Posts
of dissappointment...
Toyota is not the same car company that I started my career with 24 years ago. Way back then they would have never blamed floor mats for this acceleration problem they are currently facing. They wouldn't have blamed anything until they knew the facts. That's why the media is killing them now. Toyota has never been the faceless/faithless monolith that GM was. Until now. It's time for an intervention. Toyota needs to admit that they have a problem. They need to seek rehab. They don't need to become another faceless/souless corperate entity. Toyota has had some great cars, and some loyal customers... but this is NOT the way to keep them.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Parts....
OK, here's a new twist, what is the deal with the crappy parts?
Seems like every day I get a part that's either boxed wrong, broken/damaged, missing parts that you can ONLY get if you get the whole assembly, ect.
It's gotten just stupid. I've ordered a wiper motor cover for the same customer 3 times, now... each time I get a part that has been returned by another dealer and each time it's missing the clips that we need to hold it on, that you can only get with the panel. I got a sunvisor for a corvette that was missing the vanity mirror, yet another part from another dealer that robbed pieces of parts. Yet if I return a part with a crayon mark on the box, it gets rejected.
Seems like every day I get a part that's either boxed wrong, broken/damaged, missing parts that you can ONLY get if you get the whole assembly, ect.
It's gotten just stupid. I've ordered a wiper motor cover for the same customer 3 times, now... each time I get a part that has been returned by another dealer and each time it's missing the clips that we need to hold it on, that you can only get with the panel. I got a sunvisor for a corvette that was missing the vanity mirror, yet another part from another dealer that robbed pieces of parts. Yet if I return a part with a crayon mark on the box, it gets rejected.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Still here....
Just very busy right now. Work has picked up and it's taking all my time to try to keep up. Got a lot on my mind I wanna talk about though...
Sad that GM destroyed Saab. They took a wonderful little eclectic car and made it... well lets see what did they make... the 9-2 was a Subaru, the 9-7 was yet ANOTHER damn Trailblazer rebadging. The 9-3 was Cobalt-based, and the 9-5 borrowed it's underpinnings from the Malibu platform (via Opel).
That's the real problem with GM, Badge engineering has stuck again. Let's look at the Equinox. Nice platform, let's build a version for ALL 4 brands!!
Equinox, Terrain, and SRX - plus Buick is supposed to get a version next year. Plus the Saturn Vue was also built on the same platform.
Why do I dog GM so hard about platforming? Because it's stupid to just rebadge the same vehicle. If you don't believe me, ask VW. They took a Chrysler mini-van, reengineered the suspension, and slapped a big fat VW on the grill. And it didn't sell. (Of course the weird Brooke Shields ads didn't help either).
People want to feel some synergy in the vehicle they buy. They wanted to feel a little bit of the Trans Am they wanted when they bought a Grand Am. The red backlighting in the Pontiac line made them 'feel' a little more like a real family of vehicles, but it wasn't enough.
Right now, Buick is the confused member of GM's little family of 4.
It has the wonderful Lucerne ...which is going to be ax'd because it's too close in price and market to a Caddilac. It has the Lacrosse, which is trying to lure people from Europeon and Asian imports. Then it has the big crossover Enclave...which is good, but yet another cookie-cutter car.
The upcoming Regal (think Cobalt in a Buick suit!!) won't work. The Skylark wasn't a huge hit, because people dont' think of a Buick as a small car.
And I'm still thrilled that Cadillac is too good for my little town.
On to another topic, I had my 1st real experience with projector headlights last night. One word? Weird.... beautiful bright light, but the cutoff was so sharp and so drastic I actually thought I was sitting up too high and looking through the top bar of tint on the windshield. Maybe I'll get used to it.
Sad that GM destroyed Saab. They took a wonderful little eclectic car and made it... well lets see what did they make... the 9-2 was a Subaru, the 9-7 was yet ANOTHER damn Trailblazer rebadging. The 9-3 was Cobalt-based, and the 9-5 borrowed it's underpinnings from the Malibu platform (via Opel).
That's the real problem with GM, Badge engineering has stuck again. Let's look at the Equinox. Nice platform, let's build a version for ALL 4 brands!!
Equinox, Terrain, and SRX - plus Buick is supposed to get a version next year. Plus the Saturn Vue was also built on the same platform.
Why do I dog GM so hard about platforming? Because it's stupid to just rebadge the same vehicle. If you don't believe me, ask VW. They took a Chrysler mini-van, reengineered the suspension, and slapped a big fat VW on the grill. And it didn't sell. (Of course the weird Brooke Shields ads didn't help either).
People want to feel some synergy in the vehicle they buy. They wanted to feel a little bit of the Trans Am they wanted when they bought a Grand Am. The red backlighting in the Pontiac line made them 'feel' a little more like a real family of vehicles, but it wasn't enough.
Right now, Buick is the confused member of GM's little family of 4.
It has the wonderful Lucerne ...which is going to be ax'd because it's too close in price and market to a Caddilac. It has the Lacrosse, which is trying to lure people from Europeon and Asian imports. Then it has the big crossover Enclave...which is good, but yet another cookie-cutter car.
The upcoming Regal (think Cobalt in a Buick suit!!) won't work. The Skylark wasn't a huge hit, because people dont' think of a Buick as a small car.
And I'm still thrilled that Cadillac is too good for my little town.
On to another topic, I had my 1st real experience with projector headlights last night. One word? Weird.... beautiful bright light, but the cutoff was so sharp and so drastic I actually thought I was sitting up too high and looking through the top bar of tint on the windshield. Maybe I'll get used to it.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Fritz Quitz!
Sorry, I took a day to let this settle down to see what REALLY happened....
And what really happened was that Fritz had to go. Too many of the deals to sell off pieces fell through. The only deal that DID go through was the sale of Hummer. Saab, Saturn, and Medium Duty spin off are all dead. Frizt was the captain, and just couldn't make things happen to help the turn-around. Sadly, it will be VERY hard, if not impossible to find a decent CEO for GM now. Between government interferance, and the fact that GM's still in deep caca; finding someone that will work for peanuts just isn't going to happen.
And what really happened was that Fritz had to go. Too many of the deals to sell off pieces fell through. The only deal that DID go through was the sale of Hummer. Saab, Saturn, and Medium Duty spin off are all dead. Frizt was the captain, and just couldn't make things happen to help the turn-around. Sadly, it will be VERY hard, if not impossible to find a decent CEO for GM now. Between government interferance, and the fact that GM's still in deep caca; finding someone that will work for peanuts just isn't going to happen.
Monday, November 30, 2009
What to drive.....
Recently, while my wife’s VW was out of commission, and she was driving my car; I got the opportunity to drive a few different vehicles, courtesy of the used car department at our dealership (and of course due to the generosity of the owners of said dealership).
1st, Let me explain my daily driver is a 2006 Pontiac Vibe AWD sports wagon. The broken car is a 2003 VW Jetta GLS. The Vibe is a bigger car interior-wise than the Jetta, but overall, the Vibe isn’t much bigger than the Jetta.
According to SaferCar.gov the 2006 Vibe got a 5-star safety for the Driver, 4-star for the passenger; on side impact, the Front Seat gets 3-stars, while the Rear gets 4-stars.
The 2002 Jetta (with Side-Air bags standard) got 5-stars for both Driver and front passenger, and 4-stars for both front and rear on side impact.
The 1st car I drove was a 2008 Volvo S40. I noticed right off the bat that the front doors were long, but the door opening itself wasn’t. I could get in and out ok, but it was a lot tighter than my Vibe. The driver gets a 4-star, Passenger 5-Star, and the side impact number is 5-star for both front and rear. Looking at the car, it was a lot chunkier and solid than the Vibe, but to me the Vibe was more comfortable to get in and out of.
The 2nd car was a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Again, the doors were a lot longer than the door opening. All tests on the Malibu are 5-star. Again, getting in and out of the car wasn’t much fun. (But, to be honest, the B-pillar interior trim was a huge part of the problem, and has been fixed on the 2010 model). Also, if you get to watch ANY You-Tube, this is the car that utterly KILLED the 1959 Chevrolet Belvedere!
The whole thing made me wonder if the road to safety isn’t just bigger doors and smaller openings…
It also made me wonder what I’m going to drive in the future. I’m 6’3 and by no means thin. The Vibe is perfect for me. Even with a sunroof, I have PLENTY of headroom. The new Buick Lacrosse is a pretty car; but, it doesn’t FIT me. It’s too much of a cockpit. It doesn’t feel like a Buick to me. Every Buick my dad ever owned was like sitting ON, not IN. Maybe it will bring over some import buyers, but what about the traditional Buick buyer?
On my “Bucket List” I have ‘Own a Cadillac by age 50’. Now I’m not sure what I want. Cadillac doesn’t want me. I don’t want anything made by Ford. GM killed Pontiac outright.
Oh well…. I watched ‘Transformers 2’ the other night….maybe I’ll like the Cruze.
1st, Let me explain my daily driver is a 2006 Pontiac Vibe AWD sports wagon. The broken car is a 2003 VW Jetta GLS. The Vibe is a bigger car interior-wise than the Jetta, but overall, the Vibe isn’t much bigger than the Jetta.
According to SaferCar.gov the 2006 Vibe got a 5-star safety for the Driver, 4-star for the passenger; on side impact, the Front Seat gets 3-stars, while the Rear gets 4-stars.
The 2002 Jetta (with Side-Air bags standard) got 5-stars for both Driver and front passenger, and 4-stars for both front and rear on side impact.
The 1st car I drove was a 2008 Volvo S40. I noticed right off the bat that the front doors were long, but the door opening itself wasn’t. I could get in and out ok, but it was a lot tighter than my Vibe. The driver gets a 4-star, Passenger 5-Star, and the side impact number is 5-star for both front and rear. Looking at the car, it was a lot chunkier and solid than the Vibe, but to me the Vibe was more comfortable to get in and out of.
The 2nd car was a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Again, the doors were a lot longer than the door opening. All tests on the Malibu are 5-star. Again, getting in and out of the car wasn’t much fun. (But, to be honest, the B-pillar interior trim was a huge part of the problem, and has been fixed on the 2010 model). Also, if you get to watch ANY You-Tube, this is the car that utterly KILLED the 1959 Chevrolet Belvedere!
The whole thing made me wonder if the road to safety isn’t just bigger doors and smaller openings…
It also made me wonder what I’m going to drive in the future. I’m 6’3 and by no means thin. The Vibe is perfect for me. Even with a sunroof, I have PLENTY of headroom. The new Buick Lacrosse is a pretty car; but, it doesn’t FIT me. It’s too much of a cockpit. It doesn’t feel like a Buick to me. Every Buick my dad ever owned was like sitting ON, not IN. Maybe it will bring over some import buyers, but what about the traditional Buick buyer?
On my “Bucket List” I have ‘Own a Cadillac by age 50’. Now I’m not sure what I want. Cadillac doesn’t want me. I don’t want anything made by Ford. GM killed Pontiac outright.
Oh well…. I watched ‘Transformers 2’ the other night….maybe I’ll like the Cruze.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The New GM?
The new GM, same as the old GM?
I’ve not published a blog in a while. To be honest; partly because I’ve been busy, and partly because I’ve not had anything nice to say (and I was brought up to not say anything if I couldn’t say anything nice). Well, I’ve decided it’s time to talk again.
Parts availability just absolutely SUCKS. Transmission for a 2002 Buick Century…none available ANYWHERE, in fact!! I had to go to Jasper to get one. Remotes for DVD players, backordered…so far for 6 weeks. I could go on, but you get the point.
Today has been our 3rd Monday this week. Trying to find parts and get them here to do repairs, trying to figure out how to pack up and move $44K in inventory at the old GMC store we bought, and where I’m going to put it – all these on top of all my regular work…yes…It’s been Monday 3 days in a row!
GM gave us a little preview of product plans a few weeks ago, and for the life of me I just don’t get it. Buick is going to lose Lucerne and regain Regal (as a smaller, entry level Buick)? Cadillac is going farther up market, and will only be sold in metro areas?
Well, thanks GM, you just handed a large chunk of market to Lincoln/Mercury, I hope Ford send you a thank you note, or at least a basket of fruit.
Chevy trucks will still only be the #2 seller, because GM decided to keep GMC truck and split their truck market. And the Pontiac Vibe outsold the entire Buick division in August. The VIBE, GM’s bastard child, outsold the ENTIRE Buick Division (and for that matter, it outsold Saturn, Hummer and Saab, too). I’m still mystified as to why GM decided Pontiac was the division to kill outright, GMC just seems to be the most redundant.
In the end, I’m not impressed with the new GM Company. It seems a lot like the old GM Corporation – still shortsighted (think Mr. Magoo!) and not really using the collective brains on the 14th floor. There are some smart people at GM, there HAS to be. We just haven’t’ seen or heard from them lately.
I’ve not published a blog in a while. To be honest; partly because I’ve been busy, and partly because I’ve not had anything nice to say (and I was brought up to not say anything if I couldn’t say anything nice). Well, I’ve decided it’s time to talk again.
Parts availability just absolutely SUCKS. Transmission for a 2002 Buick Century…none available ANYWHERE, in fact!! I had to go to Jasper to get one. Remotes for DVD players, backordered…so far for 6 weeks. I could go on, but you get the point.
Today has been our 3rd Monday this week. Trying to find parts and get them here to do repairs, trying to figure out how to pack up and move $44K in inventory at the old GMC store we bought, and where I’m going to put it – all these on top of all my regular work…yes…It’s been Monday 3 days in a row!
GM gave us a little preview of product plans a few weeks ago, and for the life of me I just don’t get it. Buick is going to lose Lucerne and regain Regal (as a smaller, entry level Buick)? Cadillac is going farther up market, and will only be sold in metro areas?
Well, thanks GM, you just handed a large chunk of market to Lincoln/Mercury, I hope Ford send you a thank you note, or at least a basket of fruit.
Chevy trucks will still only be the #2 seller, because GM decided to keep GMC truck and split their truck market. And the Pontiac Vibe outsold the entire Buick division in August. The VIBE, GM’s bastard child, outsold the ENTIRE Buick Division (and for that matter, it outsold Saturn, Hummer and Saab, too). I’m still mystified as to why GM decided Pontiac was the division to kill outright, GMC just seems to be the most redundant.
In the end, I’m not impressed with the new GM Company. It seems a lot like the old GM Corporation – still shortsighted (think Mr. Magoo!) and not really using the collective brains on the 14th floor. There are some smart people at GM, there HAS to be. We just haven’t’ seen or heard from them lately.
Monday, July 20, 2009
What is perception?
Some say "Perception is Everything". I don't disagree at all, but I do wonder what clouds and shapes our perceptions.
Locally, the other GM dealership in town has no cars or trucks. The Dealer is trying to wind it down ASAP, but in the meantime still has his service department open. He's not getting much business, because the perception is that the business could shut down at any moment. People in this area remember that not too long ago a Nashville area Dodge dealer got padlocked by the state over unpaid sales taxes. It was a huge mess; customer's cars being repaired were locked up for weeks, same for the tech's toolboxes, personal items, ect. So, nobody wants to take a car in for service at a ghost town. Our dealer did a lot of things right in the last few months. We painted the building, spent money on landscaping and other visual upgrades. He stocked up on new and used cars; and in the end all that came together to help us look like a thriving business.
My next perception has to do with GM, but especially Buick. Who thinks' up these names???? The next LaCrosse (Allure to our Northern readers) {another dumb thing, why not just call it Allure everywhere????} is a very striking looking car. But the name is stupid. Lacrosse is a stick and ball game (or something else in Canada!) Lucerne is another made up word, and Enclave is a closed cul-de-sac community! What ever happened to good Buick names....Roadmaster, Regal, Century, Wildcat & Skylark are all historic and stable names for Buick. As VW found out recently, sometimes staying with an old nameplate and sticking with it worldwide isn't such a bad idea. VW decided that the US market Golf should become the Rabbit again. It was a good ideal, and had some cute advertising; but the reputation of the old US built Rabbit wasn't buried as deep as VW thought, so the Golf is now the Golf worldwide again.
Sorry about being gone for so long. Business has picked up and my personal time has become a bit limited. I hope to post more often again soon!! More on that later.
One final note, with the passing of Walter Cronkite, the news media has lost it's final touchstone with truth and honesty. I grew up during the years that CBS was the source for the news. There was no slant, it was just fair and honest reporting on what was going on in the US and the world. Sadly, we will never see this again.
Locally, the other GM dealership in town has no cars or trucks. The Dealer is trying to wind it down ASAP, but in the meantime still has his service department open. He's not getting much business, because the perception is that the business could shut down at any moment. People in this area remember that not too long ago a Nashville area Dodge dealer got padlocked by the state over unpaid sales taxes. It was a huge mess; customer's cars being repaired were locked up for weeks, same for the tech's toolboxes, personal items, ect. So, nobody wants to take a car in for service at a ghost town. Our dealer did a lot of things right in the last few months. We painted the building, spent money on landscaping and other visual upgrades. He stocked up on new and used cars; and in the end all that came together to help us look like a thriving business.
My next perception has to do with GM, but especially Buick. Who thinks' up these names???? The next LaCrosse (Allure to our Northern readers) {another dumb thing, why not just call it Allure everywhere????} is a very striking looking car. But the name is stupid. Lacrosse is a stick and ball game (or something else in Canada!) Lucerne is another made up word, and Enclave is a closed cul-de-sac community! What ever happened to good Buick names....Roadmaster, Regal, Century, Wildcat & Skylark are all historic and stable names for Buick. As VW found out recently, sometimes staying with an old nameplate and sticking with it worldwide isn't such a bad idea. VW decided that the US market Golf should become the Rabbit again. It was a good ideal, and had some cute advertising; but the reputation of the old US built Rabbit wasn't buried as deep as VW thought, so the Golf is now the Golf worldwide again.
Sorry about being gone for so long. Business has picked up and my personal time has become a bit limited. I hope to post more often again soon!! More on that later.
One final note, with the passing of Walter Cronkite, the news media has lost it's final touchstone with truth and honesty. I grew up during the years that CBS was the source for the news. There was no slant, it was just fair and honest reporting on what was going on in the US and the world. Sadly, we will never see this again.
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