Watching Rick Wagoner is like listening to some weird ass fairy tale: the Emperor's New Car Company. Only no one's saying Wagoner's buck naked and GM isn't new, it's old. As my father says, the only thing worse than getting old is the alternative. GM under Wagoner's administration seems Hell bent on exploring the alternative. Did you know that GM's market cap has shrunk by two-thirds since Wagoner assumed control? Did you know that the only reason the American automaker isn't in worse shape is that Wagoner sold EVERYTHING? Wagoner knows that and more, 'cause he's an accountant. In fact, Wagoner was GM's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) before he ascended to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) spot. And now he's chosen his CFO to be GM's new CEO; only he's calling Fritz the new COO, 'cause, well, Wagoner's still CEO. So here we have not one but TWO beancounters at the top of GM. Who've let a nutcase named Bob Lutz (winner of TTAC's Bob Lutz award) decide what kind of cars to build at a time when their North American market share is slipping, slipping, slipping… And let's be Frank here; the reason that the company is in such trouble is that this terrible triumvirate doesn't know how to build fully competitive cars. Or price them. Or brand them. Or advertise them Or… Doh! Anyway, as long as Wagoner's at the top of GM, you can be sure of one thing: someone somewhere will be cooking the books.
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Never mind Lutz…WHERE DO I GET THAT CAR?!!!
The Supercharged 420 of course! Let’s see what this is capable of.
Supercharged 420!
Where’s the G8 related GM Deathwatch editorial?
Super!!!…charged…
i love the podcast. i listen every day, and love the stuff you guys talk about…you could probably get me to listen for 12 maybe 13 minutes… one suggestion…i can hardly hear mr. farago and need to turn up the volume to hear him…but then justin voices is painfully loud…could we get some better sound from mr. farago?
keep up the good work.
Guess I’m in the minority but I say were hear the standard V8 first the model they will sell the most of. The supercharged I’m sure will be a reviewed great but I want to hear what most people are going to buy, with it’s merits and faults.
I vote for the 300hp V8 version to get reviewed first.
Now this is truly funny!!!
Who’ve let a nutcase named Bob Lutz (winner of TTAC’s Bob Lutz award)
Damn that was good. Thanks RF. Probably will be my best laugh for the first half of March.
How about a Diesel Audi?
Drive the base version, so we have the supercharged one to look forward to.
After all, wasn’t it Mr. Farago himself that said you can judge a car manufacturer by its most “base” product, and if the most inexpensive product it good, then the rest are most likely as well?
The three stooges seem more concerned about their image and reputation at GM and maintaining the corporate culture than in actually running a car company. They have no discernable goals, no sense of urgency, and cannot articulate a plan of action for GM. Every time I read of Rick Waggonneer's response to a simple question I get a headache. I mean this dude just talks in circles and says nothing. He's lost in space. And the sad thing is that GM has the potential to build some really kick ass vehicles if given the right leadership. But we have two bland impotent beancounters and one crazy old bastard with a big mouth driving the train, and with golden parachutes strapped to their backs. They know they've got it made. So what if the train derails on their watch? They've got their's. Screw you. No wonder GM's in the shitter.
It does have a V6 – in Europe.
The V8 and supercharged V8 are available too, as is a 2.7 V6 diesel. Still, I believe the engines are the worst element of the XF since they are all quite old and outdated.
The 500 HP XKR-S seems nice though…shame it’s just a limited edition
XKR-S
Ditto on the volume issue. It’s not so bad with headphones, but in the car when I’m driving, I have to keep my hand over the volume knob and crank it down for Justin and then back up for Robert.
dastanley: Every time I read of Rick Waggonneer’s response to a simple question I get a headache.
He reminds me of Bush in this regard.
Mr. Farago is a little lower in volume than Mr. Berkowitz. But I find both quite audible.
And I, too, vote for the 300HP V8 review first, I’d like to see what’s sure to be flooding (okay, trickling into) the country clubs of Palm Beach County…
Go for the blown version, who really wants a jag that is neutered?
This just in…
Not only does the guy “fail upwards,” the GM Board of Bystanders makes him whole again. (Cuz, he’s done such a good job? Just askin’.) Rabid Rick demotes himself to official RenCen pencil sharpener, and in reward, gets an additional 1M a year base salary in 08 (give or take a hundred).
As Auto News reports:
GM restores Wagoner’s base salary
DETROIT — The General Motors board has restored CEO Rick Wagoner’s base salary to its 2003 level — $2.2 million a year. That represents a 33 percent increase over Wagoner’s projected 2007 salary of $1.65 million.
The figures do not include a variety of additional bonus payments, incentives and stock option awards.
Wagoner received $2.2 million in base salary from 2003 until 2006, when he took a major cut to $1.28 million.
The GM board announced Wagoner’s 2008 salary in a filing today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week.