Jump to content

GM going clone crazy AGAIN!

pacodiablo

Recommended Posts

pacodiablo Senior Enthusiast

pacodiablo

Posted
Posted

Word has it that Saab will also be reciving a version of the TrailBlazer in 2005. It's the '80s all over again! One would think that four versions of the truck, not counting the Bravada, would be enough (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Isuzu), but apparently GM doesn't think so. I guess time will tell how this goes. Maybe GM is expecting Isuzu to be back on its feet by 2005 and ready to make their own SUV? Who knows. That was the plan with Honda and Isuzu years ago, and that relationship lasted longer than anyone expected.

CMNTMXR81 Senior Enthusiast

CMNTMXR81

Posted
Posted

It'll actually be 6. The Bravada is now the Buick Ranier.

 

As to cloning, your beloved ford isn't perfect either. Let's see

 

Explorer/Mountainer/Aviator

Expedition/Navigator

Escape/Tribute

Ranger/B-Series

 

If ford had more divisions, you can bet each would also have their own version also.

 

The difference between now and the 80's is that GM differentiates the vehicles more than just trim. There are different options the Ranier has that the TrailBlazer doesn't. Back in the 80's, a Cutlass Supreme, Buick Regal, Monte Carlo and Grand Prix were completely identical cars just with different front and rear ends and a different name on it.

pacodiablo Senior Enthusiast

pacodiablo

Posted
  • Author
Posted

MPV is different from the Freestar/Monterey.

 

Ford sticks to 2 of the same and 3 in some rare cases (as does Honda, Dodge, Toyota, etc...). What is the need of 5 OF THE SAME THING? With the introduction of another vehicle on this platform, one of the others could start to lag in sales (except for the TrailBlazer and Envoy which will likely stay the sales leaders of the group no matter what). You guys have to admit that 5 of the same truck is a little much. The options really are not THAT different.

 

I have a feeling the Saab with be an ugly Envoy as far as trim goes.

CMNTMXR81 Senior Enthusiast

CMNTMXR81

Posted
Posted

That's cause they've only got 3 divisions in case you forgot. Those are Ford, Lincoln, Mercury....

 

As I said in my last post, if there were 4 more divisions, you can bet each one would have their own versions.

k1500chevy97 Senior Enthusiast

k1500chevy97

Posted
Posted
Word has it that Saab will also be reciving a version of the TrailBlazer in 2005. It's the '80s all over again! One would think that four versions of the truck, not counting the Bravada, would be enough (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Isuzu), but apparently GM doesn't think so. I guess time will tell how this goes. Maybe GM is expecting Isuzu to be back on its feet by 2005 and ready to make their own SUV? Who knows. That was the plan with Honda and Isuzu years ago, and that relationship lasted longer than anyone expected.

:lol::lol::lol:

pacodiablo Senior Enthusiast

pacodiablo

Posted
  • Author
Posted
That's cause they've only got 3 divisions in case you forgot. Those are Ford, Lincoln, Mercury....

 

As I said in my last post, if there were 4 more divisions, you can bet each one would have their own versions.

There is no Jaguar Taurus, Land Rover Explorer, Aston Martin Mustang or Volvo Focus. All of the above companies are owned by Ford in full.

gmcjoe Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted
MPV is different from the Freestar/Monterey.

 

Ford sticks to 2 of the same and 3 in some rare cases (as does Honda, Dodge, Toyota, etc...). What is the need of 5 OF THE SAME THING? With the introduction of another vehicle on this platform, one of the others could start to lag in sales (except for the TrailBlazer and Envoy which will likely stay the sales leaders of the group no matter what). You guys have to admit that 5 of the same truck is a little much. The options really are not THAT different.

 

I have a feeling the Saab with be an ugly Envoy as far as trim goes.

GM will sell the crap out of them too :jester::cool:

I heard the Avaiator was scrapped? Is that true?

 

Guess they couldn't sell them eh? :rolleyes:

Tex2kZR2 Enthusiast

Tex2kZR2

Posted
Posted

Yep Aviator is scrapped as well as that Fugly Lincoln Blackwood. Why someone would pay 54K for a 2wd underpowered truck is beyond me. But as P.T. Barnum said, "There is a sucker born every minute."

holderp Enthusiast

holderp

Posted
Posted

I think that GM is blurring the distinction between the various nameplates. The only nameplates that need to be selling trucks is Chevy and GMC. :rolleyes: Cadillac and Buick need to stick to luxury cars. But like the man said, GM will go wherever they find money.

kdeatrick Enthusiast

kdeatrick

Posted
Posted

They do it as a marketing thing. Some people think it is a better truck or suv if it has a certain label on it. We know that is not true, the guts are the same!

pacodiablo Senior Enthusiast

pacodiablo

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Yep Aviator is scrapped as well as that Fugly Lincoln Blackwood. Why someone would pay 54K for a 2wd underpowered truck is beyond me. But as P.T. Barnum said, "There is a sucker born every minute."

The Blackwood is long gone. Have not heard about the Aviator. Any links? Not too suprising if it is true.

 

The demise of the Blackwood may just benefit me. I have a bunch of Lincoln brochures from the year the Blackwood came out (2002 I think) still wrapped in plastic (5 per bundle). Now just have to let them sit around for a while. :rolleyes:

  • 2 weeks later...
naskie18 Enthusiast

naskie18

Posted
Posted

Actually, I'm kinda anxious to see what Saab does with it. I saw the new 9-2 today (which is based off the Subaru WRX, another company that GM owns a large portion of) and I really like what they've done with it. The WRX, on the other hand, doesn't appeal to me at all. Thats why they make different versions of the vehicles. I have yet to see a Subaru that I like. I've driven WRXs and they are very fun to drive, but I personally can't stand the styling of them. Now the Saab I saw today, I could handle driving one of those. Its all about preference and what you like, as an individual. Thats a big part of the reason the sheet metal and trim is different, despite the fact that the "guts" are the same. I'll wait to see how the Saab turns out before I decide whether its a good thing or a bad thing.

  • 2 weeks later...
Tungsten Enthusiast

Tungsten

Posted
Posted

Wait... Who cares? GM is the largest auto maker in the world. They can do what they want. All 5 will appeal to different types of people. They would not be adding another clone if it was not working for them. And GM is getting sick of Sabb not adding new cars to their line up. So GM is stepping up.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,846
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    Zinister101
    Newest Member
    Zinister101
    Joined

  • Who's Online   5 Members, 0 Anonymous, 638 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • newdude
      6.2L L87 Powertrain Engine Noise (Lifter Failure) Question

      By newdude · Posted

      Engine failure requires radiator replacement per GM if it contains an engine oil cooler.  They do NOT want them flushed.  Radiator replacement is also required for the 6.2 recall if the engine fails.   Here is the TSB the dealer is referring to - 22-NA-074 1..2    Its a slightly older version, but the current version of it covers all model years 2000-2026.  So if enough failure debris was present, it gets an oil cooler.  If that is part of the radiator, it gets a radiator.  Also, same for oil cooler lines.  Those get replaced.     Now something like a 2.7 Turbo which uses an oil to water heat exchanger for the oil cooler, the radiator would be left alone but the oil cooler would be replaced, as well as any lines.  
    • txab
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By txab · Posted

      Doing the right thing, replacing both valves is the way to go. The valves with the ball leak far more often than the schrader. Never cared for them. The accumulator really should be replaced if the system has had no pressure in it and it was a keeper, but since you're looking to sell it, bet you can get by. Did you pull the orifice screen and see what was there?   Shame you can't get 134a. Hopefully the previous repairs included dye.   Some of the R4s I messed with developed leaks where the line sets connected or the front seal. Had one where the HPCO was leaking. Front seal would only leak under pressure. See any obvious oily spots?   I've got nitrogen I use to test pressure and to help dry the system prior to evacuation.   Keep up the good work
    • richard wysong
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By richard wysong · Posted

      Next time you're on a road trip to a state where you can still buy it stock up on 12oz cans, you might look into getting certified so you can buy it where you are as well. When they switched from R12 to R134a the test for certification was easy, they basically just wanted the $25
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      Getting greedy...   The AC pump has been replaced at least once per service records, and it's been recharged twice since 2018 or so, in approximately 2 year intervals between those charges.   It was done at the same shop...clearly they were enjoying the revenue of recharging the system periodically versus actually tracking down and fixing the leak. I learned that the owner was 88 years old when she passed in 2023, so maybe they assumed only a temporary fix was needed anyway.   The system is basically empty now, the compressor spins freely, so I'm guessing it "just needs a recharge".   I vacuumed it down, and it has basically held overnight. Doesn't appear to leak under vacuum, check! So it must leak under pressure. I don't have a way to pressurize the system and pressurizing it with shop air wouldn't be great for the air dryer (which is probably toast anyway?)   The dryer (accumulator? I'm not an AC expert) has a Schrader valve, but the high side has an old ball-type valve, which are notorious for leaking. It's clearly had schmutz blown out of it at one point because the line/area next to the valve is coated old black crud, which I assume is AC refrigerant residue/oil, or maybe even dirty dye. I think I'll roll the dice and replace the valves. I have a black light around here somewhere so I'll find it and shine it around the engine bay in the dark to see if there's any dye.   I can't think of another way to track down the leak other than injecting some dye (if it doesn't have any) and having it charged up. We can't buy R134a off the shelf here anymore, so I'll run it up to Jiffy Lube and have them do it. I think I have a coupon. At the very least, the charge should last long enough for a year or two, according to history. I think this truck will be long gone by then. But cold AC is a selling point.    
    • clowe1243
      6.2L L87 Powertrain Engine Noise (Lifter Failure) Question

      By clowe1243 · Posted

      Got the truck back today.  Called them yesterday to get an update, and miraculously my truck is finished?!?! The $13k out the door was complete bullshit!  Ended up being over $14k.  They added some bullshit service bulletin that I cant even find, where they replaced my radiator without telling me or asking me, and charging me for it.  Need to do more research into it, cause they leaked the first delivered radiator was ran over by FedEX.  Sounds like bullshit to me. 2.5 Months for an engine swap, which ended up being remanufactured, not new; ****ing ridiculous.  Brakes are squishy as hell, not sure if its from sitting.  Will give a couple days to see it that figures it self out.  GAVE IT BACK TO ME WITH 1 GALLON OF GAS!  Just filled the tank the day before drop off, more bullshit.  My dash cam SD card was formatted, not really much I can do about that. 3 year, 100k GM warranty at least.  Time to sell it and say **** off to GM.  Bad experience.  Cant wait for the survey email to come through.  Overpriced Raptor R, here I come!

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...