GM's Latest Marketing Tactic

[bszopi]

these "import cars" built in the US, on US designs based off US research.

And all their profits go overseas...

I'm sorry, but I will take a POS American company car any day over a superior "import", regardless of where it is made. GM vehicles are made in Canada and Mexico, and a lot of designs are currently based off of research done in Australia, but its still an American company. Perhaps I'm too patriotic.

[robertisaar]

And all their profits go overseas...

I'm sorry, but I will take a POS American company car any day over a superior "import", regardless of where it is made. GM vehicles are made in Canada and Mexico, and a lot of designs are currently based off of research done in Australia, but its still an American company. Perhaps I'm too patriotic.

i'm with you, brad. the MC is canadian made, and it's a fine car. i really can't think of anything better to suit my needs.

oh, and this is the 'fix' proposed by toyota:

[bszopi]

Seems like this is pretty similar to the GM LIMG fiasco actually...

Toyota has been under scrutiny for suspected unintended acceleration for approximately 10 years. A total of 19 deaths have been connected to unintended acceleration in Toyotas over the decade, according to some analysts, a figure the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called "plausible," based on its own research.

[robertisaar]

10 YEARS? damn, they must have good PR.

[khellendrosxs]

10 YEARS? damn, they must have good PR.

Que fight club quote:

Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?

Narrator: You wouldn't believe.

Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?

Narrator: A major one.

[wasas9]

And all their profits go overseas...

I'm sorry, but I will take a POS American company car any day over a superior "import", regardless of where it is made. GM vehicles are made in Canada and Mexico, and a lot of designs are currently based off of research done in Australia, but its still an American company. Perhaps I'm too patriotic.

In the next 100 years, patriotism will be almost just for planet earth (in theory)

But I'm not saying I love Toyota, I'm a GM fan myself. I'm just stating the cold truth. Toyota is a better company than GM. They treat their employees better (hence no unions) the cars are consistently better than GM/Ford (see quality ratings over past 15 years, not to mention sales and profits), and they build them efficiently while working with their many, many level 1, 2, and 3 suppliers to drive down costs (these cars aren't built "cheap" they are built with lowest cost). Much better than GM - who ranks the lowest while working with their own suppliers.

Again, it's just facts here. Taking out this "patriotism" aspect of things, GM needs to re-tune it's entire organization, focus on what customer's want.

[Azrael]

...But what's the advantage in a gas engine? Seems like they got burned by a pointless technological "upgrade".

This enables companies to introduce "anti-abuse" programming to the PCM. It's no coincidence that this tech came out the same time GM extended it's powertrain warranty.

[bszopi]

Looks like GM isn't the only company, nor is it just US companies...

Starting Wednesday, GM started offering $1,000 rebates or up to $1,000 to help pay off current leases on Toyota products. The automaker is also offering 0% financing on most models for Toyota customers. The offers apply to 2009 and 2010 model year cars.

Hyundai said it is offering a $1,000 rebate for anyone who trades in a Toyota from Thursday to February 1. Customers who trade in their Toyotas with the trade incentive can purchase one of three models only: a Hyundai Sonata, Elantra or Elantra Touring.

Ford is offering $1,000 to customers trading in Toyota Motor Co. products. The offer began Wednesday but a Ford spokeswoman said the offers are not targeted at Toyota's recall problems. Customers are also being offered the same $1,000 on Honda products.

Chrysler is offering an additional $1,000 to customers who trade in their Toyota Tundra, Tacoma or Sienna and purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge car or Ram truck. It is also offering $1,000 in bonus cash to drivers who want to turn in a leased Toyota to buy or lease a Chrysler product.

[3400-95-Modified]

Yeah, I agree, sadly... This subject has been brought up on TRS many times. One guy said (after I mentioned neutral):

While I agree that every driver should know that you should simply shift into neutral in a situation like that, keep in mind that it was a loaner car that the driver was probably not familiar with, and the gear shifter looked like this:



Good luck figuring that thing out while your hurtling down the road at 120 mph.

To which I replied:

It goes back towards park the opposite way you put it in drive. My friends dads new G6 GT convertible has a shifter like that and it really isn't any harder to work than a standard automatic selector, especially since 95% of the people who drive them probably never put it in "Manu-matic" mode and leave it in D.

I mean, I can understand people are panicking and all, but I just can't believe no one thinks to throw it in neutral. Also brakes should be powerful enough to overcome an engine. If they can't, the brake system needs upgraded IMHO. What good does a fancy shifter and painted brake calipers do you when you are dead? I guess it's part of the "dumbing down" and getting lazier in America movement...

bszopi Beretta brakes stock would never slow down a stuck throttle... some newer cars may help slow it down better.

Also Every shifter in every car is and should be designed to simply need one SMACK up or forward and it will go into neutral and ONLY go to neutral... its a fucking safety feature for EXACTLY these issue that NO ONE EVEN KNOWS ABOUT... Talk about driver disconnect.

[pocket-rocket]

Also Every shifter in every car is and should be designed to simply need one SMACK up or forward and it will go into neutral and ONLY go to neutral... its a fucking safety feature for EXACTLY these issue that NO ONE EVEN KNOWS ABOUT... Talk about driver disconnect.

I know about it, and I bet just about every single person active on this board knows about it. If people actually thumbed through the owners manual they would too...

As for Brads quote, Chrysler is trying to cash in on this too? Wow, talk about one HUGE mistake if people take them up on that..

http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/

[1988GTU]

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=123686

[Schmieder]

See, it's ok for Microsoft to push a product with very little to no consumer testing but an auto maker, lmfao.

You bet someones head is rolling downhill right now. I wonder who has to take the blame for these series of mistakes on Toyotas part. I would LOVE to hear the office conversation regarding who was responsible.

[3400-95-Modified]

See, it's ok for Microsoft to push a product with very little to no consumer testing but an auto maker, lmfao.

Yes, but when an OS on a personal computer crashes, not very often would it take a life with it.

Two totally different area's.