You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Toot your Horn or Eat Your Hat (or both?)

Toot your Horn or Eat Your Hat (or both?)

7 messages,  Last post on Feb 18, 2009 at 10:05 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Chrysler PT Cruiser, Cadillac XLR, Chrysler Crossfire, Car Buying, Automotive News, Coupe, Truck, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 1 All Messages Displayed

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#1 of 7 Toot your Horn or Eat Your Hat (or both?) by Mr_Shiftright HOST Feb 08, 2009 (12:24 pm)
This topic is about those marvelous automotive predictions you made over the past year, or past few years, on Edmunds Forums, or at your local sports bar, or at the dinner table.   You remember pounding your fist on the table or stabbing your finger in someone else's chest to make that point, don't you?   Well here's your chance (and mine) to eat your hat, or nibble on some crow, ("a shut mouth gathers no feet" as grandma used to say) because you were DEAD WRONG about an automotive prediction, or.....   toot your horn, caper about singing "told you so" or paste a gold star on your forehead for all of us to see because you were ABSOLUTELY kee-rect about your automotive prediction.   Okay I'll start. I have some hits and some misses....
#2 of 7 some hits and some misses by Mr_Shiftright HOST Feb 08, 2009 (12:32 pm)
I was RIGHT when I started worrying about the health of the Big Three way back in early 2007. I predicted dire consequences for the Big Three if they couldn't stop losing market share. I had no idea of course of the bank crisis, etc, which I think accelerated what i feel was inevitable anyway.   I was WRONG about the PT Cruiser. I remember saying "who would buy that mutt"? The car turned out to be quite successful and popular and had a good run.   I was RIGHT about the Cadillac XLR, that it would not compete with the Mercedes SL class and would "fall off the table". Well it didn't fall off, but it's rolling off slowly as we speak.   I was WRONG about Toyota being infallible. The oil gel problem in some engines was their first real public relations disaster and their first real recall screw-up of any major proportion.   I was RIGHT about the Chrysler Crossfire bombing out. $35K ++ for a Chrysler coupe was not going to cut it.   The JURY IS STILL OUT on my prediction that Hyundai will NOT successfully penetrate into the luxury market unless they field a NEW NAMEPLATE as did Toyota with Lexus.   I was RIGHT that the high-tech TESLA company would struggle financially.   And you? Replies to this message: steve_ (Feb 08, 2009 1:09 pm)
#3 of 7 Re: some hits and some misses [Mr_Shiftright] by steve_ HOST Feb 08, 2009 (1:09 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 08, 2009 12:32 pm) Just an aside, but someone in the Is There Room in the Luxury Market for Hyundai? discussion recently opined that Hyundai intends for the Genesis to lift the Hyundai brand, so don't look for a separate division. I thought that was a good take.   I picked Tesla to be a stock touting company and frankly I'm a bit surprised that they actually got cars on the street at any price.   I was right about minivans being a big hit, but that was back in 1984 when I first saw concept drawings and wanted one myself.   Maybe we need to update or create a companion discussion along the lines of Predict The Winners Of 2007?
#4 of 7 I was wrong by nippononly Feb 08, 2009 (11:03 pm)
about gas never going below $2/gallon again.....then there was that whole global economic collapse thingy you may have heard of, and it dropped briefly to $1.70. It's back up to $2.25 and climbing daily now though.   I was right that premium subcompacts could sell and sell well, and Mini proved my point. I was also right that Americans' memories are abysmally short and that as soon as gas dropped appreciably in price SUVs and trucks would return to dominating the auto industry sales. Wellll, maybe the jury is still out on that one.   I was right that I thought Toyota would be #1 in global sales before 2010, but am I wrong that I DON'T think VW can wrest that trophy from them before 2020?   I was wrong that I thought Toyota could really make their goal of 250K annual Tundra sales (it seemed such a small goal in the full-size truck segment!), seems like the domestic fans like their trucks too much to switch in enough numbers for that to happen.   I was right that fuel cells were just one more passing fad in the development of the automobile and would never reach dealerships. Well OK, the jury could still be out on that one too.....   (I was wrong to sell my RSX - had I known at the time that Acura was 1 year away from getting out of the fun cars business for good, I would have kept that car forever! ) Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 09, 2009 9:45 am)
#5 of 7 Re: I was wrong [nippononly] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Feb 09, 2009 (9:45 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Feb 08, 2009 11:03 pm) thanks for reminding me....I was also WRONG about gas never dropping very much again....and was RIGHT about sub-compacts becoming a new hot marketing segment.   VW is going anywhere until they get their quality control UNDER control.   Oh....new prediction. Say goodbye to Chrysler, and soon.
#6 of 7 I was RIGHT.. by kyfdx HOST Feb 18, 2009 (8:27 am)
.. about gas coming back down again.. (though I was starting to doubt myself)..   I was WRONG about leaving my 401K invested 95% in stocks.. (though, I'm sure that's the right move, now...lol)   The jury is still out... but, I still say that diesels won't sell in the USA, in appreciable numbers.... unless there is a good 30% fuel savings vs. gasoline... As long as diesel is priced higher than premium, even the better mileage won't make up for it.   I was WRONG about the acceptance of hybrids. I didn't think people would want a car that doesn't "act" like a normal car. (maybe it's just me)   I was WRONG about the big trucks from Toyota and Nissan...I thought they would be big hits... Replies to this message: smogdung (Feb 18, 2009 10:05 am)
#7 of 7 Re: I was RIGHT.. [kyfdx] by smogdung Feb 18, 2009 (10:05 am)
Replying to: kyfdx (Feb 18, 2009 8:27 am) I made one correct move, spring 07, when I turned 55 & retired from the fed gov I went ahead & converted my 401K to an annuity with 100% survivor benefits for the wife. If someone stayed invested in the S&P ...their principle would be about 1/2 now +++ that 1/2 will only get an annuity indexed at a current rate of about 2.625% ....mine was set for life at a rate of 5.5%.....   Bottom line, to get the same amount from an annuity today as I'm currently getting...anyone that stayed in the S&P since spring 07 would have to have had 3 times as much money in there (May 07) as I did....to get the same annuity today.   However, I'm not bragging about having dumped the $100K in our Roths into the S&P when it dropped to 1010.....bummer....it's below 800 today! But, if it ever gets back to 1500.....I'll make $50K TAX FREE!!!!!!

Messages Page 1 of 1 All Messages Displayed

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views Toot your Horn or Eat Your Hat (or both?)