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RIP Chrysler, Hummer, and GMAC????
- Thread starter quagmire
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One reason why GM and Ford are in the tank.LOL!
Just not as much, from my experience.
Oops... I thought that's what they built. Without weaponry of course.
Then again, some drivers are just so bad, they can create enough damage a 120/150mm gun just wouldn't be necessary.
No, it is the perception of American cars suck that is helping them fall fast. Ford under Mullay is actually doing decently. GM is lost, though they will survive. But, their products have at least improved. Though GM's management needs to go.
Absolutely.
Poor quality. Ford in particular, from recent browsing owner satisfaction/car rating sites. New and used both. I've seen complaint lists that resemble a grocery/laundry list from numerous posts. Nor does it appear the complaints are from whiners either. Real issues, from many owners, and the statistics are higher than they should be when compared statistically.
Obviously other issues. People are buying foreign brands for a reason.
I understand the point you're trying to make.
But the recent products are junk, and will leave owners with a really bad experience. These models will be in circulation for a while yet, including any newer models that share parts from the existing models. This is where I think the lack of R&D funds, as well as assembly plant modernization would stall them. They just won't be able to release a truly competitive model line-up for a couple of years. New design and tooling don't happen overnight.
Ford, or any other US automaker, assuming they will survive even with the Bailout $$$, will have a herculean effort on their hands IMO.
And what about all of the "American" cars built in Canada and Mexico
I own a Volkswagen GTI. Sure, it might've been built in Germany, but once it got to the port in the US, how do you think it made it to my dealer? Yeah, an American truck driver. How about the salesman? Yeah, he was American too. The construction workers who built 2 new dedicated VW locations for this dealer in the area because VWs are selling so well that they outgrew the building they were sharing with Mazda at one location, and Honda at another....yep, those guys are American. I had to take my car in for service the other day. Everyone involved there, from the service manager to the mechanics are good 'ol American workers....what, did you think they box my car up and ship it back to Wolfsburg, Germany for an oil change? Hell, my VW is so fun to drive that I get a lead foot sometimes, and an American police officer pulled me over on the way to that service appointment for speeding. Damn VWs stealing jobs from American workers....oh, wait.
Who cares where the profits go? I could've bought a comparable "American" car, but the difference between me buying American, and me buying German is that either a filthy rich American CEO gets richer, or a filthy rich German CEO gets richer. But at the end of the day, who really cares about the filthy rich CEOs? So Martin Winterkorn gets a little bit more on his next paycheck instead of Rick Wagoner. Do I care? No.
So, if we all stopped buying VWs and other foreign cars, what happens to all of those workers?
My Aura isn't junk. So far it has been fairly reliable. My parents Suburban has no problems neither their Equinox. My personal experience with GM products have been pretty good. Though my next purchase will be a Ford or Honda most likely as I can't stand GM's management any longer. They're idiots( except for Lutz).
The $25 billion loan is designed for helping out the Big 3 update their old plants to the new modern manufacturing process. Also, to the person who says the UAW protects the poor workers, that is BS. Unless you consider $67/hr a bad wage and the employer abusing them...... GM needs a union to protect them from the UAW as they also play a huge part in the companies struggles.
I was referring to the US based auto makers. Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Acura's BTW, are decent. Just an upscale Honda. I've owned a few Honda's, and except for an ex who kept wrecking them
, never had any major issues. Just maintenance type stuff.As far as the US/Big 3, I'd even avoid Ford ATM. Transmission problems (failure) in particular, seem to be far too common. GM would be a possibility for anything in the truck/SUV category, but they just aren't what I care to drive. In general, I prefer to research anyway, no matter the make/model.
The Big3 has had a history of screwing the workers, and the UAW of screwing with the Big3, so in that mind set, they may be about equal.
But no, autoworkers don't need to be making ~$67/hr. BTW, where did you find that figure?Assuming that pay scale is correct, the line workers make at least, and likely more, than the engineers!
Yes, the $25B is supposed to be for modernization, but they even want more. To the tune of $15B, for a total of $40B. I don't know the details as to what or why they claimed this is for, but if I had to guess, it's may include R&D.
If you have any links on the details, I'd appreciate it.
I was referring to the US based auto makers. Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Acura's BTW, are decent. Just an upscale Honda. I've owned a few Honda's, and except for an ex who kept wrecking them
As far as the US/Big 3, I'd even avoid Ford ATM. Transmission problems (failure) in particular, seem to be far too common. GM would be a possibility for anything in the truck/SUV category, but they just aren't what I care to drive. In general, I prefer to research anyway, no matter the make/model.
The Big3 has had a history of screwing the workers, and the UAW of screwing with the Big3, so in that mind set, they may be about equal.
Assuming that pay scale is correct, the line workers make at least, and likely more, than the engineers!
Yes, the $25B is supposed to be for modernization, but they even want more. To the tune of $15B, for a total of $40B. I don't know the details as to what or why they claimed this is for, but if I had to guess, it's may include R&D.
If you have any links on the details, I'd appreciate it.
Oh no, not Acura, Aura. As in the Saturn Aura.
My baby,
I read it on an editorial. I will try to find it tomorrow as I am writing a 5 page paper for my english class right now. If I can't find it, I will retract that number as I can't find proof. But, they can make ridiculous figures.
GM wants another $10 billion to help them merge with Chrysler.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081028/bs_nm/us_chrysler_gm_6
Did they actually get that loan? Crap.
It's one thing if you give a loan to a business that's thriving. It's another thing entirely to give a loan to a company that may just go bankrupt and never have to pay it back.
It's one thing if you give a loan to a business that's thriving. It's another thing entirely to give a loan to a company that may just go bankrupt and never have to pay it back.
I'd have to agree.
I'm nervous that rushing to approve such deals, there would be some major gaps/holes that end up lining some people's pockets heavily, and no improvements occur that would return them to profitability. And ultimately, the automaker/s in question will still go belly up.