VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions GM good & bad news...

National news tonight; GM laid off 25,000 workers...will ripple effect a lot of other workers.

GM TV ad yesterday and today that I saw; their new sale "everyone now gets the employee discount when buying a new vehicle from GM"

Looks like GM needs to rethink the type of vehicles people want...

Sure hope that they get their act together without dropping more marques.

Look again-I think it said plans to lay them off by 2008 or some thing like that.
GM can not continue to pay past as well as present employees and make enough money to be competitive.

Think American and BUY GM-or go to Korea and try to make a living building their cars.

gator,

and this would be just the first step...gm's a lot of issues right now affecting their profitability...so much so that bankruptcy is a real possibility, if it doesn't take drastic measures to quickly right the ship...


epi

Hey Gator,

I also saw where they are coming out with a new model - but I never saw what it was. I'm glad I bought my new farm truck this year with the "327".

But.......no matter the outcome you can bet your bippy that the CEO will still get his multi-millons per year! :( :( :(

http://www.forbes.com/static/execpa...on&uniqueId=SOX2&datatype=Person

yeah, dog...ain't that the sad truth...and a whole bunch of his cronies near the top, too...


epi

lets see: mopars now owned by the germans, Fo-rd in bed with the brits. guess that leaves the Fiat folks to buy up our beloved GM if they take a crap.chevegene's got it right- i'll keep buying chevys even if the tundras are half the price.can't see me working in china or japan. my 2 cents. mike

There is no practical reason automobile executives at GM are compensated the large pay packages they receive. Likewise, there is no objective basis for providing hourly personnel the over $20/hour pay they receive to assemble automobiles. Heck, most of us on this board assemble our own cars for free.

No golden parachutes for the workers...only for the overpaid bosses if they are ever let go.

Some folks are finding that the Golden parachutes are in fact a hod of bricks that have been sold as a parachute!

The whole thing is upside down. Not likely it will ever turn right-side-up. Look what happened when the "Big 3" kept making the monster size cars into the 70's. Then GM/Chevy finally built a TERRIFIC big car - the 94-96 Impala SS - and they closed Arlington to build TRUCKS!! The only reason, more profit!! Allso because after spending millions, likely billions, in promo to convince the buying public that they wanted a 'truck' they can't stop building trucks!

It seems like the results of a 3 martini lunch with an ad guy, a politician and a lawyer!! Good luck to all of us.

HOWEVER, altho this country has many, many problems it's #1 by such a wide margin that whoever is in second place might as well be in 5th place.

Go USA!!!

Bill.

I'm sorry guys but this is a real hot button for me after I got burnt buying a new Jimmy and having nothing but poor quality problems one after another. It makes me boil when I hear the higher ups blaming the unions and health care costs when the problem is they are building poor quality automobiles. How many cars have wheel bearings go bad in 16k miles, rotor castings that flake apart in 14k miles, ball joints that fail in 40k miles, seat mechanisms that have broken 3 times in 54k miles, door hinge pins that failed causing the door to fall off? I could go on.
None of those probelms have anything to do with engineering department or the factory guys putting the vehicles together. It's the management making the calls on the quality of components that goes into the vehicles. If the quality were good, the sales would be good and GM would just have to cut costs (i.e. health care etc.) The fact of the matter is very few people are buying their product because they don't want to pay $20k+ for a piece of junk and that is the real crux of the problem. When you think of all of the people that work directly or indirectly for GM many Americans are suffering because of these stupid decisions. It is really sad to think GM is giving the industry away.

"there is no objective basis for providing hourly personnel the over $20/hour pay they receive to assemble automobiles."

You just can't single out the paid workers at GM since many working folks around the country now get over $20 per hour. UPS drivers are a good example, so are contracted letter carriers, electricians, and the list goes on and on. Around here.......at $20 per hour, it is awful hard for some folks to survive because of the high cost of living, the property tax base and etc. :eek: :eek: :( :( :(

hey dog...I agree that it's not fair to single out any one issue...not the hourly employees (110,000 for now), the highly compensated execs, the over one million people (employees current & past, and their eligible dependents) that participate in the health plan, the quality of the vehicles (okay, I admit that my most recent gm purchase was the '97 silverado, which has had only two minor interior trim issues during warranty, but no problems whatsoever since), the pension fund, the over-reliance on truck & suv sales, the rising cost of gasoline, under-investment in production facilities, competition (and remember that many "foreign" makes are produced here)...it's all of the above, and more...

and their own nummi partnership & plant is profitable & productive...can't they apply anything from that?..


epi

Hum........sounds like you have just described many of the major corporations throughout the USA! :cool2:

Seems as all of these conversations happened before, about when Nero saw flames and smelled the smoke about 1900 years ago!

Wake up America!

When gas cost is near $2.50 a gallon you really think $20 an hour is a good wage? Very sad! Also FYI, as an electrician who works for a contractor the last time I made $20 an hour was well over 20 years ago! It takes just a little more training to be an electrician than a mailman, so the pay should be more. A fair days work for a fair days pay! The Auto Workers brought us many things that WE have ALL learned to appreciate, such as a 40 hour week, overtime, even things like a day off for our family, along with hospitalization. A worker is only as productive as the supervision is efficient.

I am trying to stay true to GM I just purchased a 05 Cobalt it seems to be a well put together car but only time will tell gets great gas mileage that was one of the main reasons for the purchase much better then the 01 Silverado I guess what I'm trying to say is i want Gm to be around a whlie so it's my little contribution to help keep em going

Well i think MrsMack and I helped out, We bought an 2005 Tahoe, Mrs Mack wanted one with a warrenty and onstar! our old 02 Tahoe had almost 100,000 on the odometer and the only repair was a running light bulb (no charge from our friendly all GM dealer in Comanche, TX) many of the miles was pulling a car hauling trailer with either the 28 sedan or the 53 2 door sedan. I like all the bells and whistles once I got used to them, I really like the MPG rolling total and the indivigual tire pressure monitors. MPG has settled down to 20.3 at 75 mph and 10.1 at 65 towing the enclosed trailer loaded.

Also it was built by our good neighbors in Arlington, Texas!

Any of you folks ever read this web site?http://www.autoextremist.com It's a weekly publication that I've followed for over three years now, comes on line with a new issue every Wednesday, and I believe a lot of the Auto Execs read it or at least get word of it's content on a routine basis. I have it flagged as one of my Favorites. This weeks issue is pretty mild when compared to some of its past Rants.

I can't believe it! What the heck is happening to our country! Every American worker is being laid off and replaced by the Japanese or Mexicans. What ever happened to the days when EVERYTHING was "Made in America" and "import" was an unfamiliar term? GM has to stick in there, or there is going to be a heck of a lot of very unhappy people in this country! If GM goes under, bye bye cruel world! There would be no reason to live!

A person I know well just got a new Nissan full size pick up, when I said he should buy American he said that more of his truck was made in America than my 2003 Silverodo.

Sad if he is right....don't know???

gator, he's probably right...if it's a truck, I think it's probably assembled at smyrna, tn, with the powertrain coming from another tn plant...I think the minivans & other models are assembled in ms...

so, bob, it's too easy to look to pointing the finger at other nations (they're just doing what they need to do for their own livelihoods, same as we would)...if nissan can produce these vehicles in america and market them with a 5-10% margin, why can't gm?..

my silverado was built in canada...


epi

Do you think this is being done (layoffs) to grab some government attention and in return some "sympathetic" contracts, similar to Chrysler in the early 80's? I am sure that there is a bigger picture that has been figured out a long time ago that we will never know. The made in America issue has been coming at us for a long time. I remember a few years ago attending an Army Football game at West Point. At the souvenir stand we could not find one hat or sweatshirt that was made in the USA.
John

The top 3 GM plant for quality are Canadian according to the JD Powers survey. We in North America are under a Free Trade agreement that included Mexico. GM workers in Canada have their Health Care benifits the same as US workers. But the basic Health Care is provided by each and every Tax Payer in each Province (like a State). This lower GM over all production costs by $1500.00 per vehicle. We also have several Japanies plants in Ontario. We export to the US about 80% of our production. All the manufactures of parts as well as Honda, ****, Chrysler enjoy this same benifit. We the not employed at the car plant or retired pay with our tax dollars to provide the benifits enjoyed by GM and the others. The profits are returned to the Mother Company for each of these companies. China is your's and our biggest threat. Look beyond Japan, Korea to the Billion's waiting to get you life style. GM is already there with assembly plants paid for by you and me. As are most of their larger suppliers. The pensions and benifits and early retirements are only part of the isssue.

GM America is not the only company downsizing the local plants much the same is happening in a lot of the bigger companies here in Aus.
Several of the once large manufacturers of not only automobiles are doing the manufacture overseas and only bringing in the finished product.
Some of what I have seen is of a inferior quality while others are an improved quality. The worst part of it all is the local workers that now dont have work at any pay rate while the sponges at the top rake in bigger pay packets.
An example is the our once Goverment telephone company now half privatized just appointed an american at Aus$10mil a year to implement full privatization. It now takes them a week to fix any problems within their system because of staff shortage.

Thats OK. You guys keep investing in that *#&%#* stock market. I worked at a Caterpillar plant here in IL. in the 70's and 80's during the first Asian invasion. I remember well a manager I had great respect for saying as how the Asian companies planned there strategies for 5-10 years down the road. On the other hand U.S companies were much more driven by the next quarters stock performance and made decisions based on that rather than long term outlooks. Layoffs and plant closings to boost that profit right now even though we might be able to weather a short downturn and be well positioned in a few years.

I'd put my money in land and old Chevy parts but I'll never be a part of Wall St.

The stock market? I didn't think that anyone invested their money in that thing any more. Real estate, collectibles and etc. is where it's at for the present.

Wonder how much money GM invests in the stock market? Our state retirement fun (PERS) invested retirees and future retirees money in the stock market, and when the market fell a few years ago, the retirement fund lost 17 BILLION dollars! Guess who has to make up the difference and who suffers because of the bad investments by the directors? Not the directors of the fund......but the future retirees!!!

Our Ontario teachers pension fund which is the largest in the country other than the government will invest mostly in Building and Land Baseball & Hockey teams and there structures. There overall rate of return was 17% last year and has had this for at least 5 years. They will shortly have to ask ther members to pay more as there will be more retired than working. They are allowed to go at 85 factor that is when ther age and years of service add up to 85. This is likely the same at GM, more retired than paying in. Our largest steel producer is short on their pension fund and current and future retiree may have cuts topensions. This could also happen at GM. It appears to be a world problem as well.

brjr51, you are exactly right, the long term is forgotten about.

On the news today:

The chairman or CEO of Toyota said that Toyota will raise their prices to help GM!!!!

Yeah so much for the grand plan to have the stock market back up retirement plans.
My wife recently bought a 2005 Malibu Maxx LT. The car is fantastic with great handling and pick up. The quality of fit and finish much better than malibus of years ago. The car, along with the Pontiac G6 is based on the GM owned Saab Epselon chassis and it shows. It's a step in the right direction.
I agree with most where the top GM people have all got to go! Keep the ones responsible for the new products and can the rest.
Let's get a President that is willing to invest in American and American jobs!
Need proof? Just take a look at the tag on your underware!

"Let's get a President that is willing to invest in American and American jobs!"

Great idea!!! But......where are we going to find one of those?? :( :( :(

I second that!!!

Maybe that President will have to be found. Maybe we have a talent contest for one. Forget about the usual politicians that buy there way into the White House...Maybe it's time to DRAFT a President. Now only if we had an Ed Cole or somebody like that. Yeah, a non-politciian dude that can get it done!

A new reality show; instead of picking a singer we could pick a President....cool... :love:

When times were good a few years back, we had a REAL American IDOL, WJ Clinton.

...and Hilliary is in the next to bat circle! WOW!!!

MM:

I think your comment about Hillary being in the "on deck circle" is more real than most folks think.

No comment about that being "good" or "bad." I just think it's a real likely possibility.

Bill.

The same woman running the country as before? Oh no......not again!

it was interesting that corporate raider kirk kerkorian was unable to find enough sellers to increase his stake of gm to the levels which he had hoped last week...seems there's a lot of confidence among shareholders that they can do better holding for a while...


epi

I just hope everyone of the retired workers and members of their family who get the medical benifits are driving a GM vehicle... :cool2:

Hum......I think that some of them are driving Chryslers! :eek: :eek:

I see GM stock has gone up quite a bit the last few days...

I have been a GM /Chevy fan all my life. Right now i have a 2002 chev silverado with 61,000 miles. At 50,000 my rearend went out and its been down hill ever since. My last truck was a 98 chev silverado. I traded it off at 85,000 miles because i got tired of dumping my paycheck into it. Chevrolet has to work real hard to keep me a loyal fan of the new cars and trucks. I am a fan for life on the OLD chevies

The recently closed GM Linden, NJ assembly plant employee parking lot was generally filled with 50% FOREIGN cars or trucks. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you......... :confused:

Welcome to the club. I lost the transmission in my 95 GMC Suburban at 87,000 miles.

I share greg72monte's concern about all the foreign cars in US of A. Particularly on the two coasts. The middle portion of US seems more 'loyal' for some reason.

But what the heck are US buyers supposed to do when the rear end goes out at 50k per hrndog and Back Roads loses the trans at 87k?? Of course, these were 'trucks' - not cars.

I've only bought one new car in my life, a 69 Pontiac Bonneville. I'll never buy another one. Same problems as a 'used car' and why suffer the huge depreciation loss?? Since the early 1970's I've always had good used CHEVYS that are 10 to 20 years old. Currently have 84 Caprice Coupe, 92 Caprice Wagon and 96 Impala SS.

So far, the Impala had the most expensive 'repair.' $888 to get the 'check engine light' to go off. Great car; but how bad is it to spend $888 on that computer krapola??? Of course it had nothing to do with the engine. That light usually comes on for 'exhaust' reasons. More gov't BS in our cars!!

Bill.

I ways thought instead of an engine symbol they should use a dollar sign for that "Check Engine Light". $$$

brjr51's post makes me laugh - a sick laugh. Like I've been 'screwed' by that light.

The light definitely should be called 'emissions light' NOT 'check engine light.' I've

never talked to anyone with an Impala SS who actually had an engine problem. It was always emissions or some such thing!!! :( :( Bill.

it is well and good ,Bill, but think about where your used cars came from...Someone bought them NEW, or do you reckon that some cars "never were new" Ha!

I have been really lucky or just plain smart, We have a small town GM dealer that has mechanics, they don't claim to be Tecknicians, that can use the tools GM provides and when the engine trouble light comes on can check it out in the parking lot before you even roll it inside. We traded off a 01 Tahoe with 95K miles and it's one problem was a burned out driving light bulb.

Boy Howdy! I hope the 05 is just close to as a good vehicle as the 01 Tahoe or "Old Blue" my 95 Silverado extended cab, 350 and automatic, (both bought new from the same local dealer) in it's 10 years it has had two inside door handles,I have a heavy handed pull! an airconditioning relay ($51.00) just last month and many oil & filter changes, 3 sets of tires and one set of front brake pads, and one set of hoses and one new engine belt.
Knock on wood, but, neither of them has ever exchanged paint with another vehicle or any stationery object....
It never has had any oil , coolant, or freon 134A added except for regular changes 3000 miles on oil, four years on cooleant and brake fluid, never touched the freon 134A. The guys at the Chevy place say I am changeing oil too often (GM Mr Goodwrench 10w-30), and didn't need the hoses or belt said I could go 5000 miles on an oil change, but I like a nice round figure of 3000.
The 05 Tahoe has a change oil indicator readoutwith a % remaining oil life, at 3600 miles it says 64% today remaining, but it get's changed next week anyway!

Superior Dealer's customer service, Onstar, the readout dash, Steering wheel controls and several other points, trade in value, mainly reliability of the old Tahoe, good gas milage, towing performance, and the price incentives were what sold us on another Tahoe.

The 95 Silverado was built in Canada, and both Tahoes were built in Arlington, TEXAS!


"To each his own"

Well for Pete's sake MM, of course they were new once upon a time. All I'm saying is new cars aren't for me. Too expensive and basically there's nothing there for me.

I'm just always "out there" looking for a good "previously owned" Chevy. One that looks good and was maintained like Mr. Mack says he takes care of his.

In the 90's I had a black 70 Malibu, a black 72 Monte, a dark blue 73 Monte and 79 and 85 Caprice wagons for the wifey. Oh, also a 72 Malibu and a 76 Nova Hatchback for the "kids."

All of 'em were good used cars. That's "worked" for me for years.

Bill I had a few that I think were "Never new" one of them was a 1974 Vega hatch back I bought for our oldest daughter, but it was not expensive to drive or maintain, just Never was new.....

What ever happened to the grease zerts on cars and truck. All they say now is sealed at the factory. I replaced dry squeeking ujoints on my 98 chev when it had just over 60,000. The replacement ones had grease zerts. Explain that. My wife says that the car makers make millions in service repairs so why build a better car. It will dig into there profits. Wheres' the customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction? They don't care about their customers anymore. All the automakers want to do is sell you a new car every five years! :( :(

Is that why the Government says we got to change tires after five years?

What are you saying RGwiz?? (Do you just think that's so much BS sorta like??)

Or are you just trying to get a rise out of Chipper???

Just wondering??

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Bill.

Hopefully, Isuzu taught GM something about quality control before my 2004 Silverado Duramax was built.

I used to hope I'd win the lottery; but now I hardly ever buy a ticket.....

How are things down in Glide, George??

Bill.

Isn't the S-10 truck an Isuzu?
I know the Pontiac Vibe is a Toyota. The G6 and Malibu Maxx are Saabs. (and what is Geo)?
Does anyone know if GM has any control over these "other" car companies?
Or, are they just using them because we don't have the ability or desire to design and build anymore?
Will GM be reduced to a giant outsourcing company with employees that are all executives and no actual laborers?

The S-10 replaced the Isuzu Luv truck in 1982.First S-10's did use the Isuzu Luv truck engine.The LUV truck was the first Chevrolet small pick-up.A few years back the S-10 was the Isuzu PUP.Just the reverse of the original...GM owns part of Isuzu -and Saab.Saab uses GM global platform -shared with Pontiac and Chevrolet.GM also owns Daewow (spelling?)..Its the Chevrolet Aevao.The Geo name is gone but was Chevrolets name for the Toyota Corola and some Iszuz products that Chevrolet sold.

ray,

the pontiac vibe is produced in fremont, ca by new united motors manufacturing, inc (nummi, for short, pronounced "new-me"), a jointly-owned, 50/50 partnership by gm & toyota over two decades old manufacturing in the old gm plant there...in the past, I read that they produced toyota corolla & geo prizm on the same line, with only a final badging application to distinguish which dealership the car would be shipped...

reviews I've read rank the quality of their current products very highly...

they currently build the vibe, corolla, tacoma, and an export to japan called the voltz...I wonder if chat sites in japan are filled with comments, such as "watch out...more good jobs leaving us for america...we'd better wake up!"...

I also recall that maybe a decade or two ago, gm owned 40% of isuzu...don't know what it is now, but if similar, gm would have a great stake in that company...


epi

Thanks for that information guys.
I saw and ad currently running on TV for GM products and touting it's new "employee discount". I noticed that most if not all talking heads in the ad were well dressed. That is, they do not look like factory people at all. So is this what GM wants us to think the "new GM employee is?
It's just curious were GM is going with it's future.
I like the info about "new-me". I also like that a lot of foriegn owned cars are built in the US. However, I would like to see more design come from the US and certainly more profit stay in the US.
My wife just got herself a '05 Malibu Maxx. (it's what she wants and it's her money) I have to say that this car (LT trim) is what GM should have built years ago. It might realy be a Saab, but it is well built, handles great, has a very tight fit and feel, and is very fast! (although the G6 is better looking) I think she made a good choice. Her last car was a Camry.
If these cars are GM's new products, they might survive.
It's just too bad that ya can't say it's good ol' American know how. Not one hundred percent of it anymore!

I bet GM is a long ways from being gone...from the planet,..but I bet they squirm out of those excessive health care promises and some of the "free Bubble-Up & Moon Pies" retirement plans. check out what United Airlines did.

Yeah Macky...aint it a shame. Look what companies we are talking about. Just the kinda places that Mom said we had to all get jobs there...

Chrysler brings out the retro PT Cruiser and they are everywhere. **** brings back the old style Mustang and people are on waiting lists to get them. GM cancels the Camaro line! But they bring in the Hummer and that Cadillac/Yukon monster which are few and far between. I could say more about that abortion called the Aztec or the goofy looking Avalanche. If GM wants to get back they might consider looking at something practical and perhaps retro-looking. And I don't even want to talk about the SSR! Its us old guys with the memories of the muscle car era that have the bucks. I would be the first in line for a retro 1968 Camaro.

And...rumor has it that the "Brains" at GM are talking about dropping the Pontiac and the Buick too. If they do, you can add those marques to the Oldsmobile, Camaro, and the Firebird list of "no more" since 2003.

Or a retro of the 63 Chevy II for that matter.

And don't forget the LaSalle & the Aurora.

Corvair???

I hear the Pontiac line could be next. Most foriegn makers are a two brand company. One entry level and one luxury. Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity, etc. GM might go with Chevrolet/Cadillac, and Chevy Truck/GMC Truck.

Yeah, I'd love to see a retro added to the Chevy line. The SSR is a useless vehicle, and corprate would never approve a 32 Roadster. I would love to see a 69 Camaro but they would never use a 396 ci with carburation. I vote for the 57 Nomad. It's a wagon/suv size, can hold families, and has cool 2 door looks. (Please Chevy, make it availible in black and silver)

I was talking about marques that were discontinued since 2003 because of poor management decisions.......and the Corvair doesn't count.

RGwiz: What you are talking about would take lots of brains and common sense, and that is something the dudes at GM that get paid millions per year could not comprehend. :eek: :(

Discontinued since 2003 discussion only? Some quotes: “The S-10 replaced the Isuzu Luv truck in 1982.”; “I also recall that maybe a decade or two ago, gm owned 40% of isuzu…” “Chrysler brings out the retro PT Cruiser” “I would be the first in line for a retro 1968 Camaro.” “If they do, you can add those marques to the Oldsmobile, Camaro, and the Firebird list of "no more".” “Or a retro of the 63 Chevy II...” “And don't forget the LaSalle & the Aurora.” “…and corprate would never approve a 32 Roadster.” “I would love to see a 69 Camaro …” “I vote for the 57 Nomad.”
:confused: :eek: :confused: :eek: :cool2:

As I recall 'we' started hearing about a Nomad (retro/concept car type thing) about the same time the 'rumors' of the SSR started some years ago, I guess around 1999/2000 or so.

The first sketches I saw looked very 1953 Nomad/Corvette like. I got so excited I could hardly contain myself.

Then more info came along and it turned out 'they' were thinking about making it a little, tiny POS. Four cylinder and all that krapola. I can't even think of the platform. (I don't know the first thing about 'new' cars.) Maybe something like whatever replaced the Vega. Definitely not a V-8; definitely not RWD. Gawd, how awful.

I haven't heard anything about it for a year or maybe more. I know I used to have an 'artists rendition' sketch type thing in here but it got 'lost' when this piece of junk 'crashed' a year or so ago. Computers, what a bunch of

Anybody else re the "Nomad." :confused: :confused: :confused:

Bill.

I can't let RGwiz comment about the SSR being "a useless vehicle" just slide by.

No argument. If you mean it really isn't a truck. And it's only a 2 passenger vehicle. And it doesn't go 'faster' than a (newer) Corvette. Etc. Etc.

BUT, it is one of the coolest 'cars' on the road. If you haven't seen one.... driven one.... owned one you.... (whoever 'you' are - not just RGwhiz) 'you' have no idea how totally cool they are.

Unless 'you' are some kind of a driving nut, they have plenty of power and drive-ability. The styling is out of this world! The comfort is excellent. The top is innovative and functional. They're absolutely great and would surely have gotten my vote for best new car of the year in 03.

Bill.

Gator: I was talking about cars that were discontinued since 2003 in my posting, so the quotes that you posted do not apply to what I was saying.....and again, the Corvair doesn't count. However, if you want to count the cars that no longer exist since 1900, then the list, without a doubt, would include "thousands" of makes and models.

42bill: I have to agree with you about the SSR. I would never own one of those things, but they are, without a doubt, way cool!

...the Chevrolet SSR does make a fine pace car, it was seen at Texas Motor Speedway at the Indy car race a couple of weeks ago. COOL!

:cool2:

And, as I remember, either last year or the year before at the Indy 500, there were a bunch of them used as pace cars too.

Gator:

Speaking of the 1957 Nomad 'getting your vote'.....

I bought this nice one 26 years ago. It had power-pack 283, PG, PS, PB, Wonderbar plus lots of accessories. Very original, including orig interior (except for new carpets) .... and a nice repaint in the original colors.

(CLICK on the address to see it) http://www.rdgsons.com/vcca/57%20Nomad.jpg

Bill.

Having read a lot of this I have to add my nickles worth!

Listening to the TV today there was a report about the new "HHR". GM is hearing alot about the similarity to the PT Cruiser. The GM is doing a copy. The report also stated that GM is scaling back its production fiqures for the HHR because of lack luster PT sales. Sounds like the HHR is a downer before it hits the road. Maybe, unfortunately; the retro craze is slowing down. After all the T-bird is not going to be produced any longer. Did GM get on the band wagon too late?

42Bill, that is a great looking car, aren't you glad you hung on to it...and it is the best color (same as my '57) ever offered by any car maker IMHO.

Keep on keeping on...

The Nomad got my vote not Gator's. But hey 42Bill it's a very nice picture of a cool car.

I have seen a few SSRs and drove one of them. It reminded me of a top heavy Corvette. My problem with the car is it's way over priced for what it's supposed to be. Which I don't think anyone has figured out yet. Just what is it?
I admire Chevy Execs for giving it the green light to production, but again the designers let me down. Cool front styling and interior but runs out of gas rear of the front doors.

It does however have a function, and that is to be a show car in production for Chevrolet. The SSR as a pace car and it's show appearances is great for promoting Chevrolet. Although I think it does more for the truck line than the auto line.

Got a dude in Medford, Oregon that bought a red SSR locally and he paid $74,000 (about $30,000 over list) for the truck to get it. He shows the SSR at various car shows. Another dude in Medford bought a yellow SSR from a different local Chevrolet dealer and he paid $41,000 for his. He just keeps it parked in the garage. Obviously, some dudes have more dollars than sense! :eek: :eek: :( :( :(

Somewhere along the line I got corn-fused, or (maybe ??)Chevy changed their mind. (I thought sure there was a "Nomad-sorta-looking" retro car in the works.)

Everything I've seen today trying to figure this out on the www indicates the HHR is 'modeled' after a 1949 Suburban. Apparently there was one at the 2005 LA Auto Show

http://www.hhrclub.org/cgi-local/photos/view.cgi?MID=cha2006&GALLERY=1&TARGET=7&STYLE=5

Whatever......

Bill.

Sure looks to me like GM kinda sorta copied the PT Cruiser a little with their new HHR. :( :( :(

Apparently Gator put RGwiz vote in quotes in his post. I apologize for not seeing it was RGwiz' "vote" in the first place.

Incidentally, I agree with RGwiz completely about the 'function' (i.e. purpose) of the SSR as a vehicle for promoting Chevrolet. Even with its limited production, it's very visible and attracts a TON of attention whenever one is seen.

Thank the Chev Execs and the Lord and whoever else that it's a 'real' car.... V-8 and RWD.

And finally, that (my) 1957 Nomad hasn't been in my garage for about 20 years. I couldn't resist doubling my money so I sold it for $10k when that was a very good price for a nice Nomad. Sometimes I miss it but, as they say, you can't have your cake and eat it to!

Bill.

The front of the HHR reminds me of the Dodge pickup...

Do like the fender caps...

Bill, you can always buy another one...the 10k plus 20 years of intrest on that 10k plus some more $$$$...LOL