GM to slash jobs and production, cancel some car models

[thackney]

I think people buy SUVs because they are a bit roomier than those little boxes the automakers pass off as cars today.  Ever since the car companies got into the save the planet con game, cars got smaller and smaller. I don't know about you, but I like a vehicle I don't feel squashed in. These days SVUs are the only alternative to those "sedans."

I believe that setting up higher with a better ability to see down the road is a major factor.  Anytime we drive a rental sedan that is our biggest complaint.

[RetBobbyMI]

I believe that setting up higher with a better ability to see down the road is a major factor.  Anytime we drive a rental sedan that is our biggest complaint.

People driving the larger vehicles are disrespectful of the smaller cars. They pull in front of them seemingly deliberately.

[thackney]

People driving the larger vehicles are disrespectful of the smaller cars. They pull in front of them seemingly deliberately.

Maybe if the smaller car driver sat up higher, he would see them angling in sooner...

 

[RetBobbyMI]

Maybe if the smaller car driver sat up higher, he would see them angling in sooner...

 

Ha ha. I’d love to upgrade to a decent SUV, but $40 to 50k for a big 3 piece of crap is a bit much on a retirement income.

[catfish1957]

Might get flamed here, but my last GM purchase was in 1981.  Based on  that one purchased and ones before then being mechanical shit, and fell apart like the garbage it was.

So I hold a grudge.  Let 'em crash and burn.

[Frank Cannon]

Might get flamed here, but my last GM purchase was in 1981. 

I always had you pegged as a Citation owner.

[Frank Cannon]

People driving the larger vehicles are disrespectful of the smaller cars. They pull in front of them seemingly deliberately.

LOL. You gotta kill time on the highway somehow.

[Bigun]

IIRC GM is still into American Taxpayers something like $12 Billion from the Obama bailout and that doesn't mention the hosing their shareholders took to prop up the unions.  I personally hope GM goes totally in the tank and they will if they wait for me to buy anything they make going forward.

[Frank Cannon]

IIRC GM is still into American Taxpayers something like $12 Billion from the Obama bailout and that doesn't mention the hosing their shareholders took to prop up the unions.  I personally hope GM goes totally in the tank and they will if they wait for me to buy anything they make going forward.

You don't like the Socialism of GM? Didn't you say you drive some sort of Italian car?

[Bigun]

You don't like the Socialism of GM? Didn't you say you drive some sort of Italian car?

Are you kidding me???  The Italians can't make a sewing machine that works!  I drive a 10 year old 1 ton Dodge pickup with a 5.9 liter diesel engine.
 

[Frank Cannon]

Are you kidding me???  The Italians can't make a sewing machine that works!  I drive a 10 year old 1 ton Dodge pickup with a 5.9 liter diesel engine.

See. I was right. You drive a Fiat.

[Bigun]

See. I was right. You drive a Fiat.

LOL! 

[thackney]

Ha ha. I’d love to upgrade to a decent SUV, but $40 to 50k for a big 3 piece of crap is a bit much on a retirement income.

While I love our Ford 4x4 Expedition EL (extra long), it isn't the only type of SUV available.  All of the following allow the driver's viewpoint to be higher than a typical sedan.  And all about half or less the price range you mentioned.

14 Cheapest SUVs of 2018
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/cheapest-suv-on-the-market

14) 2018 Hyundai Tucson: $22,550
13) 2018 Hyundai Tucson: $22,550
12) 2018 Toyota C-HR: $22,500
11) 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: $22,110
10) 2018 Subaru Crosstrek: $21,795
9) 2018 Chevrolet Trax: $21,000
8) 2018 Jeep Compass: $20,995
7) 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: $20,395
6) 2018 Mazda CX-3: $20,110
4) 2018 Fiat 500X (tie): $19,995
4) 2018 Ford EcoSport (tie): $19,995
3) 2018 Honda HR-V: $19,670
2) 2018 Hyundai Kona: $19,500
1) 2018 Jeep Renegade: $18,445

[Frank Cannon]

While I love our Ford 4x4 Expedition EL (extra long), it isn't the only type of SUV available.  All of the following allow the driver's viewpoint to be higher than a typical sedan.  And all about half or less the price range you mentioned.

14 Cheapest SUVs of 2018
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/cheapest-suv-on-the-market

14) 2018 Hyundai Tucson: $22,550
13) 2018 Hyundai Tucson: $22,550
12) 2018 Toyota C-HR: $22,500
11) 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport: $22,110
10) 2018 Subaru Crosstrek: $21,795
9) 2018 Chevrolet Trax: $21,000
8) 2018 Jeep Compass: $20,995
7) 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: $20,395
6) 2018 Mazda CX-3: $20,110
4) 2018 Fiat 500X (tie): $19,995
4) 2018 Ford EcoSport (tie): $19,995
3) 2018 Honda HR-V: $19,670
2) 2018 Hyundai Kona: $19,500
1) 2018 Jeep Renegade: $18,445

Those are cheap because they are all garbage. I wouldn't let someone use one of those for landfill if I needed to fill an hole.

[sneakypete]

Like this?  Obama's 'car of the future' goes kaput

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/obamas-car-of-the-future-goes-kaput

It should be trumpeted everywhere how many billions of dollars in tax credits and incentives were thrown away due to the failure of government selecting losers.

@IsailedawayfromFR

Last time I checked,the Obombers and every other member of DC's anointed class ride around in armored Suburbans with big V-8 engines and armed guards.

Big V-8 engines and armed guards are EVIL!

Unless you are one of the ruling class,of course.

[sneakypete]

That's total bullshit. No one wants an Impala unless they are in the over 80 set. Just look at the numbers on SUV sales. They are through the roof. No one buys Civics. They buy the CRV. No one buys the Impala. They buy the Traverse. Sedans are a waste of time. Even Ford is getting rid of their cars because no one wants them. The only reason Chrysler/Fiat is sticking with cars is because they cut out a boutique market with the Challenger and related hot cars.

@Frank Cannon

Frank,you are confusing the Impala of today with the Impala of the 80's and earlier models. Think "Chevy Nova" in size,but old Impala in ride comfort and luxuries.

People buy SUV's most for the same reason I buy crew cab pu's,they are practical and fill a need I have for room to haul things inside as well as out in the open. IF I could get by with it,my choice of PU would be one with a standard cab and short bed. Assuming of course that such a thing can still be bought.

[sneakypete]

The part I don't understand is 2 years into a republican everything and this nonsense is still going on.

@RoosGirl

Probably a combination of subsidizing them is a open-ended congressional dictate (no specified end date) that would require a bill be passed in Congress to end it,and some contracts being for longer periods than 1 year. Not much Trump can do to end a 10 year contract with 5 years remaining.

[sneakypete]

With all that stuff your vehicle must me this.....

@Frank Cannon

I used to drive one exactly like that except for the door lettering. Mine didn't have any lettering,but was the same exact faded red. Bought it for 50 bucks from a junkyard,and drove it back and forth to work for 3 or 4 months,until I could save enough money to buy something better. Compression was so low I had to park it on a hill and roll down the hill to start it in gear,or have someone pull me to start it. Still,once it got started it ran like a champ with no knocking. Kept it as a spare in case something went wrong with my newer "old truck",but one day while I was at work someone stopped and wanted to buy it,so my bleep father sold it to them and kept the money.

[sneakypete]

And Honda vehicles hold their resale value a whole lot longer than America’s big three. My only complaint with Honda is they discontinued any decent vehicle that could be towed flat behind an RV.

@RetBobbyMI

No disrespect intended,but if you think a Honda Ridgeline is a truck,you don't know much about trucks.

[Frank Cannon]

@Frank Cannon

Frank,you are confusing the Impala of today with the Impala of the 80's and earlier models. Think "Chevy Nova" in size,but old Impala in ride comfort and luxuries.

I'm not mistaking anything. I have driven a few and my neighbor has one that we head out in. It's a really nice car but no one under 80 would want one after being in the Traverse. It sits higher, it's bigger, has all wheel drive and can tow a boat. Sedans are for old people who can't hop up into an SUV anymore.

[mirraflake]

I bought a new car last year. Looking at Chyslers and was looking over a 4 wd dualie diesel crew cab  in the showroom.. $75,0000


Car companies have priced themselves out of the market.

EX GM head Peter Lutz said in 10 years everyone will be renting cars or using uber/lyft type services and self driving cars will pick you up and drop you off and will be waiting for you when you get off of work.

I know plenty of young folk who never got their license until early 20's and many don't have a license.

The love of cars in this country is dying with the older generation

[sneakypete]

Ha ha. I’d love to upgrade to a decent SUV, but $40 to 50k for a big 3 piece of crap is a bit much on a retirement income.

@RetBobbyMI

I bought my 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 turbo diesel for right at 20 grand maybe 6 years ago. Used with 98k miles on it,but that's just broken in for a diesel. In fact,I have yet to add a quart of oil between changes. I use Mobile 1 synthetic diesel oil,and change oil and filter at 20k miles.

 Last road trip I made in it I pulled out of Minot,ND headed for the east coast with a total weight right at 20,000 lbs,set the cruise control on 75 MPH,and just let it eat. At times I forgot I was even pulling anything. Never came out of overdrive until I hit the steeper grades in the Smokies. I love that truck so much I didn't have the heart to trade it in when I bought the new 4x4 2016 crewcab Chevy 1500 with the 5.3 gas (spit!) engine and 6 speed auto od trans. 

I use the new one for local hauls to save wear and tear on my good truck. Average retail for my 06 GMC with the low mileage it has on it was right at 21 grand last time I checked,and I have several local people telling me to let them know when I decide to sell it because they want it. Never bought a used truck or car in my life that had a higher retail several years after I bought it than when I bought it. Last year of the LBZ engine,which has 365hp and 665 ft lbs on torque,and no smog devices at all other than a PCV valve.

I bought the 2016 a few months after the 2017's were out,and even though it had a sticker price of 43 grand,I got it for 32 grand and it was still a new truck. Nothing special. I can't drive anywhere without seeing several just like it rolling down the road,but it's just a necessary tool. Have 22 K miles on it now with no trouble at all other than the cheap Firestone tires on it shredding and the local Chevy dealer refusing to replace them under warranty "because you have a trailer hitch and car tires on your truck,so you violated the tire warranty." When I asked the service bitch "Who put the car tires on the truck,me or GM,and WHY would they put "car tires" (there is no such thing) on a truck to start with?",she had nothing to say.

So the dealership she works for lost a future sale when I get ready to get rid of this one,and I bought 4 new Cooper tires for 140 bucks each from Amazon and put them on there. Truck gets right at 20 MPG (truck has 3:73 gears) doing local driving with me taking no care whatsoever to get good gas mileage,and has been problem free mechanically.

[Frank Cannon]

EX GM head Peter Lutz

It's Bob Lutz.

[mirraflake]

It's Bob Lutz.

Whatever

[Frank Cannon]

@RetBobbyMI

I bought my 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 turbo diesel for right at 20 grand maybe 6 years ago. Used with 98k miles on it,but that's just broken in for a diesel.

Unless you bought a Ford Power Stroke where it would be just broken at 20K miles.