bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

at what cost to the taxpayer? when will the 'new' GM be back for another bail-out?

mmarshall

Right now, with the Cash-for-Clunkers program, taxpayers are funding all kinds of new-car purchases, not just GM models, to the tune of $4300 or 4500 a pop. As for another bail-out, possible but not likely......many of the circumstances that led to the bankrupcy have already been dealt with. Much also hinges on what happens with the 2010 Congressional elections next year....and there are signs already of upcoming Republican gains in Congress, possibly big ones. A more Republican-controlled Congress would not be so quick to spend public money, even on big corporations.

And, consequently, some of the work at GM (and the money spent) doing better vehicles has already been done. Most of us, here on CAR CHAT, agree that the new Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, Pontiac G8, Chevy Corvette, and, to a lesser extent, Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky was development money well-spent. The new Lacrosse, of course, remains to be seeen. Unfortunately, the future of some of those models, with the dropping of Pontiac and Saturn, is in doubt.

IS350jet

I don't think they will. Out of BK, GM is off and running with a good start. I see a bright future at GM.

LexFather

It might be short lived....they have to sell a lot more cars and if the market continues to lag, they will file aGAIN.

IS-SV

Let's hope not. Key areas of change include the brutal downsizing and elimination of entire loser divisions including Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, Saab. Decisions in bankruptcy have happened a lot quicker than when the other lame execs were running the place. Of course there are no guarantees.

AlexusAnja

The next few years will reveal many things about the American consumer.

1. Are we loyal to domestic makes? Are we ready and willing to give the U.S. makers another chance?

2. If the domestics succeed, then which import takes the blunt of loss? Toyota perhaps. The last few review and quality of the LaCross and Taurus both reveal that the interiors are much improved and plastic panels are "soft touch" plastics. Seems to reversal of sorts with Toyota who has gone hard plastic on many models' base models.

3. If the import models are getting cheaper with domestic makes getting "better" and then American still not embracing the domestics, then what does that say about us the buyers?

I really think that the domestics have a long hard fight ahead and they literally will have to win back one customer at a time. Honestly, I don't see the domestic dealership infrastructure and service improving to change a customer's image.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

FWIW there have been some hush-hush rumors circulating about the LaCrosse having electrical wiring problems which are delaying it's delivery to many dealers.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wil...ring-problems/

LexBob2

On Sunday I stopped at two Caddy/Buick dealerships to look at the LaCrosse. Neither had any on the lot or in the showroom. No advertising around here either.

Threxx

You don't say?

LexBob2

You beat me to the punch. I was going to edit/delete that one....Old guys are forgetful...

IS-SV

Wow, I forget where the Buick dealer is (actually I didn't forget, they just closed the one close to my work). So I don't know where they sell Buicks anymore around here.

LexBob2

I'll go searching for you and will report back - Twice!

Trexus

I don't think GM will get another bail-out. If GM fails again they will file Chapter 7 full on liquidation just like Circuit City, Mervyns, Worldcom, Lehman Brothers, etc...

mmarshall

That's one reason. Another one (supposedly) was that the 2009 LaCrosses sold well enough, with the Cash-for-Clunkers program, that the 2009 assembly line was kept going longer than planned, before the 2010 re-tooling, to satisfy demand.

The new 2010 Taurus, another domestic vehicle of great interest, has also been temporarily held up by some quality glitches.

Both are very high on my review list; I'm still waiting for them myself in this area. A lone new Taurus came in nearby a few days ago, but it was a factory program vehicle that was not available for a test-drive, and I didn't want to waste a trip just for a static-only review.

Threxx

Edmunds seemed to really like the CXS they just did a review on.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*