GM Hopes Engine of Future Sells Cars Now

[nodular]

Wall Street Journal, November 29, 2006 p. B1

"...GM engineers are working to perfect the hardware that could translate Mr. Wagoner's vision into reality. In the process, they hope the troubled auto giant not only gets ahead of the next big thing in cars but also sells a few more of its current models, tto.

...GM scientists and quietly started building working fuel-cell engines that run on hydrogen and produced no exhaust other than pure water. The facility looks more like a computer chip factory than an engine plant---the most critical component is a clear liquid that technicians make in a glass-walled, dust free laboratory...

...GM hopes it can beat Toyota to market, grabbing an early lead with this technology that will change how consumers think of the company and boost the image of its conventional vehicles.

...fuel cells won't be a real mass-market item for years. GM aims to sell just a few thousand fuel cell cars in 2011, and tens of thousands a year by 2013."


Of course, Toyota and Honda are trying to do the same thing. They have plenty of money, while GM's paper has reached junk-bond status.

[Donnachaidh]

1. why the hell should we buy one of their gas-guzzling roadpigs NOW

on a *promise* that they are working on something they *might* come up with later?

Just how many plants has GM set up in Mexico?

I'm sorry, they've been bailed out enough. I'll go with the first company to get it to marketplace.

[noahmijo]

2. Never will any unit from the "big three" inhabit my garage

Too little too late. They've proven themselves to be more anti-American than any foreign automaker could ever hope to be. Massive employee layoffs and parts made in Brazil and Mexico.

I'll stick with Honda personally, my current ride was manufactured by the good people of Ohio 90% American parts-only the engine was assembled in Japan.

[TexasProgresive]

4. I just bought a GM product

The main selling point to me was that it has a rice burner drive train. It's a Saturn Vue with a Honda V-6. Milage is steadily increasing as it breaks in.

[Clark2008]

6. It's the rice-burner engine I hate.

They whine, they sputter and they don't hold up. Sorry most of you still live in the 80s when they were good engines. They're not so much now.

[MadHound]

7. Then I guess the 150,000 plus miles on my '98 Honda

And the 100,000 plus miles on my Nissan truck, both without having any major problems other than routine maintenence, is all an illusion:shrug:

I have consistently gotten better performance, engine life, durability, and fewer repair bills with foreign makes since the '70s than any of the crappy iron put out by the Big 3. The only American car that has done as well was my '87 Chevy Nova, which has 200,000 plus miles, and is still going strong(I have had to replace the timing belt however:eyes:). But that's only because '87 Novas were relabeled Toyota Camry.

Sorry, but you're living in a land of delusion. Every major, independent automotive crictic will tell you that Japanese cars are the best value for your money.

[nolabels]

8. Just find a good mechanic and service the vehicle regularly

Their are all kind a problems with the way all automobiles are designed but just plain taking care of the vehicle will give any good driver just about all the miles they want to drive it.

[MadHound]

9. I agree, routine maintenence will extend the life of any vehicle

But there are definite differences between car companies, and the product that they put out. US engines are notoriously poor performers, have been for over thirty years. US manufacturers think way to much about the bottom line, and thus will scrimp and scrape, and turn out substandard products. The two most notorious examples of this are the late ninties, early '00 exploding Crown Vics, and the mid'-'70s exploding Pintos. Both of these problems could have been taken care of by a gasket that would have cost Ford an additional twenty five cents, yet in the interest of keeping costs down, they went cheap. And as has been shown by various investigative reports, this is done with the full knowledge of the head honchos, whose response is "let them sue, we'll still make more money".

Japanese vehicles don't partake of this cavalier attitude, and their products reflect this. They last longer, they're safer, and they generally require less major repairs. The only real knock against Japanese vehicles is that they rust out quicker.

The last top quality US made vehicles in my opinion were back in the fifties, and earlier. Stone cold simple engines, built solid, to last. Unlike today, US manufacturers didn't build in planned obsolescence into their product, they simply build them to last.

[nolabels]

10. They sell what the people want to buy (or did)

My 1999 Ford Ranger basically has a revved upped redesigned 4 cylinder Pinto motor in it. It fulfills my need for an economical small pickup truck. The truck has held up well compared to the Toyota pickup that i a also rolled over speedometer twice on. I really have no love for any automobile company in particular.

The basic premise that i was trying to forth is just like a musical instrument it's more up to the person using it than the people who make it. There is differences in all them to be sure but discounting the operators input into the device makes for a lousy input in the orchestra. As for the Honchos and board members that run the US automakers there should be no doubt left why accountants should never be in charge of running them. Yet to say everything that the US automakers ever made or make is junk is kind of stretch if that is what you would like to insinuate.


Btw, you can't fool me on which are junk and which are not, as a mechanic i have worked on most all of them and without a doubt they are all junk :P

[BluegrassDem]

11. Honda and other foreign automakers are non-union

At least GM and Ford cars are built with union hands. Unions are the life blood of the Democrat party. When you buy American, you help the unions.

[noahmijo]

12. Oh yea those auto unions have really come through for workers at the Ford and GM plant

Secondly buying GM and Ford is not even close to buying American anymore.

The sad fact of the matter is when you're buying Toyota or Honda you're actually buying American not Mexican or Brazilian and on top of that you're buying a product that has quality behind it not some jingoistic commercial and a vehicle that can't even meet average safety standards.

Not all unions are created equally and personally I won't judge auto unions by the bang up job they're doing for the forgotten employees of The Big Three.

[BluegrassDem]

14. But the foreign automaker workers have NO protections

I live just 20 minutes from the Toyota plant in Georgetown. I have family members working there and neighbors. They have no union and all I ever hear are complaints about the working conditions. The managers there are pure slave drivers, plain and simple. Yes, the people work there and make decent money cause no other plants around pay that much, but they are the Wal-Mart of the auto industry. So don't pat yourself on the back too much for buying foreign.

At least the unions do provide better benefits and pay for their workers. They also have a lot of rules and guidelines so managers don't abuse their workers. Those auto unions DO provide protections. Of course, they can't stop the company from shutting down plants and offering buyouts. But at least with GM and Ford, they are offering buyouts! If Toyota went under, their workers wouldn't get a red cent.

[eliphaslevi]

13. Based on a bad experience, I will never buy another Ford

My last Ford lived up to its name (Fix Or Repair Daily). I believe it is crap engineering when a car continues to break.

[liberal N proud]

3. I am afraid US companies have sat on technology too long.

The only way they will move on new technology is if a competitor is threatening to develop similar or their patent is about to expire.

[SaveElmer]

5. Good...a little competition in this area is a good thing...

Maybe someone in Detroit has finally awoked and realized Green cars will bring in green cash...

I hope they follow through!