RE:Driving Toward Oblivion

By Chuck Saletta (TMF BigFrog)
December 12, 2005

Dear General Motors:

I don't understand all the chatter concerning your fate, both internally from Wagoner and other insiders and externally from columnists, analysts, etc.

One only has to get in, drive, or take a look at a GM automobile from the past 25 years or so to comprehend what the heart of the problem is (sorry if you actually owned one, because then you REALLY understand). The problem is, in fact, the HEART! There is no heart in a GM vehicle, either in the way it is designed or assembled. The only GM vehicles that have any kind of style to them are perhaps a few of the Cadillacs and Corvettes. But otherwise, they are simply boring, blocky, uninspiring designs with awful lines, terrible head- and taillights, lack of chrome, toyish interiors with cheap materials and worse assembly. Anymore, your cars look they're being made by a new startup, a KIA or Hyundai, rather than an industry stalwart--be it a conglomerate--that has divisions that used to produce some absolutely stunning vehicles!

So there you have it, GM. You don't have the cojones to completely upend your design boards, and get some people with a sense of STYLE, some HEART, and a respect for the master designers, both contemporary and vintage. You don't have the inspiration to transfer to your own engineers or people on the assembly lines to build serious cars anymore. You pretty much put a milk jug on wheels and offer rebates, knowing the stuff is crap anyway and not designed to last.

Hey, sorry for the rant, but I've hardly seen these simple points even mentioned in the mainstream press. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have all figured out how to build lovely cars with quality materials at a reasonable price.

Goodbye GM. I loved you as my first car (a lime green '72 Cutlass), but I'd never buy anything later than '75 from you.

Sincerely,
Uberboy