Comments on: The Cars America Needs

By: ElveraCascone

ElveraCascone — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:14:09 +0000

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By: EveryDay American - Driving a

EveryDay American - Driving a — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:28:07 +0000

It always seems that Corporate America – break that word down – Corp(Rat)e Ameria has always concentrated on the all might dollar. So much to the effect in regards to the auto, it was never a concern of listening to what the customer wanted, it was what the “silver grayed haired” corporate types wanted to sell that would line their pockets the best. Back in the early 80′s Toyota came to GM and asked their participation to build a hybrid car – better fuel economy, and something different out of the main stream. Big three, laughged and said, we don’t need your stink’n technology, we are building muscle cars, and going forward with SUV, that we think the consumers want, plus, gas is not a problem, and performance is where it is at. Okay, so Toyota, said fine, and developed the Prius, and as we all know on to develop the toyota corolla, and other high reliable vehicles. Quality at first was not there, but shortly thereafter, shot to the top, exceeding the inferior quality of American Autos. American Autos were heavy, strong, but built wise, were poorly made, and sometimes expensive. You have to remember that the average auto worker makes 54-67 dollars an hour…. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan continued their assault in listening to the customer and building better cars that were affordable. The Big three continued to build what they thought was their sales solution. All you kept seeing were crappy designs, and more CEO, saying this and saying that…..In short, Market share has diminished in the Big 3 market to an embarassing rate…. So today, The big three after laying off tons of workers, because their product is not selling is scrating their head and saying why is this happening???? Geez? Duh… figure it out…. Stop concentrating on your friggin retirement and bottom line and do what the asian persuation has done, find out what people want and build it affordable and reliably. This article from the Silve fox says, it would cost billions of dollars to develop fuel economy cars… OH Please, get rid of the silver lining in your corporate pockets and use 10% of that to build a decent car. Sorry, but my prediction is that there will be NO More Big 3, It will be Big 2, and Big 1 and then Zero….No one is buying American, just because its a crappy product. Hey, if Americans built better reliable and affordable products, I’d be the first in line, actually, I did buy a 1989 Chevy Astro, which was a great product, but had the Paint flaw that the paint on the vehicle totally fell offer within 4 years…What a disaster… Anyway in closing…. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have the lead in terms of most sought after sales vehicles, with other trailing….. The name of the Big three should be changed to the Tiny Three!!! LOL! Because that is the reality of the situation. Solution, – Fire all of the Old Good Ole Boys at the top, and replace with fresh new blood, – younger talent that really cares, rather than some silver haired, yellow toenailed, bad breath, stinky suit guys that all they care about is how many shares of stock they can buy and sell and how much of a retirement they can build…… Prove me wrong???? Enron, Sun Microsystems….GM, Ford, Chrysler…. Shall I go on???

By: factory rat

factory rat — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:36:33 +0000

Collin, you are quite right. I think GM still leads in share if you subtract the big trucks, but I didn’t check to know exactly how much. We will know about those buyer’s reaction to hybrid availability by one year from now, after the full-size full hybrids by GM are on the market 5 – 6 months.

RB, I think you are wrong on the standards argument, although you are right on fuel prices driving consumer behavior. See this for a comparison http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/Fuel%20Economy%20and%20GHG%20Standards_010605_110719.pdf

On the size of cars, a few weeks ago i saw a new Aveo driving beside a Chevette, and the Aveo was much larger. I was amazed.

By: Collin Burnell

Collin Burnell — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:19:18 +0000

You are right… American trucks still sell quite well… BUT. Many truck buyers (businesses, boat & trailer owners, etc.) do not have a choice, yet. They HAVE to buy a truck. If you offered them a (real) Hybrid that got 25-60% better fuel economy… Hmmm. If you take away these truck sales from the ‘Big’ 3 there numbers are not that impressive.

By: A

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:16:16 +0000

That’s Gallon sorry

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:10:35 +0000

I wanted to share my thoughts I will buy an American car but it won’t be from the detroit 3. I will get either a Zap X, Tesla White Star or a Pheonix electric car. Forget oil changes, gas and engine parts. I’m patiently waiting my Prius has the weakest batteries I could get and Im sick of those companies promising plug in kits. Get ready for $4 a galon of gas it’s comming.

By: RB

RB — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:39:02 +0000

McManus says the Domestics "invest billions of dollars every year in engine research heretofore to make vehicles heavier and faster." Think about what you're writing! Making cars heavier doesn't take research, making them lighter does. They DO spend billions trying to make them lighter.

Has anyone else noticed how much heavier the new "Mini" is or today's Civic vs. the old ones, or (you name it)? The Mini is nearly twice as heavy as the old one. The fact is, safety requirements, demands for options, and American tastes (not to mention their increased size) have made EVERYONE'S vehicles heavier.

The biggest problem the domestics have is that their home market has a low, but unpredictable fuel price. How do you plan for the future when American fuel costs could be $1.50 when your new model comes out (4 years from now) or it might be $5.00/gallon?

The foreign manufacturers have no fuel standards in their home markets. They simply have high fuel costs (accomplished through taxes), and guess what, consumers demand fuel efficient vehicles AND are willing to pay for them. On the other hand, the domestics have a fickle, short-term oriented stock market (the NYSE) driving them to provide products that are immediately profitable (how many years did Toyota lose money on their hybrids?).

Raise fuel prices in the US in a predictable way (i.e., higher fuel taxes), and everyone will play together. Consumers will demand fuel economy, domestics will provide them, and (maybe) you will give them credit.

By: factory rat

factory rat — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:46:45 +0000

Walter, I find it quite odd for you to say that GM won't make the cars the public wants when it is by far the leader in market share. GM's 2007 YTD market share is 48% higher than Toyota's market for goodness sake. A bit of a Yogi Berra moment there, saying that the clear market share leader isn't making vehicles people want.

And what sayeth ye to the fact that GM's big pickups are by far the best selling vehicles in the land - another product no one wants? Jeez, no regressions needed for that one.

I appriciate your pointing out the trends, which are beyond dispute, but don't get carried away with trying to characterize what they mean.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:13:35 +0000

I bought my first ‘foreign’ car ever – a Toyota Prius – late last year. Honestly I looked everywhere for something American-made that offered the gas mileage and features that we’re going to need in the soon to come 6-7 dollar per gallon future. They simply aren’t there. I fear if the American auto makers (who actually stood at the pinnacle of alternate technology only ten years ago with the EV1…and then destroyed them all) don’t wake up, and I doubt they will, Toyota and Honda may be the only credible auto manufacturers in the country.

By: jason

jason — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:09:36 +0000

Gm owned 60% share of the company that developed nickel metal hydride batteries….worked great in the EV1 (150 mile range)….but they sold it to SHELL OIL….