic trucks.  Ditto for their large SUV's.  Apparently it isn't as easy to make a 6,000lb vehicle with 300+ HP as it is to make a 2000lb'r with 150.

After spending time on trucks boards, the Toyota and Nissan guys all say the same thing.  "It was cheaper", "The plastic interior in our truck is less plasticy than the plastic interior in your truck", "The commercials say mine is better."   But unlike the Camry, apparently the commercials aren't as effective with the trucks. 


« Last Edit: June 02, 2009, 11:36:37 AM by McRat »