GM will forget about the last three payments on existing leases if you buy a new car

[AVANTI R5]

General Motors Co. has started a promotion earlier this month that entices current lease holders to buy a new car and have the last three payments on existing leases waived. GM is also adding an incentive to deals that exceeded offers made by rivals. GM said that the promotion is valid on most models with leases that expire between now and Aug. 31. Researcher Autodata Corp. said that GM raised incentive spending in January by 16% to an average of $3,663 per vehicle, the highest among major automakers. GM's U.S. sales went up by 22% last month, doing better than the industry's 16% gain.

In a video presentation for GM’s initial public offering in November, the company said that it aimed to offer fewer incentives that cut margins and gave off the impression that price is the main selling point for GM vehicles. Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds, said that early-return leasing deals may conflict with that pledge and so she hopes that GM won’t push through with it.

During the company's monthly sales conference call with analysts and reporters, Don Johnson, GM's vice president of U.S. sales, said that the company will start discussing incentives “directionally” instead of providing specific data on a month-to-month basis. In an interview this week at the Chicago auto show, Rick Scheidt, GM's vice president of Chevrolet marketing, said that he has not seen any internal behavior “that suggests we have gone back to old ways.” Scheidt added that it isn’t the time to go back to bad habits, especially since the company knows that “everybody’s watching.” [via autonews - sub. required]

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[boostdog]

trade your old crap for our new crap...YES! unless it's a vette

[samagon]

Originally Posted by boostdog

trade your old crap for our new crap...YES! unless it's a vette

and then what? it's fast crap that has an aggregate age of ownership that is close to 70?

[MrSaabaru]

pfffttt...so much hate. I'm not sure what's so bad about a decent deal. And i'm sure there's at least one GM product that most people like. Their new stuff seems to be mostly on.

as for the deal, don't they pretty much always have this deal? i've only been in this situation once, going from a cavalier to a blazer almost a decade ago, but i got this then. i was given the impression that this wasn't a rare thing, and that, between the dealer and GMAC, they almost always have this. it's like getting a free cell phone with a contract.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Still boycotting GM as I despise any union owned shop, but I have to admit, the new Buick Lacross is a hell of a nice car. And a CTS is a pretty nice sedan. I can hate them all I want, but it does not change the face that they are decent cars.

NO reason to ever buy a GM product when you can buy Ford.

[JuggernautTCW]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

NO reason to ever buy a GM product when you can buy Ford.

but sadly Ford does not have a Corvette/Z06 competitor in the 50-75k range. the same for all the V variants of the CTS.

As for the Camaro vs. Mustang war - Camaro ZL1 will get 305s at the rear so Ford better do something about GT500's traction problem and put on different rear suspension and wider tires (currently 285s).

[samagon]

Originally Posted by JuggernautTCW

As for the Camaro vs. Mustang war - Camaro ZL1 will get 305s at the rear so Ford better do something about GT500's traction problem and put on different rear suspension and wider tires (currently 285s).

I'm not sure if you read much on Nasioc, but from all of the Engineers that post on this forum and have real world experience with a Ford Mustang, the SRA that Ford has chosen for the Mustang is the pinnacle rear suspension, there is nothing better.

It isn't your fault you are ignorant, but beware, people will remind you that you are wrong, and the SRA that Ford uses in the Mustang beats the pants off of any car available with IRS, it's pointless to argue this fact.

[kukabuka]

Nevermind

[samagon]

Originally Posted by kukabuka

Nevermind

thank you.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by samagon

It isn't your fault you are ignorant, but beware, people will remind you that you are wrong, and the SRA that Ford uses in the Mustang beats the pants off of any car available with IRS, it's pointless to argue this fact.

You want to argue that the Mustang rear suspension (SRA or not) is better than any other rear suspension (IRS or not)? I'm reading that correctly?

[Frogg]

I love GM, that is, their fullsize lineup. My wife drives a YukonXL, and the only car it would ever be replaced with is another XL/Burban/ESV. I almost bought one for myself, but decided to get a beater with good mileage. Hence, the suby haha

[SCRAPPYDO]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

You want to argue that the Mustang rear suspension (SRA or not) is better than any other rear suspension (IRS or not)? I'm reading that correctly?

THAt is not what he said. He said that on an even playing field, the mustang GT is more can capable of beating the pants off almost any car IRS or not. The chassis is good, and even with its old time rear suspension, it was more than capable of by todays standards. Yes, I will argue that with you. Any day of the week.

[samagon]

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

You want to argue that the Mustang rear suspension (SRA or not) is better than any other rear suspension (IRS or not)? I'm reading that correctly?

you are.

it was more of a sarcastic response based on the last thread where quite a few people had basically said just that. I am assuming they were all 'engineers' with 'real world experience'.

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

THAt is not what he said. He said that on an even playing field, the mustang GT is more can capable of beating the pants off almost any car IRS or not. The chassis is good, and even with its old time rear suspension, it was more than capable of by todays standards. Yes, I will argue that with you. Any day of the week.

sarcasm at most times is lost in here, even when slathered on like a very healthy helping peanut butter on bread.

[AVANTI R5]

Once upon a time, not so long ago, Cadillac was seen as an old fashioned car company with outdated ideas and products. Over the last few years they have been moving with the times, and now their new warranty program will match or exceed those offered by its German rivals.

General Motors has just announced that later this month, the Cadillac Shield program will be put in place. This is an extensive warranty service which includes oil changes and tire rotation for the first four-years or 50,000-miles, and a five-year, 100,000-miles powertrain warranty, including 24/7 roadside assistance.

OnStar’s Directions and Connections plan is also included for one-year and it now comes with its own smart phone app. Cadillac will also have its own special app, which will help owners locate their car in a parking lot, among other things.

Hit the jump to read the full press release:

Cadillac Announces Shield Owner Benefits Program
Highlights class-leading standard services and technologies
DETROIT, Feb. 14, 2011 — Cadillac announced today a new program called Cadillac Shield designed to heighten the brand’s focus on customer service by tying together the wide-ranging benefits and technologies Cadillac provides its owners.

Cadillac Shield includes Cadillac’s class-leading warrantycoverage and recently launched maintenance program as well as courtesy transportation if warranty repairs are needed. It also includes 24-hour roadside assistance for the first five years or 100,000 miles.

“Cadillac offers a suite of ownership benefits that makes the brand a leader in the luxury market,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “Cadillac Shield allows us to raise consumer awareness of these benefits. It’s also a commitment by Cadillac to our owners to continually look for ways to improve these services and technologies.”

All new owners will become part of the Cadillac Shield along with previous buyers of 2011 models. The ownership benefits covered by Cadillac Shield include:

Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance, which provides scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, multi-point vehicle inspections and replacement of engine and cabin air filters for the first four years or 50,000 miles

Five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty

Four-year, 50,000-mile vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage

24/7 roadside assistance for the first five years or 100,000 miles

Courtesy transportation during service visits for warranty issues

Standard one-year OnStar Directions and Connections plan, which includes automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle diagnostics, stolen vehicle assistance and hands-freecalling

OnStar smart-phone app, which allows owners to track diagnostic information, such as oil life and fuel-tank levels, through their iPhone or Android, as well as access common key fob functions, such as starting the engine, unlocking doors and turning on the lights

myCadillac smart-phone app that allows owners to set a reminder of where they parked, schedule maintenance services, locate a dealer and request roadside assistance through their iPhone or Android

Cadillac dealers will begin promoting Cadillac Shield this month through a comprehensive marketing program