[WestCoast]

Here is some out of this world news...
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Penske said to be interested in buying GM's Saturn

By Sharon Terlep
Last update: 10:04 p.m. EDT May 4, 2009
DETROIT (MarketWatch) -- Roger Penske, owner of the second-largest U.S. auto retailer, has emerged as another potential bidder for General Motors Corp.
News of Penske's interest comes as GM on Monday hired veteran auto industry advisor Stephen Girsky to help sell the Saturn brand by the end of the year.
GM is racing to offload the brand and its dealers as the company tries to avoid being forced into bankruptcy protection alongside Chrysler LLC. The auto maker has until June 1 to convince the Obama administration it can survive outside Chapter 11.
GM said Monday it is reviewing "expressions of interest" from "a number" of potential buyers. Under any Saturn deal, GM would eventually stop providing the vehicles and they would be built by another manufacturer and sold through the Saturn retail chain.
Girsky, a former Morgan Stanley analyst and one-time advisor to departed Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, will help GM evaluate the offers.
GM stock closed flat on Monday, at $1.81 per share. Penske shares finished 1.3% higher at $13.56.
Penske, a billionaire with deep Detroit ties, also has experience developing other brands. His company is the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Smart car produced by Daimler AG.
He owns auto-racing team Penske Racing and, recently, he chaired the Detroit Super Bowl XL host committee and brought the game to the Motor City after raising $12 million for the event.

[kkfan91]

does anyone even drive saturns?

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

does anyone even drive saturns?

This may have something to do with the Chapter 11 thingydoo.

[Bob Tanner]

First, NA__AR has to approve the body for competition, but since they're running generic, virtually identical cars, that shouldn't be a problem.

Second, does Saturn even put a push-rod V8 in their cars?

[WestCoast]

As you say, they can put any "sticker" on it they want. From what I understand the "new" Saturn’s are based on the European Opel brand, having only 4 & 6 cylinder engines (GMC company) and are pretty good cars, but too little too late.
Is there still a stipulation that the brand has to market a V8 to the consumer if they want to put it in the race?. Also, Penske may only be interested in the dealerships (for his other brands) and the land they are on.
Looking at his site Home Penske Automotive Group, Inc. Bloomfield Hills MI he can put any sticker on his cars he wants.
* with the exception of Smart which would be Stupid.

[bears9]

Do bad drivers or crewman who get fired get their car payments made by Saturn?

[mike honcho]

Originally Posted by bears9

Do bad drivers or crewman who get fired get their car payments made by Saturn?

I was just sitting here wondering how much the payment protection costs when you make a deal on a new car.Cause they make it sound like it's free.and I bet they don't refund the money if you don't use it.

Last year when gas was high Kia was doing a deal free gas for a year if you buy a new Kia.My sister bought a new one and to get the deal done on the car they dropped the FREE GAS deal.It dropped the price $1200.

[loco4pablo]

Maybe some of our experts here can answer this.... The article states Penske is the second largest auto dealer. Not that this matters but who is #1? Anyone know? Is it Auto Nation? Just curious

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Maybe some of our experts here can answer this.... The article states Penske is the second largest auto dealer. Not that this matters but who is #1? Anyone know? Is it Auto Nation? Just curious

You made me curious too, loco. I can't find a straight answer. The nearest thing I read came from a two year-old Business week article which gave US Auto Group (which is Penske) as the largest. Apparently he's been passed by now?

If you find out I'd be interested.

I found the biggest single dealership (or that's what they claim but they're car salesmen so go figure) is Gillman in Houston, with over 250,000 sq ft under roof.

Good question.

[flflash47]

Yes the stipulation for a production v-8 engine is in there ( interestingly it does not say Pushrod Production Engine ) I dont believe Saturn has a size/wheelbase compatible production car either.

AutoNation is by far the largest U.S.A. based automotive retailer, approx 250 dealerships with over 300 new vehicle franchises. They are based here in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.

[mike honcho]

Biggest Auto Dealer Adopts Green Agenda

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by flflash47

Yes the stipulation for a production v-8 engine is in there ( interestingly it does not say Pushrod Production Engine ) I dont believe Saturn has a size/wheelbase compatible production car either.

AutoNation is by far the largest U.S.A. based automotive retailer, approx 250 dealerships with over 300 new vehicle franchises. They are based here in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.

Thanks for the note on AutoNation, flash. I've learned something today.

Where did you get your info on the engine. Don't tell me you actually have one of the [mythical] Official NA__AR Rule Books? If so, you are our prove that such a thing actually exists! <BG>

[WestCoast]

I always find it funny when Americans assume that the Middle East is a major exporter of oil to the US, and they are dependant on it.
Politics at their finest…
Here’s a quote from that AutoNation executive…

"AutoNation Chief Executive Mike Jackson isn't a typical car dealer. The former head of Mercedes-Benz North America has been on a crusade to generate awareness that the U.S. should have a stiffer gasoline tax to drive sales of more fuel efficient vehicles and push the country to independence from Middle East oil."

When in reality...

Crude Oil and Total Petroleum Imports Top 15 Countries

[loco4pablo]

I'm still not 100% sure of the answer but I researched Wayne Huizenga because I knew he had a lot to do with Autonation... According to wikpedia it said this about wayne:

Starting with a single garbage truck in 1968, he grew Waste Management, Inc. into an entity that would become a Fortune 500 company. Huizenga aggressively purchased independent garbage hauling companies, and by the time he took the company public in 1972, he had completed the acquisition of 133 small-time haulers. By 1983, he grew Waste Management into the largest waste disposal company in the United States.

Huizenga repeated his business success with Blockbuster Video, opening a handful of stores in 1987, and becoming the country's leading movie rental chain by 1994. Eventually, Huizenga would also build and acquire auto dealerships, from which in 1996 he formed AutoNation, which has become the nation's largest automotive dealer and a Fortune 500 company, and remains his most recent major business venture.



The article also stated that Wayne H. is the only person to start 3 separate fortune 500 companies.
As a south Florida native I am no Wayne H. fan.... But I bet if he had gotten into NASCAR he wouldn't be sweating manufacturer support

[bob101]

I don't know about Saturn but some teams are going to have some serious changes coming up.

If Dodge leaves think about this. Not every "top tier" team we have now is going to get "major" sponsorship from a car maker. Toyota/Ford/GM isn't going to just take a new team to have a new team.

We are going to go back to the old days of each car maker having a top tier team that gets the free stuff like blocks, engineering help, money, etc...

Then we will have second tier teams that get discounts on engine blocks and limited engineering help.

Then there will the rest who will rent engines and cars etc...

That's how it used to be. Only recently have we gone to someone like GM having Hendrick, Childress (and at one time Gibbs), plus lending to other teams.

To me it makes the move Gibbs made even smarter. Even JD Gibbs said this week about Kasey Kanes comment about RPM moving to Toyota.....he said "Did he stop and think maybe Toyota doesn't want RPM or doesn't have room for RPM".