Speaking of flagships for car companies: Lest we forget the Ford GT? Was the world really ready for a $100,000 Ford?!?

I love the heritage and history of the big three but quality has to go to the imports. But, anyone buy parts for an import recently? Alternators, starters, cams... those buggers are EXPENSIVE!

And old wrench once told me: If it's cheap to buy it'll be expensive to fix.

100,000? That's nothing. The Ferrari Enzo cost tens of millions. Not only do you have to buy the Enzo you must first buy three other Ferraris, have a climate controlled garage and other things before Ferrari will allow you to buy one. Also, the Chevy Corvette or the Dodge Viper is right up there with the Ford GT.

I owned a Ford Escort in the 80's and drove it to hell and back and rarely changed the oil. Recently I had a Chevy S-10 Blazer and again I drove it to hell and back with about 1500 in maintenance costs over 12 years.

For the big 3 Automakers, UAW wages are out of control for the day. Medical expenses are high along with supporting your retirement packages for these individuals. Unions have a place in business but there is a time when all they worry about its wage increases. Wage increases in all sections of all markets in the US are circular. We all want to make more but in the end our companies have to charge more for us to make more. We still end up paying more which means our increased wage didn't really get us anything.

Can't blame the gas prices through the summer. This all happened in the mid 70's and the big 3 reacted to the need for higher gas mileage cars then and made a stunning comeback. They didn't react this time. Its a matter of to little to late.

If the govt. does not allow GM to reorganize under bankruptcy and restructure the labor agreements and all the goodies attached to the UAW, GM will end up just like Pan Am or TWA. Nothing but a memory.

The workers could care less about their company. They would rather strike against them and drive them to kingdom come. Let UAW workers pay for healthcare just like everyone else. GM spends $2000 from every car sold on benefits. No wonder why they can't compete.

I don't think the gas crisis had much to do with it, well, apart from SUVs that is. But even the foreign car makers made that mistake with their own gas guzzler offerings.

GM, Ford & Chrysler have COMMITMENT trouble.

Chevette, CAVALIER!, Sunbird, Caprice, Tempo/Topaz, K-Car, Omni were extremely good budget cars and a lot more economical than anything foreign. Ford's mustang has SAVED them from falling even further. GM dropped the Camaro / Firebird! WHAT!?

The foreign cars are MORE RECOGNIZABLE because they stick with the name and keep improving it. Civic, Accord, Camry, Tercel etc. Mazda saved about 80 cents on badging, per car, by calling them Mazda 3 vs 323, 6 vs 626 etc. But overall the brands are consistent. Everyone knows the car they are buying and what to expect. Cavalier was a good seller... Why take a foreign car and badge as COBOL?! What are you thinking GM?

If you ask me this is an engineered crisis to shave themselves of the pension promises and unions under Chapter 11 bankruptcy (eventually). The unions have to concede a little and stop raping the profits of companies. I say this from personal experience.

It's VERY hard to get past one successful year without the chicks in the nest begging for worms every time. Sometimes people should be thankful for the opportunity before them without extorting more and more and more. It's insane and unsustainable when you are trying to be competitive.

Tariffs on autos should be increased or foreign car import allowances should be reduced.

We are slave consumers/a captive market for the rest of the world. Without our market, they would all crash in a quarter or two. They are junkies for our coin.

The fix:

Tariffs raised
Imports lowered (might happen through natural market behavior)
Consistent branding! (COME ON!)
Union concessions! Remuneration reflective of profitability! Profit sharing!
Dedicated one sided CEOs not on other boards of other companies!

It's simple. The foreign markets will simply have to abide. If there are trade wars, so be it. Who will have the upper hand in such a case? What would happen if we stopped sending our patented technology plans to CHINA to be manufactured only to have them STEAL and COUNTERFEIT everything we do?!

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!

[edit on 19-11-2008 by Atlantican]

This was like my first Ford car and I loved it. I drove it for 10 years.

With Ford I saw unrecognized names taking the front seat also as well as not much of a diversified line.

Chrysler had nice concept vehicles the last few years but, they couldn't seem to work out the bugs.

GM-Too many years of attack of the clones.



[edit on 24/11/08 by toochaos4u]