What is the future of the GMT 360???

[02Bravada]

This morning here in Dayton, Ohio an article in the local newspaper stated that the union members received a notice that stated that the Moraine assembly plant did not have a build project slated for the plant after 2008. The GMT-360 New Generations project was put on hold. The news media also stated that no vehicle build project had been selected for the plant, and the plant may not be in operation after 2008 buildout. I know that Oklahoma is gone so where are they going to build the new GMT-360 or are they going to scrap the plans? I have been told that GM is working to move all but the largest SUV's to a car crossover platform. This is bad news to me if they do leave the body on frame setup of the GMT-360. Some of us buy the GMT-360 to get a frame under our feet. This not only is bad news for the future of the product but is bad for the work force here in this town that also has 5 Delphi plants. We all know what problems Delphi is having.

[Blulytes]

Hopefully everything gets squared away and we can continue to have GM strong in this area.

[jauto98]

Man, that ain't good.

On an unrelated, though, may explain why, I have heard speculation that the Saturn Outlook (which is off the Lamda architecture, and is similar to the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia) is being canceled. However, doesn't make sense that after being close to production, they can the project :weird: :hissy: :mad: . People have speculated that the cancelled Outlook project may go over to Chevrolet, so they can have a Lamda vehicle. Plausible, but then what would become of the TB. The TrailBlazer is a great SUV, but if these new Lamda vehicles can tow, perform, and out do everything the current TB's do, then I wouldn't mind. What the Lamda vehicles have an advantage over the GMT-360s are the possibility of better fuel economy (which is greatly needed since the new GMT-900 get similar mileage), third row seating, since the extended models of the GMT-360 has been discontinued), and improved ride qualities. :m2:

[03LTZvixen]

the closing of the oklahoma plant was a big surprise here. it put SO many people out of jobs. its sad really.

[Steve02SLT]

it really sucks that multiple plants keep closing each year. it made people reluctant to buy GM products when the baltimore plant closed a year and a half ago. hopefully things will start to get better and maybe they'll be way ahead of ford and dodge by the end of this decade. then we'll have massive amounts of TB SS's out there doing donuts around those ugly srt8's. :yes:

[homertime]

I just don't understand


Honestly I think the Trailblazer is one of the most driven SUV's on the road up here in the northeast. It would seem that GM is pulling strong, but they keep on closing these plants.

I would hate to see GM lose this platform, what's going to be their direct competitor to the Explorer? I don't see a crossover vehicle doing that.

[Dacomputernerd]

Wouldnt the towing on the lamda's be bad? I thought SUVs that are based on a FWD setup suffered in the towing section. ( 2000lbs towing limit)

Yes i know they are also avalable in AWD, but they are still based on a FWD system.

[Fishhunter911]

you would not catch me towing ANYTHING on a unibody vehicle, If it doesn;t have a FRAME I am not using it to tow. PERIOD! I hope GM keeps these things alive. There are so many on the road these days. Very nice vehicle, and Light years ahead of what used to be.

[ScarabEpic22]

Wouldnt the towing on the lamda's be bad? I thought SUVs that are based on a FWD setup suffered in the towing section. ( 2000lbs towing limit)

Yes i know they are also avalable in AWD, but they are still based on a FWD system.
No, the RX300 I used to tow a few times had AWD (basically FWD that has slip correction that engages the rear when slippage is detected) with a tow limit of 5000lbs like my current TB. However, when it comes to towing my boats, no comparison. The TB with the extra 1.2L of displacement (4.2L vs. 3.0L) and being the inline configuration vs. a V6 really makes towing non-comparable. Especially when hitting hills (something in Seattle we dont have ANY of:laugh: :rolleyes: ), the RX suffers while the TB drops to 3rd and pulls strong at 70 all the way up the pass.

[Dacomputernerd]

you would not catch me towing ANYTHING on a unibody vehicle, If it doesn;t have a FRAME I am not using it to tow. PERIOD! I hope GM keeps these things alive. There are so many on the road these days. Very nice vehicle, and Light years ahead of what used to be.

:laugh:




@Erik- I stand corrected. :x :D :laugh: but shouldnt that somehow still reduce towing capacity?

[Bearcat]

Article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today claims the reason for ending TB production is due to government regulation, not a GM decision. I wish I had the $$ to buy an SS and put it in storage.

[FattyTBEXT]

Honestly I think the Trailblazer is one of the most driven SUV's on the road up here in the northeast.

Not including mine, I saw 11 Trailvoys (and another I suspect was a TrailVoy - only saw the roof rack) on the trip back from the grocery store this morning. Mapquest says it's a 3.6 mile trip. :m2:

[ScarabEpic22]

Article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today claims the reason for ending TB production is due to government regulation, not a GM decision. I wish I had the $$ to buy an SS and put it in storage.
Interesting, a government regulation huh?

And, I wish I could order and then store an SS for a few months until summer and then sell my current TB to make sure I get one.

[tb_ky]

They'd be stupid to discontinue the best selling SUV in america (it is right?). If people like it, improve it and change it a little. Don't discontinue it GM, ARE YOU RETARDED?? *SLAPS YOU*

[Braves299]

They'd be stupid to discontinue the best selling SUV in america (it is right?). If people like it, improve it and change it a little. Don't discontinue it GM, ARE YOU RETARDED?? *SLAPS YOU*

:iagree:

[tblazed]

government regulation?? What... tighter EPA regulation for the Moraine Plant, problems meeting CAFE gas mileage, new lower bumper standards for SUVs?? I can't help but wonder what regulations would kill the platform.

[Merk]

It costs General Motors $81M per day just to exist.:duh:

Killing a product or even an entire plant is just the cost of doing business.

Feast or Fathom. Big Fish eats little fish.

[2002BlkLTZ]

Feast or Fathom.

:confused: :undecided :no:

[Steve02SLT]

why kill off the biggest selling vehicles they have? they need to get rid of the cars they don't sell too many of. slow down production on things like the vettes, focus on the camaros that more people can afford, and increase production on tahoes/suburbans/impalas/malibus. there are tons of the gmt360s' around here. there are always at least 5 in the parking lot at work. i think gm went :weird: :crazy: :sleepy: :suicide:

[Kybuilt]

I'd hate to see the Moraine plant sit idle. I know they build great vehicles! Two of my previous S10's were built there, and, the one I have now was not. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so I won't mention where the 96 was made, but it hasn't been a trouble-free truck like the ones built in Moraine.

[02Bravada]

Update on the Moraine GMT 360 plant. A few days ago it was in the news that the first phase was taking place later this year. As of July 17,2006 when the workers return from the summer shutdown break the third shift has been shut down. This will put about 1,000 workers idle out of the aprox. 4,100 workers at the plant. Some workers with more time may bump into the other shifts. The end result is still very bad for the 360. less production and people without jobs. Unrelated to the GMT 360 the Pontiac GTO ends production on the first week of June. If GM wants to make money they need to give us what we want, not what they want to give us. This lack of a 360 product will further push people to shop elsewhere and buy a vehicle from the otherside of the world. This is sure no way to get market share back for GM.

[TonyGXP]

so are you thinking they are going to slow the production of these trucks?? for what the Acadia intro?? does this have anything to do the "order constraints" on the SS option?

[Envoy Fan]

Update on the Moraine GMT 360 plant. A few days ago it was in the news that the first phase was taking place later this year. As of July 17,2006 when the workers return from the summer shutdown break the third shift has been shut down. This will put about 1,000 workers idle out of the aprox. 4,100 workers at the plant. Some workers with more time may bump into the other shifts. The end result is still very bad for the 360. less production and people without jobs. Unrelated to the GMT 360 the Pontiac GTO ends production on the first week of June. If GM wants to make money they need to give us what we want, not what they want to give us. This lack of a 360 product will further push people to shop elsewhere and buy a vehicle from the otherside of the world. This is sure no way to get market share back for GM.

When they return from the summer shutdown break, is that the start of 2007 production? :undecided

[02Bravada]

I have not looked up the buildout date for the GMT 360, but it would probably be the 07 changover when they start back to work in July.

The lack of the third shift and less production is tied to the fact that fewer orders from dealers are in the orderbank. Sometimes you can go by the plant and they will have what looks like a thousand Trailblazer's and Envoys on the lot. Here at the dealer I work at we use to stock 25 on the lot, but now we only have one in stock and two on order.