Would you buy a GM if a year's worth of car insurance was thrown in?
Car makers – well, North American car makers – will do anything to get you in one of their rides these days.
You’d think, with the devastating Japan ‘quake/tsunami having crippled production from giants like Toyota and Honda, domestic manufacturers would hold all the cards – except, of course, when you remember the decades of lousy models, greed and mismanagement that kind of turned us off local vehicles in the first place.
But, wait! What about this? Would your views on buying a domestic car change if a year’s worth of auto insurance was thrown in the deal?
According to the Associated Press, that’s just what GM is offering customers in limited markets now (just Oregon and Washington states at the moment, “but the company says it may eventually be rolled out more widely,” the AP notes): a free one-year policy to customers who purchase or lease a new GM car before Sept. 6.
The incentive program applies to new 2010, 2011 or 2012 Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac cars, trucks and crossovers. Coverage will be provided by MetLife for one year from the purchase date, whereupon motorists will have the option to re-up with the insurer or find new coverage of their own.
It’s an interesting enticement, to be sure, but do things change when we break the deal down, by the numbers?
Your car insurance – I know mine is – is likely a bit more, but the Insurance Information Institute reports the average auto coverage in Washington is $840 per year; only $727 in Oregon.
So we’re talking less than a grand here, which begs the question, Is that enough to sway you over a major buy like a car?
If you’re already in the market for a new GM – hey, we’re talking gravy here. Sit back and enjoy the savings. But for those that’ve been steered clear from domestic rides for whatever reason, it’d be intriguing to find if a year’s worth of free auto coverage would be enough to have you make the switch.
Would you be lured toward a GM if the auto maker covered your first year of car insurance?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Al | Jul 11, 2021 7:17:47 PM
Weaver you are an idiot, not just on economic principle but on general. A 2-3 year old any car shouldn't need to be fixed. The problem with north american cars is that they fall apart after 100,000k and are plagued with problems. We don't need to hear some rant about your abusive father who beat you also into buying the only thing that was available at the time.
You want to bring jobs back to this country? Then tell all the powers that be to stop all the eco-rules nonsense that hampers business and allows foreign firms to thrive. Even better tell the unions to get back to work.
Did you ever ask yourself why people by foreign cars? because those people have been burned by the detriot three and with 300,000k on their third camry, why not get a fouth? You didn't think, of that did you? You'd rather wave the flag of mediocracy and listen to john cougar in your ford fiesta base model that doesn't even offer air. A car in 2011 that doesn't offer air-condioning? Yep, i want to buy that......you can sure tell who works for one of the detriot three on this thread.what a joke.
Posted by: Al | Jul 11, 2021 7:23:49 PM
http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/p/2197/new-cars-you-should-steer-clear-of
Just to cement my argument, right from this site...eat some crow boys.
Posted by: Doug | Jul 11, 2021 7:53:27 PM
I agree with David Weaver. The only times I bought non domestic were when I lived in germany for a 3 years and drove a VW. The other was a Pontiac FireFly which was an import but sold by GM. All my Chevys, Fords and Chrylers have been great and I normally drive a car 10 0 more years My '58 Chev Impala went through a lot of front fenders in Ont. due to road salt, but what cars of that vintage didn't have rust in Ontario in those days? If we lose all our domestic auto industry with it's jobs and profits, you loyalists to off-shore vehicles can only blame yourselves. Meanwile, I am proud to drive my well made domestics and support North Amerian industry.
Posted by: Diane10 | Jul 12, 2021 12:00:46 AM
David, I can't help but notice that you say you buy a new GM every 2-3 years and that your father bought a new domestic every year from 1954 to 1996. Well it must be nice to have that much in the bank to do so - most of us don't! Also, if you're trading in a model every 1-3 years it's unlikely to have too many problems and is also covered under warranty. I think what a lot of the above people are saying is that over the long term GM is and has proven itself to be unreliable. That can't be said of the Japanese products. Yes, lately Toy has run into some severe issues but they are DEALING with them, correcting them, and more importantly still producing excellent cars. The same can't be said of GM. They resisted change for years and delivered junk. Also, you're so smug about "supporting U.S./Cdn. economies". Well, where was your beloved GM, hanging out the U.S. and Canada to dry when it almost went belly-up and then (your favourite word) "whining" for bailouts that severly cost both countries. Don't tell people what kind of cars they have to buy, it's a free choice and your comment about geiger counters is nothing short of ignorant and rude.
Posted by: Dan | Jul 12, 2021 12:09:38 AM
I love my Camaro My Montana is great on gas and hauls
everything. My 400hp Camaro is also great on gas and was built by a great bunch of guys and gals who are gainfully
employed in my country. Win Win Win :)
Posted by: viky | Jul 13, 2021 11:46:26 AM
I bought an astro van and can't say enough good things about it.
I am just sorry they discontinued it. For the price , and with regular maintenance, I am sure to get 600k miles on it. I'd say I got myself a deal.
I support our own economy and our own workers . Money has to stay at home.
Buy North America
Posted by: Route 66 | Jul 14, 2021 12:57:43 AM
I have been an avid GM fan all my life and also worked on thier assembly line, but I have to agree with BJ. Honda is becoming a real hard one to walk away from. When it comes to work trucks, 1 ton diesels in particular, I would buy GM or Ram. There is no comparison on a job that requires a real truck, like the oil patch. Jobs like mine separate the trucks from the garbage. I don't like small cars and never have. Now they are trying to include as many options as luxury cars in the cheapest, low end cars possible. My opinion is that if you polish a turd, it's still a turd. Who buys the insurance is irrelevant.
Posted by: Route 66 | Jul 14, 2021 1:40:12 AM
Weaver: Most, if not all, Toyota and Honda products are made in Canada or the US.
Mike: Say what you will. I can prove to you that my 1 ton diesel GM will use the same amount of fuel as your Toyota while hauling 3 or 4 times more. Toyota is not a good example to use when you are talking about trucks.On my job your truck would be junk in 3 months. I do about 12,000 km a month in places where trucks weren't meant to go. If I buy my wife a new vehicle, 10 years later you can't tell if it's used. I buy a new truck and 3 months later people say "that's a work truck." People who buy Toyota trucks, don't really need a truck. It's unfortunate that I can't include pics in this comment. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Posted by: Don | Jul 17, 2021 12:14:33 AM
Nothwithstanding the comments of Mr.Weaver, previous entry. Car buyers are not morons if they buy foreign and in fact, more foreign car manufacturers are locating plants and emplying our countryman than ever before. The reality is that a North American car company can compete, but they can not guilt buyers into buying the stuff that they make. Case in point, GM is making a fine looking Malibu, yet with less than thirty thousand miles it has needed three(3) steering racks, the headliner has been dropped three(3) times for a sun roof leak, the rear wheel bearing has been replaced and now... the blue tooth feature on the radio will not recognize a cell phone to enable hands free. The jist if this is, make something reliable, make something with quality and durability and maybe I won't need an incentive like a year's car insurance to get me to but