The Surge Worked- Now Admit the GM thing is Looking Good...

GeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined Dec 24, '06View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Nov 23, '10 · 11:54 AM2,140

I opposed the surge. It seems it worked. And while I will always believe invading Iraq was a major mistake of George Bush's, I acknowledge that he made the right call on the surge.

So-

How's about some resident righties step up and acknowledge that the GM bailout was less of a socialist takeover and more of what appears to be a wise move on Obama's part and a success story in the making for Americans in an otherwise brutal economic period.

Obama Hails G.M. 'Success Story' - NYTimes.com

Shopper? Idlewind? Andy? Walk the Walk?

Replies

Geo

GeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined Dec 24, '06View profile MessageBeach FanaticAuthor

Feb 27, '11 · 3:01 PM#27

The aesthetics of the design absolutely do matter. I'm not saying make a good looking car that will break down easily. But the American love affair with the automobile isn't about getting 200k miles out of a car.

Sheila

SheilaSoWal InsiderSnellville, GA., Seacrest/Seagrove as often as we 5,781 postsJoined Jan 13, '05View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Feb 27, '11 · 7:41 PM#28

The aesthetics of the design absolutely do matter. I'm not saying make a good looking car that will break down easily. But the American love affair with the automobile isn't about getting 200k miles out of a car.

And there my friend is the issue. Aesthetics over quality...lets just agree to disagree and I'll buy you a drink at the Tarpon Club one evening, since I'm saving on auto repairs. In the grand scheme of things, it's really not worth "discussing". Cheers! ;-)

AndrewG

AndrewGBeach Fanatic680 postsJoined Mar 10, '10View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 27, '11 · 8:04 PM#29

Actually you did:

"GM stock is lower than the IPO now. Not shaping up to be a good move."

You also wrote "Stocks on average are way up and GM is down"

Thanks for noticing that 65% rally since February of 2009.

Yes, read the thread title. It's not shaping up to be a good move to bail out GM. You're not on your game today. Nothing to do with buying GM stock.

The discussion is whether bailing out GM with taxpayer dollars was a good move. I can bold, underline and enlarge fonts if it helps you understand but that would just make me look like a jerk.

Geo

GeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined Dec 24, '06View profile MessageBeach FanaticAuthor

Feb 27, '11 · 8:06 PM#30

And there my friend is the issue. Aesthetics over quality...lets just agree to disagree and I'll buy you a drink at the Tarpon Club one evening, since I'm saving on auto repairs. In the grand scheme of things, it's really not worth "discussing". Cheers! ;-)

Nah, it's quite worth discussing. It is imperative that American car companies make nice looking vehicles (which are also reasonably reliable).

I'm not debating with you what your own priorities are. I take your word for it that you value longevity/dependibility in an automobile and could care less about looks.

I'm not saying how it *should* be. I'm just telling you how it actually *is*.

Superficial or not, Americans in large part buy cars they are attracted to. Marketing messages have conditioned us to do this.

Don't shoot the messenger. :idontno:

I guess since I belabored the point you aren't going to buy me that beer at Bud's.

:cool:

AndrewG

AndrewGBeach Fanatic680 postsJoined Mar 10, '10View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 27, '11 · 8:13 PM#31

And there my friend is the issue. Aesthetics over quality...lets just agree to disagree and I'll buy you a drink at the Tarpon Club one evening, since I'm saving on auto repairs. In the grand scheme of things, it's really not worth "discussing". Cheers! ;-)

I'm with Geo here. Aesthetics plays a huge role in the American infatuation of cars. That was my point earlier that GM lost their aesthetics edge and quality at the same time. Not only did they lose it but it fell off a cliff.

I also agree with Geo that as long as a company delivers on looks or durability it will at least survive. People buy a car solely for looks all the time. Hummer owners didn't buy them because they were durable or fuel efficient.

Andy A

Andy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined Feb 28, '07View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 28, '11 · 8:46 AM#32

I'm with Geo here. Aesthetics plays a huge role in the American infatuation of cars. That was my point earlier that GM lost their aesthetics edge and quality at the same time. Not only did they lose it but it fell off a cliff.

I also agree with Geo that as long as a company delivers on looks or durability it will at least survive. People buy a car solely for looks all the time. Hummer owners didn't buy them because they were durable or fuel efficient.

Yeah, and they didn't look good, either. I guess they were a status symbol. How about the Chevy Bolt? or is it Volt? Anyway, almost $40,000 and what I consider a short usage range. The Nissan Leaf is no better though a bit cheaper. Cars, at my age, are for transportation and I'm in the drive them as long as they perform well class.

beachFoolbeachFoolBeach Fanatic938 postsJoined May 6, '07View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 28, '11 · 10:04 AM#33

Yeah, and they didn't look good, either. I guess they were a status symbol. How about the Chevy Bolt? or is it Volt? Anyway, almost $40,000 and what I consider a short usage range. The Nissan Leaf is no better though a bit cheaper. Cars, at my age, are for transportation and I'm in the drive them as long as they perform well class.[/QUOTE]

Good advice no matter your age.

Edited Feb 28, '11 · 10:08 AM

Andy A

Andy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined Feb 28, '07View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 28, '11 · 10:22 AM#34

Yeah, and they didn't look good, either. I guess they were a status symbol. How about the Chevy Bolt? or is it Volt? Anyway, almost $40,000 and what I consider a short usage range. The Nissan Leaf is no better though a bit cheaper. Cars, at my age, are for transportation and I'm in the drive them as long as they perform well class.[/QUOTE]

Good advice no matter your age.
Thank you. I agree. My wife wouldn't trade her 2003 Honda CRV for anything. I've offered serveral times to buy her a new one. Her answer is consistent. "Why"?

scooterbug44 scooterbug44 avatar

scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined May 8, '07View profile MessageSoWal Expert

Feb 28, '11 · 10:37 AM#35

I'm interested in a car because of how it looks, but I buy it because of how it drives, how easy it is to maintain, and how long it lasts.

My car has not yet hit 100,000 miles and has had several of what I consider to be unacceptable issues with basic items.

Guess which car/brand I will probably not buy again?

Edited Feb 28, '11 · 10:38 AM

idlewindidlewindBeach FanaticWalton/Okaloosa County and a little south alabama 2,687 postsJoined Feb 12, '08View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Feb 28, '11 · 12:27 PM#36

I'm interested in a car because of how it looks, but I buy it because of how it drives, how easy it is to maintain, and how long it lasts.

My car has not yet hit 100,000 miles and has had several of what I consider to be unacceptable issues with basic items.

Guess which car/brand I will probably not buy again?

I have a work truck that has over 220,000 and still runs like a charm. I will probably drive it until it becomes to costly to fix. Why change unless necessary? I can spend my ill gotten capitalist gains on other things.:sarc:

Bob

BobSoWal InsiderO'Wal10,368 postsJoined Nov 16, '04View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Feb 28, '11 · 1:40 PM#37

Equities research analysts at Citigroup (NYSE: C) boosted their price target on shares of General Motors (NYSE: GM) from $47.00 to $50.00 in a research note to investors on Friday. The analysts currently have a ?buy? rating on the stock.

Separately, analysts at Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) cut their EPS estimates on shares of General Motors in a research note on Friday. They now have a ?buy? rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock.

General Motors Company (GM) is a global automotive company. The Company develops, produces and markets cars, trucks and parts worldwide. Its business is diversified across products and geographic markets, with operations and sales in over 120 countries. GM assembles its passenger cars, crossover vehicles, light trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans and other vehicles in 71 assembly facilities worldwide and has 87 additional global manufacturing facilities. With a global network of over 21,700 independent dealers it meets the local sales and service needs of its retail and fleet customers. GM?s business is organized into three geographically-based segments: General Motors North America (GMNA), General Motors International Operations (GMIO) and General Motors Europe (GME). It offers a global vehicle portfolio of cars, crossovers and trucks. In addition to the products GM sells to its dealers for consumer retail sales, it also sells cars and trucks to fleet customers.

scooterbug44 scooterbug44 avatar

scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined May 8, '07View profile MessageSoWal Expert

Feb 28, '11 · 3:55 PM#38

I have a work truck that has over 220,000 and still runs like a charm. I will probably drive it until it becomes to costly to fix. Why change unless necessary? I can spend my ill gotten capitalist gains on other things.:sarc:

The car I was referring to is over 10 years old - I am a big fan of the "drive it until it stops running/repair bills start mounting" school.

But the stuff that is breaking is pretty damn basic and is something they should be able to manufacture to not break at that mileage IMO.