You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers?

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

What is this discussion about? Automotive News, Truck, Sedan, SUV

Messages Page 122 of 180 1 ... 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 ... 180 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#1202 of 1788 Re: gagrice, head over to the GW site for more... [iluvmysephia1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Nov 16, 2008 (8:13 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 16, 2008 7:11 am) This car can travel 153 miles on a full charge and it has a top speed of 80-mph.   Yes but it's not going to go 153 miles 80 mph is the problem. it's probably not going to go half that.   Electric vehicles, unlike hybrids, are only going to fill little niches--they aren't going to "save" any company IMO.
#1203 of 1788 Re: gagrice and other interested ones... [iluvmysephia1] by circlew Nov 16, 2008 (9:00 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 16, 2008 6:32 am) So much for searching for shady parking spaces! Cool beans!   Regards, OW
#1204 of 1788 Yep... by iluvmysephia1 Nov 16, 2008 (10:08 am)
the 2010 Pininfarina-Bollore has jumped to the top of my list for next-car. Mitsu's i-MIEV doesn't have the range of the B0 but is going to be just as well-built, if not better built than the 2010 Pininfarina-Bollore B0. I'm going to continue to research both cars.
#1205 of 1788 Re: has anyone [tlong] by berri Nov 16, 2008 (1:08 pm)
Replying to: tlong (Nov 15, 2008 9:37 pm) It probably boils down to whether a prepackaged Chapter 11 can succeed. If it fails, GM, and possibly the other Detroit 3, go into Chapter 7. Everyone has debated the merits and issues with that, and the costs to the government. However, Chapter 7 brings on another economic issue. The other players have consistently shown dis-interest in older Detroit 3 plants, and an apparent desire to avoid unions and geographic union employee areas. So for several years there may not be enough physical capacity from other auto producers to meet US demand. I don't believe there is enough current overseas capacity either to offset the loss. That means shortages of vehicles, loss of vendor base, less choice and higher prices. This is a real danger if there is a sudden Detroit collapse that may impact the US for several years until other companies can be ready to fill the void. This same situation will impact employment due to the immediate dislocation of so many industry and dealership personnel. I think Chapter 7 would be very ugly and have some rather severe consequences on all Americans. It is not the same situation as airlines where someone just picks up the aircraft and everything moves on.
#1206 of 1788 Look at how GM and Chevy have dealt by iluvmysephia1 Nov 16, 2008 (1:36 pm)
with the all-electric. They're needing $40,000 for the 2010 Chevy Volt? I mean, really. What a joke. That's not going to help you guys get out of trouble, overcharging for that car. I would limit it's price to $30,000 and lobby the Obama Administration for the $7,500 alternative energy rebate surety on that one.   If you don't want to offer the talked-about $2,000 Chevrolet manufacturer's rebate on the car, don't. But don't ask $40,000 for this car to help finance your raspberry jelly donut and Starbuck's board meetings. When are you guys gonna get hip to the fact that America doesn't like you much anymore?   And you are an American carmaker, right? Replies to this message: cooterbfd (Nov 16, 2008 1:55 pm)
#1207 of 1788 Re: has anyone [nippononly] by cooterbfd Nov 16, 2008 (1:41 pm)
Replying to: nippononly (Nov 15, 2008 8:30 pm) "....The job loss figure of 2.5-3 million being bandied about is from a study just completed by the Center for Automotive Research. Who is funded in part by, guess who? The domestic automakers."   This may be true, but a few years ago, Toyota was bragging about how they employed SEVERAL HUDRED THOUSAND people in the US. There was a small disclaimer about including jobs created as a result of them being there. Nobody disputed their claims, even though they were counting the new restauraunt that opened a few blocks from the assembly plant, that has absolutely no association w/ Toyota.   So, maybe C.A.R. includes the restauraunt that will CLOSE as a result of an assembly plant that closes due to bankruptcy. Either way you look at it, the facts that the automakers are spewing include the same factors and consequences of them being there, or not. Replies to this message: nippononly (Nov 17, 2008 8:11 am) steve_ (Nov 17, 2008 8:16 am)
#1208 of 1788 Re: Look at how GM and Chevy have dealt [iluvmysephia1] by cooterbfd Nov 16, 2008 (1:55 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 16, 2008 1:36 pm) "...They're needing $40,000 for the 2010 Chevy Volt? I mean, really. What a joke."   I agree $40K is way expensive for this car. But, at this point, GM can't afford for it to be a loss leader. However, as far as your electric only car, what price do you put on not having to plan a day trip auound an electric charge (on a cloudy day)???
#1209 of 1788 cooter... by iluvmysephia1 Nov 16, 2008 (2:01 pm)
oh, man, I'll be all over that one like white on rice. I will plug-in and re-charge the 2010 Pininfarina-Bollore B0 overnight. It only takes 5 hours to charge up! At this point I'm pining to find more information on how it's regenerative braking system and photovoltaic solar panels will automatically be re-charging the car whilst I travel dangerously close to being out of it's range, which is 153 miles.   Right now I don't see a reasonable explanation as to why this little all-electric shouldn't sit in my SE Arizona driveway in late-2010. Only 2,000 available in late 2010, though, so better make your connections early if you want one.   Chevy dropped out of contention for sure with their Volt with me early this morning when I learned that Pininfarina-Bollore are definite in their plans to export this pup to the U.S.   BTW-clouds are infrequent here in southern Arizona, I'm a perfect candidate to snap one of these little cars up. I have a warm and fuzzy feeling that I could experience automatic re-charge of my B0's battery pack as I travel.   Have you ever been to Arizona, cooter? I'm serious, this place is sunny so much of the time when even California to our West is cloudy and rainy, or just cloudy. This place is the perfect testing ground for one of these cars, bring 'em on!   This thing is moving fast, and I'm starting to make solid plans on buying one of these cars.   larsb, ya out there? Read up, my man! Replies to this message: cooterbfd (Nov 16, 2008 2:14 pm)
#1210 of 1788 Re: gagrice and other interested ones... [iluvmysephia1] by cooterbfd Nov 16, 2008 (2:12 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 16, 2008 6:32 am) BTW, all the sites I visited on this car talk about it being produced in limited quantities. Quoted from autoblog:   "It is expected to become available in Europe, Japan and even here in the good old US of A by late 2010, starting with an initial run of 2000 vehicles. In 2011, that number is targeted to increase to 8000 units, 11,000 in 2012 and 15,000 in subsequent years."
#1211 of 1788 Re: cooter... [iluvmysephia1] by cooterbfd Nov 16, 2008 (2:14 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 16, 2008 2:01 pm) What makes you think with all that technology, that $20,000 is feasable???

Messages Page 122 of 180 1 ... 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 ... 180 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers?