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[ell]

If people preferred huge cars, the big three wouldn't be in trouble...

Do you see the cyclical arguments here? GM and Ford make huge cars. They've lost 40% sales over the last year. Hmm!

The answer is not "throw more money at them so they can continue doing what they've always done."

I think that's the point.  People wanted these vehicles until gasoline prices went through the roof.  That's why pickups and SUVs were selling.  That's the reason Toyota, Nissan, and Honda all came out with their own versions to grab their market share.  So GM, Ford, and Chrysler were as much victims of the consumer as they were of themselves.  And adapting to the market when you're producing automobiles is not an overnight process.  Design and tooling takes a lot of time.  In addition, all the suppliers also have to retool.  I don't see their asking for loans is all that bad.  Asking for a handout is a different matter.  And for all of those who love the imported vehicles so much, you should be happy for the government to subsidize the industry, and control the value of their currency, to the same extent that countries such as Japan do.  When that happens, then apples can be compared to apples.

[Frenchfry]

Here is a site that is all about the automotive industry and sent me an email mentioning a live webcast:
http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/?utm

[chuntley]

Green is not a nice color. Don't hate the Auto Workers and Don't hate and the American Icons.

It is as if some people are rolling in a bath of self pity because they did/do, not make the money the auto workers make, and that self pity manifest itself in the form of Green hatred.

Remember the commercials of the 70's

 Chrysler: Built by Americans, For Americans
 GM: Baseball, Apple pie and Chevrolet
 Ford: The closer you look, the better we look

[Frenchfry]

Well I get angry at all our “American” cars that aren’t made in America.

They sold us out to save a dime.

Since 2000, the Chevrolet Impala and since 1992 the Ford Crown Vic....... assembled in Canada.

Our government has been buying fleets of those vehicles that have now trickled down to the taxi companies.

It’s too bad nobody cares.

Here is the American made list:
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=top&subject=ami&story=amMade0707

http://www.usstuff.com/cars2008.htm


How American is that car?
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-03-21-car-content-chart_N.htm

[zard0z]

And these are gas-sippers that ALREADY EXIST IN EUROPE. As in, drive home a Ford today! In Belgium...

OK, so why can't they sell these cars in America then...?

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars

[The Fuzz]

OK, so why can't they sell these cars in America then...?

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars

The Mondeo is being redesigned for the North American market right now, as is the Kuga.  The Ka may come over rebadged, and needs some redesign/retooling to meet FMVSS requirements.

[zard0z]

The Mondeo is being redesigned for the North American market right now, as is the Kuga.  The Ka may come over rebadged, and needs some redesign/retooling to meet FMVSS requirements.

All the more reason to give them the loan...But, the question still stands, will that happen and if so, will they do the right and smart thing and do something like this...?

I personaly don't like SUV's, I never understood why all of a sudden, everyone had to drive a truck...

[MonroeAutoSales]

Being in the business my thoughts are that the money loaned to the companies will help them sustain operations into next year when they hope to be back on track.

I don't believe they have a fair playing field as far as wages and health benefits...we are too deep into what we need to pay for healthcare benefits and retirees.  Not that they don't deserve it...I don't mean that, it is just that the companies did not expect healthcare to go through the roof.

I believe for this to fully turnaround the government needs to put out a rebate....yes, the government.  They are working on this now and I think it should be something along the lines of a loan that you can right off on your taxes like a home-equity.

The government could do an actual voucher that would give a proportion off of the MSRP.  Like 10000 MSRP or less vehicles 2000.00 rebate, 20000.00 MSRP vehicles 4000.00 and so on in 10000.00 increments.  This rebate on top of the big 3 rebates would be huge and get things hopping for sure!

How about a 2000.00 voucher to anybody replacing a 2000 model year or older to get something more green, like better mileage and less pollution?

These are just a few things they could do very easily and right away.  I think they are already working on something and I hope it is good and soon!

[zard0z]

the companies did not expect healthcare to go through the roof.

Very good point...!

[Collegekid]

Being in the business my thoughts are that the money loaned to the companies will help them sustain operations into next year when they hope to be back on track.

I don't believe they have a fair playing field as far as wages and health benefits...we are too deep into what we need to pay for healthcare benefits and retirees.  Not that they don't deserve it...I don't mean that, it is just that the companies did not expect healthcare to go through the roof.

I believe for this to fully turnaround the government needs to put out a rebate....yes, the government.  They are working on this now and I think it should be something along the lines of a loan that you can right off on your taxes like a home-equity.

The government could do an actual voucher that would give a proportion off of the MSRP.  Like 10000 MSRP or less vehicles 2000.00 rebate, 20000.00 MSRP vehicles 4000.00 and so on in 10000.00 increments.  This rebate on top of the big 3 rebates would be huge and get things hopping for sure!

How about a 2000.00 voucher to anybody replacing a 2000 model year or older to get something more green, like better mileage and less pollution?

These are just a few things they could do very easily and right away.  I think they are already working on something and I hope it is good and soon!

Hmm, not a bad idea to help people that make enough to have to pay taxes, but what types of ideas do you have to help out those of us living on 20k or less (yes I am a college student). I already don't pay many taxes. The rebate wouldn't help me to be able to afford a new car.

[lordfly]

Or, like you, we can continue to react to the spoonfed media dribble that is entirely off based, unAmerican, and for some reason completely biased against Detroit.

I had no idea being American meant goosestepping lockstep with the Union groupthink.

Get bent. Don't ever call me Un-american for disagreeing with you. Ever.

[Collegekid]

I had no idea being American meant goosestepping lockstep with the Union groupthink.

Get bent. Don't ever call me Un-american for disagreeing with you. Ever.

Don't think you were being called unamerican. I think he was saying that the media is unamerican and anti-detroit.

[bloo II]

FYI, it's not "media dribble," the correct term is "drivel." That one drives me nuts!!

[MonroeAutoSales]

Hmm, not a bad idea to help people that make enough to have to pay taxes, but what types of ideas do you have to help out those of us living on 20k or less (yes I am a college student). I already don't pay many taxes. The rebate wouldn't help me to be able to afford a new car.

I think most people that make less than 20K a year may have a vehicle that is 2000 or older and that is where the 2000.00 voucher for trading in a 2000 or older would come into play.

I have brand new cars that you can get for 10000 today and if they had the 2000 that would be near 8000 for a brand new car that gets 30+ MPG.

Just an idea.

[Keith_G]

I had no idea being American meant goosestepping lockstep with the Union groupthink.

Get bent. Don't ever call me Un-american for disagreeing with you. Ever.

Don't think you were being called unamerican. I think he was saying that the media is unamerican and anti-detroit.

Thanks for clearing that up Collegekid.

LF I wasn't calling you un-American I was railing against the media who I feel is largely at fault for the misguided notions and perceptions that many hold for the Detroit Three. Many of the perceptions that I see you espousing on this forum are immensely similar to these misguided 'facts'.

Generally I share a similar opinion as you on many subjects but not really the get bent part ... that wasn't very nice.

FYI, it's not "media dribble," the correct term is "drivel." That one drives me nuts!!

Sorry, bloo. I generally do much better than that with my words.