Eastern Railroad Discussion > GM plant closures announced

Already a post on the Canadian Board, but will certainly be impactful on Eastern U.S. railroads.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2018/11/26/general-motors-plant-closures-kill-impala-volt-cruze-sedan/2114930002/

BB

 

Gotta love all the "winning". Harley, Carrier, GM.

nothing to do with winning ! just doing what they always do , If you cant sell it dont make it

elu34ch Wrote:
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> Gotta love all the "winning". Harley, Carrier, GM

Since the price of fuel is stable, and enough people are working, the subcompact car, or car period is 
unpopular at this time.  GM is getting out of or minimizing this market segment.

Full dsclosure: I work at the Carrier Plant Trump "saved", actually it was UTC that was "shamed" during the political season at
the time to save the operation. Thanks be to God, I didn't want to be looking for a job at age 60.  40% of the operation went to Mexico,but
the gas furnace part was saved (where I was qualified).

So now it's 60-70 hours, filling 53 foot OTR and intemodal containers with furnaces for needy customers nationwide. The plant was not always
a happy-fun-place during the time between closure announcement and the Trump visit, but it's smooth(er) sailing now. 





 

This is the continuation of an earlier thread about luxury pick up trucks, huge SUV etc. Many Americans don't care about small cars, fuel economy, even some electric cars like Volt.

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Actually, the emphasis will also be on "crossover" vehicles from what I understand. They tend to be smaller than SUVs in that an SUV is built on a truck platform.

Well, if they no longer make sedans I will buy them from someone else.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/18 17:30 by wabash2800.

They should still make the little electric cars you charge up at night, I like to watch coal trains.

Hard to put much 2x4 lumber in a Volt or a toilet for that matter.
kRB

up833 Wrote:
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> Hard to put much 2x4 lumber in a Volt or a toilet
> for that matter.
> kRB

As a matter of fact, I carried home three new toilets in one load in my Volt several years ago.  It was great for around town with typical loads.  But yes, if you want to carry 8 foot lumber, you are better off with somthing bigger.

Interesting that the senior citizen crowd is really digging crossovers like the Trax and Equinox. OK to drive and easy to get in and out of. My folks traded their Volt in on a Trax. You can find published sources on this. Maybe Trax will go hybrid.

NYC6001 Wrote:
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> Interesting that the senior citizen crowd is
> really digging crossovers like the Trax and
> Equinox. OK to drive and easy to get in and out
> of. My folks traded their Volt in on a Trax. You
> can find published sources on this. Maybe Trax
> will go hybrid.

Yes.

Sedans can be difficult to enter / exit if you have back problems.  An SUV or crossover can be a lot easier to enter.

The updated WSJ article mentions that GM will focus its future research and development on straight electric power and autonomous car technology

wabash2800 Wrote:
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>
> Well, if they no longer make sedans I will buy
> them from someone else.
>
Same here.

GM's strategy appears to be predicted on an assumption that the price of gasoline will remain cheap.  That's very risky as there some factors which could cause the price of gasoline to return to 2008 levels (or higher).

Sedans are also much easier to maneuver in and out of tight spaces in city neighborhoods.

The first two totally autonomous cars that run into each other (and the legal battle that ensues - likely including the battle over whose responsibility it was to do the system updates that could have potentially prevented the crash) will be the first slip down that slippery slope to quite a legal mess...

SUVs and crossovers are what the car manufacturers are moving to... and you'll still be able to drive them for decades to come (while the lawyers and politicians fight it out on the autonomous fiascos ahead)
 

your not kidding, it wont be long for those accidents to occurr and interesting to see the blame game.  Reminds me of that old sayig about the guy who stops at green lights becuase he knows his buddy always runs red lights, be interesting when AI comes into play and cars assume things.  BTW how do self driving cars handle un guarded rr crossings?

czephyr17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> up833 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hard to put much 2x4 lumber in a Volt or a
> toilet
> > for that matter.
> > kRB
>
> As a matter of fact, I carried home three new
> toilets in one load in my Volt several years
> ago.  It was great for around town with typical
> loads.  But yes, if you want to carry 8 foot
> lumber, you are better off with somthing bigger.

How many people that buy those absurdly oversized F150s, Rams, and Silverados actually haul lumber or anything in the loadbed or a trailer? 25% at best?

NYC6001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting that the senior citizen crowd is
> really digging crossovers like the Trax and
> Equinox. OK to drive and easy to get in and out
> of. My folks traded their Volt in on a Trax. You
> can find published sources on this. Maybe Trax
> will go hybrid.


The #1 vehicle for older people near where I live is without doubt the Kia Soul...

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Sedans can be difficult to enter / exit if you
> have back problems.  An SUV or crossover can be a
> lot easier to enter.

You got that right!
in 2017 I bought a Kia Sedona minivan ... my partner has driven Honda Accords for several years. This year she leased a new 2018 Accord. In six months, we have managed to put only 500 kilometres (300 miles) on it. We are both in our 70s ... and it is much easier to get in and out of my van than her Accord. Even though the new Accord is bigger than her last one, getting out of it is like being born again!

 

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

NYC6001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting that the senior citizen crowd is
> really digging crossovers like the Trax and
> Equinox. OK to drive and easy to get in and out
> of. My folks traded their Volt in on a Trax. You
> can find published sources on this. Maybe Trax
> will go hybrid.

My parents just traded in their Impala for an Equinox, mostly because My dad was having so much trouble getting in and out of the Impala.

MC6853 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> czephyr17 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > up833 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Hard to put much 2x4 lumber in a Volt or a
> > toilet
> > > for that matter.
> > > kRB
> >
> > As a matter of fact, I carried home three new
> > toilets in one load in my Volt several years
> > ago.  It was great for around town with
> typical
> > loads.  But yes, if you want to carry 8 foot
> > lumber, you are better off with somthing
> bigger.
>
> How many people that buy those absurdly oversized
> F150s, Rams, and Silverados actually haul lumber
> or anything in the loadbed or a trailer? 25% at
> best?
I have a 07 Silverado 1500 and uses the bed often with tree debris to be hauled to the dump and occasional hauls. I like the full size better than the midsize truck. I know some people who have full sized trucks don't use them to their fullest.  Earl



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/18 04:12 by SRSD45.

GM is doing what they think is best....FOR NOW....

When the market changes AGAIN, they will have to change with it.

As I have both, I see the advantages to both trucks/SUVS and cars. I've never been sold on electric cars. And don't get me started on driverless technology.....???!!!

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