Jim Dollinger (a.k.a. Buickman) has been fighting the good fight for GM’s survival for a very long time. Yes, Jim’s a bit OTT. And no, I don’t agree with his recipe for recovery. But Jim doesn’t flame websites, their authors or fellow commentators. And so he’s always been welcome here. But then TTAC invites opposing points of view (as long as they conform to our no-flaming posting policy). Jim reports that the same can not be said of GM Inside News. “I’ve been a member of Insidenews for over three years and a regular contributor. No surprise that I was ridiculed initially for lashing out at RIR and calling for his ouster, this well before it became fashionable. These days many have come around to the same opinion. although the obvious company stooges still inhabit the forums, increasingly more and more members are voicing their dissatisfaction with GM management. After the latest stupidity of GMS for all and pulling of leases, I made the comment “to hell with General Motors.” Since then, I haven’t been able to log in (from any computer). My daughter [a Cadillac dealer in Florida] made some comments about GMIN being hypocites and sent private messages to those who agree with my positions. She was also blocked. Truly, I’m not all that upset; I have plenty of other things to occupy my days. I just thought you might be interested to know that these people, whoever they are, can’t handle the truth and display prejudice and editorial control while proclaiming to hold an open and honest forum for discussion (since they had zero call to “ban” me, they just “jammed” me instead). Funny how they also are quick to ridicule TTAC, all the while refusing to look in the mirror and see themselves for what they are.”
Find Reviews by Make:
I haven’t read GMIN that long, but it didn’t take long to see his many contributions. It was obvious that many looked to him for his opinions on various GM-related topics. At the same time, it doesn’t surprise me. There is a major “GM-can-do-no-wrong” attitude there despite the current financial picture at GM today. Just curious: what is his recipe for recovery?
GM is just being themselves – beyond reproach or criticism from anyone or anything – they can never do any wrong and never need to clearly define anything. They are a bunch of fucking losers and when the lease on my 2500HD comes due (probably to GMAC’s major chagrin as they need to try to resell it) I will no longer look at another GM product – I may just to spite them buy a brand new Tundra!. GM was my last bastion of Domestics I’d consider as I’ve sworn of Fords for their apparent and intentional safety snafus and Chrysler…for well being Chrysler and selling some of the most shoddy products this side of Yugoslavia. I think we should all write off GM and let them drown as the only people who are upset are the ones who’ve been canned or banned.
Buickmans plan basically boils down to better marketing, and the rather vague goal of building awesome cars.
I wasn’t too impressed with it, but I guess its about as realistic as any other plan that doesn’t involve either B word.
My turnaround plan is file C11, hang the upper management, purge the middle management, break the UAW like a dog thrown off of the Empire State Building, burn most dealerships to the ground, eliminate every brand but Chevy, then get a bailout to tide them over while they develop a new line of cars that will let them make a tidy little profit at 10% of the market share.
But hey, I’m an optimist.
Buickman being blocked is a clear sign of the management culture in GM. No matter how good you are and what you analysis shows, if you critise the official line you’re a trouble-maker, not one of the team, no loyalty – in short, your career is over.
Ever since I first found Buickman’s web site, I thought he was on to some good ideas. Frankly, I think the thing that led customer’s to abandon the General were the way they were treated. Buickman’s customer service based approach which go a long way to stop the bleeding.
Face it, if your car breaks under warranty, you won’t hold much of a grudge if the problem is taken care of quickly, you get a loaner car, etc. Too often GM and the dealers tried to avoid making the repairs, “jiggled” the wiring harness so that it’s replacement could be deferred until the warranty ran out, etc. And, reducing the depreciation so customers can trade in and buy new more frequently is also a smart approach.
I’ve read all the knocks about GM products here – I just bought a 2008 GMC Acadia. It is a fantastic vehicle. Well built, quiet, nice interior (I don’t any difference between it my co-workers BMW as far as interior materials). My experience with GM and Ford is they last longer than most (contrary to popular opinion). Based on my initial impression, I would expect this go the distance as well.
– 83 Ford Fairmont – 160,000 miles
– 86 Mustang – 170,000 miles (still drive it)
– 93 Ford Ranger – 175,000 miles (daily driver)
– 1999 Ford Expedition – 215,000 miles (still going strong)
– 2008 GMC Acadia – lovin’ it
My humble observation about brand forums:
GM Inside News = false bravado
Blue Oval News = annoyance/frustration, false hope
AllPar = bitterness and contempt
I find Allpar the most interesting to read. They seem to be the most honest, probably because they have little left to loose.
(I still get angry when I think about the prematurely forced release of the Ultradrive. So much potential, so much lost.)
Buickman should’ve applied for a GMI staff writer position. Many of them absolutely waylay GM in a manner that would make GM’s harshest critics on this board cringe.
Also, as much as it pains me that I actually have to say this, but while there likely are “company stooges” lurking about, GMI is not affiliated with GM. At least they state that in their disclaimer at the bottom of the home page.
I can’t believe they actually think they can block Buickman. He can simply create a new identity called Bulickman. Filter foiled – game back on.
Where and when is that photo from? Just wondering if there is a good story to go along with it.
toxicroach I like your plan but I think it would be easier to let them go to Ch. 7 then some American investors intent on revitalizing the american auto industry at a decent profit can buy up the good bits.
The company could be broken up into 2 or 3 seperate auto companies each with their chosen GM nameplate, associated resources(staff and labor can be rehired back cutting out the sh*t that infects the company now) with new marketing, vision and focus. Many parts of GM have tremendous value its just sqwandered under the current GM umbrella. Sort of starting over with a clean slate.
The website, http://www.generalwatch.com, is about his ideas on how to turn around General Motors. Also, I know that he has an article on http://www.jdollinger.com called the Elephant Can Dance. It’s an older piece, but it is the general concept of what he believes GM has been doing wrong.
Long live Buickman :)
I’ve been a member over at GMI for years and very critical of GM there as well. It’s too bad they banned Buickman, he made a big contribution to that site but he clearly didn’t march to the drumbeat of the masses there. Buickman is a true fan of GM that was belittled by his peers because of his contrary (and correct) point of view rooted in reality.
The biggest fans of GM can be (and should be) the biggest critics. They know the company can build knockout cars, that it’s brands have a rich identity and heritage and that with the right management and product plans it can be successful again. GM fans should be demanding this from their favorite automaker and not cheerleading the further degredation of each brand with terrible products that ignore each brand’s history and mission that made them in the first place.
That’s always been my core message at GMI and for the most part GM has fallen far short of it. The message always falls on deaf ears at GMI too, if you don’t love GM’s current product plans you’re obviously the enemy. I’m sure the brass at the RenCen thinks the same way.
TriShield: “The biggest fans of GM can be (and should be) the biggest critics.”
You mean Cheers & Gears?
spt87a,
I have to agree somewhat on GM’s recent drive trains – they seem to be pretty solid. I now have a little over 80k on my 2004 Grand Am Gt and it’s still solid with no problems in the drive train (knocks on wood).
As for the rest – I’ll have to give it failing grades – all sorts of interior items are failing including the illumination in the Monsoon head unit.
I put around 113k on a 2000 Tiburon and didn’t have any interior issues or drive train issues. Hyundai did better on a lower priced car in a lower bracket and was 5 years older than the 2004 GA GT I am driving with several annoying issues with the interior. GM has improved, but not enough to earn my business again. What Buickman suggested would go a long way in helping GM.
photo is from this year’s annual meeting wherein I blasted Red Ink Rick for ruining GM and once again called for his removal.
gotta love TTAC. honesty and truth are the principles here, and dissenting thoughts are allowed to contend.
Buickman, you are in good company. In the mid 1960s GM was caught trying to entrap Ralph Nader with hookers! GM eventually apologized in front of a congressional committee and paid Ralph in settlement of his lawsuit against them. Nader sued GM, won $300,000 and used that cash to fund his organization. The NHTSA and EPA were born.
GM has never learned the lesson of learning from it’s critics rather than demonizing them.
Has anyone here ever visited GMI, other than Buickman and TriShield?
This site is not run by General Motors. Many of its mods are consistently harsh on the company, as they should be. I see less and less blind fanboys and more constructive criticism. I’d say there’s less Kool aid flowing there than at Toyota Nation.
Check both fora out, and let me know if you disagree. Those guys at Yota Nation are simply zealots.
All the same, I’m sad to see Buickman go. GMI was wrong to jam him.
Allpar is a great site. Even if you hate their forums or hate Chryslers in general they have great historical information.
Allpar has some good stuff.
There is an excellent rant on how they screwed up the KJ (1st Gen Liberty) relative to to XK.
Allpar is a good site for info, but the forums are basically a commie love in festival.
BON cleaned out all the non Ford fanboys after the new owners took over. Wonder who the new owners were?
Lichtronamo is also a regular here as well as GMI.
I’m a member at GM Inside News (69Firebird400) and it doesn’t appear that Buickman is blocked or banned. Could it be something less sinister such as a computer error or a forgotten password? I’ve e-mailed and IMed one of their administrators (nsap) several times, so before jumping to conclusions, I’d recommend that Buickman e-mail nsaporito at gmail to find out the story.
I’m betting that it’s a simple misunderstanding/glitch. They really have a lot of tolerance for annoying people over there, and the fact that Jim Dollinger had a thread on the news ticker called “congratulations Jim Dollinger” makes me think that perhaps they weren’t banning him.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f59/congratulations-jim-dollinger-buickman-65119/
There’s just no way, no how that any of the administrator’s blocked Buickman.
First of all, the members of the site are quite critical of the way the company is run these days and of the not-quite-thereness of many of its products.
Buickman was a bit repetative with his assail against uppermanagement, but that’s hardly something new. He’s been a member for years. Everyone knows his schtick and has accepted him graciously as a member of the community.
Further, the site was sold not too long ago to the AutoForums people, and they couldn’t care less if one of the members of one of its sites was outspoken. And none of the former administrators have left, and they’ve had years to get rid of Buickman if they wanted to. They haven’t.
And their M.O. is to actually ban someone for violating policy. Not only does the need not exist, but I doubt anyone has the time to “jam” someone to prevent log in.
ChrisHaak,
You might want to remove nsap’s email address from your post–or the spambots will eat him alive.
As for GMI, the admins are good people. The members are about evenly split between two groups: people who want GM to do well, but are critical of many things it does, and people who feel GM can do no wrong, and attempt to bully the first group into shutting up.
Because of the second group, which became steadily more assinine and obnoxious, I don’t post there nearly as often as I used to.
Wouldn’t it have been good reporting to check with GM Inside News about whether Buickman was blocked/banned instead of only taking his side of the story? I asked nsap (an admin) at GMI and got this answer:
Chris:
Thanks for the heads up. I was not aware of the lovely news. No Buickman has not been banned. I will issue a statement to clear the air later.
Thanks again,
Nick
Can’t edit my post now…but he at least used to have his e-mail address on his signature at GMI, so it shouldn’t be a problem. If RF or JB are able to remove that, I’d be appreciative, though.
received email that problem has been corrected, it was in their software supposedly. thanks to TTAC for the obvious awareness to GMIN. say what they may, the site never responded to the many emails made thru their “contact us” section, so either the repeated “server too busy” signals were intentional, or the people running the show are simply unresponsive to members concerns.
bottom line…the article written by the fearless leader of TTAC got the job done. not that I’m overly anxious to return, something about a taste in your mouth.
Um, it was a technical glitch. I don’t even know why this was TTAC News Story worthy.
and closing Olds was necessary, spinning Delphi made sense, halving GMAC was needed, while market share loss was only a sign of the times.
believe half of what you see and less of what you read.
Buickman,
That would explain why I have not seen any posts from you in a while over at GMI. Ridiculous.