Top 10: GM's WORST Automotive Cost Savings Ideas - Can You Guess #1???

Take a look at GM's worst cost savings ideas over time. If I missed one, be sure to comment!

[JohnnyAloha]

Lotz said it best, “they took $100 out of interior materials and ended up having to put $800 of rebates on the hood to sell it.”

[edroosa]

So awesome to hear how you narrate and create your script personally. We are SO SICK of the AI crap flooding YouTube.

[mvseaurchin]

When I was a student Engineer at Buick in the early 70's I was on a tour of Final Assembly when the guide proudly told us that a bright Engineer had realized Buick could save a lot of money if they stopped wasting the top coat of paint of the roofs of cars that were getting a vinyl top. At that time all vinyl roof models were getting only primer paint under the vinyl top. It only took a few years for the rust to start bubbling up under the vinyl roof. The Engineer probably was promoted.

[JimmyDoresHairDye]

You could make this video "Top 100 GM WORST cost savings ideas" and make it 10 hours long and it still would barely scratch the surface.

[Andrew-epkw]

During this era I remember a philosophy about car salesmen. It said Honda and Toyota salesmen were not real salesmen. The cars sold themselves, so the salesmen were just order takers. GM, Ford and Chrysler salesmen really had to work to sell their cars.

[ds-ilik]

Sometimes it seems like Adam is making videos specifically catered to my own weird interests, so it's awesome to see there are at least 150k more of you out there. This is such a good channel.

[Spencer]

It’s funny how many times bean counters think they’ve found a big chunk of fat to cut but it actually turns out they’ve cut straight through down to the bone 😂

[howardjlogan]

The lack of a water separator on the Olds diesel was particularly egregious since GM owned Detroit Diesel and, along with EMD, was one of the premier diesel manufacturers in the world. Why they would think Oldsmobile would not need a water separator was just inexcusable!

[michaelcrumlett]

Olds V8 timing gears come to mind. Back in the day, I got several Olds Deltas and Regencies dirt cheap because of broken cam gear teeth. I’d scoop the broken plastic out of the oil pan, change to a steel Cloyes timing set, and have a nice, reliable car for very little money.

[Ozark_Bule]

The common denominator in all these terrible ideas is: Roger Smith. I'd really like to see a best and worst list of the big 4 CEOs.

[charles]

72 here...bought nothing but GM my entire early life.

Strike 1: Absolutely could not get anyone at GM to tell me what tranny my 1980 Monte Carlo had (350 or 200), finally a mechanic verified 350. Slowly, but surely, the engine died, early IMO (150 K, but well maintained).
Strike 2: 79 Caprice Classic barely made it up hills after about 100k...tranny slippy and shot.
Strike 3: 85 G20 Van another tranny problem....smoke suddenly pouring out the back on the interstate...maybe 120 K.

Then, Wife needed to buy the "flashy" 1990 Chrysler New Yorker. I had to adhere a heating pad to tranny underside to get the carcass to move on cold mornings.

Since then:
Accord
Accord
Accent
Rav4 (probably best car I have owned)

Note: First car, used 1965 283 Impala that I owned was so good, that I stuck with GM
until I ....
didn't.

[otm]

Used to live behind one of the GM powertrain engineers, He drove the cheapest GM lease he could find to the office and drove a w126 Mercedes every other chance he could get. That told me everything I needed to know about GM from a very young age.

[JK-dplp]

LOL I have heard it called "interior by playskool" but never "my 1st interior" thats a good one.

[midwest]

I totally agree with you about the THM200 transmission. I had one in my 301-4bbl Pontiac 1979 Grand Am. The THM200 transmission was designed for engines that produced "up to" 200lb ft of torque (as the name signifies), yet my V8 produced 240 ft of torque. Doesn't take an mental expert to figure out it was a ticking time bomb. Sure enough it blew with only 31K on it. Not only did GM "cost savings" maybe saved them a few dollars, but now 40+ years later I still won't buy a GM car. Good job for a company whose motto used to be: "Nobody sweats the details like GM".

[matt.]

Now I know what RTV stands for. Thanks Adam

[randyfitz]

The added door profile trim on the Buick wagons is new to me!

[judgegixxer]

One thing that always bugged me with cars being cheaped out on are the empty gauges. Big spot for the tach or small for temp etc but it’s empty and the idiot lights aren’t even in those spots. GM square bodies were bad for that but all brands did it.

[silicon]

Trivia: The Vega Vert-a-Pac transportation system was the entire reason why GM went to side post batteries for 1971 until around 2012 or so.

[ad]

I had a friend who drove a 90s GM with the saggy headliner. He just kept a stapler in his console. Every time an area started to sag, he just stapled it back up. There were hundreds of them 😂

[The_R-n-I_Guy]

Companies like GM, and other large corporations that claim to be losing money all the time really anger me. They would be able to make a better product and a better profit if the people at the top were paid less, and the people at the bottom who do the actual work were paid more.
There, I'm done ranting.
Love this channel. Just had to say that