COMMENTARY: Three Ways to Turn Around the American Auto Industry
04-21-09, 10:54 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I was confining the comparison strictly to the car lines, if you want to include trucks, Chevy and GMC both offered them in a limited number of models, and today's proliferation of SUVs only makes the same point over - far too many models to be sustained by the market.
I deliberately ignored the '50's series 'vettes because they made no significant contribution to overall sales, other than being the halo car for the brand. Early models coupled the anemic but reliable "Blue Flame 6" to that two-speed auto tranny for a marriage truly made in hell.
The El Camino and the Nomad were simply a standard automobile customized by the factory. The El Camino carved a pickup bed in the back of the two-door, and the Nomad was a styling exercise that created a near-useless two-door wagon. The Nomad in particular was often fitted with the V8, and proved to be an instant classic.
I deliberately ignored the '50's series 'vettes because they made no significant contribution to overall sales, other than being the halo car for the brand. Early models coupled the anemic but reliable "Blue Flame 6" to that two-speed auto tranny for a marriage truly made in hell.
The El Camino and the Nomad were simply a standard automobile customized by the factory. The El Camino carved a pickup bed in the back of the two-door, and the Nomad was a styling exercise that created a near-useless two-door wagon. The Nomad in particular was often fitted with the V8, and proved to be an instant classic.
04-21-09, 11:13 AM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
Hopefully the Big 3 spend time planning their future and not looking back to the good old days. I'll have some faith.
04-21-09, 11:21 AM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Like YOU never drove one of those cars? Come on now. 
But, yes, I know it takes the thread off-topic.
There's some evidence of that now. Check out the new Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS, and Ford's Fusion/Milan/MKZ triplets. Definitely not the stuff of the past. In fact, the Aura is one of the few remaining reasons (VERY few, I might add) for actually keeping Saturn as it is now, though it is esentially just a redone Malibu with different trim and orange/yellow dash lights inside instead of aqua-blue.
In Saturn's case, though, looking backwards to the plastic-body age may not be a bad idea. We've already discussed that in other threads, so no need to rehash that here again.
But, yes, I know it takes the thread off-topic.
Hopefully the Big 3 spend time planning their future and not looking back to the good old days. I'll have some faith.
In Saturn's case, though, looking backwards to the plastic-body age may not be a bad idea. We've already discussed that in other threads, so no need to rehash that here again.
04-21-09, 12:34 PM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Like YOU never drove one of those cars? Come on now.
Check out the new Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS, and Ford's Fusion/Milan/MKZ triplets. Definitely not the stuff of the past. In fact, the Aura is one of the few remaining reasons (VERY few, I might add) for actually keeping Saturn as it is now, though it is esentially just a redone Malibu with different trim and orange/yellow dash lights inside instead of aqua-blue.
Check out the new Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS, and Ford's Fusion/Milan/MKZ triplets. Definitely not the stuff of the past. In fact, the Aura is one of the few remaining reasons (VERY few, I might add) for actually keeping Saturn as it is now, though it is esentially just a redone Malibu with different trim and orange/yellow dash lights inside instead of aqua-blue.
As you've pointed out above, look at all the redundancy, duplication, badge-engineering that you just listed above. Weak companies (like the Big 3 specifically) cannot afford this lame business model on top of all their legacy costs.
On top of this, the car's you have listed are all good cars, but not necessarily best in class. Add in all the other cars that they have in their lineup which are horrible rental cars and trucks, and you have companies that lose billions every quarter.
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