Vomit & Probation For GM
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Rob’s photostream on Flickr
GM, now widely derided as “Government Motors”, was, I fear, in need of a good purging.
Yes, it’s true.
Think of it this way: if you were a former all-star employee – long drunk on the volatile cocktail of your own binging excesses (truck platformed SUVs, anonymous rental cars) and belabored by the costs of your own projects (unions, pensions, expensive suppliers, etc.), and hammered by your rivals at work who were both sober and perky doing your same job only better, how well do you think you’d do yours if you showed up to the office hung over?
Hence to the vomitorium (C11) where you (GM) can at least be purged and then hopefully cleansed (vomit stinks) of your sinful ways.
The only trouble now, I fear, is being put under the probation of the division supevisor (Uncle Sam) who never liked your booze scented projects (Camaros, Vettes, Pontiac G8 GTs, anything cool) and will brow beat you into producing saintly products that he thinks every family should have but no family will want to buy.
Either way the market flies you’ll still take the heat. But, hey, it’s that or out on your ass, pal.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Bradley Starcevich | May 29, 2009 | Reply
Sad indeed, given the fact that “temporary” government involvement rarely is temporary. I’m a hopeless romantic, that’s why I regularly visit these pages. I’m old enough to remember when I actually looked forward to the introduction of the new GM models in September. From 1975 until 1986, I bought new Cadillacs at least once a year. The passion was fueled by my infatuation with even earlier Cadillacs. Ironically, when GM started producing better cars (i.e. the early Cadillac Seville), they gave us a little taste of what a fine European automobile was like. That caused me to look closely at imports. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I can’t imagine what it would take for GM, Ford, or Chrysler to
ever get me back.
Brad
Jim | May 29, 2009 | Reply
I’d feel better about this if there were a stated plan for the governments returning GM to private investors. The whole concept of supply side marketing, build it and they will come, is as bankrupt as GM.
gunnar | May 29, 2009 | Reply
Brad, I’m quite familiar with Cadillac Fleetwoods of the 80s & early 90s as I rode in quite a few. My favorite, by far, was the last generation which I still think is a handsome car.
These boats all shared this jello-come-water bed ride that, especially when sitting in the back seat, you felt jiggled over every bump. I thought it funny that the cars advertised a self leveling suspension system when in fact the suspension provided almost no control on how the body swayed all over the road.
Jim, I fear you’re absolutely right. The idea that the GM will build the cars we need by government mandate is a chilling concept. I’ll take a G8 GT and they can have their Volt, thanks.
belluci | Aug 12, 2009 | Reply
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