Looks like GM and Chrysler are toast

[CoolBreeze]

I LOVE the Canyonero Jingle! So... here is it!

http://www.mywvhome.com/web/1cayonero.mp3

[cgarison]

Hmmm.....

No mention of GM getting an additional $5 billion to reorganize outside of bankruptcy.

No mention of Chrysler getting $500 million to merge with Fiat or liquidate.

Interesting.

[CoolBreeze]

I saw on the national news this morning that Chrysler is coming out in Oct with a new electric car called "THE PEA POD".



This thing plugs into an electric outlet for 6 hours to take you about 30 miles, goes about 25 to 30 MPH, and costs over 12 grand! They purposely placed a smiley face on the front to show the world how much fun it is to "go green". (What's Green about an electric charge for 6 hours?)

Anyway... ideas like THIS will help Chrysler bite the big one a little faster. Besides, there's something disturbing about any car name that includes the words "pea" or even "pod" to begin with.

[Force Commander]

It's been widely believed that the car makers come out with a stiff like this every once in awhile to prove we won't buy an all electric product. Then they have ammo with Congress blows a gasket about us still using gas engines. The electric technology is just not at the level to build a car that doesn't have a commute challenge (or a speed challenge in this case). Besides, who wants a $12,000 golf cart?

[genlock]

DETROIT (AP) -- Two people briefed on the plan say General Motors Corp. will close
most of its U.S. factories for up to nine weeks this summer because of slumping sales
and growing inventories of unsold vehicles.


Does your toaster make one of those "dinging" sounds just before the toast pops up?

[genlock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH1K23rA ... re=related

[genlock]

"THE PEA POD".

Buyers will have a choice of either six flooded electrolyte 12-volt lead acid batteries or optional maintenance-free batteries. The Peapod's 72-volt electrical system will have an onboard charger that will top off the batteries in six to eight hours from a standard 110-volt outlet. No details have been released on the electric motor, but the platform will be front-wheel-drive and feature regenerative braking. A full charge will yield approximately 30 miles of range, depending on terrain.

It's not gonna get you over Blair Mountain.

[cgarison]

They had a Photoshop contest at Jalopnik involving the Peapod.

http://jalopnik.com/5061286/gem-peapod- ... ipod-touch

[AmpedNow]

Thanks to that page, that design will never get off the ground...

[genlock]

DETROIT — The Treasury Department is preparing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing for Chrysler that could come as soon as next week, people with direct knowledge of the action said Thursday. The Treasury has an agreement in principle with the United Automobile Workers union, whose members’ pensions and retiree health care benefits would be protected as a condition of the bankruptcy filing, said these people, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Moreover, Fiat of Italy would complete its alliance with Chrysler while the company is under bankruptcy protection.

[cgarison]

Moreover, Fiat of Italy would complete its alliance with Chrysler while the company is under bankruptcy protection.

The best theory I have read on this has Fiat walking away from the table to let Chrysler collapse into liquidation while they snap up the Saturn dealer network and Opel/Vauxhaul from GM. Then they will sell Fiats/Opels in the US through Saturn. Although the Opels are already being sold as Saturns now. Finally, at the liquidation auctions, Fiat will pick up brands/assembly plants from the Chrysler portfolio. I am pretty sure the minivan assets are still worth a mint as well as the trademarks related to the Jeep brand.



(KYJeepster gently weeps for Jeep whose curse has killed another auto manufacturer.)

[Bob Campbell]

How is the Toyota plant in Putnam County doing? Layoffs yet?

[genlock]

I think there have been some reductions.
Nothing major except to the people involved.

[genlock]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors is preparing to announce that the Pontiac car brand, once marketed as GM's "Excitement division," will be killed off, according to a source familiar with the decision.

An official announcement is expected Monday. GM spokesman Jim Hopson declined to comment on Pontiac's fate, saying the automaker has no announcements to make at this time.

In its most recent "viability plan" - which will be updated to reflect this new brand cut - Pontiac was not named as one of GM's four "core brands." Those are Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.

[Hoosier Daddy]

The Free Market is working.
Doing what should have happened at least 15 years ago.
Now ... combine Chevrolet and Buick product lines into one.
Make GMC the exclusive medium and heavy duty commercial truck platform.
Caddy is the executive class product.
All operating under ONE centralized management, design, engineering, and manufacturing team.
This may be a winner. Or survivor ... however you want to describe it.

[genlock]

Trucks should be GMC.
I will miss Pontiac like I missed Oldsmobile and LaSalle.

[AmpedNow]

They're Shutting Detroit Down



Moving video...

[cgarison]

Trucks should be GMC.

I always thought to be a proper half ton truck it had to be red and have F150 on the sides and blue ovals front and rear.

To be a proper 3/4 ton or larger truck it required either a Hemi or a Cummins Turbo motor and a bumper sticker that say "If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!"


(Based on the crap I give my father who was a Ford man until he bought his first GMC in 2003 and has since got another.)

[Greg Goodfellow]

"They're Shuttin' Detroit Down"-John Rich. Our station is playing it=great song!

My dad is a diehard Buick man, but they ought to get rid of that line, ala' Oldsmobile. Are there any cars, such as the Lucerne, that would justify its continued existence? How about its SUV?

[cgarison]

Are there any cars, such as the Lucerne, that would justify its continued existence? How about its SUV?

The Lucerne is exactly in the same position as my Mercury in the marketplace and I would not purchase it because it is front wheel drive. Which is why I would not purchase a LeSabre or Bonneville in 2003 when I purchased the first Mercury. And Chrysler's lack of quality keeps me away from the LX cars like Charger R/T and 300C.

I also looked at the G8 GT but it was too small and the exhaust lacked the proper sound for such a righteous mill under the hood.