Automotive News, Media & Press - GMHTP interview of Mark Ruess, GM Performance Executive

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mitchntx

12-29-2002, 09:42 PM

March, 2003 issue of GMHTP
Pages 20-26

Page 23 ...
GMHTP:
Tops on our reader's list of questions is affordable rear wheel drive performance. There is the fear that GM will do rear wheel drive performance, but it will be financially out of reach. Can you address the sticker price issue?

Mr. Reuss:
Yes I can. First, GM is probably one of the only companies in the world that truly is going to offer performance up in the Cadillac range with the V series but also has some pretty fun entry level vehicles that deliver a lot of performance for the money in the future. Our company is strong because we offer a broad lineup of very attractive products and we're going to continue to do that. Abandoning things and going up market is not the strategy. The strategy is having very good products at every price point. We are not abandoning them.

GMHTP:
Right now the Cavalier is percieved by young performance enthusiasts as uncool and underpowered compared to cars like the Focus SVT, the Neon SRT-4, Nissan Sentra SE-R, MaxdaSpeed Protege and Honda Civic Si. Do you think now is a good time for a Cavalier SS - or some other entry level vehicle - with a little more power?

Mr. Reuss:
I think this is a great time for heavy concentration on entry level performance and we are completing some of this work now. etc., etc., etc.

=============================================

Does this disturb anyone else?

Going UP market with the Cadillac performance and then discussing ENTRY LEVEL performance, equating to Foci, Neon, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, etc. etc. etc.

I see nothing here that gives me a warm fuzzy that GM is even gonna try and compete with a Mustang at a mid-level.

It's either SuperCar or WizCar ... definitely no PonyCar ...

XLR8NSS

12-29-2002, 10:01 PM

Well, at least insurance will be cheaper. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[shoot]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> GM

I think we need to all start buying up GM stock and take over the company. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" />

John

Hardtop

12-30-2002, 01:23 AM

Home grown rice. <img border="0" alt="[shoot]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> GM won't be selling any of that crap to me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> Looks like I'll have to take extra good care of my car, because it doesn't sound like GM is going to make anything that makes me want to trade it in. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

Bruce

RPM WS6

12-30-2002, 01:33 AM

I have already come to the conclusion that I'm gonna have to buy a few more F-bodies now cause there is nothing new from GM that I want. Looks like we will have to start stock piling Camaros and Firebirds...

99MONGOOSE

12-30-2002, 10:03 AM

My exact reason for gearing up to buy a 03 Cobra next year or hell maybe an 04! I surely won't be getting rid of my LS1s though.

J-Rod

12-30-2002, 10:24 AM

Don't forget the Holden, aka GTO...

Neil 6.0

12-30-2002, 10:27 AM

What would be the best way to wipe out all of the upper management at GM?

Hardtop

12-30-2002, 12:22 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by J-Rod:
 Don't forget the Holden, aka GTO... <hr /></blockquote>That's really the only hope, Holden. The problem is they may be more expensive than many can afford. <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Bruce

mitchntx

12-30-2002, 09:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Hardtop:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by J-Rod:
 Don't forget the Holden, aka GTO... <hr /></blockquote>That's really the only hope, Holden. The problem is they may be more expensive than many can afford. <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Bruce <hr /></blockquote>My guess is dealers will mark them up significantly because they are new, rare and exclusive.

Black00Z

12-30-2002, 09:48 PM

Makes me glad I decided to keep my Z.

I'm curious about the price tag on the GTO, if it ever arrives. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> Anybody heard anything?

AlienDroid

12-30-2002, 09:53 PM

I'll never sell my z28

WeatherGuy

12-31-2002, 01:25 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 99MONGOOSE:
 My exact reason for gearing up to buy a 03 Cobra next year or hell maybe an 04! I surely won't be getting rid of my LS1s though. <hr /></blockquote>Think I might abandon GM also for doing this. That interview left a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure what else I would go to . . . maybe a Viper (ughh), maybe a Cobra, who knows. But not a f*cking Cavalier or similar ilk.

Damian

12-31-2002, 02:15 AM

Yep, GM is going to the shitter pretty quick. The F-body and maybe a Z71 will be the last thing I ever buy from GM. Anything else will be a Chrysler or maybe a new Cobra..

mrgto

12-31-2002, 06:07 AM

A. Look at what is HOT right now. Why not take advantage of it?

B. GM Peformance Division, yea high dollar(relativly speaking) RWD and a few FWD cars are coming.

C. SIGMA. If you don't know what that is, you need to educate yourself.

11 Bravo

12-31-2002, 07:57 AM

I'm keeping my TA forever, and will always be a GM guy, but nowadays Ford is the only company on our side. GM wants to sell a Cavalier SS (freaking funny) so kids can put a fart pipe, big wing and Japanese decals on it to look cool, and Ford is selling V8 supercharged Mustangs and trucks. Bob Lutz is the only GM employee I respect. The rest of them have turned on us.

1CAMWNDR

12-31-2002, 10:43 PM

The GTO is probably gonna be a $30,000-$35,000 car BEFORE dealerships start jacking them up. I am sure glad I was able to order my Formula when I did. <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" />

ZR2877

01-01-2003, 01:03 AM

Is there any hope on bringing the f-body back in the near future like 2005 or 2006. That would be a dream come true.

mitchntx

01-01-2003, 01:49 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ZR2877:
 Is there any hope on bringing the f-body back in the near future like 2005 or 2006. That would be a dream come true. <hr /></blockquote>Page 22:
GMHTP:
Can we ask about teh "C" word or the "F" word here? We have to or our readers will revolt.

Mr. Reuss:
Okay.

GMHTP:
Well, what about the "C" word - the Camaro or the Firebird?

Mr. Reuss:
What do you mean, "what about'em"?I mean, what do you want to know? (laughs)

GMHTP:
Is there a future?

Mr. Reuss:
Is there a future? You don't go out there and say "never". That's very dangerous. But if you say "well, we're looking at it." then everybody says, "Alright, we're doing it!"So, I'm not gonna say either of those, because right now, we are not actively working on it.

GMHTP:
It's not closer to one or the other?

Mr. Reuss:
No, it's not.We are just not studying it. and we're not working on it. That's where we're at right now.
=======================

Is this guy a piece of work, or what?

As soon as he gets through burying GM in mediocre-land, he should have a great future in politics ...

rom3

01-02-2003, 03:01 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by mitchntx:
Is this guy a piece of work, or what?

As soon as he gets through burying GM in mediocre-land, he should have a great future in politics ...<hr /></blockquote>I'm right with ya' Mitch. That's the same feeling I got when reading that article. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Why do they need to do so much "dancing" around the issues?

Fulton 1

01-02-2003, 03:04 PM

Mr. Ruess sounds pretty full of himself based on this interview.

This is my favorite quote:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> First, GM is probably one of the only companies in the world that truly is going to offer performance up in the Cadillac range with the V series but also has some pretty fun entry level vehicles that deliver a lot of performance for the money in the future. Our company is strong because we offer a broad lineup of very attractive products and we're going to continue to do that. <hr /></blockquote>It makes me laugh when a company feels the need to TELL you, the consumer, what's fun and what's cool. Do they really think you need their help in figuring it out? Maybe they ought to listen a little instead of spending all that time preaching and patting themselves on the back.

When I look at GM's "broad lineup of very attractive products" I see something like this:

1) Refrigerator white Lumina/Impala/Grand Prix/Grand Am and other assorted rental cars.

2) Ricer/schoolgirl cavalier/sunfire, etc

3) Corvette

4) A wide array of SUV's and trucks that all cost close to $40k, but come with OnStar and heated leather seats <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

5) A few minivans and Aztec things that appeal to nobody.

6) One or two overpriced carrots dangling out there (GTO, Chev SS, etc)

Pretty exciting, huh? <img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" />

Last time I was looking for a car I ended up with an import because there was nothing of interest available domestically at my "price point". Note that I've owned nothing but GM products since I was 16 years old.

I have a feeling that Mr. Ruess is the typical out-of-touch exec - more reactive than proactive. Of course, as far as I can remember, its been many years since GM took a risk beyond retooling their cookie-cutter anyway.

Fulton 1

01-02-2003, 03:26 PM

Okay, since its easy to criticize, but offer nothing else. Here are a few things I'd LOVE to see come from GM performance:

1) An AWD version of the upcoming GMC Canyon available with turbo 4200 I-6 called Cyclone (with the "C" for Canyon instead of "S" as before). This would compete well with the Lightning, should be good bang-for-buck and have a weight advantage over the bigger trucks.

2) A conversion of the Impala to a larger, more cushy RWD. With V8 power for an SS version. Larger than a GTO.

3) A stripper GTO available under $30k.

4) An AWD version of the cavalier or something similar packing about 225-250 hp and around $25k to compete with WRX's and EVO's.

5) A bad-ass Corvette with C5R power. Pretty soon even the ZO6 will have to take a back seat to the Ford GT and new Viper in performance. A nice 427 C5R "for the street" making 500+ fwhp would be a great halo car for the performance division IMO.

6) An updated pair of F-bodies (basically 4-seat, stripper Corvettes for the masses). Using no frills and power on par with base Corvette.

7) A sporty, good handling little RWD roadster. Something like the Miata or S2000.

8) An off-road version of the new Chevy Colorado with I-6 and ZR2-type suspension.

9) And finally some dealer-supported/installed and factory-warrantied performance upgrades such as suspension, superchargers, etc., available for a wide range of new and recent GM cars/trucks. Kind of like what Toyota does with the TRD kits. It would be a DIY optioning approach for those who can't afford the big initial cost or want to add more than what the average Joe wants (i.e. push the costs onto the guy who really wants the added performance, but doesn't want to sacrifice the factory feel and warranty).

Just a few random thoughts...

Patman

01-02-2003, 03:41 PM

I'd love to see GM take the super smooth 275hp inline six that they use in the Envoy and Trailblazer, and put it into a midsize rear drive car. Something around 3000-3100lbs if possible. A car like that would compete directly with the likes of the Maxima, IS300, 3 series BMW, etc, but should be priced slightly less. It just seems like such a waste to me that they have a real nice engine like that but it's stuck only in the heavy SUVs.

Fulton 1

01-02-2003, 03:48 PM

Patman,
Good point. That'd make for a nice, yet sporty family sedan without the BMW sticker shock.

Speaking of the I-6, I'm still confused as to why they are building that new 3.5L I-5. Does the I-6 not fit in the new "mid-size" Colorado/Canyon trucks? Since it's based on the Trailblazer platform, you'd think it'd work. Unless there are crash test issues or something it seems like a new engine like that doesn't make sense. I don't see trading my 4.3L anytime soon for an unproven I-5 design that makes less torque and only comparable hp. Meanwhile Dakota's come with a V-8 and the TRD Tacomas can make 260 hp with the addition of a factory-warrantied blower (for under $3000 more).

Colonel

01-02-2003, 07:38 PM

Well, as far as I'm concerned, GM can do NO right until they bring back the F-body. When and if they ever do, it damn well better be RWD and sportin' at least a V8 under the hood.

...And if it's not I'll sick 'ole Gruffy on 'em! <img border="0" alt="[gruffy cottonball]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_gruffy.gif" />

RPM WS6

01-02-2003, 08:16 PM

Fulton 1...you listed some EXCELLENT ideas. Good thing you're not in charge at GM. Why? Cause I'd be broke from buying cars! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Seriously though, I've bought two new GM cars in just since 1999, and I've also bought countless GM products from GM dealers over the years to keep my GM cars running. I have a TA parked in the garage, a Bonneville as a daily driver, and soon to be buying another car or truck to replace my wife's car. I'd like my next car to be GM (prefferably a Pontiac), but I really think I'm gonna have to ditch GM for new cars unless things change. GMC are the only GM trucks I can consider now. Chevy has gone NUTS with that new ass-ugly space vehicle Avalanch front end on all the trucks.

Why do all their vehicles have to look the same??? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> What's wrong with coming up with some new ideas for each model? Why do all their V8 cars (Vette, soon to be GTO, and Cadillac) have to cost so damn much? Why do they concern themselves with crap like Caviler SS <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" /> when they could easily make more money if they'd build something to actually compete with the Mustang V6/GT sales and price wise rather than a waaaay too pricy waaaaay to ugly GTO (sad they had to desecrate the nameplate on that thing)? Why doens't GM take a long hard look at what loyalists like me and others here have to say?

I've had 11 cars in my life, and 8 of them have been GM. The only two cars I've ever bought new have been GM (a Z28 and my current TA) I'm sad to say that it looks like I'm gonna have to look elsewhere for my future new vehicles. The only way I can stand to buy GM at this point is to buy used.

XLR8NSS

01-02-2003, 08:22 PM

Fulton 1 - You're right. Why build a mid size truck to compete with the Dakota and then not at least offer a small V8 4.8L? GM is so screwed up right now it's not even funny. <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

I wish I could just go in there and start doing this to the decision makers.

<img src="http://64.127.132.31/smilies/nutkick.gif" alt=" - " />

John

RPM WS6

01-02-2003, 08:35 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by XLR8NSS:


I wish I could just go in there and start doing this to the decision makers.

<img src="http://64.127.132.31/smilies/nutkick.gif" alt=" - " />

John <hr /></blockquote>Or this:
<img border="0" alt="[shoot]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bomb]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" />