I agree:

1. “Keep it simple, stupid.”

2. “Simplicate and add lightness.”

3. “What ain’t there don’t give you no trouble.”

I said that I would rather have a solar panel on the roof than a “glass” panel or a sunroof. But I can well do without the solar panel as well. Keep it as simple as possible and get it to the market ASAP!

I’m planning on selling the super sport camaro and buying a volt. Although I was going to buy a honda before I found out about the volt. Now I decided to wait as long as necessary to buy a volt. If they sell out in 2010 and 2011 before I can get one, I’ll still wait. I’m never going to buy a regular ICE car again. Only PHEV(EVRXs) like the volt.

Mercedes builds great cars, as well as Land Rover used to and Rolls Roys and Ferrari, etc. Still most americans don’t consider buying those.

They ought to be building “desirable cars” not just in terms of “great” – great looking, great performance, great comfort, etc.; but also in terms of “sensible/practical” – sensible fuel economy, practical size/performance, sensible price, etc.

For instance, GM/Ford/C cars tend to have a lot of interior features and are very comfortable. Honda are far more spartan and simpler. Yet my friend’s Focus developed electrical problems after only 5 years just as he was trying to sell it. My Hondas just keep going (besudes minor issues like one speaker is out) BECASE they are simpler and have less things to break down.

Also GM is still mostly ignorant of their customers wanting better fuel economy. “Desirable” car gets at least 30 mpg, while GM’s “great” cars struggle to achieve 25 mpg. What good are their “great” cars when you end up not being able to fill it with gasoline? Read the articles about shortages in China. We are not too far behind.

Certainly they improved quality and are no longer very far behind Toyota and Honda. Credit is due there, good stuff
The trouble is they still insist on telling their customers what they ought to driver as opposed listening to us what GM ought to build. That is why Toyota is leading with Prius and GM is trying to catch up with Volt. It should have been the other way around. GM with EV-1 should have been way ahead of Toyota. We certainly seem to have better batteries here than in Japan. GM could have had best selling electric cars and would be able to pay above average salaries and benefits without breaking a sweat. But no, they had to gut EV-1 because SUVs are soooo much better, right? Wrong!

Still, it makes me wonder why they are applying so much PR capital at this point in the game. Here it is 2007, and they supposedly won’t release the Volt until late 2010. I would fear Volt hype burnout if I were GM. Is it possible that estimated date is extremely conservative, and they may smash the deadline?

Grandpa had a Ford Taurus, lasted 103K before he replaced it. In just 7 years 12 visits to the repair man.

Mom made the mistake of buying a 96 Pontiac Transport minivan, 17 visits to the mechanic and counting, only 117K miles and on its last legs.

Grandma traded in an oldmobile that was crap for a 97 Civic, never been to the shop once.

Enough anecdotes, lets talk stats.

2007 Consumer Reports, 1.3 million survey results: gospel of reliability.

Results:

GM: 51% of models below average reliability

Ford: improving, but still way below Toyota or Honda.

Toyota: yes some models have slipped, like V6 Camry, but V4 camry is rock solid, and Toyota is still #4 in reliability.

Honda: #1, Acura #2, Subaru # 3, Toyota #4

If buying a car today I would have to go with Honda, for their cars are better all around.

Civic vs Corolla, Civic wins, (Consumer report’s #1 small car rec)

Fit vs Yaris: Car and Driver had 7 year old Fit #1 against 7 contenders, including Yaris, Versa, Hyndais, Kia, Chevy Aveao, ect. Fit won by a long shot, and next year is brand new!

Accord vs Camry: Harder choice,

Prius: Vs Civic Hybrid: Priu wins hands down

Overall its a real battle of the titans between Toyota, (3rd gen Prius coming) vs Honda, (Diesel Accord + small car hybrid +CRZ)

Today, based on Consumer Reports, and personall experience, I would only consider Honda or Toyota.

BUT, since the volt is an reEV, it has less moving parts and so might be extremly reliable.

Either way, the volt is the only GM car I will ever consider, so they best not screw it up.

IF GM perfects the EV then they win the race to the end of automotive history.

They can’t compete with ICEs, the Japanese have mastered that art.

But EVs? Thats up in the air.

Consumer Reports asked “would you buy or lease your current car again.”

#1 for 4 years straight is the Prius at 92%.

Civic and Corolla come in mid to low 80%s.

Lowest car in the survey was Chevy Aveo, 34%. Chevy Cobalt was in 40%’s.

Today GM is the maker of absolute crap.

Their styling is dull, their interiors cheap, and relaibility improving? 51% of GM models BELOW AVERAGE reliability!

BUT EVS like the Volt and others could change all that.

GM would become the pheonix, consumed by the flames of its own stupidity only to be reborn as the greatest auto maker the world has or will ever know.

For GM the question is simple, “Do you want to survive as a company in the age of peak oil?”

If so, build the volt and build it right.

Take reliability to a whole new level, take perfect EVs and shove it down Toyota’s and Honda’s throats, or lose me and 60%(and growing) of American car buyers forever.

Live or die, GM, make your choice.