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We have been there. same policies that gave us the 55MPH Speed limit and 165 HP V8's. Not a future I want.
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A speed limit? Petty . . . speed limits are still low in my area.
165 hp? Blame GM for that.
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IMO... People who buy GM want what GM does best-an American V-8. HP and torque for towing and power for performance.
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No, you're speaking of the hobbyist who drives V8s as a hobby.
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GM has tried to gain back market segment in cars from the imports for years by trying to be "like an import", while abandoning its core market for car buyers. Discontinuation of the F-body platform in 2002 is a prime example where the cobalt was to compete against the imports and the SSR was a bone thrown to the Camaro buyer.
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You're mistaken about Detroit's marketing. Discontinuing the F-body was arguable. The Cobalt was replacement for the unlamented Cavalier, and merely was Chevy's submission to competing in a class of vehicles. SSR? A niche vehicle.
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Wrong on the Cobalt wrong on the SSR. More people left GM and went to other market segments.
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What's wrong with the Cobalt? Lackluster in comparison to the competition? So whose fault was that?
Ditto with the SSR - lack of hp? Whose fault was that?
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Along the way GM finally became self aware and tried to reverse course. Difference is that now GM will be forced to build cars that are aligned with a market segment that they lost a decade ago to Honda and Toyota and I seriously doubt those buyers will be back abesent a rock bottom price.
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This may come as a surprise to you, but GM is not self-aware. GM's current situation most certainly has something to do with the economy but, even more so, GM's current situation has a hell of a lot to do with
GM. Blaming the government is a convenient way to ignore the problems GM has had . . . but that's par for the course as GM has ignored its problems for years. Ironic, considering they have a portfolio of stellar cars.
Now, against the wall, GM is faced with making compromises in its future. The capitalist in me says to let GM die, but the American in me says we need to help Detroit as much as we can. . . so we have the government to do that.
You can't get back to health until you figure out what's causing the symptoms. I hope that GM has figured it out for once.
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Speaking of speed limits why not speed governed vehicles that are adjusted by GPS... They are looking into this now for future applications...
On the cobalt.. you can disagree but its sales are what they are.. do a comparison with the imports.
On the SSR - it currently makes multiple lists of the worst vehicles ever built. Check it out. If you need help I will post links for you.
The Imports are what they are. Typically they are small displacement and are far less than exciting to drive and lack the butt busting torque that most American's prefer when towing or driving a muscle car.
Remember a little thing called Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness?? Constraints like this placed upon the the folks by the government is exactly what ended the first round of performance cars in the early 1970's and will no doubt end it now.
Question for you.... Tell us all how we will be able to meet fleet 2016 MPG requirements, Mass produce a vehicle that a defined market segment still clearly wants to buy (Camaro, Corvette, Challenger, Mustang check the sales they are significant) and still make over 400 HP with an "all American V8" and keep it fun to drive?
That was (and is) the topic of this thread...lest we go too far into the weeds
IMO.... The Government has NO business telling the market and a significant buying segment what it can or cannot drive.
Make no mistake I am not talking about Hobbyists but new vehicles.