We here at GM Authority regularly receive messages from readers on all sorts of topics, including purchase decisions and the reasoning behind them. Now, we’re taking a closer look at why one GM owner has decided to shop other brands, and hopefully provide some insight with regard to the owner’s perceptions and reasoning.
This latest GM Authority mailbag comes to us from 2022 GMC Terrain owner Scott C., who tells us that although he’s owned GM vehicles for the last 12 years, he’s decided to start looking at other makes for his next purchase, listing five reasons for the decision. The reasons include the addition of OnStar and Connected Services as a $1,500 “mandatory option,” something which Scott says “very few owners will ever use.” Scott also tells us that the paint color options are “boring,” adding that anything other than white costs extra. Additionally, Scott doesn’t like the lack of heated seats with the leather upholstery, or the lack of engine options for the GMC Terrain, while adding that the 2019- through 2023-model-year GM vehicles saw “no major changes, just price increases for the same vehicles.”
“I could go on and on, but I think you get my point,” Scott tells GM Authority. “Jeep, Ford and even Kia have better color choices and powertrain options than GM, which has me leaving for the competition.”
Let’s address Scott’s concerns point by point, starting with OnStar and Connected Services, which was indeed added as a “mandatory option.” Looking ahead, though, the feature will be integrated into the vehicle’s standard feature list and will no longer appear as an option on Buick and GMC configurators.
Although OnStar and Connected Services includes some interesting app-based features, as well as on-board Wi-Fi, it also consequently raises vehicle MSRP. And although the latest 2023-model-year Chevy vehicles won’t get mandatory OnStar and Connected Services, they will get a mandatory Remote Access plan. The MSRP for Chevy vehicles will also increase, but by just $300, as compared to the $905 to $1,675 MSRP increase for Buick and GMC vehicles.
Next, let’s talk about colors. While some paint colors are reserved for pricier trim levels, most GM vehicles offer a fair number of color options, even in the base trim levels. The 2022 GMC Terrain, however, is an exception, offering Summit White as the only no-charge paint color, while all other hues cost $495. And of course, GM’s metallic / tri-coat / tintcoat paint colors do generally include an extra cost.
Then we have the heated seats issue. There are currently no GM models with leather or leatherette seating surfaces that don’t include standard heating, at least for the front seats. Unfortunately, the microchip shortage has forced GM to build units without heated and ventilated features. Thankfully, affected units will be eligible for dealer-installed retrofits when the components become available again.
Now let’s talk about the powertrain. It’s true that the GMC Terrain and the Chevy Equinox are currently offered with a just single powertrain choice, specifically, the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX gasoline engine. However, this is the engine that most buyers chose anyway, and the Equinox / Terrain’s previously available turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG engine is currently on its way out the door, with the Chevy Camaro being the only model to still offer it.
It would also likely be too costly for GM to implement the turbo 2.0L I4 LSY engine at this point in the Equinox/Terrain’s production cycle, given the associated emissions certification costs and possibly even crash test costs, both of which would sink profits. With that in mind, Scott should consider the Buick Envision, rather than the Terrain, the former of which is equipped with the 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine. It’s also worth mentioning that several rivals only offer one engine option as well, including the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru Forester, and Jeep Compass.
Finally, we have the refresh issue. As it turns out, several GM models received a mid-cycle update in the last two years, including the Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain, Chevy Blazer, Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, Chevy Bolt EV, Chevy Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500. While some models received only mild changes, others received more extensive updates. However, two factors influenced the relatively slow refresh cadence, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as GM’s push for electrification, which means some ICE models may get extended production cycles, rather than redesigns.
Hopefully all that provides some insight into Scott C’s concerns. And don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
The OnStar mandatory charge is reason enough to look elsewhere. I was a longtime subscriber way back when, however no way is it worth $900-$1500 today. I won’t buy from a dealer that charges a mandatory “paint protection” package or some other nonsense for $1000+, the fact that a manufacturer is starting to blatantly and significantly pad profits in a similar way is unacceptable.
Not a valued service consumers want. Fuel economy is another area GM is falling behind. I’ve been a GM owner since 1976 and and now considering a Toyota grand highlander hybrid over the traverse. Although GM authority hints that 2025 traverse may be a phev but that is a far stretch Sorrry GM after 37;years and 15 vehicles I am looking else where for Traverse alternative
Bud, the Highlander hybrid is significantly more expensive than the similar traverse trim, and doesn’t have as nice a layout, interior, style or refinement. I just bought a traverse because it was the best bang for the buck. Chevy trucks used to be as well, but rams deeper incentives have me looking towards ram, despite the silverados superior durability and towing.
GM may be floundering, but so is almost everyone else, especially ford and VW. Ford is right now over the target with the maverick and bronco sports, but in everything else their worse than GM.
Toyota and Honda right now are doing in the same they normally do, which I always thought was inferior and 2 steps behind other brands. They might for once get a chance to catch up.
I like to also add that GM is raking in the “conquest sales” from owners of other brands. The super high car prices from inflation have almost everyone who used to just show up and buy their next vehicle shopping around. GM buyers ain’t happy, ford buyers ain’t happy, Toyota buyers just as oblivious. Honda buyers angry they can’t get civics even at inflated prices. Nobody’s happy.
GM continues to add cost for items their customers don’t see value in. I’ve used Onstar and it’s doesn’t add value. To now force it on people or include in vehicle price reduces the value for the dollar GM should strive to achieve. Speaking from this consumer. I’m subscriptioned out! Everyone want to get their long term hands into my bank account and I’m not playing. You want monthly cash for something I’ll do without. The most recent move from GM will not fly with this 25+ year GM customer. Add it to the base price and I’m still going to shop because it’s tech I don’t want or will use my phone for. Even now they want 100 dollars to keep your map up to date. This is a service they should be happy to provide to keep customers coming back.
I’d really like to know GM’s plan for retro- fiting the missing features I paid for back in May of 2022. Seems they have forgotten about the unknown number of vehicles sold incomplete. I’m ready to trade to get heated stearing wheel and heated seats. Of they can get new parts for new trucks, they should be able to purchase the parts for 2022 vehicles before the molds are destroyed. Please somebody tell me when I will get my Sierra upgraded . If I try to sell or trade, I’m going to lose trade in value for missing features. I will never buy another Vehicle missing features with a promise to retro-fit ASAP. ITS BEEN NEARLY 9 MONTHS. All I want is a commitment date . I have had it with GM and their prioritys. When I talk trade they knock $ 2 k off value for a $25 .00 incontinence fee I got off new vehicle. Talk about a class action law suite coming up really soon. I have been scammed . Not a Happy GM customer.
I will be looking to update my vehicles ( currently a Malibu and an Impala). One vehicle I will not purchase is an all electric which will remove GM from my list. Additionally, being forced to a truck or a SUV is low down on my list. I had a 1984 Envoy with OnStar and when I added an Impala OnStar was a must. Since then GM removed the in vehicle calling. I am in the process of cancelling in can WIFI ( too expensive). It only leaves monthly notifications on tire pressure, upcoming oil change and how much warranty is left. I would not consider being forced paying a penny to purchase a GM in order to drive a GM off the lot.
It appears that GM is not considering offering hybrids in their fleet which is another reason to not consider a GM product.
I come from a GM family. I’m privy to the GMS discount program, but not sure if I will stay with GM. We would trade our 20 Sierra 1500 duromax for an updated 23 model, but those jokers discontinued Satin Steel color. I have a 1700 dollar paint matched cover on my truck. Mandatory onstar is pure bull. Oh, and their electric fetish is getting old.
Thanks. I absolutely agree with you about the mandatory Onstar charge. And you make a great analogy about being forced by dealers to play for mandatory “paint protection”. This is similar to GMC charging $495 for paint colors when Chevy offers the same colors at NO CHARGE.
There is an analogy – it goes back a few years – to hotels.
Chevy is the “budget” brand (har de har har) and yet has a few colors available standard. Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Best Western: high speed internet is free.
GMC is up-market, but charges for colors. Hilton, Sheraton, Starwood, etc charged $9.95 a day for internet.
Land line internet is 1/100000th the cost of over the air internet.
And, virtually any unlimited-data cell phone plan is a mere fraction of car internet. Before I retired, I regularly tethered my phone to my laptop when I just HAD to connect back to the office to download a file or something.
My wife’s Malibu had the onstar and it got her lost in rural TN at night because their system is primarily set up for major thoroughfares and metropolitan areas. They haven’t updated their system in so many years it’s pathetic. The only way she got out of her predicament was to call onstar and give them her location and then they probably asked google for directions and sent them to her. She never used it again and we never used the free trial in our 2017 Equinox. I had a free trial in a 2004 Trailbazer I bought used in 2005. Living in north AL I tried using it one time just to see how it was as I had never had it before. Sure enough when I left the interstate onto to a county road it didn’t know where it was taking me. Luckily I was familiar with the road or I would’ve been lost, their system is way out of date and I guess Marry won’t appropriate funds for an update.
My experience with OnStar was pretty good right up through about 2016. The personnel were attentive, could speak clearly, and understood what you were requesting.
Then, it went downhill. First it was interminable delays (“Your call is very important to us…”), and then the personnel declined to being mumblers who were hard to understand, and any sort of request had to be repeated. I speak clearly to the point I am asked if I was ever a broadcaster, so it wasn’t me. Add in prices that went through the roof and taking away the ability to store phone numbers starting in 2018, and I was done.
I remember when it first came out. A dealer I know, his wife didn’t know much about it. She was in an accident and it called her right away and asked her if she was hurt and said it had already notified the police. She was a bit shook up and said where are you. Who are you? She told everyone that story and said I will never be without it. But it looks like now it is price prohibited. A shame!
I may be guilty of hyperbole here, but, in 2022, “Your crash is very important to us, please remain on the line…”
The fact remains that across all GM-Chevy models of SUVs, they all look too boringly similar. Indistinguishable, unless you have them all lined up side-by-side. As done in most GM-Chevy ads, in order to help you notice the very subtle differences in grills and head/taillights
Have you noticed that every Lincoln SUV looks exactly the same? Every Audi, BMW…yes Cadillac too. I don’t think this is a mistake, but you single out Chevy and GM, why? VW in North America is appealing to those who want cheap cars, like back in the 60s. VW in Germany is on a completely different level, an upper lever because Americans are cheap.
Don:
I think my upcoming Caddy LYRIQ – pushed back *AGAIN* 3 months – looks like a 1958 Chrysler..So , its good!
But I like the Look…. Anyways the interior looks acceptable… Hopefully I’ll be able to turn off the silly light show every time I come near the car.
Hey Bill, I think the Lyriq looks absolutely beautiful, inside and out. It’s certainly looks much more attractive than the missing-link, the Tesla Y…hideous! I’d take the Lucid over the Model S easy…I’m anti-Tesla except for the real man who was a genius. Gone are the beautiful GM designs of the ‘60s & ‘70s, those were some of the most beautiful cars ever.
Marry should go the same way!
Hi Don :
Yeah- regarding nice designs I thought the original Monte Carlo with the old school round 7″ (single) headlights was a classic design – I never drove one so don’t know if seeing past that really long hood was ever a problem for anyone….
As far as Tesla goes, I had an early Roadster – which was the most unreliable vehicle I’ve ever owned… Powertrain stuff was fair – it was the rest of the car that fell apart – including all the ‘Improvements’ (really, just silly changes like electric latches which never worked right, un-anvilled switches for the OUTSIDE door handles, Ugly LED tailights replacing the very stylish single incandescent taillights on the Lotus Elise).. Tesla’s charging cords would fail every other month or so – and with only a 2 year/24000 mile warranty – alot of people wasted $1,500 opting for it…. Thankfully, I’m the first Tesla owner (so they told me), that DID NOT use an approved Tesla charging method… I ended up buying a $735 Schneider Electric (Square-D) 30 amp wall box, and a $700 converter cord for the standard J1772 connection so that I could drive the car farther and charge back up at a public wallbox. The Schneider had to be modified slightly to connect to the Roadster, and also to prevent easily preventable overheating, but I’m still using it 12 years later. Its only good for 30 amperes, but it was good enough for the 70 ampere Roadster and it will be just fine for the 80 ampere Caddy LYRIQ.
Fortunately they pretty much left the front of the car alone…. Very ‘energy in-efficient’ but I loved it… 25 watt (!!!!) amber incandescent turn signals, and 240 watts of headlights when on High-Beams..
I remember 1/2 year after I bought it – Tesla came out with a package to “Modernize the front of the car” with LED HEADLIGHTS, and LED turn signals – for $3,000. I told them NO WAY – this car had the BEST HEADLIGHTS of any car I’ve ever driven, haha.
My experience with the car is the same as with other guys who bought a boat… The 2 best days of my life were:
1). The day it arrived.
2). The day I traded it in (Phew !!!) – got alot of my money back before the car turned into junk.
At least the thing didn’t catch fire or explode like the slightly newer ‘old’ model “S” sedans did…
Nikoli Tesla I feel actually gets a bit too much credit these days…. Edison gypped him but George Westinghouse allowed him to put his NAME on anything he developed, as well as allowing him to use his name for any U.S. Patents, whereas Edison followed the current Corporate policy – namely – anything developed while being paid wages belongs to the Company, not whoever developed it.
In the end – Tesla gets a bit too much credit for developing the induction motor, and of course, a polyphase (actually 2-phase, 4-wire) generation method which was just two windings 90 degrees rotationally apart, to generate the rotating field for that motor.
The much more economic and elegant 3-phase and 6-phase systems would be developed by the General Electric company – the successor of the company swindled away from Edison.
Daughter had a 2021 VW burned oil from day one and dealer said it would quit as the engine broke in…never did..24 months out dealer offered an engine for 12k.. lofl
Could have been a Porsche mechanic filled in that day…or Audi, SEAT, Lamborghini, Skoda, Bentley or perhaps a Ducati one.
I’d really like to know GM’s plan for retro- fiting the missing features I paid for back in May of 2022. Seems they have forgotten about the unknown number of vehicles sold incomplete. I’m ready to trade to get heated stearing wheel and heated seats. Of they can get new parts for new trucks, they should be able to purchase the parts for 2022 vehicles before the molds are destroyed. Please somebody tell me when I will get my Sierra upgraded . If I try to sell or trade, I’m going to lose trade in value for missing features. I will never buy another Vehicle missing features with a promise to retro-fit ASAP. ITS BEEN NEARLY 9 MONTHS. All I want is a commitment date . I have had it with GM and their prioritys. When I talk trade they knock $ 2 k off value for a $25 .00 incontinence fee I got off new vehicle. Talk about a class action law suite coming up really soon. I have been scammed . Not a Happy GM customer.
GM is loosing me, too, for too much content (OnStar), blah paint, lack of sexy design, few sedans including loss of Regal/TourX–obviously they sold poorly & are now the property of Stellantis.
I’m a car guy–would rather drive a crappy but relaxing Dodge Dart than a GMC Arcadia–and GM has very few options for me making Honda & VW my best bets. If I were looking for an SUV Envision is the only GM option. Honestly Durango, Cherokee and Mazda CX 30 are superior to most of GM’s current offerings with both Terrain and Blazer being terribly over-priced.
GMC Acadia (not arcadia) is a fine SUV and top tow vehicle. I intend to have mine for 12 years ,as it does so much so well.
I trade my GMC truck every year since 2015. The only reason is that my dealer has always given me a very competitive trade allowance. My current GMC Sierra crew cab which is a 2022 limited bought in December 2021 list for 61,500. The same identical 2023 truck with mandatory Onstar (which I never use and consider a waste of monies) my dealer says will list close to 68.
Fortunately the dealer has a ford dealership and my four other friends on same annual trade yearly plan as myself are shopping ford and Ram. I can’t believe GM would add 1500 OPTION on window sticker for Onstar; it’s NOT an option, it’s a mandatory corporate greed markup!!
No need to buy a truck every year. Take it on a lease.
Woody:
Ever see the Tom Cruise Movie over a decade ago “MINORITY REPORT” about “PRE CRIME” police departments in the year 2054?
His ‘onstar-like vehicle’ shut him down and tried to lock him in the car….
I wonder if that was a “$1500 Mandatory Option”? Just another ‘mandatory option’ to confirm George Orwell’s writings. Of course the head of the CIA said years ago that:
“We’ll SPY on people through their Dishwasher”….. No need to mandate things since people will willingly pay CA$H for them, such as Smart Speakers, Smart Phones, Big Flat Screen TVs and Tablets and Lap Top computers with cameras and microphones in them – internet connection required of course. As well as Digital refrigerators with cameras looking not solely at the food. HAHA !!!
Glad I still have a roof top Antenna for the digital TV, as well as an internet connection that (SHUCKS) …. Just never can NEVER seem to connect to the monitoring devices… So sorry about that !!
Ready to buy 2025 GMC Acadia if GM will offer V6 gas
Engine option.
I agree. I would think Envision also, but ill never buy anything manufactured in China.
Agree, I would only consider Acadia or Traverse. I think both are still built in Lansing.
But I want V6 gas engine option.
75 Dart most comfortable car to ingress/egress ever! 67 Dart GT oooohhh my favorite!
If I could, I’d have a ’64 Dart convertible, with either the 273 or the 225, 4 on the floor.
We all have dreams…
maybe the Design is too bad since a while ? …. but then the Design in others is bad too… we have no options.
Don’t think you changed Scott’s mind.
Sorry but i agree with Scott. I, too am looking. Wanted another equinox but why would I give up the 2.0 engine which is more hp for the 1.5 because the majority buys the lower engine which most vehicle reviews says to buy the 2.0. One suv I was looking at next they eliminated the silver color. I’ve taken a poll from friends and strangers and all are shocked and asked why the silver – it’s a good and popular color. The interior seat colors are now dark and (absorbs heat) and unattractive. My main gripe is not just gm but it appears majority manufacturers option are catered to young drivers. The senior population is important also. Most can’t understand technology or want it but we are forced with apple/Android play vice our desire for a nice cd, many of us prefer sedans which is easier to get into and usually a more comfortable drive but are slowing being forced into suvs. I understand about transition to EV however it appears no one is looking at the populations that live in condo, townhouses assisted living homes (but still capable of driving) and other types homes that HOAs may not be able to put in the amount of power sources needed for each family. Also I’m guessing about half of the senior population only drives when required and average way less than 10k a year. We are not using much gas but are now being forced to get an EV even though our income is much lower than when working. I look forward to change but starting to get aggravated with being mandated to what I am allowed due to other people’s ideas or age groups of what is best for us.
Great post Darlene, that really sums it up. Lets hope someone at GM reads it. All I wanted was a short bed Silverado with a V8, somewhat loaded and it’s not available. They have lost me to ford who makes what myself and a lot of others my demographic want.
Love our current Cadillac but no longer have a local dealer. Will not buy a car unless there is a local dealer for convenience reasons. Considering a Genesis.
I prefer ICE large sedans over electrified SUVs and trucks and have purchased a 2017 Impala a couple of years ago. It seems that GM is not going to manufacture the type of vehicle that I like the next time I’m going to be in the market for a new vehicle. It looks like I will be forced to search other car companies for a large sedan when the time comes.
GM (sorry — “gm”) is in a painful transition. They have existing models, such as the Equinox and Terrain, that are showing signs of age, but they are aggressively marketing future models, such as the new Equinox EV and Blazer.
It seems clear to me that the transition to EVs means the current models are receiving less love, care, and attention. Of course as someone looking at the current Terrain, I think they are making a huge mistake. It results in people like Scott leaving to other brands, including Jeep, Ford, and Kia, which are looking at electrification, but not at the expense of their current models.
And once they move to different brands, they may never come back.
On the ‘may’:
You can probably say that they ‘probably won’t.
Redesigned Colorado coming and it only comes in a short box. One motor choice and u wonder why people are shopping other brands. Dealers having nothing on the lots but used vehicles. I’ve been buying new gm vehicles for 30 yrs but no more. Buying a vehicle is usually something u cherish, order it with everything you wanted, but now it’s just sorry this is the way they come. Greed! Dealers will suffer in the long run.
GM no longer cares about existing ICE models as they want to go all EV asap. California passes no ICE sales beyond 2035 one day & asks owners not to charge next day due to power grid issues. How does the world think enough electricity can be produced for ev & daily living needs? I got it. Mandatory wind mills ($1995 & solar panels $1495) on SUV roofs, hoods, and trucks or frunks.
I now believe GMauthority is owned by GM. After listening to complaints you spent the whole time disecting the comments and trying to prove them wrong (unsuccessfully). That’s been GMs M.O. and undoing for as long as I can remember.
As a former Chevy owner (’77 Chevy Van – 180k miles, ’95 Chevy Blazer – 363k miles, and others) I was really looking forward to the new Blazer EV. However, I’m really disappointed in the exterior shape. Sure, it’s got some new fancy plastic grill and spoiler(?), but it looks like every other SUV out there. But don’t get me started on the tires. The Blazer is no different from other makes with 55R19’s for the base model. I wish these designers had to drive on roads with potholes and other wheel bending hazards. One pothole and you’re buying two new tires and rims. I want a sport UTILITY vehicle, not a low-rider wanna-be sports car. I had high hopes for the Blazer EV, but now I’m going to pass.
Let’s see:
-Too many gm vehicles being made in Mexico, China, and Korea for US sale when gm claims to be an “American” car company
-Fewer choices (e.g. new Colorado/Canyon)
-No large luxury sedan
-A dead man walking Camaro that people may shy away from because its status is unknown
– No compact sedans
-Boring compact CUVs
-Becoming a political left-wing social organization over building the best vehicles on the market.
I think that Ford has a lot of the same problems as well. It looks like Barra and Farley are cut from the same paisley design woke cloth.
I 100% agree with you. In the end, Mary will likely be added into the Riger Smith Hall of Fame for one of the worst GM leaders of all time.
When I was ready to replace my 2017 CT6 Platinum I was hoping to replace it with a CT6 Blackwing until I caught wind the CT6 would be discontinued. No problem, I purchased my second non-GM vehicle in 50+ years of driving a BMW M550 with more performance and options than a Blackwing! When the current generation Escalade came out, made a decision to give GM a chance and ordered a fully optioned Premium Luxury. After being stroked on delays and delivery for 3+ months I cancelled the order, went to my BMW dealer and ordered to my specs, a BMW X5M50i, delivered in 12 weeks! No regret again! Cost less than the Escalade, in an exterior color I really love and with performance equal or quicker than an Escalade V.
The only Cadillac I have any interest in is the CT6 but it doesn’t look like it will be imported. I also have no interest in a luxury car with a 2.0 liter lawnmower engine. As it turns out, the Caddy dealer I dealt with took a buyout and decided not to make the investment for EVs. Just a side note, the dealership chain is owned by Lithia. This makes it less likely for me to go back to GM. No regrets moving on to BMW (4) vehicles later.
Marty:
Like Roger Smith: Mary Barra does very well from GM .. FOR HERSELF….
GM has for decades been a mixed bag for me…. I swore them off 30 years ago, but went back to them after listening attentively to BOB LUTZ – who himself was forced to retire early since he didn’t believe the “Fossil Fuel, Greenhouse Gasses” nonsense currently in Vogue.
But his micromanagement made his First Generation VOLT (2011-2015) the safest car every made.
I now have a 2019 second generation Volt – and its a fairly nice car – but as I say, a mixed bag since the car does what it wants even though you tell specifically *NOT* to do something, and of course, while reasonably safe, it can’t hold a candle to Lutz’s masterpiece.
The 2.7L Turbo Diesel would have been a interesting engine option for this SUV. The 2.7L in the Colorado would have been another compelling choice.
Colorado is powered by a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder, which comes in three versions. The base engine has 237 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. If you want more power, there’s the same engine that powers the Silverado, which has 310 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque in the Turbo Plus version.
GM sometimes misses an opportunity to offer the right engine in its vehicles. Like for example the Buick 3.8 (3800) in the Saturn Vue, the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15 compact trucks as well as in the Astro and Safari mini vans.
I have been asking my local dealer (bought 6 Buick /GMC Vehicles there since 2014) for a YEAR now to order a Buick Envision, but it needs to be a complete vehicle, heated seats, heated steering wheel etc, all MUST work when delivered….he just laughed……so just ordered a Volvo in August, with delivery in November….GM lost a good customer by not having their act together….
At least the Volvo is built in the USA.
Volvo is owned by a Chinese company and being built in china.
Yes. It’s Chinese-owned. But, last I looked, Charleston is still in South Carolina.
The article reports telling the consumer what the consumer wants.I hope that is not the mind set. If it is, it’s stupid. It reminds me of the day when employees would recommend a warning for leaving the lights on, and management’s response was much the same. It also reminds me of the automated warning that pops up on the screen from time to time about distracted driving. If the warning was not compelled it too is stupid.
I can’t believe that GM can’t or won’t adjust their marketing strategy to eliminate OnStar. It’s a profit scam and most people have figured that out. When I bought my last new GM product in 2014 I refused to activate OnStar since I learned from past experience that you never want to give them your credit card number. I had to sell my vehicle to get them to stop charging me the monthly fee.
I’d have done something far easier: called my credit card’s 800 number, and a) told the rep that charges from OnStar are fraudulent and not to honor them, and b) get the credit card number changed.
That may stop you from paying for what you all ready have but it won’t stop you from paying up front for something you don’t use.
I fully agree, but, I was addressing Retired Dude’s point about giving a credit card number.
For the record, I love my Ram pickup, but it just too much vehicle for my needs so I am in the market for something AWD that I can fit in. I WAS about to give the Traverse a look, but with mandatory OnStar, I’d not even consider one.
We have been a family which has been owning GM vehicles, and being an advocate of GM with the rest of the extended family for the past 33 years. My dad worked for Ford and really never got me into so my 1st purchase was a Chevy CK Truck back then (base model, stick shift, regular cab, regular box).
Even though my wife has tried to convince my daughter, now graduated with a bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering and working at a good company, she wants to buy a Audi A3. The reason: Chevrolet does not have a sedan, she is not going to drive an SUV or CUV and not willing to get into a Cadillac CT4 or CT5 (too much for her in her 20’s).
Nothing we can do here…
I don’t really understand this comment as Audi and Cadi are both considered luxury brands and the A3 and CT4 priced the same with the CT4 having a slightly larger footprint with their tweener sizing.
My last 2 trucks (16 & 19) were GM, but I made the switch to Ford also. I almost waited for the refresh, but when I saw trucks coming through with a “promise” to add at a later date, that made up my mind to jump ship. I have a 22 F150 with all the options working including BlueCruise, and I was also pleased that Ford does not nickel and dime customers for basic app functions that should be included. I’m very satisfied with the Ford so far. GM will really need to step up their game if they want my business back.
We’d been a GM family since 2014 when we bought a new Encore. We loved it, it drove great, but had to move on when we realized a stroller couldn’t fit with groceries. We have an Equinox now and had ordered an Envision back in April, but only reluctantly because the color choices were so limited, especially the interior choices being only black and white. Boring!
So I was reading my GM Authority morning roundup in June and saw the article about BMW’s total redesign of the X1, and it completely turned my head. After hearing about the mandatory OnStar thing, that was the last straw. Canceled the Envision, ordered a stunningly beautiful green X1 with brown interior in August, and now I can track my BMW’s build progression. It’s meant to be completed on Sep. 15 and should be delivered in October. Oh, and my BMW came in around $2500 cheaper than the Envision.
I believe your new BMW is made here, as well. So, it may be a German company, but at least you put some Americans to work at good wages and benefits.
GMA – your tone comes off somewhere between a defense of GM and chastising Scott C. for opinions you don’t care for. Even your defense of GM falls short by either deflecting or only partially disagreeing (the ol’ “well actually”). The connected services versus OnStar connected services difference is likely not going to be any consolation or provide any epiphany for Scott C. He doesn’t like being forced to buy the service. Even a few of the refutations you offered were sort of walked back at the conclusion with some acquiescence that he was correct in his point but that it didn’t apply to other models (which was not at all his point).
You’ve missed the mark with this article. As many, many of the other replies to this post attest — GM has some unhappy customers and former customers. Certainly GM doesn’t have to respond to customers or the market and may drive the business however it thinks best for shareholders — it’s an obligation of management to steer the business for the best interest of shareholders. However, inviting engagement and then dismissing and refuting OPINIONS is wrong minded.
A held opinion such as, “I don’t like the offered color selections” It is never wrong nor can it be refuted — it’s the man’s opinion.
GM is doing fine with it’s truck and SUV line and will sell everything they can make. That doesn’t mean everyone is satisfied with the effort or products or the direction the overall product development is headed.
I suggest you not discourage anyone from voicing a critical opinion.
I’m in total agreement with Scott on GM. I’ve owned nothing but GM vehicles since 1968, I’m a forth generation GM employee and it truly saddens me that my wife and I are currently looking for a replacement for her Equinox and GM won’t be on the list.
Same here, been buying GM since 1960’s. Seems GM is catering to the Government, not its customers. With EVs and no V6 or V8 engine options.
My wife made the change from GMC to RAM. Reasons, interior design with quality materials and ride quality. She was the last loyal GM buyer in the family. Many of her equestrian business friends have switched to RAM.
From my viewpoint, it seems that the rush to EVs is reducing GMs spending on its ICE stable. This could be an opportunity for competitors who are slower in the transition.
As a GM retiree I am eligible for substantial discounts on ordered vehicles and decent discounts off dealer lots. My last new GM car was a Chevy Equinox in 2017 to tow behind our motorhome. It was very good on gas mpg, but the seats were terrible, the side bolsters were so high my wife had difficulty getting out of the seat. I don’t believe this car was designed to drive around curves at 80 mph so the seat didn’t need that big of a seat bolster. Now present day, needing to buy an anti-Biden gas prices car, we looked at all the GM offerings, for a sedan, for a hybrid (I wouldn’t buy an EV if they offered them at a decent price because it’s doesn’t fit my lifestyle) no hybrids! They did build hybrids but discontinued them when they decided customers wanted SUVs or CUVs. I don’t, they get terrible mpg for no bigger than they are. So now I start shopping the competition, Ford builds hybrids but I’m not a fan of their turbo engines, Chrysler excuse me, Stillantis only only builds performance cars or the 300. Ok onto foreign makes, wouldn’t have German crap, to expensive to maintain. Surprise Korea and Japan still make sedans and everyone of them offer hybrids with amazing mpg. I looked seriously at Hyundai Sonata hybrid as I like the style and 8 speed automatic transmission. Dealers couldn’t tell me when they expect a new one (must be a former GM executive in charge). Stop by the Toyota dealer, yes they have sedans, yes they have hybrids, the only problem, right now because so many people are looking for anti-Biden gas prices they’re out of stock, however they do have them on order and are in the pipeline for delivery. Knowing the reputation Toyota has for reliability and the Camry is a decent sized car I say I’ll take it. It’s white not my favorite color but living in FL it’s the smartest color for reflecting some of the heat. When can I expect delivery? Not real positive but it’s in the system within 3-4 weeks, it was delivered 3weeks and 1 day. We took it on a 1700 mile trip 3 days later, it gets 47.8 mpg at 75 mph on the cruise control, I have gotten 57.3 everyday driving here at home. It’s very comfortable, has more than enough passenger room and the trunk is very big. And it’s made in southern Indiana, not Mexico or china as all the so called American manufacturers are doing, so I’m still driving American and I love it. The quality is far better than the Equinox and the Camry is the base model LE.
I agree with the colors I bought a 22 Tahoe and the only color that didn’t look like a funeral car color was Pearl white so that’s what I ordered. The only other was a red tint coat but in person, it was just maroon that I hate. At the same time, I bought a 22 Corvette in torch red. Corvette is the only vehicle that GM offers excellent colors.
Luckily we bought a 2019 Equinox with the last great engine a turbo 2.0 with 253 HP and 240 lbs torque. it is fast then they ruined it with new engines all with 75 hp less.
I have owned 14 GM vehicles. But I am seriously looking elsewhere now because:
1. Mandatory Onstar. I had it for 11 years. I don’t need it. My cell phone is good enough.
2. Limited Exterior color choices. Drab dull colors only for SUVs and Sedans except for high cost tri-coat white. Others have much brighter prettier reds. My last 2 GM vehicles have been the high cost tri-coat white.
3. Interior color and material choices. Black and gray only maybe with some highlights on the most expensive models. I can’t stand it. Occasionally you will see Cocoa and Shale. That is when I buy. Cloth on the least expensive models, perforated leather on the most expensive models, but only non-perforated leather on the intermediate models. I will never own non-perforated leather seats. So I am forced into the most expensive models. How about high-quality cloth on the intermediate models.
4. Limited engine choices. Limited rear wheel drive. Limited AWD. Limited mechanical choices in general and I know it is going to get worse until there are none.
5. EV only intentions. I will never buy a battery only EV vehicle. I will consider a PHEV.
6. SUVs with no option to not have third row seats to provide better carrying capacity.
I do not see any vehicle I want out there now.
I have a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado High County with an issue on Park Assist. When driving the Park Assist will turn off and I am not able to turn it back on. Had it at a dealership for over two months and can not fix it. The last time I had it at the dealership an engineer was at the dealership and still not fixed.
And perhaps gm’s consistently mediocre Consumer Reports reliability ratings. Whether you think it’s fair or not, a lot of customers reference those ratings.
OH! And one more thing.
7. Transmissions that cannot be shifted into neutral if the engine won’t start.
It’s the dealership experience for me. I despise the current dealership model in the service department. I can’t discount the possibility of wanting a gm EV at some point but the service department model is so bad that it will make me think twice. It played a part in trading in my new ’19 cruze diesel hatch (with warranty left) for a 6 year old MB GLK250. The service experience was a major factor.
gm is falling way behind in colors anddesign you need to bring back some good looking sedans not everone wants a truck
I switched brands too! Got a 2023 Volvo XC60 to replace a 2017 Acadia. Waited 3 months for an “in transit” 2022 Traverse that had my name on it. It still hasn’t shown up at the dealer located 60 miles from the assembly plant. This is my first non-GM product since 1965.
I agree with others that the mandatory optioning for Onstar is ludicrous. I never had. use for it, and never activated it after the “free trial”.
I have been with gm since I started driving 1972! I have a 2022 2500 HD duramax In the driveway. For the first time in my life I test drove afford and Ram before I bought the Duramax and if ot doesn’t do well i am definitely finished witth GM. I also have 6 other GM vehicles on the road but including a 73 Corvette and an original 72 Z28 that i bought in 75. But… Our 2017 Silverado LTZ has already had the injector replaced, with only 24,000 miles. Luckily we hadd the extended warranty! Not to mention, who knows when the 8 speed transmission is going to fail. Gm knows there is a problem there but doesn’t seem to care! My 07 Envoy with only 85,000 miles has been the worst vehicle I have ever owned! Axle seals, fuel pump and on and on! The reason for buying the Envoy was because the v6 in the Arcadia has so many timing chain issues! With all of that being said we are going to replace the 2017 Silverado and am looking at Toyota and Hyundai. The Palisade has a 100,000 mile warranty. Why doesn’t GM? GM DOESNT care or support their vehicles after the sale!! So moving on is worth checking into!!
Are you listening GM? The customer is always right. Your current/potential customers are threatening to go elsewhere. The future for you to stay in business is in serious jeopardy if you do not address these problems immediately.
gm’s motto (as now is Ford’s) is myopic upper management is the only one that is right with a lot of input from the woke left. The Roger Smith playbook has been dusted off.
I will tell you a couple of reasons why we won’t consider GM. Going all EV, and getting rid of cars.
I’m also a gm guy wanted to buy a GMC Terrain Denali but with with one engine option the 1.5 pip squeak engine and deleting the 2.0 l engine at least in Denali trim it’s a deal breaker for me and I think even the 2.0 L S Y engine it’s a great option but that was also canceled in the terrain leaving me to look at other options and did not want to purchase a Cadillac xt4 or a Buick envision and with nothing on the lots for 2022 and 2023 terrain 6 month to a year wait so they say who know what the future holds!! But gm needs to do better
I work in sales for a GM dealer and have had a number of qualified buyers walk away as soon as they learned they were forced to spend $1500 for. Onstar
To your knowledge, are the dealers raising hell with GM about this?
It’s not just GM. I ordered a Honda Ridgeline PU truck. Honda, like Volvo, vehicles are not ordered per customer name. Honda dealers must buy through a distributor that places the order for the vehicle. After a month I get a call that the truck is to be built with an approximate delivery date (about 6 weeks) but there is one thing? They added roof rails and running boards for $1515. I told them to forget about it and I didn’t lose a penny. What in the world does roof rails do for a PU truck? I bought running board for $180 through Amazon (China made like all of them are)
In 1956 I purchased a Ford Crown Victoria and to keep up with the Chevys I had to bolt on a Paxton blower. I’ve been GM until this year. I had a 2017 Colorado with a transmission issue where GM offered me $700 on a $4,000 tranny. Looked at a new Colorado but red paint was discontinued, plus the price with dealer forced options, engraved windows, paint protection and interior protection, was beyond my disposable income. Being retired, I was just priced out of the market. I ordered a Ford Ranger with all the comparative bells and whistles for $8,000 less and the red color I wanted, no extra charge.
Yes John, “Dealer Enforced Options”, I call it “Dealer Fluff”. It adds ZERO valve to the vehicle and when they want to charge a paint sealant for $1500, it is no wonder manufactures want to change the business model. Order on line only and eliminate the middle man that causes nothing but headaches.
When I do go car/truck shopping, the first thing I say is “I WILL NOT PAY FOR FLUFF”. That is the fake sticker next the manufactures price sticker to make it look like it is real. Window etching with serial number started 40 years ago and not once has it ever stopped thief. It is all a money scam.
I left GM last year because of moving up in to a bigger category as in the 4500 & 5500 trucks. Since they do not make those trucks didn’t make since to buy one also do not care one bit for there big boxy look. I went to the Ram trucks absolutely loving the trucks sorry GM get your s*** together.
I am still driving my 2001 Silverado, 4.8. I would not buy another Chevy pickup, the new ones are ugly, too expensive, and have too many problems, lifters, transmissions, etc. If I had the money, I would buy a Toyota Tundra.
GM needs new leadership now!
That seems very obvious they need new leadership. But it appears that is not going to happen as all we hear about is how great of a job she/they are doing leading GM. To this GM retiree I am very apprehensive about GM’s future.
They would have a hard time replacing her. Most of corporate America is so scared to death of the social justice warriors that replacing someone possessing indoor plumbing with anything but another “oppressed” person would lead to 24/7 press coverage and threats of boycotts from people who wouldn’t buy a GM (or Ford or MoPar) product in the first place.
I hope Mary is listening. GM is dying and switching to all EV’s will not save it.
Hard choice to make. I really like my Bolt. Once charging stations are ironed out, the ICE car won’t compete.
When will that be? Numerous stories about 8 charging stations but only 2-3 are working. The infrastructure has to be in place before the majority will think about joining you. I wouldn’t drive my car where only 30% of the gas stations are working. That’s what’s happening in the EV world.
I have been a GM owner for close to 60yrs., guess what, I have had enough, being forced into On Star and horrible colors , as well as interior colors that are awful. I am looking into a RAM, I currently have 4 GM vehicles, no more, I have a Impala that is a fantastic car, no more Impalas, had a Buick , no more Buicks, No More Old,s, WHAT IS WRONG WITH GM,
One of my trucks is a 2017 Sierra, new ones do not come close to what this truck is, it has great colors interior as well as exterior, and I didn’t get ON STAR jammed down my throat when i bought it.
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF GM.
This is the first I’ve heard of “OnStar” being forced onto buyers. It’ll definitely keep me away from GM and I’ll buy my leased RAM. Everyone on the planet wants every customer to be charged for monthly subscriptions and fees. It’s all about the money. Stellantis has UConnect Guardian Service via SiriusXM and it came with the truck for one year. Renewals at the end of the month, no idea on the cost but no way do I need to be reminded that I need an oil change.
I switched to a Ford Explorer for several reasons! My 2016 Duramax 2500 Silverado had a bad fuel pump that GM would not cover under warranty. My 2019 Corvette Grand Sport had defective wheels which GM refused to cover under warranty with only 4500 miles and no other damage! My 2019 Silverado with 6.2L engine began having valve guide issues! Finally, wanting to downsize a little, I started looking at Buick Enclave. Dealers all wanted a premium over MSRP and / or did not want to give me market value for my Silverado!
No more GM for me!
Russ:
This is the thing that FROSTS me about GM lately….
People spend a near fortune for an ICE GAS truck or Diesel, and then have things like Bosch injector pumps that explode and ruin the engine – GM will put in a new fuel pump but you have to buy a new engine yourself…
And then all the LIFTER, and Sensor problems that mainly seem to be there on the latest ICE vehicles are enough to dampen any enthusiasm from even the most ardent GM supporter…
I’ve been fairly lucky with the EVs, but they tack on plenty of silly crap that I don’t want – and even if the majority DO want it – there is no problem leaving some things as optional extras.. To wit:
1). GM provides either $1,000 or $1,500 for an electrician to rewire your garage..Not everyone needs this.
– Toyota provides nothing (as it should be).
2). GM has 48 ampere or 80 ampere charging facilities Standard… Non-EV drivers may not know this, but 32 amperes is the most anyone ever requests for overnight home charging.. I have never heard ANYONE requesting more than 32 amperes even for public shopping centers since in my area, like most – all the charger docking stations are either 16, 30, or 32 amperes , with nothing bigger until you get to PAID fast-chargers.
– Toyota provides 16 amp charging with the Rav4 Prime (EV) standard….
– You have to order almost $10,000 of options package, and a premium model, to get the rarely seen 30 amp model. The upcoming totally battery powered SUV (to be badge engineered with Subaru also for an all electric model for them) – only has a 32 ampere on board charger.
3). As with all GM vehicles these days – the radio is problematic.
4). GM USED to provide an inexpensive 12 amp 110 volt charging cord with its vehicles, but now the upscale cars and trucks have a 12 or 32 ampere (at 110 and 220 respectively) that anyone who has had a prior ev doesn’t need…
– Kia doesn’t even provide ANY charging cord any longer since they figure its a cheap commodity item the buyer can obtain cheaply locally….
My Lyriq of course will have the 80 ampere (will be totally unused by me) in car charger, and give me ANOTHER free charging card (in Lieu of the $1,500 electrician credit) which I suppose is something…
The most frustrating thing to me is that they keep pushing back production of a car that I ordered 5/19/2022, and have traded in my ELR – but am now forced to get along in the interim with one less car…
I fail to see how GM is going to be a “Self Appointed Leader” in the EV market if they have this much trouble running a production line.
I have a Cadillac XT5 and a Chevrolet Spark ev at the moment, and want to replace them with a plug in hybrid. GM is behind with no PHEVs, and No, I will not pay for Onstar up front.
A collection of a few individual decisions indicates just that, nothing more. They are not indicative of GM as a whole. GM continues to outsell Ford in America, and has been #1 in full size pickup sales since Q1 2020. GM’s full size SUVs have outsold Fords for the last 30 years, and had a 70% market share in Q1 ’22.
Everyone can have an opinion, but it’s collective opinions of purchasers that automakers listen to. Someone saying that “GM is or is not doing X, therefore I won’t buy from them” does NOT mean that GM as a whole is doing things wrong. But it’s typical of critics to use singular examples as indicative of a trend. It’s not. What is are vehicle sales and market share.
Here is what GM needs to be concerned about:
“Tesla’s market value is roughly $900 billion, which is six times the combined market value of GM and Ford.”
I’ve been buying NEW GM vehicles since 1975 the latest being a 2020 BOLT. The salesperson couldn’t believe that I did want to activate Onstar, but I told her I had used it on other GM vehicles (during the free trial) and found it added nothing that I was interested in paying for and the hassle I had had in the past once they had a CC # was nothing I wanted to endure again.
I now have a Silverado RST EV as well as the Blazer SS EV reservation and am seriously mulling over whether or not I will go through with the purchase because of the mandatory Onstar. GM has stated they figure somewhere between 25 and 30 BILLION annually in Onstar subscription profit by 2030. GM had better train their dealers on how to articulate he benefits of having Onstar, or they will lose many sales because it feels as though it is nothing but picking your pocket now.
It may be peanuts to GM today, but it will be 175K they won’t be getting from me on those 2 vehicles alone.
175K here 175k there, it starts to add up.
What would you think individuals would not use their singular experiences with GM to provide some evidence of what some authors say is a “failing GM?”
I don’t know about others, but I worked for them for 30+ years, owned mostly GM cars and trucks. I speak from experience, the quality, selection, and general everything has gone downhill. Marry is the female version of Roger B Smith, he almost ruined the corporation and I believe she’s going to succeed. The decision to eliminate cars and hybrids has me driving a ‘22 Camry. As long as they are hell bent on nothing but EVs it won’t last.
Ordered a new Escalade and was informed about the $1500 Onstar?????????????? My current Escalade has Onstar turn by turn plus all other Onstar for $23.99 a month??????????????????
Jonathon’s excuse list, trying to defend items that customers do not like, is just that…excuses.
“cost of emissions tests” “crash test costs” etc
I can only assume that GM is happily making so much money selling trucks that the cars and other small vehicles are just a nuisance that they put up with to achieve the corporate MPG ratings.
I am 79 years old.I have been driving GM cars for more than 60 years. But when GM dropped the best car they ever made, the Oldsmobile Aurora, they lost me as a customer……FOREVER!!!!! And as for my next new car purchase, I have only one thing to say…..”Sprechen sie Deutsch?’
I worked at a Chevrolet Dealership in San Diego from 1970-2008, and only quit due to a severe back injury. Thru those years and beyond, I bought 1/2 ton/ 1500 pickups every other year. In 2021, I tried to get a GMC AT4, but it was canceled so I went for a 2022, and with that cancel I’m trying for a 2023. I believe that I’ll have plenty of time to shop for other brands, since I can’t get the color I want (satin steel metallic), I won’t pay for OnStar (I have a cellphone), and besides, since I tried to buy the 2021, the price has gone up $12000.+. This isn’t the same GM I grew up knowing and loving. GM has turned into a bullying, self-serving company that thinks customers are sheep. I’d rather spend even more money, and be treated like a customer, not a robot. I think I’ll be needing to change my name, as well. If I drive a Ford or RAM, that might look bad.
I worked for Siemens in Florida for 25 years, a German company and a fantastic employer. We had a culture training, the difference between German and Americans. The most interesting thing was German marketing and engineering build what they tell the customer what they “need”. On the American side, marketing and engineering build what the customer “ask for”.
Is GM on that path, telling the customers what they must buy and must have for their dream vehicle? I want a $495 locking rear differential on my truck but I must include $3500 in options?
I have the same beef. If I want a nicer radio, I get a sun roof and a two-screen child-pacifier as well? Not me.
Have had “OnStar” vehicles for 12 years now.. the number of times I have intentionally pushed blue button other than for set-up—-0
This article hits the dot. Why is the color red so much extra? White is BORING as is silver because they will not shine like the other colors. We do not want mandatory expensive things like OnStar.
The minerals for red paint are some of the hardest rocks on earth and require much more specialized machines to turn them into paint .. That is why. Nothing to do with demand!.
So have the rocks gotten harder in the last few years, more so than 5 years ago when you could get a red car with no up charge for the color? Get real!
So why aren’t all manufacturers charging more for red vehicles?
Great article. I have had many GM cars with onstar, but only while it’s free. If I ever need help after it expires. I call them for free.
This is one of those GM pr departments puff pieces that screams GM Authority is mouthpiece of the mothership lacking in seriousness and journalistic integrity. The consumer letter gets it mostly right and that should be the focus. Why is GM again failing to listen and respond to the people who purchase their vehicles? I find upcharges on colors so you can advertise a phony MSRP offensive. And as to OnStar, i look at the price value relationship so if the car is $1500 more for a service i place no value on, it would likely fail the value test but it could still pass as well. More significantly, i wont purchase any vehicle with mandatory connected anything and if it has Google anything in the head unit eg Google maps, thats a hard pass for me everytime.
I am a GM man, however, why on earth are you, “GM Authority” carrying water for GM. The “reasons” given in answer to the issue at hand are lame. GM needs to step it up if they want to compete with the other big boys!
GM has made a number of very questionable product decisions lately, and your attempt to make excuses for them doesn’t help.
And God gave the world Lexus…
I agree with the man who is opting to look at the competitors. GM is forcing unwanted tech on to consumers who don’t want it and making them pay for it. Its also BS to make customers pay extra for colors other than white. And the charges for the colors is really extreme. Its not like its an extra $75, they charge more like $700 or more sometimes. the excuses the article gives to respond to these concerns is a bunch of clap trap that a lot of consumers will not accept. Then they suggest that the man buy the “envision” model from buick. Seriously??? they are still trying to get Americans to buy a car they have made in china? I wouldn’t trust a toaster or even a small appliance thats made in china. why would i make such a large investment in a car thats made in a country that is notorious for cheap and low quality workmanship so GM can make a higher profit off their cheap labor? I’d take an North American made vehicle from Ford, Toyota over that option every day.
One factor I have not yet seen raised in this set of comments, and that is GM’s past dismal after sale support of their captive imports.
When they brought in Opel for Buick dealers, that seemed on again – off again, and support was at times quite spotty. Then, they slapped the name Opel on some not-so-great Isuzus. Pontiac dealers sold Vauxhall, and left a lot of owners holding the bag when that was canceled almost as fast as it started.
That really nice Regal(?) wagon they had recently, didn’t advertise, and had so few of, also disappeared quickly. Same for the Buick-badged Cascada convertible. It was underpowered, even as a car for snowbirds. Here today, not advertised or promoted, gone tomorrow.
I am 85 years old and my first car was a 48 GMC pickup. I have at the present time a 1971 GMC pickup with only 49,000 original miles on it. Never seen one spec of snow because i never used it in the winter time. I also have several Buick Regals such as a Grand National, Turbo T-Type etc. Also had a 1987 Buick GNX which I recently sold with only 576 miles on it. And I have other GM vehicles so you can see that I am a pretty loyal GM guy. I am in the market for another pickup namely the 2023 GMC Sierra Yukon Denali Ultimate. Since I have been looking at that truck on the internet I discovered that I would have to pay between $900 to $1500 for the MANDOTORY ON STAR. I have now changed my mind and have decided on the 2023 Ford F-150 Limited pickup. Another reason for my change is on the Denali Ultimate you only have one choice of interior color and that is a crappy Brown. Why can’t they have aa Black or even a Blue interior. Thank you GM for changing my mind.
Let’s talk about colors. How about a green? I think they’ve forgotten how to mix a nice green. Hint; blue + yellow = green.
I can’t wait for my San Remo green BMW X1 with mocha interior.
I am FAR from a BMW fan, but I congratulate them for offering the vehicle you wanted, and for offering colors that are interesting, shipping complete cars, and having jobs for American workers, not Chinese or Korean.
The big dog — Toyota Rav4 — has more than one engine and even it’s base engine has more than 30 hp more than GMC Terrain. It also has way more colors/two tone paint combinations
Let’s get serious about this. Why design and certify engines only to cancel them later? All the investment in engineering, certification, tooling, all gone to waste because essentially, GM doesn’t know how to do very little marketing beyond price point advertising. GMC at least has the best marketing, but that doesn’t mean that the products are always competitive.
I leased two vehicles this year…a ’22 Chevy Blazer 2LT (wife’s car) and a ’22 Dodge Durango GT. The GT model is one step up from the SXT/SXT Plus which is the base model of the Durango, so the GT is comparable to the 2LT as far as options go.
My wife’s Blazer came without working heated seats and without rear parking sensors (still waiting on retrofits that were supposed to happen this summer). Also, in the 2LT (which used to mean it had quite a few options), the steering wheel is rubber, which means no heated steering wheel. MSRP of the Blazer was just under $40,000. My Durango GT came with a heated leather steering wheel, heated seats, and rear parking sensors that all worked, no missing chips or chip credits on the window sticker. MSRP on the Durango was just over $44,000. Both vehicles were built in the same month (January 2022), so it is odd how GM is going with the build-shy and retrofit later strategy and Dodge has chips to make all of the most popular convenience options work right from the factory.
To me, there were a couple of reasons why I went with Dodge instead of GM. First reason was the selection of inventory on dealer lots. My Dodge dealer had a wide selection of trucks and SUV’s IN STOCK to choose from like the Grand Cherokee L, Ram, Durango, Compass, and Cherokee. The Chevy dealer didn’t have any inventory other than a $75K Tahoe, so we had to wait for the Blazer to come in. We chose the Chevy dealership because my wife was good friends with the salesperson. The second reason I went with Dodge was not having to sacrifice options because of chip shortages. I know they are in different classes, but the Durango seemed like a better deal (considering it had a V6/AWD and 3 row seating) than the Blazer. I got lucky in both cases where there wasn’t any dealer markup, but a lot of dealerships in my area were marking up the little inventory they had. So far, have been happy with both vehicles. I used to be a loyal GM customer because my Grandpa worked at GM, but I have since learned that there are much better options if you shop around and have an open mind.
You are comparing a Tahoe(Durango) to an overgrown Equinox. Apples and oranges. The big thing is if you are holding for 50k miles or 125k.. The bow tie wins the long race hands down!!!
My main point was other manufacturers are building cars with popular convenience features working from the factory and GM is going with the Window Sticker Credit and Retrofit Later strategy. But if you want to compare apples to oranges…if you could get a Tahoe for $4k more than an Equinox, wouldn’t you get the Tahoe?
My 3-row V6 Durango with all the convenience features was $44K and my wife’s 4 cyl “overgrown Equinox” was $40k. The build quality is noticeably better in the Durango. GM has been raising prices and eliminating options. Years ago, if you had a 2LT Chevy vehicle, it was pretty loaded because it was just one step below a LTZ model that was fully loaded. My wife’s 2LT Blazer feels like a base model…FOR FORTY THOUSDAND DOLLARS. For a few thousand more dollars, you can have a bigger vehicle and better build quality. That is why I feel like my Durango was a better value for the money spent. They are both leased, so they will probably go back to the dealers in 3 years…not going to see 50K miles on either one of them.
Ha…ha.
GM effectively took themselves off my list of consideration when Queen B canceled the vast majority if their sedans/hatches and wagons.Now the Camaro and Malibu are going away and being decontented to death, Buick is a crossover only company thus making them dead to me and her all EV future is a huge turn off. They won’t even offer hybrids to try and bridge the gap it’s her way or the highway. Well Switch Cheese Motors is off my list for good now and market share will continue to drop when customers find out the shenanigans this company is pulling. Charging extra for colors other than white. Giving customers only one interior color choice on the Trailblazer. Forcing Onstar for 1500.00 on to every new GMC/Buick and Cadillac purchase. No sedans. No stick shift transmissions after the Camaro is dropped. A new Colorado/Canyon offered in one configuration and bed length and one engine choices when it offered 3 engines choices and configurations just a year prior. And good luck with the new Silverado/Sierra pickups that still have those junk 8 speeds. I have been hearing so many recommending customers avoid the GM pickup trucks because they have so many issues with transmissions and lifter/oil burning/valve guide problems with the 5.3 and 6.2 engines. There is literally not a single vehicle left that GM makes that I Would consider, especially after 2023!
gm needs to start building new design cars large cars and bring back cd players or offer them
lennyg:
haha I never have any success with the USB jacks lately – the car radio just won’t play the songs I put on it – except for one or 2 of them..
Bonus: I called ONSTAR on a MYCHEVROLET (Unrelated) issue, and now, the USB stick plays 10 more songs (!)…
My 2004 Kia Amante had an in-dash 5 cd automatic changer that worked flawlessly, and my 2011 VOLT had a hard disk to hold 100’s of CD’s… They won’t spend any money on radios anymore, and spending a fortune more for a higher end system still gets you this minimal crap they have now.
Last I was in, my local Chevy / Cad dealer had five XT4s, and about a dozen 1500s with price tags north of $70,000. Nothing else. The Kia dealer had a handful of cars, the Ford lot appeared pretty well stocked, Nissan had plenty.
My local Subaru / Mitsubishi / VW agency was virtually empty but they don’t play the markup game. In talking to one of their salesmen, it seems they realize that when the market evens out and cars are plentiful again, they will get repeat business because their customers don’t feel cheated.
So continue to proving that BMW, Audi or Benz are not at par only with Cadillac (supposedly being a premium brand). That has changed. BMW’s cheaper than GMCs, Audi’s cheaper than Cadillac, MB equal in price to a fully loaded Malibu (with the 2.0L and all the bells and whistles).
So it is not only a move to something that moves or takes us from point A to point B, but people is finding some of those considered premium vehicles to be as affordable -or as expensive- as the GM brands.
On the Opel, Vauxhall, Isuzu and the like, there was very very little to no advertisement at all for all those cars, which by the way, should have cost a lot of $ to GM to make them DOT compatible, per say.
Same for all mid size, compact and sub-compact cars. They have been long forgotten. They simply exist because in most cases there is a need to have the ROI and pay the commitments to the thousands of suppliers that had their business case made in promises and at the end very poorly executed plans.
I come from a gm family and have had gm products for over 30 years but it looks like I’m being forced to go to another brand. I refuse to drive an SUV or pickup and I will only go kicking and screaming to an electric vehicle if I am forced to.The Malibu appears to be on the way out and they have significantly downgraded what they are selling now. My beloved Impala is no longer made and the price of a Cadillac is not in my budget. I have loved my gm cars but obviously gm is not interested in those of us who still want a sedan so my next vehicle will have to come from somewhere other than gm. It’s really too bad we sedan owners are being treated like second class citizens.
gm is losing ground who wants to pay extra for onstar so sad gm needs to wake up more horsepower more colors did gm forget how to build really nice cars guess i have too look else where GM BORING JUST KEEP RAISING PRICE
Well been waiting 3 months for the missing chips in my buick and it looks like it might be next year before I get mine. So how is Buick building 23 models without chips???
Don’t make sense, I waited 8 months for a truck for the same reason
We should be building Tahoe’s and Yukon’s as fast as we can. Load up the dealers with them.
The roll out of the 2023 Canyon has been a total disaster. I ordered a Canyon back in Dec. Build date was to be Feb 20. So far NOTHING! I also have no use for on-star so why am I being forced to pay for it? Been a GM owner for 20 + years I guess it is time to cut ties and look elsewhere. Toyota and Nissan are looking better every day!
i have to look else where i am not buying a suv or a truck i want a full size car
Well after waiting 8 months for the chips missing in my Enclave the wait is over. Took matters in my own hands and traded it off for a 23 Enclave that has everything I paid for. So sad G M lies to its customers.
2022 Buick Enclave Premium STILL missing heated steering wheel after ONE YEAR!!!
WHY is GM IGNORING current owners when the SAME option is installed on some 2023 models!!!!
I’ve sent a question to GM every month. They put 12,000 points in my GM acct after third question sent, but simply say: Parts are NOT available yet!!!
( it was on our invoice at purchase that it WOULD be done ) So, our ‘Premium’ model certainly IS on the list.
I see in GM Authority that other 2022 Chevy’s are being notified parts are available. YET Premium Buick owners are ignored!!!
BTW: We live in Snow country ( Colo). This is NOT a FL car!!!
We’d been a GM owner For-ever. At same dealer, we spent $140,000 on GM vehicles in TWO DAYS!!!!
This ignored status by GM WILL CERTAINLY AFFECT OUR FUTURE BUYING HABITS!!!
Sad situation, Dave. I’ve been complaining via the Customer Service line monthly for about six month and have asked twice to escalate to a formal complaint. The CS people are nice and sympathetic. Nothing happens. My main beef with GM is the lack of quality communication with those who have legitimate complaints (or even those who just think they do). I prefer the products and my dealer has been great. If GM is trying to communicate, “We don’t really care what the individual complaints are – we’ll sell everything we make anyway,” then it’s working. They are intentionally obfuscating issues and solutions internally so their customers don’t have specific answers. I have not taken delivery on my 2023 vehicle but expect to like it when it arrives. I will think long and hard about another GM purchase or just buy one from a dealer and accept it the way it is.
Have waited for a year for the missing chips for my Buick Enclave. So I do like the car so I just traded it in for a 23 that had everything in the line of chips and under hood insulation. Very said a customer has to do that to get what was paid for.