GM loses 'throne'

SuperchargedXJ · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 04:18 PM

GM has lost it's 77 year title of world's largest automaker to Toyota.
GM said it sold 8.35 million vehicles globally in 2008 compared with Toyota's 8.97 million.

Here is a link to the article:

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/2...automaker.html

apolloGT · #2 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:29 PM

In my opinion, it is a shame.

Having said that, credit needs to be given to Toyota to catering off the "green" movement.

However, I think it's fair to say GM makes much more exciting cars than Toyota, which is why I'd rather have better cars and lesser sales than more sales and boring cars. Toyota has a reliable reputation, but quite frankly, GM quality is right up with them.

I went to a car auction the other day that was run by bankers. I was talking to a banker who felt that Toyota and Honda were the way to go, because they're reliable and depreciate less. The depreciation is true, but cars are always gonna be a negative investment with very few exceptions. Drive a car cause you like to drive it!

SuperchargedXJ · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009, 05:17 PM

Well, the point is GM's sales were down 11% in 2008 over 2007, while Toyota only dropped 4%... which was their first decline in over a decade I believe.

sccavette · #4 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 01:55 PM

Was this really a shock to anybody? GM will be lucky if they are even still in business in a couple years let alone one of the top sellers.

kendallcschm · #5 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 08:51 PM

USA needs to get back up there... we got reliable cars and MOPAR bought Fiat... cool... lol

sccavette · #6 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kendallcschm

USA needs to get back up there... we got reliable cars and MOPAR bought Fiat... cool... lol

Fiat has 35% control of Chrysler! This is a way for Fiat to market their small cars in the US.

mesarius · #7 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 09:08 PM

I think it's a good thing that GM fell out of the top spot, it'll help influence to up their quality finally. Hopefully they will still keep a lot of their exterior designs though. I like especially the Pontiac and Saturn lines, but every GM I've driven including my own just reaks of cheapness in build quality. The day I see an American car without plastic engulfing the interior is the day I consider buying a brand new American car. Until then Viva Europa for quality.

apolloGT · #8 (**permalink**) 01-24-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesarius

I think it's a good thing that GM fell out of the top spot, it'll help influence to up their quality finally. Hopefully they will still keep a lot of their exterior designs though. I like especially the Pontiac and Saturn lines, but every GM I've driven including my own just reaks of cheapness in build quality. The day I see an American car without plastic engulfing the interior is the day I consider buying a brand new American car. Until then Viva Europa for quality.

you should've went to detroit. I guess it's time you buy a new American car.

I'll post pics later.

kendallcschm · #9 (**permalink**) 01-25-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesarius

I think it's a good thing that GM fell out of the top spot, it'll help influence to up their quality finally. Hopefully they will still keep a lot of their exterior designs though. I like especially the Pontiac and Saturn lines, but every GM I've driven including my own just reaks of cheapness in build quality. The day I see an American car without plastic engulfing the interior is the day I consider buying a brand new American car. Until then Viva Europa for quality.

lol japan isn't better off.. either is europe.. my god fathers BMW has plastic engulfing inside of the car..

AngryGoldfish · #10 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 08:10 PM

This had to happen, the bigger GM tries to be, the harder they'll fall. Their only hope is to become smaller and more flexible, trimming the fat of unprofitable products and the costs associated with them. Boosting their numbers with fleet sales is not the way to go. One promising thing is they are throwing all their resources towards the Volt drivetrain program, "whatever the Volt needs, it gets," although it probably killed the new small RWD alpha platform for Caddy and Pontiac.

apolloGT · #11 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kendallcschm

lol japan isn't better off.. either is europe.. my god fathers BMW has plastic engulfing inside of the car..

BMWs are great cars, and by the same token, so are cars like the Corvette. Having said that, the BMW M3 CSL had cardboard, yes, cardboard as part of the trunk layering to save weight. Can you imagine if they ever did that with the vette? No mercy.

kendallcschm · #12 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolloGT

BMWs are great cars, and by the same token, so are cars like the Corvette. Having said that, the BMW M3 CSL had cardboard, yes, cardboard as part of the trunk layering to save weight. Can you imagine if they ever did that with the vette? No mercy.

or to the mustang..