It needs to reinvigorate Saturn as the pratical car brand that competes with the Japanese head to head instead of letting it be Oldsmobile Junior.

It needs to sell SAAB. This was a panic purchase caused by Ford buying Volvo. Their diehard fans are leaving right and left as their prized models became another badge-engineered GM vehicle. The 9-3 is the Malibu/G6. The redesigned 9-5 is rumored to be the Impala/Grand Prix. The now discontinued 9-2 was left on the showroom because the first year models had the ignition switch in the column (not on the center console as all SAABS are), the dash lights were not green, and the air conditioning vent louvers were not the square box louvers famous on SAABS. Even though they were corrected in the second year model, the lifelong anger continues and that car died.

What would really help GM is to start all over again with a new car brand that is a combination of the technology/ horsepower of the new Cadillacs to the handling qualities of the BMW to the style, finesse, quality, and craftsmanship of Acura that creates a Europeanesque luxury performance sedan combined with the practicality and user friendliness of the Japanese. Have three car series (small, medium, and large), a wagon version, a SUV, and a crossover version separate and independent of chassis, interior, and engines (not a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall/Holden) and make their dealerships seperate like the old Saturns were. Basically bring back the Saturn mentality that worked but apply it to a luxury performance segment instead of a economy/practical compact segment.

As time progresses, drop Buick and Cadillac. The marketing demographics show that they only cater to the elderly and that young buyers are skipping Cadillac and Buick (associated as daddy’s bloated gas guzzling car overdone with archaic looking woodgrain) and are going directly over to Acura or Lexus. Based on this, these two brands will eventually fade away.

What the big 3 have not figured out yet is that this is the first generation of young buyers whose parents have never owned an American car and were ingrained from childhood that they are unreliable, gas guzzling, constantly break down, and built by lazy people that have overprotected jobs. Therefore brands like Chevy (economy), Pontiac(performance and econo-european feel), and Saturn (practicality) need to focus on practicality, quality, reliability, and price competitiveness and let these attributes sell the car.

And let’s tell the American car dealers to quit being arrogant, haughty, and pompous while trying to act like my long-lost friend / ‘good-ole-buddy’ and become passionate, friendly, straight-to-the point, and considerate like many of the import dealers are. In my part of the country, that was the major reason why many went to the imports. The dealers were nicer, had better payment/financing plans (not forcing you to finance through GMAC or Ford Credit), and did not demean or insult the customer when the first initial offer was ‘rejected’.

Welcome to the club Kirk.

Oh, man, that was a cheap shot.

Sorry Kirk

/no

*smacks you upside your head.

If you don’t want to play the way I want to play I am taking my ball and going home…

Buy me a Veyron.