GM returns to zero percent financing to move large vehicles
General Motors announced today that it is once again offering zero percent financing on select models. The deal includes GM's large SUVs like the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon XL and Hummers, although the discontinued Hummer H1 and other cars, like the Corvette and Solstice, are excluded, according to the Detroit Free Press. A lot of these are flex-fuel. GM's website says that almost every 2006 model is on sale. The Freep also mentions GM's slow sales (down eight percent for the year), high gas prices, and new incentives that GM's competitors are offering as reasons for the special sale. The zero percent financing will last customers up to 72 months, and the sale only lasts for 72 hours. Looks like GM calculated that since a lot of customers have decided that GM's vehicles were not the right ones to buy, GM is trying to create a few snap decisions to buy in the next few days. We'll see if it works and if and how other automakers respond.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
amp 10:33AM (6/28/2006)
I know you guys are a blog and all, but please try to be a bit more objective with your post titles. If you read the Free Press story, you’ll see that they’ll offer five/six year of 0% on ALL 2006 vehicles (minus some niche vehicles), not just trucks. In fact, the new 07 trucks only get three years of financing.
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James 11:14AM (6/28/2006)
#1 is right. The headline could also read "GM Returns to 0% financing to move small vehicles" and still be acurate. Keep opinion in the text where it is identifiable, or you lose credibility.
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Sebastian 11:52AM (6/28/2006)
amp and James,
I appreciate your viewpoint, but I think that this move by GM is really geared to move large vehicles. Look at the Freep article again. Look at the way GM is advertising the sale (with a truck's grill in the ad on the website). Look at the current state of affairs, with GM's sales down and customers flocking to smaller vehicles. GM saw the trend, and thought it could sell a a few big SUVs with a sale. I'm not saying it's illegal, I'm just calling it like I see it.
That said, I did mention in the original post that all (well, most) GM vehicles are included in the sale. I don't try to make this site nothing but opinions, but sometimes I think it's OK to look at the situation as a whole and put the pieces together.
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beeme 10:15PM (6/28/2006)
This bias is so laughable. Another example of Toyota paid blogging that goes on incessantly on this site.
"If GM does something - it must be bad."
This blog so love Toyota and embraces Toyota PR that thye are good for America. But can Toyota live up to American standards as an enterprise?
How about a some in depth reporting in these blogs on the affirmative action programs at Toyota, and what portion of their management is female? Are Toyota women good for more than executive skirt chasing?
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Sebastian 11:17PM (6/28/2006)
beeme,
Just for the record, I don't get any money from Toyota for my work on this site. (I don't get any money from Toyota, period). Also, I'd be happy to criticize Toyota for negative practices, but your accusations are not necessarily about Toyota's green car side. If they dont' have a lot of female managers (and, since I spent 2 years in Japan and Toyota is a Japanese company and I know a little how Japanese companies work, I highly doubt they do) then that sucks. But it doesn't change the fact that they make greener cars than most companies. It does make them sexist, and that ain't right. What is the gender make-up of auto companies in general, I wonder. Hell, it'd be nice more female voices on this here blog. But this is all sidetracking from the post on GM and I'll have to delete my own comment if I don't watch out.
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beeme 12:05AM (6/29/2006)
The topic is bias. Thats why the idea of an across the board GM car sale ends somehow up as a green issue.
Have you checked and would you be surprised to know that the 2006 Tundra already has a 1.4% finance rate?Will you point out with the same zeal and negativity when a Toyota truck is on sale?
Because a truck grille is in an add? That's it? Lets count Truck grills and make conclusions?
So bias is the topic and amp and james have it exactly right.
Sooooo --- what other bias exists in the reporting on TMC on this "green" site and why?
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amp 9:38AM (6/29/2006)
Part of the reason the above ad has a truck in it is b/c it's for GMC, who's entire portfolio is comprised of trucks and SUV's. If you check out Chevy's website, their little flash intro shows a car, a truck, and an SUV. I'm sort of surprised that the SUV they show is the Equinox, not the new Tahoe. But then again, the Tahoe doesn't get the full six year financing. Also, Pontiac's website shows only only one SUV, the Equi...Torrent. But again, this is b/c they sell mostly cars.
I didn't mean to start a journalist bashing, just trying to keep you honest.
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James 9:22PM (6/29/2006)
Sebastian,
You have lost credibility by failing to acknowledge your error in judgement.
Headline: "Sebastian writes erroneous headline to bash GM because he is jelous of those who can afford big ass SUVs".
What other assumption could we possibly come to. As a wise man once said: "sometimes I think it's OK to look at the situation as a whole and put the pieces together"
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