Posted on 05/28/2014 1:39:14 AM PDT by grundle
The recalls are multiplying, and the bailout stigma remains.
You may have noticed that General Motors recalled a lot of vehicles lately.
You may not have noticed just how many separate recalls the company announced, 30 since January 1, or just how many vehicles are being recalled — 13.79 million vehicles in the U.S.
For perspective, consider that GM sold roughly 2.6 million vehicles in 2012.
... consumer-data research indicates that pickup-truck buyers skew Republican by a margin five to one, according to a 2008 survey.
Whether GM wants to admit it or not, the “Government Motors” label did serious damage to its reputation and may not wash away so quickly.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
I seriously doubt whether the moniker "Government Motors" did serious damage to its reputation. Corporate changes made to please the current administration resulted in union officials running the company, with predictable results.
Was not the Yugo a government produced automobile?
Instead of streamlining production, improving quality, and easing off the uncompetitive added costs to pay for the sizable union benefits, reliability has fallen, pricing remains uncompetitive, and product improvements are not happening.
The million dollar question... Did Jim Geraghty come to Metro Detroit and speak to those in the business ( on the QT ) that are GM-er’s, Competitors and Suppliers to get a sense as to the health of GM or is he doing a 40,000 fly-over. I have heard one 2nd hand opining but it is not for here, I need to speak to more folks before I do....
I don’t know about anybody else, but I, for one, consider it my patriotic duty never, ever, ever to drive a Government Motors vehicle.
Not only does this mean not buying one, but it means not renting one. In fact, if I was given one (not that this would ever happen), I would sell it and give the money to charity.
Government motors is the reason I will not purchase from GM.
It wasn’t the bailout that ruined them, it was letting government control them that ruined them.
After all there have been bailouts before that had been barely noticeable because they didn’t come with marxist strings attached.
My current vehicle has 75,000 miles and has been having a few issues lately. I am seriously thinking it’s time to sell and replace. I prefer to drive it into the ground as they say, hold on for another 75,000 miles, but if I take the leap it will not, EVER be a Government Motors vehicle.
What GM quality is experiencing is what happened to British car quality when the government took them over. The workers stopped working to make good cars and started appearing at work to collect what they considered “benefits.” It was no longer a job. It was now a social program. Try this experiment today. Notice every GM truck that goes by and see how many have some random light lit on the front. I understand this is a software glitch they have been unwilling or unable to address.
Two conservative friends have recently bought GM vehicles; two Volts and an Impala. When I asked why they bought GM both said, “They practically gave them to us.”
Well, the bailout put the unions in control. And they were ruined. But, I repeat myself...
Up until 2008 I ONLY bought General Motors (I liked Pontiacs)
Since GM died in the government takeover and became government motors I will NEVER buy one again.
Ford is the only major American car company. (And I used to really hate Fords. My next vehicle will probably be a decked out Explorer)
So yes the Government Motors moniker has hurt them. fatally.
1. The wiper arms constantly came loose from the spindles. I had to keep tightening the set screw on them but it would come loose again. Nothing I did would keep those damn things locked onto the spindle.
2. The headlights would turn off for no reason. The dealer had the car for a week and replaced the multi-function turn signal arm at a cost of about $900. Less than a year later the same problem with the headlights began again. The only way I could get them to stay on would be to tilt the steering wheel to it's full up position. Try driving a car with the tilt wheel in that position.
3. The door locks constantly played with themselves. Clicking and clicking over and over again while driving. They would also click constantly even while the car was garaged all night. I'd come in in the morning and the battery would be dead because the locks activating would keep the interior lights turned on and drain the battery. Numerous visits to the dealer could never resolve this situation.
On New Years Day 2011 I dumped the miserable thing and bought a Ford F150. I will never go back to Government Motors.
I think that some Hyundis are made in the US now. Even if not, I won't leave Hyundai unless something changed dramatically. They filled the gap when there were no good options for a small US car that was well built, reasonably priced, and a good car on the road.
I did have to switch dealers once. The one I switched from had a maintenance department that couldn't resist the shennanigans to increase their profits.
You don’t fix what isn’t broken...
Later I heard it caught fire down on Rt. 7 — to this day I feel sorry for the person who bought it from us, but at least I can say with full honesty that we told them it had electrical issues that nobody could figure out. They bought it anyway... car was new, clean, cute... but it was a nightmare!
My business partner always had GM pickups. He switched to Ford and has bought 2 new F150’s in the last 3 years. Never GM again for him or me. Nothing but Ford’s in my family. But I do have an LS3 in my buggy.
The best way to kill something is pouring money on it.
FWIW, this service department would try to charge for things covered by the warranty, play games with using cheap substitutes while charging for Hyundai parts etc. The dealership I switched to is excellent.
...I'm originally from Michigan, and GM was both a source of jobs to family, gave my dad's company business, and I worked there as a co-op through college...
...I have bought (with the exception of one Ford) only GM vehicles for the past 25 years...
...I have a "GM Mastercard"...
...I currently own two GM vehicles - one 14 years old, one 5 years old - that are doing just fine....
...I was even willing to grant some (SOME) forgiveness over the "Government Motors" issue...
BUT I WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM CAR. Why?
Because GM, during the Winter Olympics this year, ran ads 24/7 making my Chevy Traverse the "official car of gay marriage".
Damn them. Damn GM to Hell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.