Wow! GM is getting pretty desparate.

[codex57]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/Autos/gm_execs_discount/index.htm

Want a GM discount? Ask a retiree
Report: In effort to boost sales, auto manufacturer urges retired execs to share employee discount.

 

[Big Daddy]

I believe it. There are so many discounts if a person knows where to look. Harley Davidson offers discounts to current and retired police officers. Costco members get discount on the featured car what ever it is from week to week. CCA members get a club discount/rebate when they purchase a qualfying BMW. But I see exactly what you mean.

 

[Steve176]

GM's car styling is terrible, and they wonder why they need to give out big incentives. I also own a Envoy (suv) and it drives like a boat. GM needs to stop making look a like cars and trucks through their various brands and improve the styling. This company is going to get in trouble as the older loyal base starts to die off. The only brand that GM makes that has any style is Cadillac.

I am also amazed how much better my bmw drives over the pontiac bonneville ssei I had. I thought that was a decent driving car, wow was I wrong.

 

[epj3]

GM's car styling is terrible, and they wonder why they need to give out big incentives. I also own a Envoy (suv) and it drives like a boat. GM needs to stop making look a like cars and trucks through their various brands and improve the styling. This company is going to get in trouble as the older loyal base starts to die off. The only brand that GM makes that has any style is Cadillac.

I am also amazed how much better my bmw drives over the pontiac bonneville ssei I had. I thought that was a decent driving car, wow was I wrong.

Problem #1 - They design the frame first, then the different "brands" design a car around that frame. Ever see the rear fender of a silverado? It's held in place by a 1/4" thick, fairly long steel support that you can see from outside - if you see it you'll know what i mean - total crap. BMW Installs pieces like these at certain places in the FRAME but it's made to stiffen the frame, not hold on the BODY (since the body on a lot of cars are part of the frame, ie bmw and almost everyone except the big 3)

You might say that the passat and the a4 are based off the same car - but thats just that, based off the same car. They don't design a frame then say "build a car around this"

 

[Average Jae]

i know bunch of gm designers working way too much ot in the past few months. just looking at the current gen, and sales tells you why.

i really hope they pull through.

 

[equate]

They lose money because they just threw down one billion on fuel cell research and have nothing to show for it, if they dont make it to be first in an economical fuel cell car thats affordable you can kiss GM goodbye, they are not cuttin it anymore.

 

[I love my 5 Series]

The news today is that GM cannot get rid of their inventory, so they are selling ALL cars/trucks/suv's at GM Supplier Prices, less rebates! This is basically around invoice to the public. It'll be interesting to see if these pieces of poorly engineered/poorly built hunks of metal move.

I wonder if they'll let us buy a Corvette at GM Supplier pricing???

 

[DrivingTopless]

They're losing money because they are no longer an automobile company, rather a healthcare company... $3 billion per year on healthcare for retirees alone! That's $1,600 tacked on to EVERY vehicle they make.

 

[Average Jae]

 

[codex57]

Hehehe, now, it's Employee Discounts for everyone! No need to reward workers.

 

[Bryan330i]

They're losing money because they are no longer an automobile company, rather a healthcare company... $3 billion per year on healthcare for retirees alone! That's $1,600 tacked on to EVERY vehicle they make.

Which would not be a big problem if they could pull ANYWHERE NEAR retail for their vehicles. But instead they need to discount thousands off to move vehicles. Others do not need to discount to move vehicles. Buy a Toyota truck and you will pay very close to retail plus a higher manufacturers interest rate. The same is true of Nissan. But buy a GM and if you don’t get 5,000.00-10,000.00 off sticker you are crazy because the market value of their products is so low.

The health insurance issue is an excuse. Build better products and cut discounts even in half and they will have covered their health costs two to three times over.

 

[Nataku]

Bad business model to continue rebates like a permanent sale stategy. Great way to demoralize your workers. What incentive is left for them ? Just to be pissed off and build worse cars. They should build cars people want and are passionate about. There is no such thing as an American made car but there is an American designed car. They need a management shake down to effectively compete.

 

[Bryan330i]

Bad business model to continue rebates like a permanent sale stategy. Great way to demoralize your workers. What incentive is left for them ? Just to be pissed off and build worse cars. They should build cars people want and are passionate about. There is no such thing as an American made car but there is an American designed car. They need a management shake down to effectively compete.

[headbang]

 

[PhatBimmer]

I like GM over Ford but I dunno anymore. I like the Chevy and GMC brand.

The 4.3L V6 Vortec is a bulletproof engine, sadly I can't say the same for the rest of the parts.

 

[codex57]

The 4.3L V6 Vortec is a bulletproof engine, sadly I can't say the same for the rest of the parts.

That's part of the problem. They've got good ideas and can produce some desirable things. They just can't seem to put it all together in one vehicle. I like the HUD in the Vette, the engine in the Vette and various other cars, the Quadrasteer, etc. But for various reasons, they can't seem to put it all together. I heard Delphi (or whoever made Quadrasteer) yanked GM's exclusive right to it cuz GM did a horrible job of marketing it.