GM to kill Saturn and high-performance operations

[onewhippedpuppy]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/02/gm-kills-high-performance-vehicle-operations.html
http://jalopnik.com/tag/saturn/?id=5155957&skyline=true&s=x

So they're killing off Saturn, who actually was starting to make decent cars. Along with cars like the CTS-V, which has often been referred to as "better than the M5" for half the price, the Cobalt SS "most fun for under $20k", and the Corvette ZR1.

So I can see killing off Saturn, some are redundant products anyway. Though the Saturnized Opels (Aura and Astra) were pretty decent cars. Killing off all of the cars that make GM interesting though, not so good.

So if they're getting rid of Saturn, someone please explain why they're keeping Chevy trucks AND GMC? Is there really a point to selling identical product lines with different badges? And Buick.......what's the point?

[BReif61]

Apparently Buicks sell like hotcakes in China. Maybe that's its saving grace.

[targa911S]

they are killing off corvette?

[Jim Richards]

it's no matter. GM will be dead by summer.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by targa911S

they are killing off corvette?

I doubt the Corvette, but I think the ZR1 (maybe the Z06) fell under their high-performance halo.

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

it's no matter. GM will be dead by summer.

Nah, we'll just keep bailing them out. Join the party!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

.... someone please explain why they're keeping Chevy trucks AND GMC? Is there really a point to selling identical product lines with different badges? ......

What are you talking about?

They are not identical products with different badges.

If that were true then my wifes Tahoe would have been covered by the parking brake recall used on the GM product.

And yes I argued that point, the stealership mgr agreed with me but it was not in the system so tough chit, your bill is $800, Thank you, you can let go of your ankles now.

[rammstein]

Wait- they are going to stop making the Cobalt SS? That's one of their best cars!

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/02/gm-kills-high-performance-vehicle-operations.html
http://jalopnik.com/tag/saturn/?id=5155957&skyline=true&s=x

So they're killing off Saturn, who actually was starting to make decent cars. Along with cars like the CTS-V, which has often been referred to as "better than the M5" for half the price, the Cobalt SS "most fun for under $20k", and the Corvette ZR1.

So I can see killing off Saturn, some are redundant products anyway. Though the Saturnized Opels (Aura and Astra) were pretty decent cars. Killing off all of the cars that make GM interesting though, not so good.

So if they're getting rid of Saturn, someone please explain why they're keeping Chevy trucks AND GMC? Is there really a point to selling identical product lines with different badges? And Buick.......what's the point?

They sell tons of Chevy and GMC trucks. Both sell, why cancel either? And black people in Philly LOVE- i mean LOVE- Buick Park Ave/LeSabres. So do old people.

Haha.

[nota]

gm has a long tradition of killing cars just after they get them right
caddy alantia got the north star motor it need and was quickly gone
fiero got the brakes and descent sept redue it needed
and was gone in 1/2 a year in 88
as soon as the "F" bodys got the all alloy V8 they were gone
it is like they are trying to create collectible rare cars
by making tons of junk
and in the rare case they get a car right
they quickly kill it to keep the numbers down

[nota]

Originally Posted by BReif61

Apparently Buicks sell like hotcakes in China. Maybe that's its saving grace.

but most of those ''Buicks'' are not built here
they are china spec and built there

[TWork]

Finances are bad, so kill off all your halo cars? First time they've had a car that would actually make a car enthusiast consider going into a showroom to look and perhaps talk up GM products and they kill them. The only time I can recall my dad ever mentioning a car commercial was the (fairly) recent ad for the CTS-V ("when you turn your car on, does it return the favor...?") and then they kill it.

[Zef]

Saturn's car are so crap....Like all the GM products anyways.....!

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Zef

....so crap....Like all the GM products anyways.....!

Hey, hey, hey... watch it, Buddy... my daily driver, a '93 Caprice, is decidedly not crap... it's the most reliable car I've ever owned.

Granted, it won't corner like a jungle cat on steroids, but... you get what I'm sayin.'

[imcarthur]

from Edmunds IL

DETROIT — General Motors may have scrapped its High Performance Vehicle Operations unit as part of a broader cost-saving program, but it hustled to reassure Inside Line on Thursday that some of the company's crown jewels are "safe."

When asked if the demise of HPVO meant the end of the road for such vehicles as the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, company spokesman Vince Muniga said: "No. You've got the Camaro SS coming out. It is not threatened at all."

"Camaro SS, Corvette ZR1 and Corvette Z06 are all regularly engineered cars," Muniga explained. "They did not go through HPVO. Most people did not realize that. They are safe."

HPVO created such products as the V-Series Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the HHR SS.

"The [Cadillac] CTS-V is a regular part of the CTS lineup, and that will stay for the foreseeable future," Munigan said. "The CTS-V will continue through the life cycle of the product. If they are regular production cars, they will continue through the model run, whether it's an SS Cobalt or an SS HHR." He would not give a timetable for when such vehicles would be eliminated or when the regular production run is scheduled to end.

[TWork]

As they say, pimpin' ain't easy....

Actually, the Impala SS of the mid-90s was an awesome car. Has quite a following these days.

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Hey, hey, hey... watch it, Buddy... my daily driver, a '93 Caprice, is decidedly not crap... it's the most reliable car I've ever owned.

Granted, it won't corner like a jungle cat on steroids, but... you get what I'm sayin.'

[legion]

Come on guys, think about it.

Who is setting the rules for doling out cash to GM? It's politicians with a "green" agenda, NOT the marketplace.

[chapo]

How long have they waited to bring out the Camaro, jeez , finally build the damn thing.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by legion

Come on guys, think about it.

Who is setting the rules for doling out cash to GM? It's politicians with a "green" agenda, NOT the marketplace.

Say it with me, "destined for failure".

An aside, but is anyone else annoyed by the GM and Chrysler ads pushing the BUY AMERICAN message? Buy a GM car, it's good for America. Maybe they should have thought about that during the last 4 decades they spent ripping off the American public?

[Jim Richards]

Matt nailed it. Detroit has been failing the marketplace test for decades and no amount of money will make them survive (IMO).

[racer]

We all know how "british leland" faired under government control. Lest hope "American Leland" can do better. But yes, the "greenies" are running the companies now. Lets build lots of "gas saving" hybrids to save the world. Oh brother. Let me go buy a 2-stroke something just to even it all out