Ghosn speaks out: Talks with GM progressing
What quiet period? Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said yesterday that talks with General Motors about an alliance were going well, but that it's still too early to tell whether the three companies will wed. Ghosn and Renault-Nissan have set up an internal deadline of mid-October to provide more definition to their intentions, though Ghosn has already said that he doesn't intend to become CEO of General Motors and that Renault-Nissan would more likely buy up a chunk of the larger automaker instead.
The remarks were a rare peek at what's going on, particularly since both Ghosn and GM boss Rick Wagoner started shooing reporters away with talk of a quiet period.
[Source: BusinessWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thomas 7:15AM (9/01/2006)
How about wraping this up in time to make Nissan's 3.5l V6 the base engine in the new Camaro!
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Michael Martinez 7:37AM (9/01/2006)
Don't even joke like that. It's blasphemy.
Buy? I don't like the sound of this alliance anymore.
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Richard Warren 8:28AM (9/01/2006)
Could it be we have another "merger of equals" in the works?
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whofan 8:13AM (9/01/2006)
How would this union benefit GM? If this happens Nissan and Renault will come out on top. This is going to side trac GM efforts for restructuring.
Its all about the stock market.
If Ford privatizes it may be the best thing for them. To many times the F--king stock dictates company policy. That doesn`t coincide with the car building and product development process very well in my opinion.
Kirk drop dead already, or at least go off and enjoy your money. Time is not your greatest asset!
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Owen 8:19AM (9/01/2006)
Honestly, I can't see the advantages here beyond economies of scale. As far as engines go, I'd rather have a GM pushrod over a VQ anyday. Also The newer designs coming from GM have caught my attention, whereas I honestly haven't seen a Nissan design I've liked since the 350Z and even then, when you option it up it costs nearly as much as a base corvette, which would you take?. I think Nissan would be the big winner here, GM the loser. With all the troubles currently within Nissan, I see GM getting the wool pulled over thier eyes, the last thing GM needs is another bean-counting cost-cutter like Ghosn at the helm. If these companies keep spending so much effort satisfying investors vs. satisfying customers then there truly will be a death watch... ("Let's lose half of our experienced design team in order to save some costs by moving out of Cali, that should help us make products that sell")
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Richard Warren 8:52AM (9/01/2006)
#3 & 4 Agreed, this is not about "saving" or 'strengthing" either company. It's about what each CEO and stockholders can make. Just look at how the boys at Chrysler and MB did.
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MikeW 4:02PM (9/01/2006)
If GM breaks out the hacksaw and chops two cylinders off the LS6 V8, and makes a nice even firing regular fuel 300hp 4.5 V6 with AFM, that would be cheaper than the VQ35HR.
They could do that.
or one could just buy a Z with the VQ35HR, unless you need the rear seating, then nissan [infiniti] would be happy to sell you the Z+2 (G couple)
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richard elsbree 10:14AM (9/01/2006)
I have yet to hear anyone come up with a sound reason for this merger. Renault-
Nissan is hardly a financial powerhouse and GMs money problems are no secret. It might postpone the day that Toyota becomes the world's largest
automaker but I suspect it is just a bunch of Wall street types trying to
make a buck out of a bad situation.
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Ryan 11:49AM (9/01/2006)
Ironically Ford might just be the last true American car maker.
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Vinny 12:25PM (9/01/2006)
"As far as engines go, I'd rather have a GM pushrod over a VQ anyday."
#4 Owen are you on crack? VQ = Ward's 10 Best Engine's 12 years running.
GM's pushrod? HA ancient technology. I'll take the VQ please.
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skaz 12:45PM (9/01/2006)
Vinny, what does new technology do for quality, reliability? Belive it or not, "good" and "tech" aren't synonyms.
I like GM pushrods, myself. In fact, I like anything old. Because it's so old, I know it's going to work right for a long time. I've got a Ford 250ci I6 that will seemingly go on forever. The same for my Ford 302 and my Chevrolet 350. No -- they're not the best of the best, but each of them is over 30 years old and still kickin'.
Maybe the VQs will go for 30 years, too -- but then they'll be ancient, right? Low tech?
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Ryan 1:12PM (9/01/2006)
"I like GM pushrods, myself. In fact, I like anything old. Because it's so old, I know it's going to work right for a long time. I've got a Ford 250ci I6 that will seemingly go on forever. The same for my Ford 302 and my Chevrolet 350. No -- they're not the best of the best, but each of them is over 30 years old and still kickin'.
Maybe the VQs will go for 30 years, too -- but then they'll be ancient, right? Low tech?"
-They both still burn fossil fuels, so how much more "high tech" can one be over the other?
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Owen 1:35PM (9/01/2006)
Vinny,
Oh, I'm not saying that the VQ isn't a great engine and all, but having owned both, I'm still partial to the pushrods. And above all, try fixing one or the other, then come back and tell me which one is better. True, the VQ is more advanced, but that's a lot of $$$ to get minimal advantages. As for the Wards award, they also awarded the engine from the MINI cooper S (which I currently own) with such a distinction and try telling me that that engine is not ancient technology. If you don't believe that GM doesn't have some good engineers in thier engine department, then you, my friend, are the one on crack. :) The pushrod may be old technology, but it sounds good, runs well and puts down impressive numbers without compromising it's reliability... Unlike some others - I frequently hear owner complaints about problems with thier VQ powerplants. Take some time in the next few weeks and take yourself to a Nissan dealership and test drive a 3.5 SE Altima, then take yourself down to the local Pontiac Dealer and drive a GTP G6. If you're lucky you'll get to drive manual versions of both so you can truly judge the engine and not the engine/tranny. It may give you some new respect for pushrods.
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PJ 2:35PM (9/01/2006)
I've driven the Altima SE-R and G6 GTP with the 6-speed manual... there's no comparison. The 3.9 makes good torque off the line, but it runs out of breath over 5,000, doesn't feel nearly as eager to rev, hangs onto revs when you shift, and makes uninspiring noises.
I'll give the GTP this, though: I didn't expect those cars' objective acceleration times to be nearly as close as they are. C/D puts something like a half-second to 60 between them. If only the GTP felt and sounded as good as the VQ does while achieving those numbers.
I'm afraid it was still difficult to separate the engine from the transmission, though. The 6-speed in the GTP has one of the junkiest-feeling shifters of any car I've driven, and certainly the worst of any purported sports sedan. It's as if GM thought that having "6-speed manual" in the ad copy might give the GTP some street cred, but figured so few buyers would order it that they didn't need to bother making a halfway decent one.
And certainly, to be fair, the one in the SE-R is no gem, but it's far better.
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Stphane Dumas 5:48PM (9/01/2006)
#1 Thomas, how would you react if the Nissan Skyline GTR could be available with the 7.0L V8 small-block? ;-) (I already mentionned it in a former article but I couldn't resist to mention it again, someone at Fanart-central, did a Nissan "600Z" with the LS2/6.0L small-block, you can view it at http://www.fanart-central.net/pic-449776.html )
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Vinny 7:33PM (9/01/2006)
"Unlike some others - I frequently hear owner complaints about problems with thier VQ powerplants. Take some time in the next few weeks and take yourself to a Nissan dealership and test drive a 3.5 SE Altima, then take yourself down to the local Pontiac Dealer and drive a GTP G6. If you're lucky you'll get to drive manual versions of both so you can truly judge the engine and not the engine/tranny. It may give you some new respect for pushrods."
Owen, I don't need to go test drive anything. I own a Maxima with the VQ in it and have never had an issue with it. Now you might say, that makes me bias. Nope wrong. You see my "company" provides me with a work car and it is... yep you got it.. a GM PRODUCT! And guess what kinda engine it uses? Did you say pushrod? Smart man. I drive both daily and I much prefer the VQ in the Max. It's strong, smooth and reliable. As for my un-named GM work car, (no i'm not gonna tell you what it is to protect my "company" and my job sorry) it's constantly in the shop and the pushrod engine feel's like sh** compared to the VQ. I've also driven car's with various V-6 engine's from other makers, Ford, DCX and Toyota to name a few. None of them could hold a candle to the VQ. So from my experience VQ wins hands down.
Don't get me wrong, just because something is old tech doesn't make it bad, but in this case, the newer higher tech engine wins. GM has some brillant people working for them, I don't deny that. If GM could get off it's ass and update it's engine's/technology, then I bet they could come up with something that would match or beat the VQ. (or they could form an alliance with Nissan and just use the VQ outright haha) As for working on one, I'm sure it's probably easier to work on the pushrod then a VQ, but I'm not a mechanic, I just drive the car, so thats not a concern for me, nor is it for 90% of people who purchase a car nowadays. The days of people being at home mechanic's are numbered....
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Susan 6:37AM (9/02/2006)
If there is a merger between GM and Nissan, work at a UAW facility would be at what wage and with what concessions?
Currently, workers pay 50% of their doctor's office visit. Co-pays for several prescription drugs have more than tripled this year. Gasoline prices have skyrocketed and GM plans to eliminate the Saturn ION? Workers in Spring Hill, Tennessee remain dedicated to GM and we'd like to keep our jobs. If GM fails, the rippling effect would be tremendous locally not to mention globally and yet how many people reading about someone losing their pension after 25 years of service really understand what that means, unless it's their own family being affected? Every American who goes to work everyday, who works hard for their boss and who supports their company's product line, deserves to have their future -- retirements and benefits protected. It's not just words in ink or today's headline. These are real life issues with very devastating consequences and Americans should feel personally obligated to keep America strong and viable. BUY AMERICAN It's not a bumper sticker, it's essential not just to my family, but one day...maybe to YOUR OWN family's welfare. Eight years ago, high priced consultants predicted that America would lose it's manufacturing base, and with it, its middle class lifestyle. Audience attendees walked away "nah"ing those words; but it's here folks. It's happening but the timeline has been pushed up by 10 years, thanks in part to these corporate mega-mergers. Americans have GOT to elect representatives who will vote on issues that will preserve America's stability. GM and Nissan could work together to market products that consumers want and trust. Americans have to do their part too. If you're shopping for a fan, buy the one with the box that says MADE IN THE USA. Buy clothing with a made in the USA label. Hire your neighbor's son to mow your lawn. Instant gratification and saving a couple of bucks--well, it's undermining our nation. Shame on you, if the profits from the automobile that's parked in your driveway goes overseas. It's not right that we stand to lose everything---even an impeccable work record, is it? It shouldn't sound right to anyone reading this posting. You CAN do something to change things. One person, one deed or one CAR, at a time. It may not seem like it's even worth it, but it IS!! You make the effort, and others will watch and respect your motive--and then they'll do the same and that's what it takes. You be the bigger man and YOU be the person to complain to your congressman about paying too much for gas, prescription drugs, insurance deductibles...or that your neighbor has no insurance. Be vocal and be persistent. Quiz the candidate who bombards your mailbox every day with glossy postcards just how much of their campaign money came from corporate donations or "big business" benefactors. When our elected officials realize that they will be questioned and held accountable for their voting record---well, let's just hope that other people DO ask questions. Corporate failures are a weekly headline now, yet where's the outcry? Paperless ballots in elections as important as who will run our country...where's the outcry? It will be interesting to see if GM and Nissan are able to negotiate a mutually satisfying deal. Old age, bankruptcy and starting over don't make for a good bedtime story for the grandkids...
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