No Soul Anymore
April 22, 2005
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Posted by Aubrey Turner
This article on GM’s woes prompted me to write about something I observed to myself the other day. Frankly, except for the Corvette, I don’t see anything in GM’s lineup that reaches out and grabs your attention. It seems like GM cars have no soul anymore. And I say this as someone who owns an Avalanche. I like my truck (or SUV, or whatever it feels like being today 
). But Avalanche owners are a strange lot anyway…
As an example, consider Chevrolet’s lineup of (regular) cars: Aveo, Cobalt, Impala, Malibu, Monte Carlo, and Cavalier. Whenever I see these cars the phrase “bland, dull, and underpowered” comes to mind. These cars have no soul. Now I will grant that the SS-R and the Corvette are nice and I’d actually like to have a Z06. But these aren’t really “daily drivers.” What I think Chevrolet really needs is something that is usable as a daily driver, adequately powered, and just, well…, different from the rest of what they’ve been putting out lately. I will admit that I don’t know exactly what they need, but (like the courts have said of porn), I’ll know it when I see it. I suppose a good example of this would be the Dodge Magnum. Yes, it’s a station wagon, but it’s a cool station wagon. For the first time in more than 10 years I considered giving up my truck for a car.
It will take this kind of approach at GM before I would consider doing the same for one of their cars.
Categories: Random Ramblings
Could not agree more, except one minor difference.
If you like fast little cars, the Cobalt has a lot of promise, too bad there is not pop top or hatchback version.
That said, the Corvette is the only car that bears the Chevy name I would own, and then it could not be my MAIN vehicle due to my toddler.
If I were to win a freebie car that was a Chevy, including a Vette right now, I would take cash option or immediatly sell it, no soul.
Here is to hoping they have been secretly working on a new Camero/Firebird, though doubtful considering the leaks within such a project.
GM still hasn’t recovered from their 1970s bout of top management “Screw the customer and service, we can turn out crap and people will gobble it down.” I owned a Trans Am that lasted 3 years and then turned into a leaking, vapor locked, in the shop, Mr Goodwrench crimped exhaust system lines nightmare. 20 years later I still won’t buy any GM product. If they ever manage to figure out the market, design and price the cars right, then offer good service after the sale, I might actually stop laughing at their products as I zoom by on the road.
Ouch! Just saw 2 million GM trucks and SUVs are being recalled for defective safety belts. Wonder what else is lurking out there. They used to have a recall program where you only got the item fixed if you went in and ASKED for any defect recalls that had not been applied to your vehicle. Bad GM, Bad!
You had me worried about my Avalanche for a minute there…
Among the vehicles affected, the company was recalling 1.48 million SUVs and pickups from the 2003-2005 model years, including the Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon XL, Yukon, and the Hummer H2s.
GM spokesman Alan Adler said the center safety belt in the second row of the SUVs and pickups, typically used for child seats, was riding high on the occupant’s stomach or abdomen. He said there could be a reduced protection in that portion of the body in the event of a crash.
But then I see it’s the one in the back, which I don’t use. Although I will get it replaced, since my nieces might on occasion ride back there.
As for the Cobalt, it just doesn’t do anything for me. But I’m probably not in their target demographic group.