Still Renting

Preview from Europe: Rejected Auto Bailout Tanks Markets

Simple and best solution, still, is chapter 11. And let's be frank here, you cannot be comptetitive with other manufacturers if you pay your people more than those other manufacturers. That is, unless you automate and lay everyone off.

Hey! How about the Brazil thing. They could tool that up with the bailout!

Auto Sales Dismal: GM and Chrysler Oddly Optimistic

The Chrysler thing is sad for me. I became a Chrysler man after reading IACOCA and still love the ability to get fault codes by simply turning the key on, off, on, off, on. I've fixed so many little problems on high mileage cars this way. And our 2001 300m is still a joy to drive even with 135k miles. And it has been completely trouble free. I even had it to 130 mph in eastern Montana a few times and it was really great!

But their small car (neon) was a textbook lemon, and we drove their convertible in Hawaii a couple of months ago. That thing is a pig. It makes our 300, which is bigger and more powerful, feel like it handles like a sports car, even with original shocks!

The new challenger is something I drool over but, ultimately, it is just a car. It was a good run and they made some great stuff and some absolute dogs. I mainly drive my Scion xBox to work and band gigs anyway so I won'd shed a tear over this, except for the workers...