As the latest step in its post-bailout image overhaul, General Motors announced yesterday that the car maker will be phasing out its GM Goodwrench auto service in favor of brand-specific “Certified Service” centers.
The Goodwrench program began in the 1970s and was known as Mr. Goodwrench until the company decided to pull the “Mr.” portion from the brand name in 1996 (though many people have continued to use the name).
Says a guy from GM, who you just know has a secret underground garage full of Fords and Toyotas:
This is more than a name change — it is a declaration of our commitment to our customers, with exclusive vehicle diagnostics and connectivity via OnStar, competitively priced services and parts, increased advisor and technician training, and working jointly with our dealers to focus on customer satisfaction.
GM retires Mr. Goodwrench [Consumer Reports]
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“with exclusive vehicle diagnostics”
In other words: We are creating an unnecessary monopoly so we can raise prices in the name of quality =)
The “exclusive disagnostics” is the mechanism by which the on-board computer in the car can commune with On-Star. The net result is you get an e-mail from your car reminding you to schedule an oil change, or telling you why the check engine light is on.
The former saves you from the tyranny of the 3 month/3K mile Jiffy Lube racket, the latter helps you get your car to pass the increasingly draconian smog test.
Are little lights on the dashboard no longer sufficient?
Little lights on the dashboard are irrelevant. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Thanks, I thought about it after typing my comment. I have a SYNC vehicle health report on my Ford, does the same thing.
dude are u always on consumerist?
WGAF?
Detroit Police Blotter: February 13, 2015
11:11 PM – Mr. A. Goodwrench arrested on public drunkenness and domestic violence charges. Tasers deployed.
“This is more than a name change — it is a declaration of our commitment to our customers”
We take our customers seriously
It does seem a bit outdated. Looks like GM is going to do what everyone else is dong. How original.
Geeez. First, Hershey declares that Mr. Goodbar is “made with” chocolate instead of that it IS chocolate. Now, GM is killing Mr. Goodwrench. Wherefore the love of Mr. Goodcharacters??
Nothing is as it seems anymore.
No more chocolate milk , it’s now “Chocolate Dairy Beverage”.
No more ice cream, it’s “Frozen Dessert”
Ever wonder why Canada has “Kraft Dinner” instead of “Kraft Mac & Cheese”, there’s no real cheese in it and it would be false advertising to claim it has cheese in it.
No more milk in chocolate milk, no more milk or cream in ice cream… all chemicals and oils, what a sad sad world.
Man I would have never thought Mr. Goodwrench had much to worry about. With him axed I know this economy is screwed now.
“GM Kills Mr. Goodwrench In The Garage With A Lead Pipe”
Shouldn’t you be on a list somewhere, Mr. Title Writer?
There is no reason to buy a GM product, especially since we already own it.
The real news would be the IPO they want to do, they want to sell what we own to us. It would be the most open money laundering ever.
“Here this is yours, you already own it, but i am willing to sell it to you, but you will have to pay me 25 bucks for it.”
WTFHM??????!!!!!!
“There is no reason to buy a GM product, especially since we already own it.”
I take that a compliment to the auto bailout that saved tens of thousands of jobs and will earn the US Government a profit after the IPO?
Profit? Did you not read the article about what the stock price needs to be to make all the money back?
Sorry, forgot to add this. With what the government is going to lose in the initial sale after the IPO( and this is based on $29 a share), the government will need to sell the rest at $72.9 a share. It wan’t that high since the peak of the .com bubble in 1999.
Thank you for letting me borrow that money, it really saved my ass in every way imaginable.
I will adhere to what we agreed, that I will pay you back, in full, plus interest, it’s only fair.
I was wondering though, would you be interested in buying these pieces of paper I made?
It would really help me pay you back if you bought some.
Thanks,
GM
Is this another of those smart moves like trying to ditch the Chevy name?
The name was outdated, but I always chuckle at how PR people can spin anything into pure heaven:
“This is more than a name change — it is a declaration of our commitment to our customers, with exclusive vehicle diagnostics and connectivity via OnStar, competitively priced services and parts, increased advisor and technician training, and working jointly with our dealers to focus on customer satisfaction.â€
Damn, do they get paid by word?
“competitively priced services and parts”
Says who?
Mr. Goodwrench always reminded me of the name of a character straight out of a porno movie…
I did happen to buy a GM vehicle this last time around – it came with OnStar – I ripped that crap out the first day I had the vehicle. Spent the next three months explaining to those goons that I did not want it and wasn’t about to pay for it.
Good on ya! That system always schmecked of creepy OEM voyarism anyway.
If GM (and every other auto maker) wants to woo customers back to the dealership for non-warranty service, the answers are simple:
* Quit pricing parts and labor at twice what my mechanic charges.
* Stop trying to sell needless add-ons. Put your service advisors on salary, not commission.
* Let me schedule an appointment for the actual repair time needed. I have better things to do than dropping the car off for a day or sitting around for hours on what should be a 30-minute repair.
* Get rid of the 19″ Sanyo tube TV and 2007 copies of US Weekly in the waiting area. For what you’re charging, a 50″ flatscreen and current magazines are reasonable requests.
Dale Earnhardt is turning over in his grave as I write this.