Comments on: Nader and Moore: Don’t Bail Out Detroit, Buy It

By: Ton Vit

Ton Vit — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:24:25 +0000

The electrical grid not handling plug-in requirements is a myth by those trying to deceive. Please do not buy it for a minute.

This not just deceptive ... it is flat out wrong. Please don't just spew nonsense as seeming to be factual. GM themselves met with electircal companies to ask about the ability of future grids to handle the plug-in model in very large scale before they commited to the Volt. it was publicly stated that they agreed they not only could handle it going forward and welcomed it. They also stated that with minor upgrades they could in very short order handle anything they could put out in the next 10 years easy. This is not an issue and never was. It is a diversion from using electricity instead of oil.

By: tony

tony — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:49:41 +0000

what happend to kill a commi for your mommy?now were a socialist government ?fuck the bail outs someone bail me out!!

By: D.W. McDonald

D.W. McDonald — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:42:41 +0000

Bottom line — The Big Three are in trouble because of the greed of management and the greed of the unions. Big Three Corporates should all slowly be replaced with people of vision. Start at the top, the three auto excutives should be fired and replaced by managers who can managed. Bankruptcy is really the best way to go, they would be able to restructure from the top on down. They don’t want bankruptcy because it interfers with their greed, restricts their ongoing mis-management and makes them leave their comfort zones. But most important WE AMERICANS need to stop all that talk about what can’t be done, the high MPG cars are not possible and all that nonsense! YOU WANT PROOF that I am right? Then LOOK UP! thats right there is a space station in orbit above your heads, that was and still is being constructed with American Know How! you same people did’nt belive in it and think it was possible, good thing no one had to ask for your help or opinions, Your cell phones and micro wave life styles you now take for granted. We are Americans and We Can Do, our problem is that we lack the will to do so and you nay sayers are the lazy ones because if you can’t see it, then you don’t belive it after all you people think know one can figure out anything if you can’t figure it out right?

By: JLB

JLB — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:48:30 +0000

A few questions. What does GM know about building trains? Shouldn't we consider giving that business to people who build trains rather than to novices who, apparently, aren't very good at building cars?
When did FDR order Detroit to stop building cars and build tanks? It was my understanding that that step was kind of obvious to all, and, oh, by the way, GM had real financial incentives to switch production.
What if people don't want to buy cars that don't use oil? Most common complaints I hear about US cars is "poor reliability" and "poor finish", not "this darn thing runs on oil!!!" Will cars that don't burn oil but are unreliable sell any better? I suppose we could put all our current engineers (the ones bringing us unreliable, gas burning vehicles) in the unemployment line to make room for new engineers who will learn the technology in schools over the next three or four years.
Who are these mysterious very smart transportation geniuses? Why haven't they made themselves know earlier? Just asking. Thank you for your answers.

By: TD

TD — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:20:05 +0000

Harold,

When I bought the Venture the warranty was 30K miles or 36 months. The first repair was on GM's dime. They had to replace several components in the A/C. I don't know what that bill cost since it was theirs. The second was after about 2 years the brakes went out. Fine brakes go out, but also the rotors needed to be replaced, the brake cylinders on front and rear needed new seals because they were leaking fluids. Total cost was over $1000 on a vehicle < 2 years old. This was at the dealer where I bought the vehicle. I complained hoping that some of the labor would be refunded since seals on brakes should not be going out so soon. The next repair occurred just after the 30K mile warranty expired. The check engine light came on and I thought no problem something simple, probably cost me a couple hundred bucks. Boy was I wrong. Engine seals were now going bad and needed to replace. Ka-ching another 1K down the drain.

All new cars I've purchased until a couple of years ago were GM. All my chevy's have had problems. Oldsmobile was great. Had to replace a few things after 100K miles, but otherwise good. But GM no longer makes Oldsmobiles!

>You must be really stupid to pay that.

You must be really an ahole to say that.

Thanks for the friendly attitude.

By: Harold Green

Harold Green — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:49:20 +0000

TD

Most GM cars have a huge warranty so there is no reason you should be spending any money less than 30kmiles

I have owned many gm cars with well over 200k and have the original drive train. Things like 1 alternator, brakes and batteries on my grand prix went out but they didn’t cost me 1000 dollars. You must be really stupid to pay that.

Also Chrysler has lifetime warranty.

I have a ford focus with 250k and cost me nothing to maintain.

American cars are just as good as or better than foreign cars. In fact much better than German cars.

This old augment of your doesn’t fly anymore its just fat out ignorance on your part because my neighbor with a lexus just paid $2400 dolars on there 2003 lexus for service.

By: TD

TD — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:25:08 +0000

I quit buying American two years ago, because

A) I got tired of the $1000+ repair bills even on new vehicles with < 30K miles. This was a 2003 Chevy Venture and it was costing me big bucks. I complained to GM and they said "suck it" there's nothing we can do. So I voted with my wallet.

B) I didn't want an SUV and they had nothing to compare to a Civic Hybrid or a Prius.

Now with low gas prices and my Civic Hybrid I spend about $15 a month on gas!

By: BSA_Jim

BSA_Jim — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:29:38 +0000

I pull a Boy Scout troop trailer to campouts every month. What sort of vehicle “not primarily dependent on oil” should I buy to replace my truck? It needs to be capable of towing a 5000-pound, tandem-axle trailer at least 700 miles while transporting four people comfortably.

By: RKRB

RKRB — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:23:27 +0000

Dick Kaiser: “Ralph Nader has done more for this country than any blogger here.”
Well….he did manage to get W elected in 2000, and I guess that was, uh, a lot for this country, uh, right?
Uh, good observation you made, eh?

By: Vericona Jackiens

Vericona Jackiens — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:16:10 +0000

YAWN all this arguing.

I just bought a new Chevy Malibu Hybrid and love it I fell good too because the american content in the Malibu was way higher than the camery.

I did my part to help out the big 3.

I got a nice tax credit over the Camery Hybrid and the Malibu is better quality than the Camery.