Abandoned GM Stamping Plant Site

[joesregalproject]

I don't think you are crazy. I think new cars are generally way overpriced. Especially half ton trucks. I'm also very turned off by how the new cars are electronic nannies. Yellow lights flashing in the mirrors, backup cameras, the seat vibrating because you are too close to something, beeping at you because you are too close to something, applying the brakes for you for a myriad of reasons, unrelentingly fussing at you to put on your seatbelt. It's not for me. I don't see myself ever buying something much newer than the 2008 I'm driving now.

I've always been a GM guy but they've done a great job at really turning me off. Terrible commercials, pricing I don't agree with and styling I don't like are among the reasons. The biggest though is closing plants here in this country instead of closing plants in Mexico or overseas. That after the tax payer bailed them out (shouldn't have) and when everyone else seems to be able to assemble cars in this country and make money. They have a very entrenched culture in that company that I think will drive them out of business.

I'm with you completely Jared. The manufacturers think nothing of asking $50k for a 1/2 ton pickup. The crash prevention systems are a turnoff to me too. When I got my Subaru, probably 70% of the cars on the lot had their "Eyesight" feature which is all the forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, automatic braking, blindspot monitoring, etc. The salesman couldn't understand why I didn't want it.

My family always bought GM and I've owned more GM vehicles than anything else, but I don't see myself buying a new one now or ever. The exported labor pisses me off and always has, the bailout gets me fuming. GM's marketing IMO has always sucked in comparison to Ford and Chryslers, but the "Real People, Not Actors" is a new low for them.

And just a thought- If they were gonna stop making the Cruze, why not move production of the Trax from Korea to Ohio?

The suggested MSRP is $96,950(CDN) plus ext. warranty, undercoat, blah,blah and government tax, $100,000+ for a PICKUP Somethings gotta give one of these days.

If something is gonna give before the desire to own these trucks gives out, it'll be the cheap and readily available credit that has allowed so many people to buy them. That credit won't be around forever.

 

[fleming442]

How long do you have to finance $96,000 to get a $526/mo payment? 🤔

 

[85442/86buick]

How long do you have to finance $96,000 to get a $526/mo payment? 🤔

look again that $526 is a bi-weekly payment ( 26 payments a year ) And with the General being so generous with a discount of $10,848 .That truck will all yours in 7 years ! or a 182 easy payments.
not factoring in Tax , dealer prep , license , a tank of gas and anything else the dealer can dream up.

Get yours today !!!!

 

[superbon54]

look again that $526 is a bi-weekly payment ( 26 payments a year ) And with the General being so generous with a discount of $10,848 .That truck will all yours in 7 years ! or a 182 easy payments.
not factoring in Tax , dealer prep , license , a tank of gas and anything else the dealer can dream up.

Get yours today !!!!

This. Terms are getting longer and longer. The average finance term is something over 6 years now iirc. The automakers are making huge profits currently as well. Price isn’t fully driven by cost, it’s also dictated by the people willing to go underwater on 6-7-8 year loans. But the monthly payment is affordable!!

 

[Kennybill]

I was at my local Chevrolet dealership back in the fall of 1982, I was into Chevys back then. I had a 40K 1967 Chevelle SS396 and a 1960 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88. (Wife hated both cars) My good car that the stay at home ball and chain drove was an 1978 Malibu that I bought new. My work car was a 1973 Lemans. I saw a Chevette sitting back buy the parts dept. My buddy had one (gas/ 4 speed )
This one was a diesel/5speed. I knew the parts guy. I asked about the diesel Chevette. He said, they can't give that car away, we use for parts runs/errands.
It was a 1982, I drove it and we haggled, I bought. Diesel was quite a bit cheaper than gas. I got 40 miles to a gallon, around town. My buddy with the gas powered Chevette would race me out of the parking lot at work. We drove a half mile to the freeway on ramp. He'd pull away from me on the on ramp. As soon as we hit the freeway going through the gears. I'd drop it in 5th and motor right around him as I blew the horn. I should have keep that car, fun to drive.

 

[KCP]

What small cars should GM build right now?
First they sold the European Opel brand to the French. Then they closed the Australian Holden brand.
Bad luck that GMs compact cars since the early 2000's were mostly developed by Opel, including the Cruze, Regal, etc.
Even worse, the RWD passenger car platform (SS, Camaro, etc ) is based on Australia's Holden Commodore/Monaro platform. The Aussies current Commodore now is a glorified Opel Insignia instead of a RWD V8.
All that's left in the compact car segment now is Korean based Daewoo badge engineered.

 

[tc1959]

The country is full of closed GM facilities. This is all that was left of the GM Desert Proving Grounds in Mesa AZ. It had been there almost 50 years. I worked there in 93-96 for the V-6 Engineering Group. I worked on the development of the 3800 Supercharged Buick V-6. It's sad to see all the buildings torn down and the 5 Mile 36° banked circle track Bulldozed. I had a blast driving up on the high bank.

 

[pagrunt]

Another thing with the Cruize is they went & designed a hatch back model to get into the "hot hatch" market & did nothing else with it. No advertising (would take money form the trucks & glorified station wagons that they call SUV's/CUV's), no sport model (would take away Camaro customers?), not even a real economy package to get young/first time new buyers. Seems like when GM killed Pontiac (the only division with actually sporty models) to save China's Buick (which could of been made part of the Aisa/Pacific opertations) they dropped trying to make anything effort on cars other than make the driver lazier, picking features to let you take your mind off the road, put more effort into Wi-Fi/turning the car into a phone accessory more than transportation (as other companies with smart phones tech.) Atleast Dodge still makes cars that are ment to be fun regardless of anyones views of FCA.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I'm late to join his but if you offered me a new GM car for free I'd have to think about it. I took my used Cobalt in for a recall and the stealership experience was excruciating.

The USS Irvin Plant directly across the road-

Hey Joe- isn't Irvin right across the river from Glassport? I have lots of family still there. I remember Irvin lighting up the sky at night.

 

[joesregalproject]

Atleast Dodge still makes cars that are ment to be fun regardless of anyones views of FCA.

FCA quality is nothing to write home about, but their marketing is genius. They make exciting, fun cars in bright colors with memorable names. They don't need to sell a ton of them as long as they get people to notice the brand and into the dealerships.

Hey Joe- isn't Irvin right across the river from Glassport? I have lots of family still there. I remember Irvin lighting up the sky at night.

Yep, Glassport is right across the river. I'm on the north side of town, so it's not often I'm down there, but work happened to send me out there that day. Those mills look really cool at night when they are all lit up.