Thadeus Thornton III

Ford Gaining on Honda, Toyota in Perceived Quality

Interesting comments, especially by fearful Toyota backers. As if their "perceptions" will bail Toyota out of it's failing quality and sales issues. The article is about FORD, folks, and how it is making inroads in sales and quality. Even GM, who has been so badly bashed, still has sold more vehicles in the USA than Toyota, Honda, and others, even through it's difficulties. See:

online.wsj.com/mdc/pub...

And Ford keeps creeping up on Toyota sales figures. This is not a perception. . . it is numbers. It continues to amaze me how people will back and support companies that contribute to the trade imbalance and weaken our long term economic health.

Chrysler, GM Travails Could Be a Boon for Honda

Just for some perspective. .. according to the newly released March sales figures. GM sold almost 17% more light vehicles in March than Toyota. Even Ford was only about 1,700 units behind Toyota. GM sold some 155,00 vehicles in March, which is actually up from February. Well, up is up isn't it? A glimmer anyway.

Ten Cars Detroit Should Copy

I think I refuse to contribute any comments.( other than this one)

All we are doing is justifying this kind of poor economic article and the writers who are biased, do little research, and write off the top of their collective heads. Or worse. .. out of the other end.

Six Cars That Represent the Future of Driving

Chevrolet already has the Fuel Celled powered Equinox operating prototypes in actual use. GM has been developing fuel cell technology long before any other car maker.Funny how the author mentions a Honda concept vehicle, but somehow missed the Equinox.
www.chevrolet.com/fuel.../

GM Gets Some Good News, Chrysler - Not So Much

It is amazing that the same people who tout the positive ratings of the JD Power reports for a foreign brand car, will find a way to poke holes when a American BRAND car makess the grade. How do these people explain the ratings that Toyota or Lexus had in the past? Did they give JD Power large consulting fees also? This reasoning is circular and a bit moronic.
Besides that, GM and Ford has had vehicles in the top ten of JD Power for several years and it was ignored by this type of naysayer. Now when it's difficult to argue away a number on win position, they want to deride and down play that. Looks to me as though it's a pretty level playing field. I've owned both foreign make ( Toyota, Nissan, Renault, etc ) as well as GM and Chrysler vehicles over that past 35 years [ some 38 vehicles ]. I have found no significant difference in vehicle quality in buying a foreign brand except usually higher cost and parts bills if they did need some repairs.

The Latest Bad Idea: Government Sponsored Vouchers for Car Purchases

Germany has been doing the voucher deal on cars since last Fall. From what I read, it only applies to German made cars. Wake up U.S.A. If this goes through, support American BRAND and made cars. Some people will label this protectionist. What do you think other countries like Japan do?

The Latest Bad Idea: Government Sponsored Vouchers for Car Purchases

It's too early to tell much from this article.
----> "To be sure it's hard to perform a detailed analysis on this plan until it's finalized because so many things can change between the proposal stage, and the time the bill passes." <------

The Latest Bad Idea: Government Sponsored Vouchers for Car Purchases

Cars are selling up to 50% off? What brand, where,? Perhaps you are talking about the "buy get one free" thing. I've only see that involving left over 2008 unpopular models like the Chevy Uplander mini van and you get a free Cobalt. So you end up buting something you don't want at almost full price to get an higher mpg compact you might want. Where's the deal in that? I've not seen any specific deals for new, 2009 models 50% off. I'd like to know where, specifics. For 50% off I might be in the market. Otherwise this is just more "foof".

Auto Manufacturing: What Does 'Buy American' Even Mean?

**** " There are enough cars on this planet to last us til the next new and improved. Just make them affordable for all of the future economically impoverished. Or will the lower class be riding the bus? " *****

Good points, probably both. I'd like to think that if more people drove a car with a 4 cylinder engine we could stave off a lot of green house effect. My dad taught me to be frugal and drove mostly 6 cylinder basic Chevy's with rubber floor covering, no carpet. A heater and AM radio was an option on some of them. Before those Chevys he had a Whippet , Willy's and aa feew others with 4 cylinder engines too. My wife and I both drive 4 cylinder vehicles getting between 18 & 24 mpg city and 26 to 35 mpg highway. My wife's car does have leather seats, so yes, a bit of the luxury bug!

I think we have , again, been deceived and beguiled by Madison Ave advertising for years. That and cheap oil for years. Luxury and performance.... some of us are convinced we "deserve" those lavish extras and status.

My dad and my uncle would declare: "Foolishness!" Perhaps they were right,

Auto Manufacturing: What Does 'Buy American' Even Mean?

Yes and it was again, the yuppie automotive journalists who hyped up the foreign brands. In 1979- 1981 Honda Accords fenders rusted off. Nissan engines oil seals blew out like firecrackers. Volkswagen still isn't really a great car. They are "OK", but nothing special.

So it's no different than the real estate business and banks that "hyped" people up on house values and risky loans. Their is no real value or better quality in the mass produced foreign brands. Perception brought on by years of Madison Ave. advertising has taken it's toll. Truth in advertising has become a myth and it wrought more destruction through deregulation by the same people who want "less government" in everything else. The blanket idea of "less government" is also a contributing factor.

Auto Manufacturing: What Does 'Buy American' Even Mean?

And. . . blah. . . blah. . . . blah......

Sorry. All this guy does is accumulate news stories and repost them using "here". This guy drives a "certain brand of German " car and is no friend of GM.

Buying an American BRAND car is simple. Buy one from a company that was created here, has been successful here producing American CAR history. NO trnasplants, no crappy manipulating. The ONLY reason GM , Ford, and Chrysler started getting parts and even some cars produced overseas is because of unfair competition and and needed to do so to try and remain competitive. If our government had quit being the World's protector and benefactor instead of kowtowing to Japan, Germany, and Korea since WWII; we might be in better shape.

GM: What's the Point in Being Number One if You Can't Turn a Profit?

Ahh Tony . . .. or should I say "Markham"....jr.

GM: What's the Point in Being Number One if You Can't Turn a Profit?

Luxury's rough ride: High-end brands trail overall market
Christine Tierney / The Detroit News

Daimler AG executives may have thought they had escaped the brutal economics of the mainstream auto market when they got rid of Chrysler in the summer of 2007.

But a little over a year later, Daimler and other luxury carmakers are struggling in a downturn that has buffeted the fanciest nameplates as severely as the rest of the industry.

Daimler reported this week that its Mercedes-Benz Cars division lost $460 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 and it forecast lower Mercedes sales for this year. Moody's Investors Service lowered its outlook for Daimler and said it may cut its credit rating for BMW, citing concerns about the companies' profitability.

GM: What's the Point in Being Number One if You Can't Turn a Profit?

Based on the number of comments, or lack there of about your position on GM, I don't think many people are paying attention anymore. You don't have me or many others convinced about any altruistic concern you have for GM, and especially the people, dealers, or others all lumped together as "legacy costs" burdening GM. Your philosophy disregards the financial causes and fuel prices that precipitated the current business climate not only for GM, but other businesses as well. These are not "usual times" where a business is faltering due solely to it's management decisions. This problem is systemic, and to expect GM or any other business of this size and scope to recover without special loan provisions [ not bailouts as many keep blasting] is erroneous old school business strategy. One only has to look at how airlines bankrupted themselves several times over in a business climate that wasn't as difficult as this one. If bankruptcy were the answer, it certainly didn't work for them. And what of the employees? Just hapless victims, used up "human resources"?

Again, if you or others wouldn't buy from GM now, for various reasons, why would people buy a car from a bankrupt company if they don't know if it will be there? Watch what happens to Saturn sales that are already bad. As soon as GM indicated it was dropping Oldsmobile, sales went into the dumper and GM ended the Oldsmobile line sooner than it's original end date. So I , and I suspect others, don't think you are seeing the whole big picture when it comes to the auto business.

Auto Sales Declines Around the World

@ User 36014

----> "Also, it makes people soft and pudgy, even the children. Ask yourself how does the addition of each new car benefit my children and my neighbors? How does each new car improve the health of my community? Let me know what you find out." <-----

All of what you say is sadly very true. I don't expect transportation customs to change over night in our country. It does represent personal freedom and expression at a great cost however. I don't expect things will change very much or too quickly. The almost hedonistic desires of some people who want to drive lavish or performance oriented vehicles has become entrenched in our society. Marketing of all kinds has cast it's spell over many.
I wish GM would concentrate on some of the fuel efficient models it does have and develop practical low cost additions to their lineup. If they dressed up the interiors of a few cars as they did in the current Malibu , Saturn Aura, and even Aveo, I think that would be a start. GM has the Cobalt XFE with high mpg for a gasoline powered car. They have the new Cobalt replacement in the wings, but I hope to don't make it too pricey. Actually, a freshened up Cobalt wouldn't be bad, with some lighter interior choices and materials. They also have some new mini cars proposed [Korean offshoots from Daewoo? ]

But I agree. I live in an area where, for years, they have been trying to get a light rail transport system going between the capitol and other cities within 40 to 100 miles. The state has just proposed using some economic stimulus monies to get it going again. We will see.