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Dealers
Marty Padgett
You can smell the wind of change in the Capitol--that gassy, bloated whiff that means lawmakers are warming up to the possibility of spending billions on a Big Three bailout. The deal's not sealed, though, and if Detroit has any chance for survival, it's time for a big, showy gesture.
Showing up in hybrid vehicles was a good start, but every revolution needs some bloodshed. The automakers have started hacking away--Ford confirms the Mercury Sable and Ford Taurus X aren't going to be around much longer, and Chrysler's already put down its Magnum, PT Cruiser convertible, and Pacifica.
The easy targets are gone--but Detroit still has some cutting to do. As they make their case for money from Congress, they need to show car shoppers that they're only interested in making cars that thrill their owners--cars like the 2009 Ford Flex, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2008 Jeep Wrangler. They need to get rid of everything that doesn't totally own the competition, or at least make them worry a little.
So now that we're on the brink of nationalizing the auto industry and seriously digging state ownership like the Venezuelans do, I'm going to become TheCarConnection.com's very own Hugo Chavez, rule by executive fiat (no, not that Fiat) and call out the cars and trucks that need to head into exile:
HUMMER: I liked the idea of the HUMMER when America was on top. Now the HUMMER lineup's a symbol of all that's wrong at GM. It's become one of those words used to argue without arguing, like "Cheney" or "Halliburton." Don't sell it, shut it down. Now.
Cadillac DTS/Buick Lucerne: Pretty decent cars, but maybe President Obama will realize the depth of the problems in Detroit if his next limousine isn't one of these cars, but a flyweight Prius.
Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon: Cramped cabins, buzzy engines, mediocre crash scores--and those are the best versions of the compact Chevy and GMC trucks. The full-size Silverado and Sierra are so good, it's worth selling a child or two and upgrading instead of settling for these. Dump them and don't worry about replacing them.
Pontiac G8 ST: This one should be nipped in the bud before marketing and advertising and PR dollars are thrown at it. Is it a truck version of a slow-selling sedan, or a two-door with the world's biggest, least secure trunk? Or is it just a jobs bank for undeserving Australians, just like every Nicole Kidman movie since To Die For?
Pontiac G3/Pontiac G5/Pontiac Torrent: Send out the clones, please. If Pontiac survives in any way, it needs to be in the form we recognize it: a place for hopped-up hooptys, not Xerox versions of acceptable transportation. I'd call out the Cobalt here, too, if its days weren't already numbered by the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.
Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria: What says old, fusty and possibly dead more than the name of a dead president? Lincoln as a brand will stick around, but the Town Car has to go--and it needs to take Ford's other fleet cars along with it. Anyone who's driving one today can find a better fleet car, or should have to take a driving and vision test and be forced to hire a personal car shopper.
Ford Ranger: God bless the Ranger, which proves you're never too old to act your age. It's creaky and cranky in all versions, and even though it's screwed together pretty well, it's so basic it scares shoppers into considering hitchhiking.
Detroit Tiger StadiumEnlarge Photo You can smell the wind of change in the Capitol--that gassy, bloated whiff that means lawmakers are warming up to the possibility of spending billions on a Big Three bailout. The deal's not sealed, though, and if Detroit has any chance for survival, it's time for a big, showy gesture. Showing up in hybrid vehicles was a good start, but every revolution needs some bloodshed. The automakers have started hacking away--Ford confirms the Mercury Sable and Ford Taurus X aren't going to be around much longer, and Chrysler's already put down its Magnum, PT Cruiser convertible, and Pacifica. The easy targets are gone--but Detroit still has some cutting to do. As they make their case for money from Congress, they need to show car shoppers that they're only interested in making cars that thrill their owners--cars like the 2009 Ford Flex, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2008 Jeep Wrangler. They need to get rid of everything that doesn't totally own the competition, or at least make them worry a little. So now that we're on the brink of nationalizing the auto industry and seriously digging state ownership like the Venezuelans do, I'm going to become TheCarConnection.com's very own Hugo Chavez, rule by executive fiat (no, not that Fiat) and call out the cars and trucks that need to head into exile: 2009 Hummer H2Enlarge Photo HUMMER: I liked the idea of the HUMMER when America was on top. Now the HUMMER lineup's a symbol of all that's wrong at GM. It's become one of those words used to argue without arguing, like "Cheney" or "Halliburton." Don't sell it, shut it down. Now. 2009 Cadillac DTS w/1SAEnlarge Photo Cadillac DTS/Buick Lucerne: Pretty decent cars, but maybe President Obama will realize the depth of the problems in Detroit if his next limousine isn't one of these cars, but a flyweight Prius. 2009 GMC Canyon Work TruckEnlarge Photo Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon: Cramped cabins, buzzy engines, mediocre crash scores--and those are the best versions of the compact Chevy and GMC trucks. The full-size Silverado and Sierra are so good, it's worth selling a child or two and upgrading instead of settling for these. Dump them and don't worry about replacing them. 2010 Pontiac G8 sport truckEnlarge Photo Pontiac G8 ST: This one should be nipped in the bud before marketing and advertising and PR dollars are thrown at it. Is it a truck version of a slow-selling sedan, or a two-door with the world's biggest, least secure trunk? Or is it just a jobs bank for undeserving Australians, just like every Nicole Kidman movie since To Die For? 2008 Pontiac G5 Enlarge Photo Pontiac G3/Pontiac G5/Pontiac Torrent: Send out the clones, please. If Pontiac survives in any way, it needs to be in the form we recognize it: a place for hopped-up hooptys, not Xerox versions of acceptable transportation. I'd call out the Cobalt here, too, if its days weren't already numbered by the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. 2009 Lincoln Town Car Signature LimitedEnlarge Photo Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria: What says old, fusty and possibly dead more than the name of a dead president? Lincoln as a brand will stick around, but the Town Car has to go--and it needs to take Ford's other fleet cars along with it. Anyone who's driving one today can find a better fleet car, or should have to take a driving and vision test and be forced to hire a personal car shopper. 2009 Ford Ranger XLEnlarge Photo Ford Ranger: God bless the Ranger, which proves you're never too old to act your age. It's creaky and cranky in all versions, and even though it's screwed together pretty well, it's so basic it scares shoppers into considering hitchhiking. 2009 Mercury Mountaineer Enlarge Photo Mercury Mountaineer: Hey, it's a Mercury Explorer! So it's a truck encumbered by a tawdry past, minus the great brand name to move it off showroom floors? Where do I sign up? 2008 Chrysler Sebring ConvertibleEnlarge Photo Chrysler Sebring/Avenger: When mediocrity is your stretch goal for 2009, you know it's time to call it a day. The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible gets a special call-out for being one of the least satisfying convertibles on the market--you keep the top up so people don't know you're driving one. All are proof how far Chrysler strayed from the 1990s vision of making it a true mid-luxury brand. 2005 Dodge Nitro conceptEnlarge Photo Dodge Nitro/Jeep Liberty: The Liberty was controversial enough for Jeep fans--and adding a Dodge version hasn't improved the truck's coarse and unrefined powertrains. And isn't the four-door Jeep Wrangler a better idea, anyway? 2009 Jeep Compass SportEnlarge Photo Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot: If you're still against the bailout, drive one of these and shudder to think what a country filled with Chinese cars could be like. I'll miss the irony of "Compass," since this car more than anything pointed out Jeep's almost total loss of direction in this century. --- Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius.
Responses (44 total)
By elroy #1, Posted: 12/5/2008
From a franchise profitability perspective, the G5 gives the Pontiac dealers another small car. They should have the sedan too -- it's sold in Canada but not in the US.
I wouldn't take much to make it more of a Pontiac....make the only suspension the Opel designed super sweet Cobalt SS suspension. It's already engineered.
Get new seats or change the trim to look more sporty ... no mechanicals there.....Recaro or Lear Siegler gotta be hurting too and would probably do handstands for the business.
Spend a couple of dollars on the grille -- put chrome trim on it like the G6 to dress it up.... Gotta be lots of aftermarket wheels and rubber which can be easily added too...
Showrooms would have all the Road Racer parts from the SPO warehouse for the customizers, just like Honda does so well.
Target competition needs to be Honda Civic, Mazda 3 or similar, not Chevy!!!
The idea is good....but the execution is lousy!!!!
For ideas and a non-GM viewpoint, make an Apprentice-style contest, go to several prominent MBA schools to recruit teams and see their proposals to increase sales, profitability, etc. You would get lots of ideas for minimal costs!
It's time for new ideas guys.......and not just for Pontiac!
Instead, the GM marketing folks will probably add some cladding to make it different!!!! (Just joking.....I hope!)
By Bill Burke #2, Posted: 12/5/2008
Marty, I'm working on a story "Fifty cars Japan needs to dump on unsuspecting American buyers after Detroit goes belly up" Any suggestions?
By JKD #3, Posted: 12/5/2008
I hate the idea of G8 pickup but that photo and the color of this El Camino replacement made want to get one :-) It's a beauty but I'd still prefer the Australian wagon.
By Marty Padgett #4, Posted: 12/5/2008
Bill, you could just list them all and that would work. Make sure the Koreans are included too.
By Ray Garrett #5, Posted: 12/5/2008
Lincoln:
Mark LT, Navigator
Ford:
Flex, Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Taurus X
Chevy:
Suburban, Trailblazer,
Dodge:
Durango, Caliber
Chrysler:
Aspen
By Vincent #6, Posted: 12/5/2008
the problems with the american auto industry are being magnified by journalists like YOU. Instead of building positive hype about American cars like Pontiac, Buick, and Mercury you talk like they're already dead. All you do is have to come out and say that they're GOOD. Niche brands need to be around because base brands like Honda, Chevrolet, and Hyundai can be dull and too mainstream and pristigious brands like Lincoln and Cadillac scare away the average consumer. Niche brands make the average American feel "slightly above the rest." No one is being positive at this time and it starts with the MEDIA because if the media starts writing positive things, then it rubs off on everyone else. It's time to show a little support.
By Marty Padgett #7, Posted: 12/5/2008
On the contrary, we've written nothing but good things about the G8, the Mariner Hybrid and the Enclave -- because we like them and they project the image Detroit needs to have and should have. It's these cars that tarnish those good efforts.
By odineye #8, Posted: 12/6/2008
@ Vincent - "It’s time to show a little support."
Support for a *business* is a lot like respect - it's earned rather than given. The American car manufacturers are absolutely getting exactly the level of support they've earned in the marketplace.
By Harriet #9, Posted: 12/6/2008
Over the years, American cars have greatly improved. However, the media continues to beat up the American automobile makers, every chance the get. I continue to see plenty of old U. S. cars on the road everyday, that's saying plenty about the longevity of our, American, automobiles. Don't you think?
It drives me crazy that Americans are never proud of what they have, be it cars, television, movies, culture, etc. They're always whining about how much better the Europeans do this, or the Asians do that, or the Japanese walk on water, blah, blah, blah.
Media is the very much a major factor in the lack of sales of American products.
By R2dad #10, Posted: 12/6/2008
Well put. The Ranger and Towncar have been around for ages, still are crap, and are still being made. How can anyone in Detroit defend themselves with product like that? Where are the product improvements? All I ever see are cost reductions. No one who ever bought one of them ever bought another. Both vehicles are rolling advertisements for their competitors. If the models have value, save them! If it's going to be around for 20 years, isn't it worth doing right? If you had sexy and reliable products, consumers would be much more likely to give your dealer network another chance.
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