R.I.P. General Motors (1931-2006)

No, it wouldn't be. Do you think that the rich people will let their
billions of dollars of equity go down the toilet? I don't think so.

Really? Evidence please. Can you support a family on what they pay (don't
forget to adjust the annual wages based on the hours people actually work at
Walmart).

Teachers are only asking for fair pay and working conditions.

Where in the act is there a requirement for merit pay?

So the problems in Illinois are fault of the unions? The administration and
parents have no fault to bear?

Jeff

 

And how many Toyotas Corolas vs. Novas/Prisisms of that vintage were sold
near you?

What real evidence do you have that the Toyotas were any better than the
Chevys?

Jeff

 

There would be no union contracts if companies didn't agree to them. Why
blame the unions? Oh, I know, they're an easy target. Why are healthcare
costs so ridiculously high? Ditto for drug costs. No one here seems to care
about that. Just blame the union members for making a decent living for
their families. It's easier that way.

Dave

 

because car manufacturers have internal insular cultures whose members all
live in the suburbs of Detroit Michigan, which is itself not exactly a
mirror of America

an island of islands

Take the hybrid for instance.
In Detroit, they did the math.

The truth: hybrids cost more money to make than they will EVER save in the
miserable improvement in gas mileage they bring over a similar all gas
model.

So, in Detroit, hybrids made no sense.

But in the California design centers of the Japanese makers, American
designers and engineers realized that it isn't facts, it's emotion that
drive auto purchases.

People WANT to believe they are "doing right" and green is the new religion.

As a religion, it's based on faith.

So hybrids are incredibly desirable to the green faithful... even though its
all a sham.

They got it, Detroit missed it.

 

People certainly are not buying many of them GM, Ford and Chrysler all so
more trucks in a month than Toyota sells in a year and more in one week then
Honda LOL


mike hunt

 

Stupid designs? The top selling vehicles in the US, the ones that people
are actually buying, are made by GM, Ford and Chrysler. The best selling
import is in fourth place, seem the are offer the design buy want less.


mike hunt

Does the term Trial Lawyers come to mind?

 

American buy more Vibes than Matrix

mike hunt

 

Please post the particulars. I've never heard of a company having to ask the
union for *permission* to expand. There are many contracts that cover
downsizing and closings, but not expansion. A union that opposed an
expansion would be stabbing itself in the back as an expansion means more
members.

Again, post particulars, please. In the UAW, at least, a vote by the
membership can't be "overturned" by the "bigwigs", whoever they may be.

An obvious union hater...wouldn't know the truth if it hit you in the ass.

Dave

 

If something is not done soon to change SS, you will wish people had
listened to President Bush, when you start to collect SS and there is not
enough money to cover YOUR check.


mike hunt

 

You are so full of it your eyes must be brown! The ONLY right a union has,
in any contract, is to represent the workers in the plant. The ONLY power
a union has if to make management comply with the contract they signed with
the union. Unions have no power over ANY of management functions. Get
real


mike hunt

 

Please learn to use your newsreader so you can reply to the correct person.

 

It takes years to get market share. And the two domestic automakers, Ford
and GM, are losing market share every day. "With its manageable size, solid
performance, carlike ride and handling and all-around quality, the Honda
Ridgeline should be another successful market segment invasion for Honda."
(http://www.edmunds.com/new/research/honda/ridgeline.html)

So what we have here is a small pickup truck that is competitive in people
space, horsepower, towing, and hauling, and drives like a Honda. The
Ridgeline probably won't galvanize hard-core F-150 buyers, but it looks
appealing to those who care as much about carrying passengers as they do
about hauling hay.
(http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/9144/2006-honda-ridgeline-page2.html

Laugh all you want. Honda is laughing to the bank in the most profitable
segments of the US auto market.

Jeff

 

If you look at the projections carefully, there are three projects that the
government makes. Based on the one that has been the most accurate over
time, there is hardly any problem. I do think that we should raise the caps
on how much money should be taxed, and that the tax above the present cap
should be taxed at a lower rate. But beyond that, I don't see any need for
action.

Jeff

 

Nice change of subject. In fact, you didn't even answer the question. We
were comparing the Nova and the Corolla, which are differnet versions of the
same vehicles. And nSher opinined that the Corola was better than the Nova.

As to Mikes answer: Are there more Toyota dealers or Chevy dealers? Who has
more incentives? Perhaps that explains the higher Matrix sales. As a percent
of the actual sales prices, do you think the 2006 Matrix or the 2006 Vibe
will be worth more in 5 years?

Jeff

 

Hello,
Based upon what I have read in car magazines over the past several years,
it became obvious to me that GM and Ford do a terrible job related to
making cars but do a very great job in making trucks. Honda and Toyota
make great cars. The Accord or the Camry are the two best selling cars in
the world and usually come in as first or second in Car and Driver
Magazine's "Best 10 Cars" yearly contest. That's the reason GM may
eventually go out of business.
jason

 

"If goods do not cross borders, armies soon will."
Lord Acton

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

It certain should ride like a Honda, it is after all an Accord. The
Ridgeline is NOT a truck by any stretch of the imagination any more than is
the Subaru station wagon with a box, that is not selling either One can
haul hay or even post holes in a minivan LOL


mike hunt

 

Or the big three are perceived as better due to blind flag-waving
NASCAR Dad brand loyalty, or made something the others didn't. For
instance, Toyota and Nissan don't make anything like the F250 or 3500
dualie, yet... <G>

Years ago, I switched my small business commercial vehicles from Ford
E350 cube vans to Mitsubishi diesel cabovers with 14' boxes. The
E350s were total loads of manure in every respect compared to the
Mitsubishi's. Look what Sprinters, a Euro design, are doing to the
contractor van market.

Compare the Ford Ranger and the S10 to Toyota and Nissan small trucks.

Drive a Trail Blazer, then for drive a 4Runner or Pathfinder.

Ride in a loaded Tahoe, then take out a loaded Sequoia or Land Cruiser
(if it's an older Tahoe).

Nissan sold plenty of Titans and Armadas. Wasn't the Titan the
vehicle that the GM CEO dragged his team over to inspect?

Let's see how the new Tundra does once it's out...

 

The Vibe and the Matrix ARE the same car with different trim as well. As a
percentage of the original drive home price, the Vibe will most likely have
the best return, since the Matrix costs an average of $1,500 to $2,000 more
to drive home when equipped the same.


mike hunt