Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Buick, Chevrolet, GM
GM minivans taken out back and shot
GM, in what can only be termed as a smart move, has killed plans to redesign its minivan lineup for the 2009 model year. Like Ford, which axed the slow-selling Windstar, GM will euthanize it's rather awful minivan lineup, meaning that we won't have the Chevy Uplander, and Buick Terraza around to use as punchlines anymore. Instead, GM will focus on its new full-size crossovers that feature 3-row seating -- the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave.
Minivan sales for the General have dropped 50% since 2000, and the automaker has decided that its resources are better focused on other products. We agree. There's been no good reason to buy a GM minivan for a long time now, as competing products such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and the Chrysler Group minivans have simply outclassed the completely lackluster GM offerings.
This is not good news for workers at GM's Spring Hill, TN plant, which was in line to build the now-scrapped new minivan. The plant has already lost Saturn's Ion (cancelled, GM will import the Astra to replace) and Vue (new version will be built in Mexico). According to the Detroit News, GM will likely assign an as-yet undetermined product to that facility in the future. In the article, Bob Lutz states that the automaker has reached no official decision to pull out of the minivan market entirely.
If that's code for taking a few years off to regroup, so be it. The last thing GM needs is a substandard new vehicle in a highly competitive segment dragging them down in the middle of their product renaissance. Get the new minivan right, then introduce it.
Thanks to Piter for the tip!
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
My wife controls me 11:49AM (11/22/2006)
NOOOOOOOOOOO! You can't!
My wife is going to be so pissed with me!
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Derek 11:52AM (11/22/2006)
My wife decided to get a minivan for our 3 kids the jeep grand cherokee was just not doing it nemore. I spent over 3 months looking at every diffrent model and we got the uplander, we have been nothing but satasfied with this van.. the honda and toyota were so over priced just for the freekin name... the only complaint that i saw about this was the MPG on a recnt trip I was getting 22MPG on the hwy which is pretty good, I think.. I will be sad to see this go..
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AMcA 11:54AM (11/22/2006)
Yeah!
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motorman 12:00PM (11/22/2006)
they cut into GM CAFE ratings and they would rather sell big profit pickup trucks which also cut into the CAFE. we need to drop this CAFE business because it is killing the american car market and most people do not buy cars or trucks because of the fuel milage. there are a few that panic every time the price of gasoline goes up and trade off to get a economy car but never check to see that they will never break even dollars wise on the deal. the loss they took on the trade in would buy lots of gasoline. this guy is telling the truth. http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?p=830450#post830450
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motorman 12:11PM (11/22/2006)
posted the wrong link,try this one http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/OPINION01/611170309/1148/AUTO01
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MikeW 12:14PM (11/22/2006)
22mpg sucks.
The mercury villager from 1993+ with the nissan VG30 could get 30mpg@70mph (no AC) 25mpg@75 with AC in the summer
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Superleggera 11:20PM (8/27/2008)
Filled with Kids and Cargo?
Mansoor 12:18PM (11/22/2006)
I dont think getting rid of the minivan all together is a good idea....I just dont see the average minivan buyer thinking.....Hey! After checking out that Oddessy we should test drive the Acadia. GM will simply lose their minivan buyers.
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k0an 12:19PM (11/22/2006)
Do you think this has anything to do with them getting first place in the T.W.A.T. awards a week ago?
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2615
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Ty 12:23PM (11/22/2006)
Motorman - "...We need to drop this CAFE business because it is killing the american car market ..."
PRODUCT!!! PRODUCT!!!! PRODUCT!!!!! is what's killing the american car market.
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Richard S. 12:30PM (11/22/2006)
If GM with all its resouces cannot design a proper minican to compete with the Odyssey and Sienna, let alone Town & Country/Caravan and even Hyundai's Entourage ,then they are really f**ked up!!! Even Hyundai can design a decent minivan. What's wrong with GM? I used to like the original GM minivans, the "dustbusters". GM should design a minivan and just for Chevrolet (Opel in some foreign markets); No crappy rebadgign as Buicks, Pontiacs and Saturns. Give it the 3.6L V6 with VVT mated to a 6-speed auto tranny. Add Stabilitrak and optional AWD for those who have to deal with snow. Then just have your designes copy/benchmark the best minivans out there. Put decent interiors and shoot anyone who dares to put grey plastics in the interior. There is no reason such Chevrolet minivan cannot sell a minimum of 120,000 copies a year. Profitably.
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Derek 12:33PM (11/22/2006)
sorry mike i was going 85 on 95 with the air on as well hey it beat the s#$^ out of 16 that I would get with my Grand Cherokee.
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Derek 12:37PM (11/22/2006)
Richard, go out and look at Hyundai's Entourage, it is the exact same as toyotas sienna, and kia's sodona... the exact same!!!!
down to the roof mounted flip downs to store your sun glasses..
way to copy a design
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Lalala 12:39PM (11/22/2006)
Derek, the Honda and Toyota minivans aren't overpriced "just for the freekin name." They're a lot more expensive because they're hat much better than the GM minivans in performance, fuel economy, ergonomics, reliability, you name it. I like GM a lot more than most people (I drive a Chevy), but they're so far behind in the minivan game (like Ford) that they really had no other choice than to can these things.
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Chrysler01 1:56AM (6/14/2009)
The quality is not better on the honda and toyota, I have had both and the GM minivan has been far more reliable so far. They should discontinue the honda, just about everything they make is lacking big time.
Jim 12:45PM (11/22/2006)
It's a little sad being partial to the General's products to see they couldn't do a decent Minivan. Sales being off 50% from 2000 is because they have been rewarming the same stuff for 6 years. Looks like Honda will get my money now. A crossover won't do it for our family. GM should have made one good van and not 4-5 different (but the same) crappy ones.
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Chrysler01 2:18AM (6/14/2009)
Try Chrysler, those minivans are far better the what honda calls a minivan !
sfast 12:53PM (11/22/2006)
YEAH!
Thos things suck ass. Those are by far the worst mini vans out there. They haven't made any real changes to them in so many years. It is a wonder how they sold them for so long. And getting the air filter in and out is a bitch and a half.
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Gardiner Westbound 12:54PM (11/22/2006)
I liked my dustbuster-style GM minivan, especially the rustproof plastic panels, though the large panel gaps created excessive highway wind noise.
At 50,000 miles the warranty expired and seemingly a time bomb went off in the works. I couldn't keep it running regardless the amount of money spent. It irreversibly removed GM products from consideration.
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mehugtree 12:54PM (11/22/2006)
Chevy, I have the answer.
Bring back the "cool" van. You used to make sweet, sweet vans back in the 60's, early 70'. Go retro on it. make a minivan that harkens back to the old days! Make the van cool again.
something like this: http://www.vcvc.org/galleryset.html
it's big in japan, and we all love these cool old vans. don't give up!
-mht
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