.General Motors sends Mr. Goodwrench to sidelines

[Old Fart]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101109/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_mr_goodwrench

DETROIT – General Motors is asking Mr. Goodwrench to pack up his toolbox.

The mechanic who served as the symbol of GM's dealer service brand for 37 years will be scrapped as of Feb. 1 in favor of "certified service" brands for each of GM's remaining four remaining nameplates, the company said Tuesday.

So long Mr. Gutwrench

 

[Dave70968]

The new strategy, she said, will link buying a car with service so people have a good ownership experience.

Personally, I'd rather buy a car that doesn't need service. At least not early enough to be closely associated with the sale.

 

[????]

Personally, I'd rather buy a car that doesn't need service. At least not early enough to be closely associated with the sale.

Yep!

 

[Danny]

Personally, I'd rather buy a car that doesn't need service. At least not early enough to be closely associated with the sale.

Stay away from Ford then.

 

[CBCollier]

Stay away from Ford then.

Rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy!

 

[Mos Eisley]

Well something is obviously wrong. I bought a new GMC Terrain for the wife and 4 weeks later she called me (I'm in Austin, she's in KC) and said it wouldn't go faster than 5 mph and was making a grinding noise, but would go in reverse. So it's been in the Dealer's shop for the last 4 WEEKS and they finally have to ask for the ENTIRE transmission since they could never get the part in to fix the existing one. It was just a seal that had got cut probably during assembly! These things are coming off the assembly line every day and they can't just go out there and get one off the line?!? And yes, I'm talking about the transmission assembly line. I know the trannys get shipped to the main assembly in one piece, if not already on the engine.

I've owned multiple new GM products for the last 24 years and this is the first time anything like this has occured. No breakdowns on anything I've owned from them before.

.

 

[thedavel]

Rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy!

You probably will....

 

[TerryMiller]

Well, if GM can't manage things any better that they have to ask the government for money, why should we believe that they can manage service. Over the years, I've had several GM products and every one of them had mechanical problems.

On the other hand, I've had more Fords than other brands and have had very FEW problems with them.

After the bailouts, I guess I'm proud to say I am a Ford man. GM is now claiming to have made a big profit, but I didn't hear one word about them paying back to the taxpayers.
.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Well, if GM can't manage things any better that they have to ask the government for money, why should we believe that they can manage service. Over the years, I've had several GM products and every one of them had mechanical problems.

On the other hand, I've had more Fords than other brands and have had very FEW problems with them.

After the bailouts, I guess I'm proud to say I am a Ford man. GM is now claiming to have made a big profit, but I didn't hear one word about them paying back to the taxpayers.
.

Pretty sure they already paid the Guberment back, quite some time ago.

.

 

[inactive]

Pretty sure they already paid the Guberment back, quite some time ago.

.

They have paid back the loans with interest, but the company is still owned in part by the US Treasury (and Ontario, Canada). In other words, they "took" more money than they outright borrowed, giving ownership of the company to the government in return for the liquidity.

They should be having an IPO in the coming weeks, which from what I understand is to sell off the ownership interests the Governments still hold. More details: http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...llion-ipo-to-reduce-treasury-to-minority.html