Fewer Than 200 Have Returned GM's Guaranteed Cars

GM’s 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee program has proven to be a confidence booster for the company. Today, GM announced that fewer than 200 buyers out of 222,000 who purchased a new GM car have returned them unsatisfied. However, that’s out of 658 who took the guarantee offer over $500 in cash back. That’s a 33% return rate.

These returns don’t cost the buyer the full price of the car, but they are out taxes, fees and two car payments. This means those who returned cars were very unsatisfied and skeptical to begin with. GM says it is being proactive about the returns; they're following up with each customer and conducting high-level interviews with engineering staff to find out what the customers didn’t like. A few of the purchasers returned the cars for other models or trim levels, but many just didn’t like the cars or trucks.

GM to Announce Where You Can Get a Volt

GM will use the 2009 L.A. Auto Show to announce where you can buy a new Chevrolet Volt when the groundbreaking vehicle debuts next year.

GM will begin production of the Volt late next year, and it’s scheduled to go on sale by the end of 2010. The announcement of the Volt’s initial retail markets will shed light on how GM plans to introduce Americans to a new, unfamiliar transportation technology.

Dealers must be certified to sell and service the plug-in hybrid vehicles, and by no means will every Chevy dealer in the country have the Volt on their lots.

The only clue so far? Jack Maxton Chevrolet in Columbus, Ohio, is already taking deposits on the Volt, according to Maxton sales representative Mike Garvey.

LA Auto Show: GM to Announce Where Volt Will Be Sold Initially (Detroit Free Press)

Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo

“That Guy” from Chicago just bought his first car, a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. While it may not be the flashiest car on the road, That Guy says the Aveo get the job done. Read his full review to find out if the low-priced Aveo is a good bargain. After you’re done, write your own review by clicking here.

U.S.-Bound 2011 Chevy Cruze to Appear at L.A. Auto Show

GM will show off the U.S.-spec version of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at the upcoming L.A. Auto Show.

We got a look at the overseas version of the compact sedan at last year’s Detroit auto show; it’s been available in Europe and Asia for more than a year now. Production on the U.S. Cruze and its turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection will begin in April at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio plant.

Expected to get 40 mpg on the highway, the Cruze is GM’s chance to edge in on territory now in the grip of Toyota’s Corolla and the Honda Civic. We’ll let you know more when we get a look at the newbie in L.A.

The Cruze is slated to hit dealerships in the third quarter of 2010.

2009 Cash-Back Deals You Can Still Find

As the 2010 models push out nearly all of the old 2009s on dealer lots, a lot of buyers become annoyed by valid, advertised cash-back offers on 2009 cars that basically aren’t available anymore.

We tracked down some interesting offers on 2009s that are:
a.)    Cars we wouldn’t mind buying
b.)    Have a significant cash-back offer
c.)    Readily available, according to Cars.com’s new-car inventory

Check out our list below. And if you want to search our inventory scroll to the end of the post for handy links for each model.

Recall Alert: 52,937 GM Compact Cars

GM has issued a recall for 52,937 vehicles, including the 2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2007 Pontiac G5 and 2006-2007 Saturn Ion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is for vehicles sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas and is due to a plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly that could crack. If either of these components cracks then fuel will leak, which could cause a fire if it ignites. The fuel leak may be visible depending on the size of the crack.

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module for free. Even if you do not own a vehicle sold or registered in the aforementioned states, check with your dealer all the same. Some vehicles from the same timeframe in other states may be eligible for special warranty coverage.

Owners may contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438, Saturn at 800-972-8876 and Pontiac at 800-620-7668 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

2007|Chevrolet|Cobalt

2007|Pontiac|G5

2010|Saturn|Ion

2010 Chevy Camaro Vs. Drive-Thru

The guys over at Consumer Reports have found a bit of a drawback to the new Chevy Camaro. All that cool design work has led to a car that doesn’t handle the drive-through well. Consumer Reports’ auto blogger Jim Travers explains “Visibility in general is not a Camaro strong suit, but when you can’t see the ATM you’re sitting next to, it takes a lack of a view to new heights. Or lows. I had to crane my neck just to see where the machine spat out my receipt, let alone reach it. And forget about opening the long, wide door to make things easier. There’s no room for that, either.”

Travers says the issue isn’t a “deal-breaker,” so go ahead and pull the trigger and learn to park and use the walk-up ATM.

Camaro driving tip: Skip the drive thru (Consumer Reports)

GM Extends 60-Day Guarantee

While it appears very few new GM buyers are opting for its new 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, GM is extending the program through the end of 2009 and slightly beyond, ending Jan. 4. Buyers can opt for the guarantee which allows them to return a new vehicle after 30 days but before 60 — with restrictions — if the buyer isn’t happy with it. Recent reports have the take rate of the program at 10% of new car sales; the other 90% are opting instead for a $500 cash back rebate. Only a handful of the 10% have actually returned a car.
 
We’ve already wondered if this counts as a “success” but since the program doesn’t seem to cost GM much, the publicity and marketing value is likely making up for any loss. That’s why GM will continue touting its “May the Best Car Win” slogan in print, online and TV advertising through December. 

Chevy Cruze Launch Delayed

The Detroit News is reporting that GM is pushing back the launch of the Chevy Cruze compact by roughly three months. Now it won’t go on sale until the third quarter of 2010 instead of during the summer.  The company wants to make sure the car’s launch is a smooth one and cites that reason alone for the delay. The car has already gone on sale in Europe and Asia.

Despite recent successful launches of the Chevy Malibu, Equinox and Camaro, many industry observers say the Cruze is the company’s most important new product.

GM delays Cruze launch (Detroit News)

Consumer Reports' Top 10 Automakers

Today, Consumer Reports released the results of its annual car reliability survey, which includes more than 1.4 million vehicles. This is one of the most important publications of the year for consumers interested in a car’s reliability. There were few surprises in terms of which makes are most and least reliable, with Scion maintaining the top spot. Porsche, Saab, Suzuki and Pontiac saw the biggest gains while Lincoln and Mini took the biggest hits. Check out Consumer Reports full report if you’re a subscriber. We list the top 10 most and least reliable automakers below.