http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/02/news/companies/auto_sales/index.htm (http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/02/news/companies/auto_sales/index.htm)
Now this doesn't surprise me at all.
While in Houston a couple of weeks ago, I had reserved a Chevy Impala as my rental car. I needed a bigger car since I'd be schlepping around luggage to and from the airport and three or four people at a time while there. So I thought I'd get a bigger vehicle to make sure we were somewhat comfortable.
I got to Chimp International, (Bush I know, but I couldn't resist breaking out the monkey terminology again), and big surprise, ( :rolleyes: ), Enterprise didn't have my vehicle. They offered up a Prius (sic?) which I flatly refused, and so they upgraded me to a 2009 Ford Escape.
Now, I knew my wife would up driving at least part of the time since they had all that girly wedding foo-foo stuff to do, so I agreed and took it. It had less than 100 miles on it so this thing was brand new.
I was pretty impressed with the thing. It rode great, handled well except in deep curves at higher speeds, (but it is an SUV), and it was surprisingly economic mileage wise. Of course, it accelerated like it had a starving, barely furred squirrel under the hood too. . . :biggrin:
Ended up with my wife taking command of the vehicle while I partied the days away with the boys; and packing it full of women while they ran too and fro getting their nails done, their hair, their makeup, blah, blah, blah.
Inside the controls were fairly well situated and the thing was loaded with every option, including dual moon roofs and power everything. (Surprising for a rental). It just "felt" good, performed well, and had zero rattles, or mystery noises; making a great impression on both my wife and I surrounding the quality of the vehicle itself.
Combine my experience with the fact that Ford is making a solid effort to remain government free and solvent, and demonstrating the good business practices that have allowed them to do so, and this news doesn't surprise me one bit. . .
I'm not a Ford man by any stretch, but they're doing a nice job of trying to sway me that way! :biggrin:
and they have the chance to become THE AMERICAN auto INDUSTRY....they can make the type of cars that Americans WANT, not what the Government wants (Sports cars, SUV's and Trucks)...and with that, THEY can take a demanding share of the American Auto Market... :yes:
I too, am becoming a fan of Ford... :yes:
but.....I want a saturn
Quote from: pariann on June 02, 2009, 02:34:33 PM
but.....I want a saturn
China will be happy to sell you one too!
I'm not going to China.....I plan on buying a pre-owned Saturn. THEN I will be buying American. :wink: China won't get my money. LOL
Quote from: Henry Hawk on June 02, 2009, 02:29:47 PM
and they have the chance to become THE AMERICAN auto INDUSTRY....they can make the type of cars that Americans WANT, not what the Government wants (Sports cars, SUV's and Trucks)...and with that, THEY can take a demanding share of the American Auto Market... :yes:
I too, am becoming a fan of Ford... :yes:
The "American Auto Industry" that makes their trucks in Mexico?
Quote from: Bo D on June 03, 2009, 03:59:48 PM
The "American Auto Industry" that makes their trucks in Mexico?
I said
they have the chance to become the American Auto Industry.... :yes:
Quote from: Henry Hawk on June 03, 2009, 04:48:54 PM
I said they have the chance to become the American Auto Industry.... :yes:
Maybe so. But I ain't buyin' no F-150 made in Mexico. I prefer to spend my money on a truck made by American workers right here in the USA! (Freemont, CA) :biggrin:
Quote from: Bo D on June 03, 2009, 04:55:54 PM
Maybe so. But I ain't buyin' no F-150 made in Mexico. I prefer to spend my money on a truck made by American workers right here in the USA! (Freemont, CA) :biggrin:
No arguement here brother!! :yes:
I'm just sayin, Ford has the opportunity to really WIN over a ton of business, IF, they would build what Americans want AND do it HERE in the US....they could really market themselves...and win BIG on this.
Quote from: Bo D on June 03, 2009, 04:55:54 PM
Maybe so. But I ain't buyin' no F-150 made in Mexico. I prefer to spend my money on a truck made by American workers right here in the USA! (Freemont, CA) :biggrin:
Good luck with that. As I posted previously elsewhere in this forum, you need to check the window sticker for any vehicle you purchase beforehand. They now have to list points of assembly for each component. If the engine, drivetrain, and assembly are not made in USA, (and most are not except for Toyota believe it or not), then you are not supporting US labor.
My truck (Chevy 3/4 ton) was pretty much made in Canada, but final assembly was in Pontiac MI, which is now closing.
Obama is deliberately destroying our banks, car companies, insurance companies, and now health. Did you know there were 40-50,000 American car dealerships awhile back. Then they were shrunk down to 20,000 and it will be fewer with his plan. Like one person said, how can you sell more cars with fewer dealerships, and one wonders.
Quote from: Gardengirl on June 04, 2009, 01:32:43 AM
Obama is deliberately destroying our banks, car companies, insurance companies, and now health.
"Did Obama do that?" (Nods to Jaleel White) :biggrin:
I posit that not only were the laissez-faire capitalists running/managing those entities who did 'em in (along with being abetted by those disciples of "Never saw a governmental regulation he liked" Ronnie Ray-Gun in power - surely you remember BushCo and the other 'conservatives'), but that you can't even support your claim.
QuoteDid you know there were 40-50,000 American car dealerships awhile back. Then they were shrunk down to 20,000 and it will be fewer with his plan.
Evidence? Source?
QuoteLike one person said, how can you sell more cars with fewer dealerships, and one wonders.
You've got to be kidding!
Quote from: Gardengirl on June 04, 2009, 01:32:43 AM
Obama is deliberately destroying our banks, car companies, insurance companies, and now health. ...
Won't you admit the possibility that the banks, car companies, insurance companies had a hand in their own demise? Particularly since they were going down for the third time before Obama took office? I realize it's comforting to find someone to blame, but no one person could devise this kind of cluster-- all by himself, and especially since he wasn't even on the scene yet. I must join
Y in asking for your source for these allegations. (You knew I was going to, didn't you?)
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
Sour grapes. . . :smile:
Quote from: Palehorse on June 03, 2009, 05:28:31 PM
Good luck with that. As I posted previously elsewhere in this forum, you need to check the window sticker for any vehicle you purchase beforehand. They now have to list points of assembly for each component. If the engine, drivetrain, and assembly are not made in USA, (and most are not except for Toyota believe it or not), then you are not supporting US labor.
My truck (Chevy 3/4 ton) was pretty much made in Canada, but final assembly was in Pontiac MI, which is now closing.
My truck IS a Toyota. Made in Freemont, CA!
I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
Quote from: Bo D on June 04, 2009, 09:26:23 AM
My truck IS a Toyota. Made in Freemont, CA!
I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
Excellent! Hard to overcome that marketing blitz and resulting conditioning that the average American consumer has endured. A brand once equated with foreign labor (Toyota) now stands as one of the few brands that is
truly supportive of American labor in this country. To the point where it is far and away well ahead of the big 3; the purveyors of the aforementioned blitzkrieg. . .
Just goes to show you how effective that propaganda can be! All that flag waving and patriotism being exuded by GM in the 80's, 90's, and today within their marketing ads is nothing more than deceit. . . Of course, if the POTUS can get away with it why not them? :rolleyes:
Thanks! Call me a traitor if you like but I have been driving Toyota's since 1972 (with one eight year lapse when I owned two Dodge Caravans :mad: - those things were truly crappy.)
Every Toyota that my wife and I have owned (she has had one of every generation of the Celica) have been entirely trouble-free. How many can say that about 37 years of car brand ownership?
Quote from: Bo D on June 04, 2009, 10:21:32 AM
Thanks! Call me a traitor if you like but I have been driving Toyota's since 1972 (with one eight year lapse when I owned two Dodge Caravans :mad: - those things were truly crappy.)
Every Toyota that my wife and I have owned (she has had one of every generation of the Celica) have been entirely trouble-free. How many can say that about 37 years of car brand ownership?
You're no traitor. That is a US labor endorsed brand these days.
US auto manufacturers (Big 3) were so busy trying to move ops to other countries because they felt the labor costs would help them compete, that they forgot to consider consumer wants and needs, as well as quality.
You're family has been the smart one. While US consumers threw, and continue to throw in some cases, good money after bad, you saved money and enjoyed what quality auto making contributes to the ownership experience. Reliability and efficency.
Nicely done!
I am definitely buying a Toyota, or Honda. Probably a Toyota. Had Fords (Fix or repair daily). Have a Chevy, along with $15K of repairs on a $13K car that is 13 years old.
Obama's fix was for the feds to take over the banks and even GM when it didn't have to. Yes, I do blame him.