Fixing GM...

[Sparx]

I was a union electrician before I moved into management and I'm so glad our union has it's head on straight. It is a "no strike" union. Works well with the companies, has an awesome apprenticeship, decent pay and good bennies.

The UAW could learn from the IBEW.

 

[gumbo]

I've been around US cars and trucks my whole life.

The only comparison between my Sequia and every American car I've ever owned or had the opportunity to spend some time driving is that the Seqouia, which I can't spell twice the same way, is clearly #1 and everything else is #2.

Better fit. Better finish. Smoother operation. Better ride. I'm on year three and every single thing still works just like new except a ball joint recall that got fixed on my last oil change; they just did it instead of me waiting for my recall notice. And a front wheel bearing went bad early.

No relays have failed like on my Escort year ago.

No mysterious fuel pump failure like my buddies Expedition.

No fuel pump dying like my old Suburban.

No power window or mirror problems like dads Tahoe and my Suburban.

No air condition mystery failure like my friends top of the line Denali.

No headlight fritz like the Jeep. No catching on fire in the middle of the BWI parkway like step moms Wagoneer.

No endless radiator problem like on her other Wagoneer.

No clocks stopping working. No cassette players giving up.

No power seat problems like on most of the above. No mystery wiper failure. No washer pump failures. No air blower noise.

No glove box that needs to be slammed shut. No tailgate window fritz.

No tranny problems that just can't seem to be fixed.

No cruise control wierdnesses.

No ABS problems.

So on and so on.

Maybe we got all the US lemons and the only good Jap Mobile?

But your wheel bearing went and a bad ball joint..So add it to your list.
I bought a Jeep PU in 1989 . It now has 320,000.
Everything works fine and it's never had a ball joint or a wheel bearing go out.
The only thing that has been replaced is a water pump & alternator.
Is this consistent with most Jeeps ? NO !
Like I said .Toyota is just more consistent with their quality.

 

[gumbo]

What does that have to do with GM's sales being down another 15%?? Ford and DC are both down as well, but by only half as much, if that.

UAW, pay, retirement...all have nothing to do with sales. To pay the bills, you must be able to move your product. If you don't design a product that the consumer wants, you're not going to sell it.

Competition, Competition, Competition.
Chevy, Dodge & Ford have never had competition in the large Truck dept.or in the large SUV dept.
So I guess sales are down.

As to your UAW pay, retirement question.
Let say you make $1000 a car but after you pay all the UAW retirements and over paid labor, it leaves you with $10 a car.
Guess what ? Your going to start charging more money then they are worth and your going to start cutting corners ,trying to keep your head above water.
The result being ..You will get a bad name.
Then your competitor with their lower cost of operation starts kicking off in your azz.
And to top it off they get to ask for more money than the over priced corner cutting company.
All because they can afford better quality control over the companies that are being dragged under by the UAW retirements and over paid labor.

Result ....LOW SALES!