I was talking with a relative today, and it dawned on me that the most exciting thing about GM now is not the new product (HHR, etc) rolling out, but the simple fact that they're getting just a bit of their swagger back.
This employee pricing - it was a coup for GM. There are still few products they produce that I find myself desiring over their competition, but this is one of the few times in recent memory where GM has come out with something that once again **forced** the rest of the industry to respond to!
Good job GM and Lutz. Now just try to continue to 'swing for the fences' with world-class and class-leading automobiles and you'll do just fine! For example, the Malibu... I'm sure it's a good car, and lord knows is a huge step beyond the first version.... (same applies to the G6)... but there's no great reason or Unique Selling Proposition to get one of them over the Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Mazda/Hyundai or even Ford products.
For a quick example... the Malibu is, um... "dowdy" doesn't do the car justice. Some of the recent products from chevy (malibu and Colorado) just look 'funny' (as I heard one poster say somewhere - the truck looks like the front end was installed upside down).
Now, take the new Ford Fusion coming out. Good, classy styling and a good, classy interior with (from what I've read so far) very good driving dynamics.
Yep, I'm seriously considering a Fusion, Altima or Mazda6... .the Malibu might be a great car, and mercy knows I want to support Lutz -- but there's just no reason (financial, quality, etc) to go with the GM product when excellence is to be found elsewhere.
J