Comments on: A Muscle Car to the Rescue for GM http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/ Macro Perspective on the Capital Markets, Economy, Geopolitics, Technology, and Digital Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:03:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: WaltFrench http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192716 WaltFrench Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:18:07 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192716 <I>Please let me know when the convertible model gets released . . .</I> . . . so you can drive a rattletrap AND a deathtrap? Nice to have all the glossy porn (complete with horsepower numbers!!!) but where's the handling, cornering, braking, . . . data? Cheaply built, uncomfortable, lousy-to-drive cars is What's Good For GM and America? Are you one of those street racers that San Jose is trying to clamp down on? Please let me know when the convertible model gets released . . .

. . . so you can drive a rattletrap AND a deathtrap?

Nice to have all the glossy porn (complete with horsepower numbers!!!) but where’s the handling, cornering, braking, . . . data? Cheaply built, uncomfortable, lousy-to-drive cars is What’s Good For GM and America?

Are you one of those street racers that San Jose is trying to clamp down on?

]]> By: Weekend Opinionator: Is G.M. Back From the Dead? - The Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192255 Weekend Opinionator: Is G.M. Back From the Dead? - The Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:42:37 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192255 [...] Ritholtz of the Big Picture is living the retro-dream (with photos): The Camaro’s arrival completes a baby boomer trinity of so-called pony cars, [...] [...] Ritholtz of the Big Picture is living the retro-dream (with photos): The Camaro’s arrival completes a baby boomer trinity of so-called pony cars, [...]

]]> By: Simon http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192172 Simon Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:39:55 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192172 There is just no going past the fact that any guy who can afford the down payments and interest on a sports car and is more than four feet tall will get a girl of some sort once in possession of the car. To heck with the long term consiquences of the debt burden... There is just no going past the fact that any guy who can afford the down payments and interest on a sports car and is more than four feet tall will get a girl of some sort once in possession of the car. To heck with the long term consiquences of the debt burden…

]]> By: Evidently people like the new Camaro « Sharing the truth one thread at a time http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192126 Evidently people like the new Camaro « Sharing the truth one thread at a time Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:19:37 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192126 [...] Kinda looks like the Ford Mustang if you ask me. [...] [...] Kinda looks like the Ford Mustang if you ask me. [...]

]]> By: Marc1 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192079 Marc1 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:28:28 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192079 I agree with Brendan. Nice car, as with the retro Mustang and Charger. But can GM succeed living in the past? There is nothing wrong if these retro cars are a sideline to the main business. Where I get my concern is that there is no main business for GM. There is no plan, and I suspect there is no future other than as the America's version of the 80's Renault/Peugeot. We all have to keep in mind that GM was losing billions in 2005, when anyone who could sign their name could get financing to buy a car. The financial crisis has little to do with GM's core problems. I agree with Brendan. Nice car, as with the retro Mustang and Charger. But can GM succeed living in the past?

There is nothing wrong if these retro cars are a sideline to the main business. Where I get my concern is that there is no main business for GM. There is no plan, and I suspect there is no future other than as the America’s version of the 80’s Renault/Peugeot.

We all have to keep in mind that GM was losing billions in 2005, when anyone who could sign their name could get financing to buy a car. The financial crisis has little to do with GM’s core problems.

]]> By: AdamDenison http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192049 AdamDenison Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:59:09 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192049 Great post. Thanks for sharing the NYT story. Quick correction, the V6 starts at $23,040. Also, the convertible will be available in the first quarter of 2011. Oh, and the V6 gets an amazing 29 hwy mpg while still churning out 304 hp. Brendan, Sorry to hear you feel that way. I hope you'll take the chance to drive the Camaro before making any more of your claims. We're having huge success with the Camaro right now. You have to understand, however, that people may come into a dealership to check out the Camaro, but walk out having been exposed to or buying one of our other award winning new vehicles (Chevy Malibu, Traverse, Equinox, etc.). There are great products from Chevy right now and more to come! Adam Denison Chevrolet Communications On Twitter: @AdamDenison Great post. Thanks for sharing the NYT story. Quick correction, the V6 starts at $23,040. Also, the convertible will be available in the first quarter of 2011. Oh, and the V6 gets an amazing 29 hwy mpg while still churning out 304 hp.

Brendan,

Sorry to hear you feel that way. I hope you’ll take the chance to drive the Camaro before making any more of your claims. We’re having huge success with the Camaro right now. You have to understand, however, that people may come into a dealership to check out the Camaro, but walk out having been exposed to or buying one of our other award winning new vehicles (Chevy Malibu, Traverse, Equinox, etc.). There are great products from Chevy right now and more to come!

Adam Denison
Chevrolet Communications
On Twitter: @AdamDenison

]]> By: tagyoureit http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192033 tagyoureit Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:26:18 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192033 Last of the V8 Intercepters! (sorry, watched The Road Warrior again the other night) Last of the V8 Intercepters!

(sorry, watched The Road Warrior again the other night)

]]> By: Brendan http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192030 Brendan Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:22:41 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192030 Does nothing for me but invoke the feeling that GM is still trying to live in the past. While GM needs a sales success, that's not guaranteed with this. If you recall, the latest T-Bird sold lots of models above MSRP at first, and then became a sales failure once the initial glitz faded. And while the Charger is doing much better, it has had a lot of copies go to fleets (esp. Hertz and police forces). The Mustang, of course, is a perennial winner. But the Camaro is no Mustang; for one, it has the Corvette to compete with and for two it's history is too segmented. GM really needs something that appeals beyond the retirement crowd who wants a Chevy but can't afford a Corvette, and auto repair techs who can't even afford a new Camaro. I can't help but think that this will suffer a fate similar to the GTO. While this car gets GM some sales and may turn out to be a money maker, is this really the image they want to portray? Bringing back a car that was notorious for being designed by cutting corners for the sake of cost and horsepower really doesn't seem like a "brand builder" to me; it strikes me more as lipstick on a pig. That's exactly the image that GM needs to shake - nice looking cars with bad bones. GM is building better cars, but people still don't know it. Toyota sells Corollas because the Prius is cutting edge and they feel like they're getting a reliable car with the newest and best technology by buying a Toyota. Even if it is a great car, Chevy's not going to sell many Cobalts or Colorados because the Camaro makes lots of horsepower and appeals to dad/grandpa. Yet another retro car is not going to stay in the spotlight long enough for the average consumer to notice. GM needs to overcompensate for years of neglect on the technology and reliability fronts and this car doesn't do that, in fact, it may turn out to do the complete opposite. Does nothing for me but invoke the feeling that GM is still trying to live in the past. While GM needs a sales success, that’s not guaranteed with this. If you recall, the latest T-Bird sold lots of models above MSRP at first, and then became a sales failure once the initial glitz faded. And while the Charger is doing much better, it has had a lot of copies go to fleets (esp. Hertz and police forces). The Mustang, of course, is a perennial winner. But the Camaro is no Mustang; for one, it has the Corvette to compete with and for two it’s history is too segmented. GM really needs something that appeals beyond the retirement crowd who wants a Chevy but can’t afford a Corvette, and auto repair techs who can’t even afford a new Camaro.

I can’t help but think that this will suffer a fate similar to the GTO. While this car gets GM some sales and may turn out to be a money maker, is this really the image they want to portray? Bringing back a car that was notorious for being designed by cutting corners for the sake of cost and horsepower really doesn’t seem like a “brand builder” to me; it strikes me more as lipstick on a pig. That’s exactly the image that GM needs to shake – nice looking cars with bad bones. GM is building better cars, but people still don’t know it. Toyota sells Corollas because the Prius is cutting edge and they feel like they’re getting a reliable car with the newest and best technology by buying a Toyota. Even if it is a great car, Chevy’s not going to sell many Cobalts or Colorados because the Camaro makes lots of horsepower and appeals to dad/grandpa. Yet another retro car is not going to stay in the spotlight long enough for the average consumer to notice. GM needs to overcompensate for years of neglect on the technology and reliability fronts and this car doesn’t do that, in fact, it may turn out to do the complete opposite.

]]> By: Urkel http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-192029 Urkel Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:22:14 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-192029 Looks like the more recent version of the Ford Mustang. Looks like the more recent version of the Ford Mustang.

]]> By: deanscamaro http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/a-muscle-car-to-the-rescue-for-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-191965 deanscamaro Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:29:25 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=31867#comment-191965 It is about the first thing GM has done right in years. It may not be the solution for returning their overall sales to past years glories, but it is a seed that might help. It is a good design and that is something coming from a '69 Camaro owner. It is about the first thing GM has done right in years. It may not be the solution for returning their overall sales to past years glories, but it is a seed that might help. It is a good design and that is something coming from a ‘69 Camaro owner.

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