GM to shrink to four core brands in North America

[Avatard]

I miss Oldsmobile. It was their oldest marque.

I think this strategy is misguided. I think that having the same car under five fucking brands with just different grill and taillights is retarded - I always did...but there's a way to pare this all down without axing brands.

Mechanically, GM products from the "non-chevy" camp were often lumped together as "BOP" (Buick, Olds, Pontiac).

I thought that at the time they opted to kill off Olds, and I even more firmly believe today that they should have simply eliminated model overlap between these brands, and then sold all 3 of these brands under the same "roof", and dealer network; "BOP" dealer.

This would have allowed them to keep their marques, and still reduce redundancy, consolidate some operations, and improve overall efficiency.

[derf]

UM??? I thought that saturn was one of their better selling brands?

It is a good move, but unless they start selling cars that people actually want, and can maintain a reputation of reliability like the jap cars have, this may just be another nail in the coffin.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Avatard

I miss Oldsmobile. It was their oldest marque.

I think this strategy is misguided. I think that having the same car under five fucking brands with just different grill and taillights is retarded - I always did...but there's a way to pare this all down without axing brands.

Mechanically, GM products from the "non-chevy" camp were often lumped together as "BOP" (Buick, Olds, Pontiac).

I thought that at the time they opted to kill off Olds, and I even more firmly believe today that they should have simply eliminated model overlap between these brands, and then sold all 3 of these brands under the same "roof", and dealer network; "BOP" dealer.

This would have allowed them to keep their marques, and still reduce redundancy, consolidate some operations, and improve overall efficiency.

It was the Buick, Olds, Cadillac group, not BOP. Pontiac and Chevy were always together too.

What I don't get is why keep GMC? The only reason I can think of is so all the Buick, Pontiac, GMC dealers can still survive.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

It was the Buick, Olds, Cadillac group, not BOP. Pontiac and Chevy were always together too.

What I don't get is why keep GMC? The only reason I can think of is so all the Buick, Pontiac, GMC dealers can still survive.

GMC is the "classy" chevy. For those that want luxury but not a Caddy, IMO.

Saturn is a different thing though. They have a cult following!
Worked at a Saturn dealership, and when the Aura came out, it was met with a lot of distain, a car made of METAL!!! Where is my cheapo plastic mileage getter? As time went on, people saw the light.
Personally, I like the Aura better than the Malibu or the G6 on which the chassis is shared.
The vue is junk, too small for the milage it (doesn't) get.
The Sky is a rebaged Solstice, but some say it's better. It's a fun car if you get the redline version (turbo) as long as you only have one friend, and nothing to haul.
The Outlook is ok. Horse apiece with the Acadia, but a couple grand cheaper.
The Astra... now that is just dumb. All european, so it confuses the fuck out of customers, and as much money as the Aura, while underpowered.
Anyone that came to look at an Astra either went home with a Aura or a Mazda3. (Sold new Mazda's too)

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

It was the Buick, Olds, Cadillac group, not BOP.

Dude, I'm a hotrodder. I've built over a dozen engines for myself and friends.

Here's a BOP axle:

http://www.ronsmachiningservice.net/...POSI-GM/Detail

Just Google, and you'll see that "BOP" has quite a history....

Doesn't change my point, regardless.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

What I don't get is why keep GMC? The only reason I can think of is so all the Buick, Pontiac, GMC dealers can still survive.

plusone

"we are professional grade" dumb...

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Rider

Or Saturn.

Tennessee will, we have a lot of jobs in Saturn factories in Spring Hill

GMC should go, it's pretty much the same line as Chevy anyway. Caddy has the dept in the fancy category.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Dude, I'm a hotrodder. I've built over a dozen engines for myself and friends.

Here's a BOP axle:

http://www.ronsmachiningservice.net/...POSI-GM/Detail

Just Google, and you'll see that "BOP" has quite a history....

Doesn't change my point, regardless.

I'm speaking from how GM divided them up. When I went to college for engineering (General Motors Institute), I remember writing to the Buick Cadillac Oldsmobile group when I co-op'd...I think that fizzled in the early 90's, though.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

....Saturn is a different thing though. They have a cult following!
Worked at a Saturn dealership....

Agree. I worked for Saturn Corp. from 1994 to 2001 and it was hands down the best company I have ever worked. Everybody was always willing to help anyone and the level of pride was beyond anything you could imagine for a large company. I worked in both Michigan at the Engineering facility and at the plant in Spring Hill, TN. We were very innovative and the greenest car company at the time.

When the plant shut down, people cleaned it...everyone, not just a few. In the 1990s Saturn was a different kind of company with a different kind of car. It got fucked over when GM began takover in 1998 cause GM was going to drop Saturn in 2000, but decided to axe Olds 5 years later instead. Lijack voved Saturn to be the 100 year car company...I thought it could happen if GM gave Saturn product.

[Amber Lamps]

I still miss Opel....

I've always thought that GM should loose some of it's redundant brands and not make the same cars rebadged. I hope that if they do keep GMC that they will then stop selling trucks under the Chevy badge. I personally would hate to see Pontiac go just because I've always been a lover of their car's styling. The G8 is IMOH.