April 10, 2009 67 Comments

Gear Head Brogan and GM Cars

2010 Chevy Camaro In this, my last of 3 posts about my visit to GM, I get to talk a bit more about the cars. During my visit, I was given the opportunity to drive a 2010 Chevy Camaro, a 2009 Cadillac Escalade, and a 2009 Cadillac CTS and a CTS-V. There’s actually a little bit of video at the bottom of the post. But first, let me wrap up my take on GM overall.

Confidence and the Future of GM

First off, this company is working hard and fast at getting lean, getting focused, and getting the right cars into the hands of the people who want them. I know about as much as you do about what comes next. I know that they’re hoping to sell Hummer, that Saturn might be on the blocks by 2011, that Saab has a potential dark future. I know that they’re going to slim down their product offerings.

I also know that these people really want to talk about cars. I know they’ve got some great new products coming out. I know that they realize the most recent few decades didn’t go exactly the way they’d wished.

I’m excited. I want to see them succeed. I want to see a core American company get their financial legs under them, get back to contributing to the economic rebuilding of our country’s core, and move into the next era of forward-thinking technology. Their hybrid and fuel cell projects are roaring along. Volt is showing promise. There are huge potholes in the road between now and success, but I have the feeling things are moving in the right direction.

The Cadillac CTS and CTS-V

Okay, my Saturn VUE is only a few years old. I’m not yet in the market for a new car, but I admit that I got a bit excited about the Cadillac CTS. It’s a really gorgeous car, and it’s nothing like the last 20 years of Cadillac (from my outsider’s view). Upon playing with the car a bit (I got to drive both the CTS and the CTS-V, which has a Corvette engine under the hood), I am even more in love. It’s powerful, yet tasteful, and just luxurious as hell.

It’s not exactly in my price point. The CTS is in the $30K range and the CTS-V that we tried was equipped out to about $60K. They’re meant to compete with the foreign luxury market, and with a few of the most recent US entries into the space. Believe me, with the plush interior, the amazing information/entertainment systems, the killer engine, the OnStar platform and more, I’m pretty much finding ways to make the CTS my next car at this point.

So, want to see a few videos?

Videos: Brogan Goes Gearhead

I split it into 2:

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Newer Comments →
  • http://fromtheblueseats.blogspot.com Dilo

    I miss my CTS-V … unfortunately, driving in Boston … it took me an hour to go 12 miles to work … and I didn’t need 400 ponies to do that … and I spent a lot of time at the filling station … still, an awesome car.

  • http://fromtheblueseats.blogspot.com Dilo

    I miss my CTS-V … unfortunately, driving in Boston … it took me an hour to go 12 miles to work … and I didn’t need 400 ponies to do that … and I spent a lot of time at the filling station … still, an awesome car.

  • http://fromtheblueseats.blogspot.com Dilo

    I miss my CTS-V … unfortunately, driving in Boston … it took me an hour to go 12 miles to work … and I didn’t need 400 ponies to do that … and I spent a lot of time at the filling station … still, an awesome car.

  • http://www.twitterimage.com Hugh Briss

    Dude, when you test drive a new Camaro you’re supposed to stomp on it and throw it around like a ragdoll.

  • http://www.twitterimage.com Hugh Briss

    Dude, when you test drive a new Camaro you’re supposed to stomp on it and throw it around like a ragdoll.

  • http://www.twitterimage.com Hugh Briss

    Dude, when you test drive a new Camaro you’re supposed to stomp on it and throw it around like a ragdoll.

  • http://askbusinesscoach.wordpress.com courtney benson

    I too want to see an American car company make it! Hopefully, the GM team are singing from a new page, a page that spells success. Take some pointers from BMW on the high end vehicles.

  • http://askbusinesscoach.wordpress.com courtney benson

    I too want to see an American car company make it! Hopefully, the GM team are singing from a new page, a page that spells success. Take some pointers from BMW on the high end vehicles.

  • http://askbusinesscoach.wordpress.com courtney benson

    I too want to see an American car company make it! Hopefully, the GM team are singing from a new page, a page that spells success. Take some pointers from BMW on the high end vehicles.

  • Thom Schamp

    Here’s what I don’t get. They fly you out there and put you up for some cheap PR only to roll out more of the same? Where is the innovation? Where are my flying cars? What are they doing about the day when $4 gas is the norm? Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t get it.

  • Thom Schamp

    Here’s what I don’t get. They fly you out there and put you up for some cheap PR only to roll out more of the same? Where is the innovation? Where are my flying cars? What are they doing about the day when $4 gas is the norm? Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t get it.

  • http://www.globalfinancialpublishing.com joan symonds

    We all want to see GM survive. I have yet to speak to anyone who does not. Many are angry at the needless loss of jobs. The economy blame game does not stand up here.

    Personally, it hurts to see this giant crumble. They have been a part of my family for years and years. I cannot remember a time when a Chevy, Pontiac or Caddy was not a integral member of our family. Great cars. Solid, dependable, memories galore.

    GM failed its responsibilities to its shareholders by not training its managers properly. They have been on the skids heading for bankruptcy for a long time.
    A few simple financial techniques put in place would have given managers the tools they needed to keep that company healthy.

    We shall hope that a restructuring will bring them to the realization that managers need to know more than design and marketing. They need to know how to understand the bottom line.

    Wishing Mr. Henderson and his team all the best with a thousand thanks for the wonderful memories.

  • http://www.globalfinancialpublishing.com joan symonds

    We all want to see GM survive. I have yet to speak to anyone who does not. Many are angry at the needless loss of jobs. The economy blame game does not stand up here.

    Personally, it hurts to see this giant crumble. They have been a part of my family for years and years. I cannot remember a time when a Chevy, Pontiac or Caddy was not a integral member of our family. Great cars. Solid, dependable, memories galore.

    GM failed its responsibilities to its shareholders by not training its managers properly. They have been on the skids heading for bankruptcy for a long time.
    A few simple financial techniques put in place would have given managers the tools they needed to keep that company healthy.

    We shall hope that a restructuring will bring them to the realization that managers need to know more than design and marketing. They need to know how to understand the bottom line.

    Wishing Mr. Henderson and his team all the best with a thousand thanks for the wonderful memories.

  • http://www.globalfinancialpublishing.com joan symonds

    We all want to see GM survive. I have yet to speak to anyone who does not. Many are angry at the needless loss of jobs. The economy blame game does not stand up here.

    Personally, it hurts to see this giant crumble. They have been a part of my family for years and years. I cannot remember a time when a Chevy, Pontiac or Caddy was not a integral member of our family. Great cars. Solid, dependable, memories galore.

    GM failed its responsibilities to its shareholders by not training its managers properly. They have been on the skids heading for bankruptcy for a long time.
    A few simple financial techniques put in place would have given managers the tools they needed to keep that company healthy.

    We shall hope that a restructuring will bring them to the realization that managers need to know more than design and marketing. They need to know how to understand the bottom line.

    Wishing Mr. Henderson and his team all the best with a thousand thanks for the wonderful memories.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @Thom – they didn’t fly me anywhere. I flew out to attend a conference. This was not a paid experience.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @Thom – they didn’t fly me anywhere. I flew out to attend a conference. This was not a paid experience.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @Thom – they didn’t fly me anywhere. I flew out to attend a conference. This was not a paid experience.

  • http://BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com Susie Blackmon

    All I can offer at this particular moment is …. VROOOM VROOOOM!! ;-)

  • http://BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com Susie Blackmon

    All I can offer at this particular moment is …. VROOOM VROOOOM!! ;-)

  • http://BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com Susie Blackmon

    All I can offer at this particular moment is …. VROOOM VROOOOM!! ;-)

  • http://Brogan-Arts.com Mom Brogan

    Great post! Great videos! BUT, did they show you any green cars?

  • http://Brogan-Arts.com Mom Brogan

    Great post! Great videos! BUT, did they show you any green cars?

  • http://Brogan-Arts.com Mom Brogan

    Great post! Great videos! BUT, did they show you any green cars?

  • http://chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    @Mom – no green cars on this trip, but then, I didn’t ask. I’m all for saving the planet, but I went there to move!

  • http://chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    @Mom – no green cars on this trip, but then, I didn’t ask. I’m all for saving the planet, but I went there to move!

  • http://chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    @Mom – no green cars on this trip, but then, I didn’t ask. I’m all for saving the planet, but I went there to move!

  • http://www.deniseoberry.com deniseoberry

    Chris —

    So glad you had a chance to drive a caddy. I love my 2007 Cadillac STS (which they no longer make, but is similar to CTS). Before that I had a Cadillac ETC (my first love!) and before that a Cadillac Allante. There is nothing like a Cadillac. If you want to feel safe, spoiled and pampered in a great ride, Cadillac is the way to go.

    Love the videos! I hope GM survives this mess they are in. Thanks for giving them some good press.

  • http://www.deniseoberry.com deniseoberry

    Chris —

    So glad you had a chance to drive a caddy. I love my 2007 Cadillac STS (which they no longer make, but is similar to CTS). Before that I had a Cadillac ETC (my first love!) and before that a Cadillac Allante. There is nothing like a Cadillac. If you want to feel safe, spoiled and pampered in a great ride, Cadillac is the way to go.

    Love the videos! I hope GM survives this mess they are in. Thanks for giving them some good press.

  • http://www.twitter.com/deniseoberry Denise O’Berry

    Chris —

    So glad you had a chance to drive a caddy. I love my 2007 Cadillac STS (which they no longer make, but is similar to CTS). Before that I had a Cadillac ETC (my first love!) and before that a Cadillac Allante. There is nothing like a Cadillac. If you want to feel safe, spoiled and pampered in a great ride, Cadillac is the way to go.

    Love the videos! I hope GM survives this mess they are in. Thanks for giving them some good press.

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  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,

    I think I would have you rather told me that they at least paid for your hotel, because you easily gave them a couple of $100,000 worth of free PR. Lord knows they need it after taking our tax money.

  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,

    I think I would have you rather told me that they at least paid for your hotel, because you easily gave them a couple of $100,000 worth of free PR. Lord knows they need it after taking our tax money.

  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,

    I think I would have you rather told me that they at least paid for your hotel, because you easily gave them a couple of $100,000 worth of free PR. Lord knows they need it after taking our tax money.

  • http://www.themurr.com/ David Murray

    It looks like John was a tough audience ;-)
    That car looks wicked sweet, wouldn’t be surprised if they had a Wii hooked up to that thing. Glad to see GM is still innovating despite their current situation.

  • http://www.themurr.com/ David Murray

    It looks like John was a tough audience ;-)
    That car looks wicked sweet, wouldn’t be surprised if they had a Wii hooked up to that thing. Glad to see GM is still innovating despite their current situation.

  • http://www.themurr.com DaveMurr

    It looks like John was a tough audience ;-)
    That car looks wicked sweet, wouldn’t be surprised if they had a Wii hooked up to that thing. Glad to see GM is still innovating despite their current situation.

  • http://TruffleMedia.com john blue

    Hi Chris,

    First I did enjoy this post:). Thanks. But I have an opion on GM …

    The cars you were shown are not what most people buy (WSJ sales data US cars http://digg.com/u1lxf ). Luxury cars are what people love to see but few can afford.

    GM makes them look good new but they, over time, do not withstand use. See more at Consumer Reports http://digg.com/u1lw1 (“But a quarter of GM models are still well below average in reliability.”). The last 10 (or more!) years GM has know of their issues and have only made so so attempts to fix and improve.

    GM is where they are because of their (management and union) own decisions to be too focused on their own internal needs and not of those of the people who really buy their cars. Read “GM: Death of an American dream” by Alex Taylor III, senior editor at Fortune http://digg.com/d1elXi .

    I certainly believe GM teams are working hard. I believe they really believe in the company. However, they are working so hard because GM will (most likely) go into bankruptcy and they want to keep their jobs.

    I loved your thoughts on shutting down cars via OnStar to let other (more important:) cars through. I laugh and then I think; Holly $%#! I bet that is already in security plans for certain organizations (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc…).

    Again, thanks for the post. Keep sharing what you find.
    John Blue

  • http://TruffleMedia.com john blue

    Hi Chris,

    First I did enjoy this post:). Thanks. But I have an opion on GM …

    The cars you were shown are not what most people buy (WSJ sales data US cars http://digg.com/u1lxf ). Luxury cars are what people love to see but few can afford.

    GM makes them look good new but they, over time, do not withstand use. See more at Consumer Reports http://digg.com/u1lw1 (“But a quarter of GM models are still well below average in reliability.”). The last 10 (or more!) years GM has know of their issues and have only made so so attempts to fix and improve.

    GM is where they are because of their (management and union) own decisions to be too focused on their own internal needs and not of those of the people who really buy their cars. Read “GM: Death of an American dream” by Alex Taylor III, senior editor at Fortune http://digg.com/d1elXi .

    I certainly believe GM teams are working hard. I believe they really believe in the company. However, they are working so hard because GM will (most likely) go into bankruptcy and they want to keep their jobs.

    I loved your thoughts on shutting down cars via OnStar to let other (more important:) cars through. I laugh and then I think; Holly $%#! I bet that is already in security plans for certain organizations (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc…).

    Again, thanks for the post. Keep sharing what you find.
    John Blue

  • http://TruffleMedia.com john blue

    Hi Chris,

    First I did enjoy this post:). Thanks. But I have an opion on GM …

    The cars you were shown are not what most people buy (WSJ sales data US cars http://digg.com/u1lxf ). Luxury cars are what people love to see but few can afford.

    GM makes them look good new but they, over time, do not withstand use. See more at Consumer Reports http://digg.com/u1lw1 (“But a quarter of GM models are still well below average in reliability.”). The last 10 (or more!) years GM has know of their issues and have only made so so attempts to fix and improve.

    GM is where they are because of their (management and union) own decisions to be too focused on their own internal needs and not of those of the people who really buy their cars. Read “GM: Death of an American dream” by Alex Taylor III, senior editor at Fortune http://digg.com/d1elXi .

    I certainly believe GM teams are working hard. I believe they really believe in the company. However, they are working so hard because GM will (most likely) go into bankruptcy and they want to keep their jobs.

    I loved your thoughts on shutting down cars via OnStar to let other (more important:) cars through. I laugh and then I think; Holly $%#! I bet that is already in security plans for certain organizations (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc…).

    Again, thanks for the post. Keep sharing what you find.
    John Blue

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @thom – the point was that I am passionate about the direction the company seems to be going and that I liked the cars.

    It’s amazing how people seem to want to kick a company when it’s down. Heaven forbid you ever find yourself in need. I, for one, want to do what I can to get a lynchpin company back on it’s feet.

    Not that a story saves the world, but then again, maybe they do.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @thom – the point was that I am passionate about the direction the company seems to be going and that I liked the cars.

    It’s amazing how people seem to want to kick a company when it’s down. Heaven forbid you ever find yourself in need. I, for one, want to do what I can to get a lynchpin company back on it’s feet.

    Not that a story saves the world, but then again, maybe they do.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

    @thom – the point was that I am passionate about the direction the company seems to be going and that I liked the cars.

    It’s amazing how people seem to want to kick a company when it’s down. Heaven forbid you ever find yourself in need. I, for one, want to do what I can to get a lynchpin company back on it’s feet.

    Not that a story saves the world, but then again, maybe they do.

  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,
    That’s where I would disagree with you. The point of capitalism and free markets is that we let bad companies fail. (take note of Japan and its “lost decade”) GM (along with many others) made many mistakes, and by all rights should fail. But since we don’t live in a truly “free market” economy, the government bails them out. Any other company that made the decisions they did wouldn’t have a chance to get back on their feet.

  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,
    That’s where I would disagree with you. The point of capitalism and free markets is that we let bad companies fail. (take note of Japan and its “lost decade”) GM (along with many others) made many mistakes, and by all rights should fail. But since we don’t live in a truly “free market” economy, the government bails them out. Any other company that made the decisions they did wouldn’t have a chance to get back on their feet.

  • Thom Schamp

    Chris,
    That’s where I would disagree with you. The point of capitalism and free markets is that we let bad companies fail. (take note of Japan and its “lost decade”) GM (along with many others) made many mistakes, and by all rights should fail. But since we don’t live in a truly “free market” economy, the government bails them out. Any other company that made the decisions they did wouldn’t have a chance to get back on their feet.

  • http://www.jarlinpaul.com/ Jarlin

    Yes, GM will make it.

  • http://www.jarlinpaul.com/ Jarlin

    Yes, GM will make it.

  • http://www.jarlinpaul.com/ Jarlin

    Yes, GM will make it.

  • http://www.kaaslaw.com David Kaa

    They will make it because the govt. won’t let them fail. The problem is exactly what Chris pointed out earlier – everyone’s trying to get them back on their feet.

    There is nothing wrong with failure. That’s what capitalism is about – good companies succeed, bad companies fail. It’s a simple matter of survival of the fittest. If we keep bad companies like GM, AIG, Fannie Mae …. etc. afloat, we’ll be bailing them out again.

    The dot com bust is a good example of how markets should work. The bubble burst and shook out all the bad tech companies. Now we are left with solid, strong companies such as Google, Amazon eBay etc. We need to let the big companies down in a way that doesn’t hurt us all.

  • http://www.kaaslaw.com David Kaa

    They will make it because the govt. won’t let them fail. The problem is exactly what Chris pointed out earlier – everyone’s trying to get them back on their feet.

    There is nothing wrong with failure. That’s what capitalism is about – good companies succeed, bad companies fail. It’s a simple matter of survival of the fittest. If we keep bad companies like GM, AIG, Fannie Mae …. etc. afloat, we’ll be bailing them out again.

    The dot com bust is a good example of how markets should work. The bubble burst and shook out all the bad tech companies. Now we are left with solid, strong companies such as Google, Amazon eBay etc. We need to let the big companies down in a way that doesn’t hurt us all.

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