z-01

[gemini]

so check this out, i was up at the hendrick racing complex in nc over by the lowes motor speedway. i get a hookup and a tour through rick hendrick's private car collection. part of his collection includes 2 brand new z-01 vettes. one of which is the second one to come off the line. since the first one was sold at auction, number 2 makes the first prduction unit to be sold to the general public. wow

[Turbo storm]

Wish I could be rich and have toyz like that...:crap::alright:

[ND4SPD]

You mean ZR-1?

[MrDude_1]

heh, sounds stupid, but i think the coolest part on the ZR1 is the brakes...

[ND4SPD]

It certainly isn't the cheap plexi glass "window" in the hood. What were they thinking?

[gemini]

:whistle:You mean ZR-1?


doh

[Professor Fate]

It certainly isn't the cheap plexi glass "window" in the hood. What were they thinking?
That just it GM stop thinking years ago.

[fasterthanyours]

Schnitt has one. Sounds are on his web page somewhere.

www.schnittshow.com

[MrDude_1]

That just it GM stop thinking years ago.

the beancounters took over some parts... the unions have the rest..

not to mention the marketing dpt is neutered,(along with most of the company) and the public mindset is VERY negative.

from every side, they're totally fucked.

ask anyone on the street to name a reliable car... they'll say Honda. Toyota...

doesnt matter that GM powertrain consistently makes motors that raise the bar for others... or that GM can do XYZ to a car... because the end product of a car will be perceived as a POS, doesnt matter if it is or not.

[Professor Fate]

You said it sir. GM blew it when they dropped the Camaro.
Give the people what they want.........Not a Colbalt

[ND4SPD]

Quality is improving but perception is on a mudslide. That will be hardest to change. If they'd fire their styling department and hire some competent designers things and build cars that actually look cool, they'd be better off. Do a search for pictures of the Holden Monaro - it's the Aussie version of the Pontiac G8 we get.

[Turbo storm]

You said it sir. GM blew it when they dropped the Camaro.
Give the people what they want.........Not a Colbalt

And the Fiero! The Fiero started as a piece of shit, but in 87 and 88, it was a good looking, good handling, decently quick car.
Drop the Camaro...WTF were they thinking????

[Professor Fate]

I knew about the Holden for years.
If GM pulled their head from their ass and built a reto 57.......:chin:

[ND4SPD]

I might be in the minority but I'm sick and tired of the retro theme. How about something original? I'm all for baby boomers reminiscing about the muscle cars they had back in their heyday. How about giving the current generation something to dream(and not have nightmares) about?

[Professor Fate]

True....................

[Mike]

What killed GM... some of the ingredients certainly include bad loans (GMAC), expecting that the SUV craze (and accompanying margins) would go on forever, and of course unions. Not having a Camaro in the stable most likely had a negligible impact...

[Nash]

Considering the ZR1 lapped the 'Ring just about faster than any car ever made, plus costs three times less, I think I could put up with a plexiglas window to the engine.

[MrDude_1]

What killed GM... some of the ingredients certainly include bad loans (GMAC), expecting that the SUV craze (and accompanying margins) would go on forever, and of course unions. Not having a Camaro in the stable most likely had a negligible impact...

no, the number one thing that killed GM is marketing.

the lack thereof has:

1. turned the perception of 99% of the public to believe that american cars are not reliable.

2. has made it so the average person is completely unaware of most of GMs models.

3. has shoved their nose so far into the designers room that THEY control and demand what "brand identifying features/themes" are put into every model.. thereby making alot of shit either the same, unattractive, or reminicent of previous american cars that have a negitive public image of being reliable...

4. when was the last time you saw a GOOD ad for a single chevy, or other vehicle? no, they pack multiple cars into one ad, and it does nothing to sway the publics opinion on it.



they've fucked themselves.

[fasterthanyours]

I've kind of seen the demise of the auto industry coming, mostly ford, chrysler, and chevy. The majority of their vehicles are overpriced and under equipped.

By overpriced, I mean that over the last 10 years, even though technology has improved by 10x, auto companies continue to raise the prices of the same vehicles every year. Just because you massaged a line or rounded a corner doesn't mean you raise the price $2K a year.

By under equipped, I mean that the majority of intro level vehicles are way under equipped for the price. Missing things like power windows/locks, cruise control, comfortable seats, and any since of interior style. You wind up having to add $5K to $10K in extras to get any decent options on the interior.

[Mike]

no, the number one thing that killed GM is marketing.

Umm, ok, maybe, but why "no" when I said 'some of the ingredients certainly include'? :shrug:

[MrDude_1]

Umm, ok, maybe, but why "no" when I said 'some of the ingredients certainly include'? :shrug:

that would be because i had a paragaph before that, that i edited out, and didnt change the new start. :alright:

[ND4SPD]

I've kind of seen the demise of the auto industry coming, mostly ford, chrysler, and chevy. The majority of their vehicles are overpriced and under equipped.

By overpriced, I mean that over the last 10 years, even though technology has improved by 10x, auto companies continue to raise the prices of the same vehicles every year. Just because you massaged a line or rounded a corner doesn't mean you raise the price $2K a year.

By under equipped, I mean that the majority of intro level vehicles are way under equipped for the price. Missing things like power windows/locks, cruise control, comfortable seats, and any since of interior style. You wind up having to add $5K to $10K in extras to get any decent options on the interior.

Much of the price increases come from the pensions for the retired employees. I saw a figure a few years ago that said that each vehicle they sell has a ~$3k premium to offset pension costs for retirees.

[ND4SPD]

How about nationalized car companies?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/ablcucxr33jw

[MrDude_1]

how about we just let it fucking fail, and let someone make their own car company?

[ND4SPD]

http://seekingalpha.com/article/105061-should-we-really-bail-out-the-big-three-automakers-with-73-20-per-hour-labor

[fasterthanyours]

Much of the price increases come from the pensions for the retired employees. I saw a figure a few years ago that said that each vehicle they sell has a ~$3k premium to offset pension costs for retirees.
ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNND about $2K a car for insurance costs for Union members.

[Professor Fate]

It's no wonder why GM sales are down......:smilebig:
http://galleries.hollycelebs.com/pictures/2/Lindsay_Lohan/01/Lindsay_Lohan_13.jpg
They are selling the wrong goods.

[fasterthanyours]

Dude is that the Comfort Package or the Convenience Package?