The Future of Cars: American vs Foreign

[mitchthephoneman]

I keep up on a couple of blogs that talk about cars that are entering the market. And it seems the foreign imports, Chinese, Korean and European are really kicking our ass in bringing economical cars to the dealer showrooms.

Do you thing there is any hope in the horizon that our big 3 will get there shit together and realize there is more to life them SUVs and Hybrids....

 

[MichiganM]

I doubt it. I work at a Subaru dealership and my family works for a GM contractor so I can see the battlefield up front. My uncle, who was working on the new Tahoe project says that GM is laying alot of hopes on the new SUV lineup. The SUV market is really dying. I guess it takes alot of grease to move a big machine like GM. I was dissapointed when he told me how much GM is really putting on the line for this new SUV lineup.

 

[98smokes]

GM by Toyota, Ford by Honda? If the gov't doesn't bail them out(and I don't think it should) who knows?

 

[thebigo]

I like my subaru. Not the best car but it gets me to the slopes when I'm in PA.

 

[Prometheus]

I was reading an article in Time ( I think) that part of what GM is up against is itself. They have a cost of an additional $1500 per vehicle. This cost comes from the the plant producing what is essentially the same vehicle with a different badge. ie: Tahoe, Denali. Trailblazer, Rendevous. etc. In order to "maximize" pruduction they are keeping it running longer for a vehicle they can't produce adequite sales numbers on to be profitable.

In addition, the pensions they have to fund adds another $2K (I think) for what they called a "legacy cost". Puts the same car at much lower price if they could shed that fat.

Same thing is happening with the airlines except the new ones starting up that don't have those FAT pensions to fund, so they can compete at a much lower price and still show profit.

The only difference seems to me, most any billionaire can throw money at and start an airline. Not the same for car manufacturers. Too much R&D, dealer networks, infrastructer, goverment regulations, etc. At least IMO.

 

[caudio51]

It seems the quality of US cars/trucks has gone down somewhat while the imports have gone up. :dunno:

More bang for your buck with an import too.

 

[cvm4]

And most imports, aren't really imports any more.

 

[caudio51]

And most imports, aren't really imports any more.

Very true. Anyone have a comparison of where certain brands are made??

 

[cvm4]

Nissan is in MS and TN...Mercedes has a plant in AL...Hyaundia (sp?) has a plant in AL. That's just what I know of around here.

 

[Sticks]

I'd have to agree with Prometheus. GM has too many brands. The other part of the problem, IMO, is that they have too few truly unique cars. This is where Chrysler has done a good job and GM and Ford have failed. People buy toyota, nissan, subaru, etc. because of the reliability/fuel economy. I think alot of people buy chrysler products because of the unique vehicles that they've come up with (sorry to say it but I don't think it's because of the reliability). It seems to me that a lot of the people buying GM and Ford are doing it because they've always bought GM and Ford - unfortunately that isn't going to keep these big companies afloat much longer. If it wasn't for Ford and GM making good full size trucks they would have been in a lot more trouble a long time ago.

 

[smokem94]

I couldn't stand to drive a vehicle that can't go the speed limit up a hill and it's even worse to be driving behind one! Give me my Ford F-350 4x4 Power Stroke diesel!!!!!!

 

[Prometheus]

I couldn't stand to drive a vehicle that can't go the speed limit up a hill and it's even worse to be driving behind one! Give me my Ford F-350 4x4 Power Stroke diesel!!!!!!

I had a 250, loved it. 20 mpg, at the time diesel was 30-40% cheaper than gas. Cost was like driving a car that got 26-28 mpg. Would do it again if I could fit it in the driveway... and what is up with diesel? Ooops fftopic:

 

[Sticks]

The Ford Diesel is awesome - but I like the Cummins better - The only way I'd get a dodge though would be with a Manual Transmission - I've heard they've had a lot of trouble with the automatics.

 

[caudio51]

The Ford Diesel is awesome - but I like the Cummings better - The only way I'd get a dodge though would be with a Manual Transmission - I've heard they've had a lot of trouble with the automatics.

I like the look of both the Ford & the Dodge. Don't know much about their comparison though.

 

[tripp]

Around here the guys say the only problem with a cummins diesel is they make you carry it home in a Dodge truck.

 

[Sticks]

Around here the guys say the only problem with a cummins diesel is they make you carry it home in a Dodge truck.

:rofl:

If only you could have the cummins engine in the Ford pickup:thumbsup: