The latest sales numbers are coming in, as always thanks for that monthly thread and those who get the numbers. But we also know now that our administration is leaning very heavily on bankruptcy for GM in sixty days. I would say that they are also contemplating the same for ChryCo but to tell you the truth, I don't think anyone figures ChryCo has a chance with or without Fiat.

Now all of this happened this week so it won't have affected the sales numbers for March. But now, we have the lines drawn. And they are thirty days for ChryCo and sixty for GM. We heard over and over months ago that people won't buy from a company in bankruptcy.

Now BO came out on Monday and said he is going to pay for the warranties on GM and ChryCo cars, a pretty good indication that they are toast. But here's the poll, what do you think will happen to GM and ChryCo sales from April 1 on? I know, I know, I could split them apart to deal with their situations differently (and mods, that still might make sense, may need help doing that) and put in a dozen different options for each one but let's keep it simple and lump them together. Sales either go up, stay about where they are, go down, or you just don't care. Personally, as we get some clarity on the government stance, nothing to me indicates I would want to shop either of them. But that might be just me.

 

No big surprise so far, at least not to me. I was going to ask if anyone could figure out any circumstance where the developments of this week would improve ChryCo and GM sales but I probably won't get a response. I would think that holding about the same would be about as good as ChryCo and GM can expect but it should be interesting to really see.

For full disclosure, I am not really a candidate for either brand although I did have a discussion with my wife about maybe getting one of the new Camaro's for a weekend car. I talked myself out of that one.

I didn't want to get into much detail for the poll but you have to wonder about marques like Saab and Saturn. Saab is not going to be with GM and at best, may get assigned to "bad GM". Saturn may be the biggest tragedy out of all of this being something that GM may have gotten right and now is advertised as "come in and check us out, we're still here." Have to wonder about that one.

 

If I were in the market for a new car, I would not consider anything from Chrysler or GM because I plan on keeping my cars for at least 3 years. The goverment can say they will provide a backstop for warranty service all they want, but when does the government ever keep its word and how potentially difficult will that become? No thanks.

I'd stick with Ford. Call it public perception or what you will. I have a lot more faith in Alan Mullaly and hope he can pull Ford out of this economic downturn. America really deserves at least one car company standing after everything is said and done.

 

^^ I can't argue. I know it has been posted before but when I go out to spend my hard earned bucks on a car, I am not interested in buying some corporations financial problems. We have been tiptoeing around this issue for months and as of Monday, the administration has strongly indicated that it believes bankruptcy is the best alternative. Whether I agree with that or not, as a consumer, I sure as heck am not going to buy into it with my bucks.

 

So I saw a FAQ about the government backed warranties. One of the Q's was "What if I already bought a car--will the government back my warranty?" The answer was "NO". WTF!! What do all THOSE people do if the company goes under???

 

Could life be any worse to have one of the less reliable ChryCo or GM cars and get your warranty work done through the gov? Sends a shiver up my spine just thinking about it.

 

No problem. Just take the vehicle to the nearest Army base, and the guys in the Motor Pool will fix it...

 

None of the above.

 

I have said for months that nobody will buy cars from a bankrupt automaker, guess we will soon find out, does it matter what's in the restructuring plan in these economic times? With tight credit and rising unemployment car sales aren't going up for anyone very much, Honda just offered buyouts to workers, what good will government backed warranty be when half of the dealerships close and you have to travel 100 miles for service?

 

After everything is said and done and the economy recovers, I think we will see a new GM emerge out of chapter 11 reorg. Ultimately, that's what they will have to do and I think if they have the right players in place, they'll come out of it okay. I'm old enough to remember the good GM, and, for that reason, I would hate to see them die off.

Chrysler will need to do the same thing with Fiat at the helm. Still don't think they'll make it, and, personally, I don't care.

 

I say (and voted) go up only because of time of the year (April is always up)and the fact my local GM dealer moved 50 cars the last day of the month. In my area, they're hard-core American car buyers.

Also, for March, sales were down 37% from last year...

As long as people believe BO's BS, it'll keep...

 

Well anyone buying a GM car in the next sixty days or a ChryCo car in the next thirty days clearly isn't concerned about whether they are getting an orphan or not so maybe you are right. I sure don't know. I am pretty sure the auto mfrs don't break sales numbers down by state and I will be interested to see the April numbers as here in Cali, which is still a hefty percentage of car sales, we got our 1% sales tax increase today and the vehicle license fee went back up to the old rates so whatever deal you negotiate, it is going to cost you probably 12.5% more to get it out the door here with sales tax and license. I have a feeling March numbers might have been popped for Cali due to this and it will inevitably be at the expense of the future. Should be fascinating to see what happens....

 

I agree, CA numbers are worth watching.

btw, to clarify do you mean 12.5% versus old 10.0% (up about 2.5%) for T&L?

 

Obamma could be at my front door with a check for 25,000 dollars to maintain my new POS american car and I still would never #1 buy an american car, and #2 would never believe that the government will back my warranty. Bankrupt or not ..... you are probably a little crazy to buy an american car. They were POS cars before, now they are getting better but are on the edge of bankruptcy. I am going to stick with my Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura vehicles that are safe, reliable, and carry more prestige than any cadillac.

Bailouts are unamerican. GM and chrysler should be put in the trash with their overpaid employees

 

The sales numbers were PURE CRAP from our local GM dealer!! They had 50 CUSTOMERS at months end, sold LESS THAN TEN CARS!!! My Corvette guy got BURIED, nowhere near his adjusted goals.

Just when I'm ready to get the Vette, the stability (and future reliability) of foreign automakes pulls me back...