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Automotive News & Views Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers?
1788 messages, Last post on Mar 03, 2009 at 2:18 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Maybe I've been looking at the dark side of the collapse of the Big Three. Maybe I should think of the advantages I would gain if I were to break down and buy one of these glorious Camries. Let's look forward to the year 2015. GM collapsed six years ago. I pull into Sharkey McShyster's Toyota dealership next to the off-track betting parlor across from the "gentleman's club" and pawn shop. I trade my pristine but now worthless orphaned black 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance for a brand new Camry. I'm driving back to my place and thinking about the very wise purchase I just made. Since my car will no longer be the center of my world nor receive the lion's share of my attention, I gained many new advantages. Among them: Fuel Savings: No longer will I need to waste my money on premium fuel. I can go to Xavier's Brand X Gas in the bad neighborhood and fill up on his special economy blend which consists of a 50/50 mixture of kerosene and water with rocks, sticks, and bugs in it. Tires: When the OEM tires wear out, Pep Boys' Futuras will be sufficient. No need to spend my money on exotic brands like Goodyear, Michelin, or Pirelli. Insurance: Collision? I don't have no stinkin' collision! I don't need no stinkin' collision! Parts: Get the Great 'Yota feeling with genuine Wal~Mart parts! Ease of Parking: The Camry might actually be longer than my 1988 Buick Park Avenue, but it will be easier to park. Of course my neighbors won't like my sudden diminished driving skills as I hit whatever happens to be in front or back of me as I could care less about scuffing the Camry's bumpers. Smoking: For the first time ever, I and my passengers can smoke in my car! Eating: Ditto! Dogs: My friends with dogs will love me. Fido needs to go to the vet? Let me take him! Body Shop Repair: Heck, I won't need the expense of a body shop should I dent or wreck my Camry. I can just ignore the damage or pound it out with a ball peen hammer. Oops! I tore the metal! Oh, nothing a little Bondo and Krylon can't fix. Other tools required will be duct tape and bailing twine. Oil: Mobil 1 synthetic? Feh! The recycled stuff in the 5-gallon jug at the dollar store will be sufficient. Oh, cool! They sell filters too! Cleaning: Wow! Think of the hundreds of dollars I will save since I no longer need all those fancy waxes, polishes, soap, and other detailing materials! Think of the savings on my water bill since the rain will be sufficient enough to clean my Camry! I Can Suddenly Go Anywhere: What's that? you want me to drive down to North Philly at 2 AM and pick up some crack for you? No problem! My Relationship Will Improve: No longer will I hear my girlfriend complain about me showing the car more attention than her. In fact, I will be spending a lot more time with her as the car will no longer be a distraction.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 15, 2008 7:33 am) I see the Volt as another GM failure in the making. Congress has put $7500 on the hood of the Volt and any other EV meeting the 16 KWH battery criteria. I have a novel solution. Why not encourage Mitsubishi to build a huge factory in the US for their soon to be released MIEV? Build it in a state like Nevada that is hard hit by the Housing bubble. It meets the criteria to get a $7500 tax credit. They are supposed to sell in the $24,000 range with Li-Ion batteries. They have 100 mile range that should satisfy all but the longest commuters. $16,500 is about half of what we will be expected to come up with for the Volt. And GM claims they will lose money at the $40k price point. Why encourage GM to build cars that lose money? Are you listening Iluv? I am pushing your car. I like it myself and would buy at the expected price to run all my errands that do not require a PU truck. Congress needs to take a look before they throw our money away on domestics with no hope for the future. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=124867 |
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 15, 2008 8:36 am) I think more truth than fiction. I don't see much pride taken in the Japanese sedans around here anyway. Just an appliance to fight the traffic to and from work. Here in So Cal the Big PU trucks and SUVs get all the attention and Bling. The Buicks and Caddies are driven by retired military. Easy to tell by all the insignias and personalized plates. |
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 15, 2008 7:03 am) LEMKO -- but that's the whole point. You didn't buy a Cimarron, or a '76 Eldosaurus, or an Olds Diesel, or a Citation---but a lot of people did, and they got so burned they never, ever forgot it. You also came in when Cadillac didn't have to deal with a brand called Lexus (1990)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 15, 2008 8:59 am) True. My wife bought one of the first LS400s sold in 1989. Sold a Mercedes 300D and has driven the Lexus ever since. It already has 95,000 miles and still running well. I would not expect any new vehicle to last that long. Too many expensive electronic sensors to screw up. Disposable high mileage cars are the norm. |
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 15, 2008 8:36 am) Buy an old phone truck, and you can drive anywhere you want- no one will bother you. What hun??? Take out the garbage???? Can't you see I'm scrubbing my whitewalls??? How are you gonna get to those car shows w/o being jealous and wanting a car WORTH HAVING???? |
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 15, 2008 8:36 am)
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 15, 2008 10:54 am) Another Wrinkle -- Some forms of US government intervention may very well collide with rules and regs of the World Trade Organization and have global implications for this country.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 15, 2008 11:08 am) Very good point. We make a big fuss or should when governments subsidize industries that we compete with. Aircraft comes to mind. Do we really think we can compete with China if the Chinese government puts subsidies on what they sell US. I know they have done some currency manipulation to protect their industries. I think the G20 are meeting in Washington today. They may have something to say about the situation. Any kind of bailout is anti capitalistic.
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 15, 2008 11:16 am) Then, if true, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. |
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