Posted on 08/07/2006 8:21:59 PM PDT by erkyl
I thought everyone might like to see this picture which appears in this month's Car & Driver. Chrysler jumps on the anti-American bandwagon to sell cars abroad. This is an actual picture of a billboard displayed in South Africa...touting the absence of any American influence in its Smart cars.
http://i2.tinypic.com/23wws3n.jpg
Has anyone bought Mercedes parts or paid for maintenance lately? My car has German nothing. It also has Swiss nothing. It's also about 25 to 50% as expensive to get parts for.
I've never been impressed with German engineering when it comes to cars. I've seen how long it lasts and how much it costs when it expires.
Wouldn't you expect those making smaller incomes to be interested in these? I would. You're probably right about the middle class, but there is another target market.
Lets see what audience gets lost when GM goes bankrupt. Lets see what audience gets lost when GM sells out.
Lets see what audience gets lost when each and every GM retiree who's still living no longer has a pension.
Let's see what happens when each and every GM retiree who's still living no longer has any medical insurance.
Think it can't happen?
My Dad retired after 40 years GM pattern-maker trained service to GM in the GM model shop some 10 years ago. When all that happens: he'll have a plaque to commemorate his service to the company. You guys will still have a big mouth.
I hate to read this stuff. I have a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup that I like very much. Of course, with the price of gas nowadays I like it a little bit less than when I bought it.
Since when is the 'smart car' a Daimler-Chrysler product? We live here in Europe and that is news to me.
"Anyone remember the Opel?"
Opel is GM
Its a joint venture between Daimler Chrysler and Swatch
Yes South Africa is the land of milk and honey allright. The streets are paved with gold.
So what brand of bicycle are you riding?
According to the Car & Driver September 2006 issue(p. 29), it is a Daimler-Chrysler product. Just repeating what they said--assuming they got it right ;-)
Me too! We're a former Dakota owner and a current Durango owner (2005!). I love my Durango, and while the gas is expensive, I'm still spending less than I was to fill up my F-250 diesel!
NO MORE CHRYSLER. NO MORE MERCEDES!
Someone pointed this out on FR a couple months ago. Not being ABP police here, just pointing it out in case you were interested in the response from Chyrsler.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1643469/posts?page=30#30
"Opel is GM"
Two new Saturn models, a sedan and the Sky convertible two seater, are essentially Opels. The Sky is Opel by way of the Pontiac Solstice, though.
Yes.
It's generally fairly reasonable, especially compared to Japanese cars.
I've seen how long it lasts and how much it costs when it expires.
Mine is 21 years old and just getting broken in. Sure, odds and ends go bad (my climate control fan is making noise right now), but overall the car is in a heck of a lot better shape than your average 20+ year old Japanese or American car.
It is (and has been for decades) a wholly owned subsiduary. Like Vauxhall in the UK, or as my old man used to loudly call it "That &^$%*$£ piece of &^$%*£& &%$£ !!!!!"
IIRC, when I was in HS and college the Opal was built in Germany. That's over 35 years ago.
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