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July 31, 2006

Report from BlogHer, Day 2

By Nellie Lide
GM Consultant

BlogHer ’06 is over and it was wonderful! So many women, so many blogs, so little conference time. The second day was great — I spent the morning with the GM cars and talking to women as they took a test drive. Lots of women bloggers have been posting about GM’s efforts at the conference. Here's what some of them have to say:

Lynne d Johnson of Fast Company’s FC Now blog gives GM kudos for the effort:

"GM embarked upon a little one-on-one marketing. Instead of forcing conference attendees to sit through some intolerable PR session about future vehicles from Saturn, the company offered conference goers the opportunity to learn about them first hand by handing over the keys to the rides. For instance, I chose to test drive a silvery two-seater convertible named Saturn SKY.

Both the interior and exterior of the roadster were breathtaking. Styled in the fashion of European sports vehicles, the SKY features a soft convertible top that folds neatly into the rear compartment and a smooth leather interior with low-to-the ground cockpit seats. While the steering wheel felt like butter that could melt in my hands, I was a ittle unsatisfied with the inability to raise the seat off the ground."

Maryam Ghaemmaghami Scoble wrote on her Maryamie blog:

"Speaking of great sponsors, Jory Des Jardin and I went for a test drive of a brand new convertible Saturn Sky. We went cruising down highway 101 with the wind going through our hair and the sun caressing our skin. It was awesome! A guy actually pulled up to our car at the light, smiled, and said: "That car sure looks good on you. Wait a minute. Is that a Saturn? Wow!" You can't buy publicity like that anywhere else :)"

And Maryam’s husband Robert (one of BlogHer’s approximately 20-percent-male attendees) added on Scobleizer:

"Saturn did about as good a job of marketing to this group as I’ve seen a company do…How did Saturn do that? They brought several prototypes, along with some cool ass convertibles. Then they said “here’s the keys” and stood back. I watched as group after group came back with smiles on their faces and, more importantly, as tons of photos were snapped..."

Jody DeVere of AskPatty.com (Automotive Advice for Women) already posted about her drive:

"I MUST have that BEAUTIFUL Sky as my next car purchase....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm just might need to wait for the Redline edition in the fall. MSRP $25, 194!"

About 120 women took test drives. Overwhelmingly they appreciated GM’s presence at the conference. The Saturn Sky was the most popular car to drive. The Saturn Vue Green Line (hybrid) was a close second. We videotaped lots of women’s reactions to their drives and we’re going to show some of them this week. Stay tuned tomorrow for comments on the Saturn Sky.

Take a look at more of photos from BlogHer over at Flickr.

Posted by Editor at 6:14 PM
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Monday, July 31

Today's photo comes from the albums of darkthirty. Here's what he has to say about his photo:
"antique cars in gastown, vancouver, 2005"

Be sure to look at all of darkthirty's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:20 AM
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July 29, 2006

Report from BlogHer, Day 1

By Nellie Lide
GM Consultant

Well, I’m here with GM at the BlogHer conference. I work at The McGinn Group (PR firm – GM’s one of our clients) and blog at www.newpersuasion.typepad.com. You know you’re at a conference full of women when the first thing the conference speakers talk about is the bathroom situation. (Only one women’s room nearby – so the men were warned the women may commandeer their bathroom.)

GM is one of the corporate sponsors here, and the cars they have for test driving are beautiful. Literally tons of Saturns (I have my eye on the Saturn Vue Green Line ), the upcoming Saturn Outlook and even a Cadillac Escalade (yes, I will be taking that out for a test drive since that’s the closest I’ll ever get to owning one.) Actually, GM is giving out a little goody bag and then, if you test drive a car, you get a bigger goody bag. I say bring it on. Did I mention I love the free stuff at these conferences?

I’ve been talking to a lot of women here and it’s interesting that the younger women bloggers all seemed aware of the Saturn Sky. Some of them asked if there was a manual transmission version (there is), and some of the bloggers my age (middle-age mom baby boomer) said how much they liked Saturn as a company. I’m with them. I still drive my 1998 little Saturn wagon. The other thing women mentioned was how much they appreciated the no-haggle pricing Saturn offers.

Sponsoring the BlogHer conference is a great opportunity for GM. The women here are not shy and will speak out, and if GM can get people to think a little differently about their company – especially some of these women influencers – than it was more than worth it.

I’ll sign off now as I’m in the middle of a session on blog widgets.

Posted by Editor at 10:24 AM
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July 28, 2006

Friday, July 28

Today's photo comes from the albums of lee_3dhighway. Here's what he has to say about his photo:

"Whew! That was a narrow escape!"

Be sure to look at all of lee_3dhighway's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:12 AM
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July 27, 2006

Milwaukee Area Longest-Lasting Trucks

More than 4.1 million miles.

That’s how far just 17 members of the Chevy Silverado 200,000 Mile Club have driven their trucks. The Longest Lasting Truck club highlights the durability and quality of Chevy trucks, the most dependable, longest-lasting trucks on the road. All 17 appeared at a club event that was part of a radio remote by WMIL-FM 106 on July 7 in West Allis, Wisc., just west of Milwaukee.

The longest-lasting Silverado at this event belonged to Kyle Burke, with more than 289,000 miles. Kyle said, “I always have had Chevys — they are dependable.”

Many of the contestants talked about Chevy’s reliability. Mike Ringwood said, “I buy Chevys because they have power and are long-lasting.”

William Simmons echoed that point, saying, “Dependability is what makes me buy from Chevy. I've had them since the 1950s. They have stood up to normal wear and tear, and Chevy has stood behind everything they have said. I can't ask for more.”

Drop by the club’s web site to read what other long-time Chevy drivers have to say or to enter your truck and its story in the contest. Entries will be accepted until Aug. 13, 2006.

Posted by Editor at 3:14 PM
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Thursday, July 27

Today's photo comes from the albums of metrodad?

Be sure to look at all of metrodad?'s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:05 AM
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July 26, 2006

BlogHer?

By Michael Wiley
Director, New Media

GM is a platinum sponsor of the 2nd annual BlogHer conference, which takes place this Friday and Saturday in San Jose, Calif. BlogHer, in case you haven’t heard, is the only conference I’m aware of whose mission is to “create opportunities for women bloggers to pursue exposure, education, and community.” We’re all really excited about this conference and there will be something like 700 bloggers in attendance. I’ll be heading out to California tomorrow morning and I’ll be meeting up with several (female) members of our blog team. We’ll be attending the conference sessions and meeting members of the community, but better yet, we hope to be answering questions about the GM vehicles that will be on site.

We will have several of the latest, greatest vehicles on site for the bloggers to drive, including several Saturn products like the Sky, Aura, and Vue Green Line. And, coolest thing of all, we will have a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on site available for test drives. This is a great opportunity to test drive the future, and I plan to take it for a spin myself. It should be fun.

We’ll plan to post an update or two from the conference, and our intrepid videographer will be with us, so maybe we’ll seek some impromptu vehicle reviews after attendees complete their test drives...

Posted by Editor at 4:53 PM
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Solstice Lovers Gather in Kansas City

Not too long ago, Anne deVille and Lloyd Kinnett shared their stories of finding love and happiness through their new Pontiac Solstices. They just returned from Kansas City for the First National Solstice Meet, and Anne has a full report.

By Anne deVille

Lloyd and I just returned from the First National Solstice Meet in Kansas City, Mo., which was held from July 14-16. Due to high gas prices and the desire to be in each other’s company, we took only one "Sol". We left a day early so that we would be at the hotel in time to watch all the Sols pull in. We also traveled with two of our “Solmates” and enjoyed the attention that the three cars received on our journey into the heartland.

To our surprise, when we rolled in to the hotel, there were already quite a few “Sols” there... more than I had ever seen in one place! The hotel had set up a place for grooming the cars, and there was always a line of owners taking advantage of this. It was a great gathering place to meet other owners and see what that they had done to personalize their cars. Everyone was very friendly and willing to lend a hand or share cleaning supplies. Quite a few people driving past the hotel pulled in to the lot to get a closer look, and they the free car show.

On Thursday night, we got caught in a light hailstorm but escaped damage, as the Sol performed well in the terrible weather. This was the only rain we had, as temperatures hovered around 100 degrees all weekend.

The party really started when the two Pontiac big rigs rolled into the parking lot Friday afternoon. One of them had a giant "sly" Solstice painted on the side. I couldn't refrain from staring at the truck trailers. Others couldn't either, and many took advantage of the photo opportunity. That night we got together in the banquet room for meets and greets and later mingled in the parking lot to chat and admire each other's cars until the sun went down. Lloyd had painted the Pontiac arrowhead logo on my big toes and that was a hit. So was the V8 Solstice parked in front of us.

On Saturday morning, nearly 100 Solstices paraded down I-70 to the I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo., where we lined up single-file to park and gather in the pit area. Vendors were set up to show us the latest in modifications and accessories. There was remote control Solstice racing for the young and young at heart. Most of us took turns driving single-file laps in groups around the track in the intense heat. By afternoon, it was getting crazier as the cars were running three wide. What a sight! After the track events, a fun-filled, scavenger hunt-like run was held before we returned back to the hotel. The evening was topped off with a wonderful dinner, announcements, appreciations, prize giveaways, and a very informative question-and-answer session with a GM representative from the Solstice team.

Sunday we got together for a very fun ride through Kansas City with more fantastic photo opportunities. Again, the cars were the stars as we cruised through historic Independence, then headed to downtown K.C., and stopped briefly at the recently restored Union Station. We then stormed through and caught the unsuspecting shoppers at “the Plaza” by surprise before heading down upscale Ward Parkway and then onward to Gates Barbecue on State Line Road to pick up lunch for a picnic in a nearby park. After all, what's Kansas City without barbecue?

What a fantastic weekend! But the day wasn't over for some of us. We were soon whisking off to the land of Oz (Kansas) with my cool (silver) Sol and our friends Melanie in her aggressive (red) Sol, Daryl in his envious (green) Sol, and Curtis and Sherry in their mysterious (black) Sol to see Sammy Hagar perform at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs. Our four cars were on display at Sammy's Cabo Wabo village before the concert in exchange for free concert tickets. It was a blast watching the concert goers reactions from a distant shaded canopy as we took turns handling questions about the cars. Sammy was great and we always love showing off the cars! This was the icing on the cake.

We were exhausted by the end of the weekend, but the First National Solstice Meet was a huge success. There were approximately 100 cars present, one coming from as far as Rhode Island and another from Canada. There was also a Saturn Sky or two in the group. The mods were incredible and too numerous to mention. Almost everyone had done something to personalize their cars. Future owners came just to get the feel of what it will be like when their new Solstice arrives. A lot of hard work went into the planning and execution of this event and it was something we will always be glad we were a part of. More than $2,000 was raised for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Thanks to all of our new friends and old friends and to the many people who offered congrats to Lloyd and me on our engagement. We were surprised that so may people read our story in this blog and in USA Today. We’re looking forward to next year’s meet!

To see more photos from the event, check out our Flickr albums.

Posted by Editor at 12:47 PM
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Wednesday, July 26

Today's photo comes from the albums of iluvcocacola.

Be sure to look at all of iluvcocacola's photos (this photo has extra notes on the Flickr page) and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:46 AM
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July 25, 2006

H3 Helps Out at Home

By David Gibbons
Plant Manager, GM Shreveport Assembly

A couple of weeks ago Hummer extended the loan of 12 H3s, already in use in post-Hurricane Katrina cleanup, for another year to the state of Louisiana.

These vehicles have already been used to transport food, relief workers, medical supplies and water to those in need. They’ve been to Mardi Gras and have been employed as high-water response units for an area police department.

In the town of Shreveport, La., where the HUMMERs are built, a new custom version of the H3 has been deployed for the use of children in need.

At Sutton’s Children Hospital — a still-under-construction 65,000 square-foot facility being built at Christus Schumpert St. Mary’s Place hospital in Shreveport — two child-sized replicas of the popular H3 have taken up residence thanks to GM Shreveport.

The HUMMERs are being driven by little patients on their way to surgery, something that doctors say helps the children to relax and have fun, rather than focusing on what could otherwise be a frightening experience. If a child is anxious, it can affect his or her blood pressure or heart rate in a way that is difficult for doctors to control.

“This is a way to alleviate some of the stress, fear and nervousness," said Mark Brown, a surgeon at the hospital. "We are truly appreciative of GM's donation, which is quite fitting since the HUMMERs are made at the Shreveport plant."

Brown said that one child has already enjoyed a ride in the bright hospital HUMMER.

Whether it’s helping children cope with surgery or providing emergency services to local residences, we’re proud to have HUMMER playing a role in making lives better in Louisiana.

Posted by Editor at 2:06 PM
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Tuesday, July 25

Today's photo comes from the albums of lastdollarventures.

Be sure to look at all of lastdollarventures' photos (this photo has extra notes on the Flickr page) and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 11:44 AM
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July 24, 2006

Monday, July 24

Today's photo comes from the albums of AutoExposureCanada. Here's what he has to say about his photo:
"Travis Barker performs for the media at the North American International Auto Show after unveiling the 2007 Cadillac Escalade live on MTV."

Be sure to look at all of AutoExposureCanada's photos (this photo has extra notes on the Flickr page) and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:44 AM
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July 21, 2006

Pixar meets Opel

Over at Autoblog today, Alex Nunez reports on the Opel/”Cars” mini site that introduces the public to the Pixar take on the Opel Astra, Opel Meriva, and Opel Zafira. In addition to podcasts, car slideshows, screensavers and movie trailers, the site has its own coloring book full of the Opel “Cars” models.

For more on the movie, check out our own FYI post on Ramone, the Impala with a style all his own.

Posted by Editor at 5:04 PM
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Friday, July 21

Today's photo comes from the albums of Neato Coolville. Here's what he has to say about his photo:

"Found this along the highway and had to stop for a photo. Doolittle, MO 2006."

Be sure to look at all of Neato Coolville's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:09 AM
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July 20, 2006

Rev It Up With Chevy!

Rev It Up (RIU), sponsored by Chevrolet, is a traveling performance driving school and national racing competition geared to all skill levels. Once participants register online, they can receive training from professional racers and become eligible to compete on the RIU Competition Course. At RIU, participants will be able to drive Chevrolet performance vehicles, including the Corvette, Colbalt SS and Impala SS and compete with drivers from around the country.

At RIU, each participant's best lap scores will be recorded and made available online and the driver who exhibits the most impressive driving skills could win their very own Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe.

RIU is coming to major cities around the U.S. over the next six weeks. Visit the site for more information!

Posted by Editor at 3:45 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of T r u d e. Here's what she has to say about her photo:
"Old Saab in Oslo."

Be sure to look at all of T r u d e's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 12:17 PM
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July 19, 2006

Ethanol Fueling Sites Come to Pittsburgh

By Sherrie Childers Arb
GM Communications

GM announced last week that three new fueling sites in the Pittsburgh area will start selling E85 ethanol fuel. These sites are the product of a collaborative partnership between GM, VeraSun Energy Corporation (the nation's second-largest ethanol producer) and Sheetz, one of America's fastest-growing convenience store chains.

This is the fourth GM/VeraSun collaboration in four states since the two companies began working together to promote awareness of E85 fuel. The other initiatives have taken place in Sioux Falls, SD; Chicago, Ill.; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

What's most striking is the dramatic increase in the number of E85 stations in these markets over just a few short months, which demonstrates the high consumer demand for the alternative fuel.

GM made announcements with other state governments, oil industry members, ethanol producers and retail partners in California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Texas regarding partnerships to open more than 160 new E85 fueling locations.

GM currently has more than 2 million vehicles on the road that are capable of using E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It will continue to spend "significant advertising and promotion dollars" to help generate awareness of E85 flexible fuel cars and E85 fueling locations.

Posted by Editor at 1:43 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of gryhrt. Here's what he has to say about his photo:
"Chevelle SS in Wooster, Ohio"

Be sure to look at all of gryhrt's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:44 AM
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July 18, 2006

Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of HodRodsnHarleys.

Be sure to look at all of HodRodsnHarleys' photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:15 AM
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July 17, 2006

The Rest of the Story

By Mark LaNeve
GMNA Vice President, Sales, Service and Marketing

Some great news came out of GM recently, but it didn't get the attention it deserves. June was a banner month (strong from the first day to the last) for GM, our dealers, and most importantly, our customers.

In June we had our highest sales month of the year. Our U.S. market share in June 2006 was 26.7 percent, up sharply from May's 23 percent. Overall sales in June 2006 rose 15.2 percent compared to the month before.

And the great news? Customers are responding to the value, quality and excitement of our all-new launch vehicles. It is also a testament to GM's visible renaissance in design and the emotion a car can evoke in buyers. To read more about passion for GM cars, look no further than these FYI posts about Anne and Lloyd's Pontiac Solstice-inspired love story.

So, what is different ? It's not rocket science, and it hasn't happened overnight.

• We're building cars and trucks with industry-leading value and content, and launching new vehicles throughout the year. We also offer more models that achieve 30 mpg or better than any other manufacturer.
• Customers like the inherent value in our products.
• GM dealers continue to provide the best customer service in the industry.

One of the most gratifying things we saw in June was proof that huge incentives are not the only way to go to market and make customers happy. Incentive blowouts and gimmicks are not the answer. A great product at a great value, sold and serviced by a great GM dealer, IS the answer.

So, the first half of the year has finished strong, and the second half is off to a positive start with a lot of exciting new products on the way, including the Saturn Aura and Vue Green Line hybrid, and a new generation of world-class pickups and crossover utilities.

At GM, our turnaround will not be the result of any silver bullet or fancy corporate buzzwords. It will happen by providing outstanding products with great value that delight one customer at a time.

Posted by Editor at 4:43 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of Matthew Harris. Here's what he has to say about his photo:

One of 12 built by GM, a self-contained display and transport vehicle created by the GM design staff under Harley Earl's direction. Opening side, lighting, retractable stage, distinctive center "cupola" cockpit driving position and dual wheel front axle. Used in the "Parade of Progress" touring exhibit created by "Boss" Kettering that complemented the GM "Motoramas" from 1940 through 1956. One of only three survivors restored in their original "Parade of Progress" configuration (the others are in long term ownership by NATMUS and Peter Pan Bus Lines), this Futurliner is fully functional and has toured Canada in corporate promotions. Recently returned to its original "Parade of Progress" configuration and colors. Powered by a 400ci GM truck engine and fully equipped including an onboard motor-generator and updated air conditioning for the driver's compartment. A matchless symbol of the American auto industry at the height of its power and influence.

Be sure to look at all of Matthew Harris' photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 1:42 PM
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July 14, 2006

HUMMER Comes to the Rescue

The HUMMER H2 that GM recently provided to the Greater New York Chapter of the American Red Cross — one of 72 HUMMERs the GM Foundation and HUMMER have committed to the American Red Cross — has been traveling throughout Orange and Sullivan counties over the past week to deliver supplies to residents during the current flood emergency. It also helped residents of Delaware County, where it delivered 150 meals twice a day in the town of Hancock. Read more about the relief efforts and check out the H2 in action here.

Posted by Editor at 10:27 AM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of lastdollarventures.

Be sure to look at all of lastdollarventures' photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:27 AM
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July 13, 2006

Take a Look at the Acadia

Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design, unveils the all-new 2007 GMC Acadia crossover SUV at a press conference in North Hollywood, Calif., on July 12. To learn more about the Acadia, take a look at our Fast Lane blog.

To see more photos from the unveiling, visit our Flickr albums.

Posted by Editor at 12:39 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of Bob Reck. Here's what he has to say about his photo:

"Traxxas T-Maxx with Chevy Suburban body I painted and custom aluminum rims. My real one (Tahoe) is in the background."

Be sure to look at all of Bob Reck's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:30 AM
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July 12, 2006

Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of HippyDave1. The photo captures his '75 Chevy van with "spots."

Be sure to look at all of HippyDave1's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:03 AM
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July 11, 2006

Discovering a "Solmate," Part Two

Fiancés Anne and Lloyd are two very grateful Solstice owners who met because of their cars. FYI ran Anne's story yesterday. Here's Lloyd's story on how they met:

By Lloyd Kinnett

OK, my turn now...

My name is Lloyd Kinnett and sadly, I am 47 years old, not 37 as reported in the USA Today article. I, too, had had been through some difficult times following the 9-11 tragedy, including unemployment and divorce. As an aviation tech, my future was not too bright in the Midwest. I was persuaded by my brother to move down to Georgia, where the aviation industry was not faring as badly. So, in the summer of 2004, I pulled up stakes and moved from my native state of Missouri.

With a new start and vastly improved outlook, I soon decided I deserved a new car. I figured that a Mazda Miata or RX-8 would do the trick. The only problem was that the Miata body style thrilled me about as much as a bar of soap, and I just couldn’t get too excited about it. After I received an e-mail from a Pontiac dealer in Lawrenceville, Ga., who had two of the first 1,000 Solstices available to see and test drive, I jumped at the opportunity. I found a comparison between the Miata and the new Solstice on the Internet and decided to do a live comparison myself.

I went to the Pontiac dealer first, where it was love at first sight! The Internet just does not do these drop-dead, sexy, gorgeous sets of wheels justice! The way she handled sealed the deal. Forget the Mazda test drive! I would gladly pay MSRP for my new ride-to-be.

Then the waiting game began. I, too, spent countless hours hanging out at www.Solsticeforum.com. The site is a vast wealth of knowledge and can also be very entertaining at times. I became more knowledgeable about the car I was purchasing, largely thanks to the forum.

After a mere two months, my “Sol” arrived, and as luck would have it, December 23 was also my delivery date.

I’ve owned quite a few cars but nothing has compared to the likes of this one. I’ve met a gamut of people who are simply mesmerized by the Solstice. It crosses age and gender boundaries. “A Whatstice?,” I’ve been asked many times. I’m constantly being stalked by drivers attempting to get a closer look. We always have to leave extra time to get where we’re going because inquisitive minds want to know what we’re driving. Police officers often tail me. Drivers of more expensive exotics show interest. We’ve stolen a car show or two. We’ve even indirectly caused a couple of minor traffic mishaps.

We’ve also met the most wonderful friends from all over two states who have graciously taken us into their humble abodes and shared with us some curvy roads — that’s what Solstices do best. But most importantly, these cars steered Anne and me to everlasting love and friendship. So, I must admit, perhaps there is some sort of magic involved here and with two of them, it’s twice the fun.

We will be driving to my home turf of Kansas City on July 14th for the first National Solstice Meet. We are expecting more than 100 of these beautiful, magical cars to be in attendance for a fun-filled weekend. We considered getting married there, but we’ve been so busy that the date just came up on us a little too soon and we’re both a bit on the shy side. It will be fun anyway! We’ll tie the knot eventually.

Take a look at all of our photos on Flickr.

Posted by Editor at 10:43 AM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo of a 1957 Corvette comes from the albums of KatFoto.

Be sure to look at all of KatFoto's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:25 AM
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July 10, 2006

Discovering a "Solmate"

Fiancées Anne and Lloyd are two very grateful Solstice owners who met because of their cars. FYI is running their unusual how-we-met story today and tomorrow. Here's Anne's story:

By Anne deVille

Chris Woodyard writes stories about cars for USA Today. In June, he was putting together a story about “halo” cars, or models that “draw a halo around the brand” and “generate buzz before they even go on sale,” when he stumbled upon a true love story. That story was ours, and it was too good to pass up.

My name is Anne deVille and I am a 48-year-old widow who lost her best friend and husband 20 months ago after a very difficult four-year battle with kidney cancer. After the funeral, my friends just kind of disappeared at first, and I took it personally, but after a while I realized they probably just didn’t know what to say to me. I locked myself in my room and would leave only to go to work. Every time I would get in my Pontiac Vibe, all I could think about was putting my husband’s wheelchair in and out of the car.

One day in spring 2005, I called my uncle who works for Franklin Motors in Jasper, Ala., and told him I wanted a new car, but not just any new car! I wanted a Pontiac Solstice, which I remembered him telling my husband and me about in 2002 when it was just a concept. It was always a dream of ours to own a two-seat convertible. My uncle said that Pontiac had not even started making them yet. I didn’t care — I wanted one of these beautiful cars and was willing to wait no matter how long it took.

During the months of waiting, I started reading everything I could find about the Solstice. I discovered www.Solsticeforum.com and realized I wasn’t the only one with an obsession for these cars. I spent hours reading what others were posting, but was always too shy to post anything myself.

On December 23, 2005, my uncle called to let me know that my beautiful, “cool” Solstice had arrived. What a wonderful Christmas present! I had never actually seen one until I arrived at the dealership… it was breathtaking! For the first time in almost five years there was a real smile on my face, a smile that would not go away. I named my car “Pandora” after Pandora’s Box, because after all the evil and bad escapes, all that is left is hope. I knew that my husband would have been so pleased that I was smiling again.

On January 28, 2006, I met with seven other Solstice owners for lunch and to talk about our cars. On that same day, another group of Solstice owners from Peachtree City, Ga., was also meeting. A few days later, I made my first post to the Solstice forum because Lloyd, a.k.a. “Sol_man”, had taken a video of the Peachtree City meet and put it to music by Warren Haynes entitled “Soulshine.” I must have listened to that song a hundred times before I was able to post. The song moved me like nothing had in such a very long time. I told him how much I enjoyed the video and how much I loved the song. We talked back and forth a few times, and then on Super Bowl Sunday, we agreed to meet at Applebee’s in Anniston, Ala. We began talking and before we knew it, the game was over and the restaurant was trying to close. We walked back to our cars to make the long trips back to our homes, and as we went our separate ways we knew the “magic” had begun.

From that night on, we have been connected like I never thought would be possible again. We alternated traveling every weekend to be together. It was like we had known each other for years. We could finish each other’s sentences and everyone around us thought we had been together for a lifetime. Each weekend was better than the last until Sunday evening rolled around way too soon and one of us would have to make that long drive home.

I always tell people these cars are magical because they have brought people together who really needed each other, people who would have never met if it had not been for these beautiful cars. On April 9, 2006, Lloyd asked me to marry him and six weeks ago he packed up his life and moved to Alabama so we could be together all the time. (He claimed it was to prevent prematurely voiding out our car warranties from all the driving back and forth.) He has given me the most beautiful diamond engagement ring and we are planning to spend the rest of our lives together! Can you imagine having two of these magical cars parked in the driveway?

Check out Anne and Lloyd's slide show.

Take a look at all of our photos on Flickr.

Posted by Editor at 12:58 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of danielle blue. Here's what she has to say about her photo:

"my brothers 98 LS. i might be buying this truck from him, as he now lives in England.....but he dropped it down to an 8" ground clearance, I can't deal with that. The sound in this thing is ridiculous....the truck has won 4 or 5 dB contests."

Be sure to look at all of danielle blue's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 12:27 PM
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July 7, 2006

Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of nj dodge. He writes:

"This was a small gathering of local vintage and classic cadillacs owned by borough residents. This group of cars was one of the attractions at the annual borough halloween celebration for all the children (and adults) with requisite food, games and activities. watchung, nj"

Be sure to look at all of nj dodge's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 1:42 PM
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July 6, 2006

The Camaro or the Wedding Reception? The Camaro Mom's Story

By Len Vraniak
GM Consultant

In June 1967, proud new Camaro owner Diane Neu went to great lengths to make sure her friends had a good first impression of her car.

Unfortunately, she was on the way to a friend's wedding and got caught up in a major road construction mess, which covered the Camaro with thick yellow dust and mud.

Arriving for the wedding, Diane parked the car three blocks away from the church. According to Diane, she walked that far in high heels “because I didn't want my friends' first vision of my new car to be clouded by its mess.”

After the wedding, Diane didn’t just hop into her muddy Camaro and head to the reception. Instead, she found the nearest car wash, and took the time — still wearing her dress and high heels, by the way — to clean her beloved Camaro.

The story ends well, even though Diane got lost on the way to the reception.

“I arrived late to the reception,” she said, “but at least the car looked good!”

The gleaming Camaro made a great impression — most of all on Diane. She owned and loved it until 1980. But the story doesn’t end there, nor does Diane’s love for the Camaro. She now owns a '68 convertible almost the same color and with the same 250 inline 6 her original Camaro did. She loves it as much as the original.

It’s her love for the classic Camaro that earned Diane the nickname “The Camaro Mom.” Funny what love makes people do.

Posted by Editor at 1:46 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of francesDre.

Be sure to look at all of francesDre's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 12:19 PM
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July 5, 2006

2006 Essence Music Festival, Chevy Style

By Ed Peper
Chevrolet General Manager

It’s not too often that I get to party on the job. But the Essence Music Festival is one work event where I get to “party with a purpose,” as Essence describes this three-day annual festival. That’s exactly how it was last year in New Orleans and that’s exactly how it was here in Houston at the 2006 event.

I must admit the musical guests, great food and terrific giveaways didn’t hurt, but the spirit of Essence and why Chevy was here was much deeper than me having a blast. After the hurricanes last summer, Chevy wanted to do what we could to help rebuild. Chevy began its “Revolution to Rebuild” effort, which is our way of using our resources to “spread spiritual DNA” around the area.

We treated festival-goers to street performances and a chance to drive our hottest new products. From the looks of it, our guests were able to experience the festival “Chevy-style.”

We kicked off our Essence Music efforts earlier this summer by building a Habitat for Humanity home in Houston. Chevy sponsored the cost of the home and organized volunteers from all over the country to help build it. Volunteers included Chevrolet employees, music artists, local Houstonians and journalists. Now THAT’S teamwork, THAT’S part of the revolution.

The home will go to a single mom and her 16-year-old daughter, former residents of New Orleans who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. It’s efforts like these that make me happy and proud to be a member of GM’s largest division. To see more photos from the Habitat home, take a look at our Flickr album.

There you have it — the perfect mixture of business (helping others) and pleasure (good times with new friends) here at the 2006 Essence Music Festival. Make sure to check out more photos from the festival on our Flickr page.

Posted by Editor at 2:39 PM
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Photo of the Day

Today's photo comes from the albums of Yell Ow!

Be sure to look at all of Yello Ow!'s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:03 AM
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