Maybe being a "car guy" and a car company executive is a conflict of interest. Your heart and your head will never agree.

 

Go away. Find some other forum to annoy.

 

Really good point there!

 

I think a lot of car companies would be better-served if a car guy at the top was making decisions with his heart rather than with his head.

 

I doubt that. See guionM's post about how the people on this board would desire a stripped down SS, that was all about performance, but that 90% of the general buying public would think that car sucks. They want the luxury features to go with all that performance.

Sone that appreciates cars at the top, yes. A gearhead without business sense or sensability to see the big picture, no.

 

Thats all I needed to know... He's my kinda guy!

I to 70-73 Camaros they are my favorite cars of all time!

not that I didn't like him before... just that now he's moved up to the Awsome ranking in my book!

 

I began this thread to discuss what a "car guy" is. It's a common term, yet never truly defined. I didn't intend this to be an effort at knocking Wagoner, that's another subject entirely. Also, I'm not suggesting the Chairman of GM should even be a "car guy". The person in that position needs to understand much broader and in depth issues than the actual automobile. He, or she, should focus on long term strategies and goals concerning the global enterprise.
I do feel though that the Corporation is too large for one person to be Chairman and CEO. You cannot effectively lead a major international operation the size of GM and simultaneously be involved in daily operations.
GM needs to split the functions into two positions in order to succeed profitably over the long term.
Anyway, back to the question posed...What makes one a "car guy"?

 

My definition of a hard-core "car guy"?
Going into the office on Monday morning with skinned knuckles and grease still under your fingernails that Go-Jo cannot reach. All due to, for example personally installing a set of headers, pulling an engine or stuffing a Muncie four speed back in that classic or GM muscle car... or similar down and dirty project. That is "hard core" and there are not many GM brass that can make that claim. However... there is one that immediately comes to mind. He runs GM Powertrain and can assemble a small block in his sleep. Mr. "Ed" is top notch... and "hard core". A real "car guy". By the way...that "other" fellow that was mentioned previously as being a car guy?.....Not in my book he isn't. Even if he did own a '72 Camaro.
Just my two cents. Allright then... bring on the flamethrowers...

 

Buickman,

What is YOUR definition of a "Car guy"?

 

Does that mean all the Boy wonder - rice drivers (with twenty foot wings and HP adding graphics) are car guys?

 

Never really had a definition, that's why I started this thread. Myself, I grew up around cars. My dad was a salesman, then a dealer. As a child, I hung around mechanics and body men when my dad was busy in the showroom or office.
I guess to me a car guy is someone with, as they say, gas in their blood. I like many of the suggested definitions offered here, particularly by D80. Some of the ideas are serious, some humorous. Maybe it's someone who lives and breathes cars. FBod is a car guy, guion is one also, as are many on this site. Maybe its someone who's been thru 5 divorces but kept the same car.
When I go on vacation, I usually find the local GM dealer, preferably Buick, and pay a visit. This is commonly referred to as a "busman's holiday", goes on vacation and rides the bus.
I guess the common trait of a "car guy" is passion and involvement in the physical attributes of the automobile. Still looking for more thoughts...

 

These are the first comments you have made that I agree with you 100%. With Bob Lutz on board since 2001, his position handles the product side. So yes the position has been separated since then. Prior to that the product was handled exclusively by the VLEs with NASB approval. With Wagoner taking the lead of GMNA, he is taking over for the short term, the strategies and general big picture focus of that org. Wagoner is no fool and his mission "Is to fix GMNA for the last time." Don't fool yourself into believing he and his team do not know what the issues are.

Getting back to your question of the definition of car guy, it is a stuipid term just as bean counter. GM needs and has "product people" running the show. That means people that understands what business they are in and what they think the product should be to stabilze and grow the business. The ill defined term "car guy" with the associated assumption that he/she has 100 octane fuel running through their veins is not the person that GM needs at the top. Not to say they do not have their place in a vehicle company but someone like that will never see the big picture of the industry. Wagoner is a product person.

 

And the award for "Posting something honest, biting, and funny all at onece" award goes to.....

 

Let's be perfectly honest here for a moment. Does it REALLY take a "Car Guy" to run a car business today? Do we really even want a "Car Guy" running a car business?

I think it's far more important to have a guy up top that has trucks fullof common sense, the honesty to put guys that know more than him in key places where he isn't an expert, and the talent to cut through the BS that other's tell him & not be afraid to run over someone who's simply protecting their little fifedom instead of doing what's right for the company.

On top of that, he needs to be able to explain and sell board members and stockholders on plans and projects that may seem counterintuitive to top level business school graduates and accountants who view cost and value as the only thing business is about.

Throw a car guy on top, and he'll probally get eaten alive.

The CEO (can't remember his name off the top of my head) was a "Car Guy" in that he came up through engineering. Splendid guy. Solid car credentials. Great ideas on products.

He barely lasted a year and a half.




Check. Can do it a quarter mile away now.

The 97 Z is "Probable Cause"
The Black T-Bird is "Bad Guy"
The B4C is "License Remover"
(May start calling it Casper because it's white & frightening when you keep the pedal mashed).
The Blue T-Bird is "Mom's Car" even though I own it.

House? You supposed to clean those too???

 

A "car guy" is NOT some feeble fool who says "Oh Mr Scary Salesman, please wet nurse my sissy self and give me your best, bottom price before I run away in terror".