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Automotive News & Views Do You Favor A Government Loan To The Detroit 3?
3958 messages, Last post on Oct 02, 2009 at 4:52 PM
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Replying to: driver100 (Dec 14, 2008 10:11 am) Lexus really destroyed MB's pricing ambitions - from the time the LS was a bonafide hit and the 1992 ES was popular, MB had to knock down the margins. The cheapness of the lower line models of the 1994+ C-class were the first hint. Today there is little difference in price between sticker on a 2009 S550 and the original sticker on a 1992 500SEL. I doubt this is what the MB braintrust wanted. |
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Replying to: lemko (Dec 14, 2008 2:36 pm) I happen to have an 03 Accord V6. I would like to know what GM car you think would have been a better choice (for $25k)? My wife was rear-ended, and the Accord was in the shop for a week. We were given an 06 Impala as a rental. The Impala was three years younger than my Accord, with half as many miles (15k vs 30k), but it felt and rode like it was older. Everything about the Impala was inferior to the Accord, from highway stability, to performance and craftsmanship. It's actually hard for me to put Impala, and craftsmanship, in the same sentence, because they have nothing to do with each other. I could not wait to get my Accord back, so it could remind me what "Quality" is again.
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Replying to: fintail (Dec 14, 2008 9:03 am) Well if enough people decide they will "do what's right, instead of dwelling on the past and wanting payback, then the general populace might question what the heck both the Rep & Dem are doing, and vote for candidates in a 3rd party. I agree that there is a great transfer of wealth and power to the wealthy and political establishments in this country. When people realize that we need to stop giving $$$ to the government to further enrich and empower themselves, then maybe we can break this Dem-Rep path that will destroy the greatness of this country. But as long as some of us keep supporting these government policies because we're getting something, like giving $10 in taxes, and then fighting, and being happy we got $8 back, then we're in trouble. We do not need the government going into debt further, and we do not need the government managing private sector companies.
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Yes today because we have to. We will probably always need good trucks. No tomorrow because society's model is wrong. Was it early Greek thought that stated cities should be about two hundred and fifity thousand residents. Enough population where specialization could occur but not so large as to become a rat cage. And then interconnect these towns for sharing of culture, products, and gene pool. What if today we lived on barren land, farmed the arable soil, and lived without wasting our time on personal transportation. How much have we lost individually and as a society by messing with auto's to go here and there. |
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Replying to: lemko (Dec 14, 2008 9:47 am) Can't help you with your image problem, but I can point out that my BMW 330i, bought new in June, 2001, has been largely trouble-free. I had to spend $1200 in early 2006 to replace some suspension pieces, but that was after I hit a pot hole large enough to have its own zip code. I plan to keep the car until my grandson is old enough to drive it in 2017. |
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Replying to: kernick (Dec 14, 2008 5:12 pm) We also don't need supposed private sector companies with loyalties that can hardly be called American looting government coffers in yet another power grab. It doesn't matter who you vote for. Elected politicos are the tail of the snake. You choose what the head allows. |
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Replying to: fintail (Dec 14, 2008 4:05 pm) I'll try to answer as best I can and these are just my impressions We bought a C230 and it was a 4 cylinder kompressor. I liked the turbo boost and it was a very good car...no problems, and solid. We traded it in on a 2003 C240 wagon and although it was smooth and solid, the 6 cylinder engine was anemic. It had a few repairs under warranty as well. We both got 2007 BMW 3 series mainly because of the standard transmissions, and I believe the BMWs, though not as classically beautiful and luxurious, are better engineered and are certainly more engaging to drive. I would probably agree that Mercedes took some short cuts to make their cars more popularly priced - and 96 to 2006 are a little weak, but better than 90% of the cars out there. If you take a Camry, add the extras that you get with an MB, add a little extra for the feel of luxury and road handling ability and the pleasure of driving, I think it is a great car, because you will get a lot of enjoyment from driving and owning it - and like over 90% of the ones in North America are still on the road. . As far as the Lexus is concerned, I give them a lot of credit and think a lot of their cars. I have driven a Maxima rental car and though it is a great car, it is missing the soul that European cars have for me. It is hard to put into words, but if cars were watches, European cars are like Rolex's or Omegas, Japanes cars are like Seikos, American cars are like Timex...except they don't take a licking and keep on ticking, but you know what I mean 
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Replying to: lemko (Dec 14, 2008 2:36 pm) Be advised that the Camry & Accord provide very different driving experiences. The Camry is softer sprung & works harder to isolate the driver. In this respect, it's similar to the Buick. (It's not coincidental that the Avalon, which is basically a stretched Camry, is called "the Japanese Buick".) By contrast, the Accord is a firmer riding & better handling car - much more of a driver's car than the Camry. My favorite version of the Accord is the 4-cylinder model equipped with the 5-speed stick, which is one of the best manuals available today. That's the car you should test drive. (You can drive a stick, I hope. Or does your domineering girl friend force you to buy only slushbox snoozemobiles?) |
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Replying to: driver100 (Dec 14, 2008 5:49 pm) I like BMW performance and seats, but I find them hard to look at. 
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Replying to: elroy5 (Dec 14, 2008 4:47 pm) It's nice that someone likes the Accord. The topic is Government Loan but I'll follow up to the personal opinion expressed in re the 03 Accord. I test drove one when they were new. It was rough riding. It made noises pulling out and in the dealer driveway at the street where it was twisted. It drove like a car with over-inflated tires; it bounced the wheel and whole car on every pebble and tar strip in the road as well as acted like it couldn't decide which way was the crown of the road with a wandering feeling instead of a definite direction. The seat felt like a school chair. I kept reading in forums how wonderful the Hondas were. Later people started posting about lead problems in the steering, cracking noises when the car was twisted for which a few were rebought by Honda, brakes that wore quickly or gave problems, seats that were uncomfortable and spartan, as well as the extra large A-pillar blocking the view. I purchased a leSabre after that because it had interior plastic that wasn't straight from Walmart and had comfortable seats. It has seen the dealer few times for any kind of service and is proving very reliable. It has a firmer ride than earlier Buicks and doesn't beat one to death. >highway stability, to performance and craftsmanship. It's actually hard for me to put Impala, and craftsmanship, in the same sentence, I could hard put comfortable car in which to travel and Accord in the same sentence either. However rather than criticizing the other car, I'll just say I arrive in a very comfortable state after 5-hour drive to Nashville or Sevierville. But I realize that some like a ride that bounces every bone. I had a Mustang set up that way in the past. I won't criticize the tuner crowd who may desire a car like that now, but please don't critique the other cars as worthless and useless. It's okay for someone to love their choice of car and someone else to appreciate their own. My point is that the GM end of things does deserve government action. We wasted money on the bank problem caused by government and lack of oversight by government starting in the 1990s. Perhaps we need to tax the builders who are not native to the country and have been able to build very cheaply because they don't have the responsibilities the US builders have to retirees and present workers, no matter whom you choose to blame for the builders' problems. The last data I saw on one of the forums showed the US brands sold more than half the cars in this country. That might be in the UAW discussion if someone cares to look for the link.
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