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Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers? - READ ONLY

1788 messages,  Last post on Mar 03, 2009 at 3:18 PM

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

Messages Page 176 of 179

#1749 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by lilengineerboy

Mar 01, 2009 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 12:43 pm)
People's idea of beauty covers a wide range. Ever been to a dog show?
 
I was reminded of that every time I used to go to Scorekeepers in Ann Arbor.

#1750 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Mar 01, 2009 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 1:03 pm)
Yeah but it was still very reliable, and still is, with the new owner. 50,000 miles and zero problems, nada, zilch, not even a burned out light bulb.
 
Here's an ad for a 2006 Scion xA. The asking price is exactly what I paid new for it!
 
$13,100.
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/1054819475.html
 
Here's a 2006 MINI (not an S)
 
Asking price is $19495. I priced out a 2006 MINI in 2006 for $20, 480 (I still have the print out, so that's how I know).
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ctd/1055023974.html
 
Pretty amazing, even if you cut 10% off these prices.
 
Think you're gonna get these prices for a 2006 PT Cruiser? Don't think so.
 
It's $8499, low miles from a dealer.
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/1054724214.html

#1751 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Mar 01, 2009 (1:12 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 1:06 pm)
That reminds me of something I read on a bathroom wall once---but no, we won't go there.

#1752 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by boaz47

Mar 01, 2009 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 1:04 pm)
But it is that way, everything else is Anthropomorphism. If it weren't why would the most popular cars move towards vanilla? Enthusiasts are a rare breed that has learned to love a machine. A train is a train, a buss is a buss, a Plane is a plane and ship is a ship but somehow a car is a living things. Can the be or should they be extension of who we are? Advertising tries to tell us one kind of TV will make us a better person yet none of us will buy one to show our hopes and dreams. Mechanics have had tool posters and calenders in their shops with pretty girls holding air wrenches but no one believes they will attract girls because they have a Snap-on wrench. I didn't say strap-on either.
 
I am not sure falling for advertising shows strength of character. But like I said, the most popular vehicles tend to be the one that have the least personality.

#1753 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [boaz47] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Mar 01, 2009 (1:50 pm)

Replying to: boaz47 (Mar 01, 2009 1:42 pm)
Popular cars don't have to be boring. The Fiats and Golfs and Peugeots overseas are fun to drive.

#1754 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by srs_49

Mar 01, 2009 (2:23 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 1:50 pm)
I owned a '73 Fiat. Yeah, it was kind of junky in the long run, but a lot of fun to drive, even with only a 1.2L engine. I still got 120,000+ miles out of it. Sorry Detroit, but I just could not see myself in a Pinto, Maverick, or a Vega.

#1755 of 1788 Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by lilengineerboy

Mar 01, 2009 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 1:10 pm)
Yeah but it was still very reliable, and still is, with the new owner. 50,000 miles and zero problems, nada, zilch, not even a burned out light bulb.
 
I think that is par for the course now. My dad was amazed that for the first 3 years, his G35 required nothing beyond oil changes. That was it. The Subaru got new windshield wipers under warranty, that was it. I don't think that makes it exceptional I guess.
 
Japanese cars being the same price new or used (or cheaper new with the Obama tax credits) is a California thing. Its why my brother and sister had Escorts in high school and college and not Civics (both of which handled drivers from 16-22 without complaint).

#1756 of 1788 Re: meanwhile, back at the ranch [lilengineerboy] by dtownfb

Mar 01, 2009 (6:35 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Feb 27, 2009 2:58 pm)
I'Ve been complaining about the Big 3 for years. Lack of innovation, reliance on pickups and SUV, too many models and brands, killing off Oldsmobile instead of Saturn, too many rebates and incentives, losing money, etc. Read my posts over the past 5-6 years.
 
News Flash! We are going to lose a bunch of suppliers no matter what happens to GM or Chrysler. There are too many cars being produced for the current market. Sales were artificially raised over the past 7-8 years due to the overuse of incentives/rebates and easy credit. Times have changed and the industry has to adjust. The government providing endless bridge loans is not going to help the industry but drag out the recession. GM could not make money when sales were at 17M 4 years ago. They can't make money now. If Cerberus does not want to invest their own money into Chrysler, why should we? Let's stop playing games and get down to business. Each company has had plenty of time to deal with this issue. GM knew back in 2005 things were coming unraveled. Daimler knew in 2006 which is why they unloaded Chrysler for a song.
 
We're going to be paying for this for a long, long time no matter what happens. The fact that the big banks don't have a good sense of what their losses are is inexcusable. Just heard on the radio tonight that AIG lost $60B the last quarter and needs another $30B. Unbelievable! All this fancy accounting is going to drag the country down more than anything in the auto industry. We can fix GM all we want. If no one can qualify to buy a car, it won't matter.

#1757 of 1788 Re: meanwhile, back at the ranch [dtownfb] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Mar 01, 2009 (6:54 pm)

Replying to: dtownfb (Mar 01, 2009 6:35 pm)
The USA is still the largest manufacturer of goods in the world, by a long shot. We just need to make other things, is all.

#1758 of 1788 Re: meanwhile, back at the ranch [dtownfb] by fezo

Mar 01, 2009 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: dtownfb (Mar 01, 2009 6:35 pm)
Thanks for the news flash. It's exactly right. No matter who is making motor vehicles in the USA by the end of 2009 suppliers will supply the parts for roughly 10 million vehicles. Whether those vehicles are GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda or whoever else you'd like to mention is to a large degree irrelevant. Those suppliers who are flexible enough to do a quick change from Chrysler to, say, Hyundai are going to be the ones who survive.

Messages Page 176 of 179

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