CaddyXLR-V

That is just something any good business should do, union or not. I bet it is something Toyota and the rest of the transplants do as well.I hate how it's referred to as GM is working with the UAW to do something. Those workers are GM workers!!! They don't work for the UAW. GM should work with their workers to advance their processes. That is the mentality that needs to go away. They work for GM, and they should act as such.

Well if Pontiac went all RWD, they wouldn't be shared. All of GM is not going RWD. The compact RWD Pontiac will be a better performer than the Cobalt/Astra, the midsize RWD Pontiac will be a better performer than the Malibu. The reasons you stated are why Pontiac needs to go all RWD. Pontiacs current lineup is pointless, but that doesn't mean it needs to stay that way.

Well Cadillac can't move too far upscale, the bulk of the luxury market is all $35k-$70k. Buicks will be more like cruisers, and not emphasize handling like Cadillac. I would say Buick would be luxury without the sport, while Pontiac has would focus on performance, and Cadillac would be both.

You missed the point. The point was to give Pontiac a clear identity. Will it share platforms, yes. But what company doesn't share platforms now? Basically every car GM makes shares a platform with another brand. Why is that what is wrong with Pontiac? Are all the other brands still great when they do the same? Cadillac is the only brand that doesn't share platforms, and even then the Deville and trucks share platforms as well.

Buick is not going after Lexus, just Lexus like attributes. Buick is not going way upscale, maybe a little, but no where near the same class that BMW/Mercedes/Lexus compete in.

That doesn't seem bad, especially when right now Pontiac has alot more models. Wouldn't that be Pontiacs volume now if the Torrent and Vibe were dropped anyway?

Yes, but for the opposite reason that this thread was started for. Toyota felt they needed a new brand to market to the younger generation, and not because they thought it would drag down the Toyota name. But the situation is still different between GM and Toyota or Honda. GM already has enough brands(some would say more than enough) and doesn't have the cash to burn on reviving brands. The money would be better spent repairing the brands GM already has. Also, the Aveo will sell alot better as a Chevy than it would as a Geo. IMO it would be a waste of time and resources.

We have come a long way on alot of things, but lower weight isn't one of them. My brothers 63 Impala with a 283 weighed 3200lbs, thats barely more than todays compact cars. That's even with an iron block V8, and everything is made out of metal. Oh how I would love a mid-size(like my 98 Grand Prix) with RWD, a V8, and weighing about 3000lbs.

Was it not your point to show how many more trucks GM builds than Toyota? If not, then your right, I don't grasp the point. If that was your point, then my point was that GM having more trucks than Toyota, is proportionate to GM having more cars than Toyota as well.

I think that one looks amazing, it's the LWB version I don't care much about.

Thats why they need to make the product up to GM standards, and not create a sub-standard brand. The Fit and Yaris will be as reliable as the rest of Honda's and Toyota's cars, and the Aveo should be no different.

Then how would it be any cheaper to revive and market it as a separate brand?

Didn't the Z11 Impalas have aluminum fenders?

No more brands!!! Toyota did not use another brand for the Yaris, Honda didn't use another brand for the Fit. GM doesn't need to with the Aveo. The next Aveo looks to be a great car, and will not drag down Chevy at all.(Like the Cavalier didn't hurt the Chevy name??) Wouldn't it be cheaper, and smarter, to bring the Aveo up to Chevy standards than to revive and market a new brand?

Now compare the car lines, I'll bet GM has more than double what Toyota has of cars too.

It looks kind of blocky, and that red x does a good job a camouflaging the vehicle.

Too bad you dont live closer to me so I could test my car(when I get everything installed) against yours. It would be fair 3.8 vs 3.8 as long as you forget about my SC

Yes, but what works for Honda and Toyota wont necessarily work for GM. GM does have a cost disadvantage that pretty much wipes out any profit on small cars. GM CAN make world class small cars, they just wont make money on them. GM would have been dead a long time ago if it weren't for the higher margin trucks and suvs bring in.

No, but with limited resources and money inside GM, where would you choose to spend the development money? Huge profit trucks and SUVs, or thin margin small cars?

I dont like the LWB, it looks like a stratus crossed with a Acura RL. The SS looks good though

Sell SUVs with an average price over $40,000, or a subcompact for $15,000? If it were your business, what would you rather sell? Nobody can seem to get past the fact that buyers out there with money are still spending $40,000+ on huge Suvs. As long as those buyers are there, GM will keep building vehicles to their tastes.

Exactly, change demand, and the manufacturers will change supply. It doesn't work the other way around.

That is really bad gas mileage, I drove a 99 Silverado ext cab 5.3L for 2 weeks, and averaged 17mpg in mixed city/hwy driving.

Have you seen their profits off "nothing"?

Weight is the enemy. A sports car should never weigh over 4000lbs. 3600lbs max, and even that is heavy for a sports car.