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Detroit has run out of road. The car's future lies in Europe (Hurl-o-matic)
The London Guardian ^
| December 7, 2008
| Will Hutton
Posted on 12/06/2008 5:23:52 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
click here to read article
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I knew he'd find a way to blame President Bush for Detroit's problems.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
Allow me to be the first to say it: Obama’s Fault!
2
posted on
12/06/2008 5:25:15 PM PST
by
sionnsar
(Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
>> it is American capitalism and society at a crossroads.
Well, it’s the anti-American Guardian’ with it’s stupidity working again.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
My great-grandfather walked away from candles when he realized he would be better off with light bulbs.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
5
posted on
12/06/2008 5:35:55 PM PST
by
Secret Agent Man
(I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
Now, America's big three car companies - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - are fighting for their lives.Does this guy know that the Car of the Year in Europe is from GM? The runner-up? A Ford. GM & Ford do extremely well overseas because they are not burdened by the retirees' health care and pensions as they are in the USA. I'd love to see them get the same level playing field in the USA, which can only happen thru the demise of the UAW.
6
posted on
12/06/2008 5:49:30 PM PST
by
Azzurri
To: 2ndDivisionVet
The car was the symbol of the prewar 20th century. I always thought it was a symbol of post-war 20th century. (primarily the '50s and '60s)
To: Azzurri
I have a feeling that when Detroit starts making nothing but small fuel efficient cars my Z-71 four wheel drive pick-up will go up in value when gas drops down to $1.25 a gallon.
8
posted on
12/06/2008 5:57:42 PM PST
by
kempo
To: Azzurri
Does this guy know that the Car of the Year in Europe is from GM? The runner-up? A Ford. GM & Ford do extremely well overseas because they are not burdened by the retirees' health care and pensions as they are in the USA. I'd love to see them get the same level playing field in the USA, which can only happen thru the demise of the UAW.I'm not sure about retirement, but one reason health care isn't an issue is........the governments in Europe provide it.
9
posted on
12/06/2008 5:59:36 PM PST
by
joesbucks
(Sarah Palin: "I believe John McCain is the best leader that we have in the nation right now,)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
It was telling that as Detroit's CEOs were suffering humiliation in Washington, Germany's BMW was unveiling a battery-powered Mini E two years before GM's Volt hits the streets - and with treble the range. If anything, the German love affair with the car trumps America's and its car companies try to resist regulation no less aggressively. But European political systems are less open to being completely bent by corporate lobbying and regulation is seen as more legitimate.Boy, the guy who wrote this article is completely clueless. Looks like he thought up a topic called "American-bashing" and then just threw in the auto industry as a means to make his point (which fell flat). For his information:
BMW eyes German rescue scheme
By Daniel Schäfer in Berlin
Published: November 4 2008
BMW became the first European carmaker publicly to consider tapping Germanys government- backed banking rescue scheme on Tuesday and said it might also seek US assistance.
10
posted on
12/06/2008 6:09:21 PM PST
by
Azzurri
To: 2ndDivisionVet
How about American motorcycles (besides HD) and scooters?
Japanese and European companies actually produce 'em.
I can't think of a single motorcycle (besides HD) or scooter that's made by an American company.
I can get a new Ninja 250 for (apx) $2,750 - $3,500. Where's the American competition?
11
posted on
12/06/2008 6:19:26 PM PST
by
CE2949BB
(Fight.)
To: CE2949BB
http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/victory/Pages/Home.aspx
http://www.americanironhorse.com/
http://www.americansworking.com/motorcyclesl.html
12
posted on
12/06/2008 6:22:04 PM PST
by
Gone_Postal
(We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat)
To: 2ndDivisionVet; All
I think most of the commentators here have caught on to what this article is all about. Just like we have a sick chattering class here in the US, they have the same in the UK. The UK types are even worse than those in the US. This article is typical of the type of garbage that comes out of the UK press.
The UK is an emasculated country. They have lost their empire. They have lost their industrial capacity. They are losing their once great Navy. They have lost their traditions and now they are losing their country to Islam. Oh did I mention they have lost their religion. Islam is stepping in the fill the vacuum.
Heck they don't even produce good rock and roll any longer. They had a run of great bands from the mid-sixities to the mid-eighties.
About the only thing left for them to do is bash the US. Misery loves company as they say. Well the problems we have in US are minor to what's going on in UK. The British Tabloids (now Internet) are all sex scandal sheets. There press makes ours look good. The worst is the BBC but Guardian ,The Sun,and a number of others are nearly as bad.
13
posted on
12/06/2008 6:22:58 PM PST
by
truthguy
(Good intentions are not enough!)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
"...they presented last-ditch restructuring plans to Congress, promising a massive increase in fuel-efficient cars and a cessation of corporate excess as the quid pro quo for more than $30bn of soft loans and stand-by credits."
The merchants told me that all American manufacturing is only "buggy whip" production anyway. If they fall, the NEA and rest of the unions preferred and preserved by the corporates will fall, too. So will many anti-family government offices for lack of revenues. So will the anti-American merchants.
Let 'em fall! We'll see who survives best--libertine "fiscal conservatives" or moral conservatives.
14
posted on
12/06/2008 6:26:31 PM PST
by
familyop
(cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-'96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote, http://falconparty.com/)
To: kempo
"I have a feeling that when Detroit starts making nothing but small fuel efficient cars my Z-71 four wheel drive pick-up will go up in value when gas drops down to $1.25 a gallon."That feeling you have is the result of your downing a pint of Jack Daniels.
To: Azzurri
My understanding is that the Japanese and South Korean governments are also offering their form of “bail-out” plans to their domestic automakers.
When you cannot get a loan, it doesn’t matter whose car you want to buy.
As for the article, typical Guardian leftist swill.
One other thing. A former GM aautomotive engineer who works at my office says the hybrid technology in the Toyota Prius is really a GM-developed design. GM choose not to manufacture it because the design didn’t fit their business model (too many expensive things would break before the end of the warranty period). So they sold it to the Japanese and make a royalty on each Prius produced.
16
posted on
12/06/2008 6:31:49 PM PST
by
Captain Rhino
(The best way to calm the delusions of grandeur in the energy cartel is to stop needing their energy)
To: CE2949BB
17
posted on
12/06/2008 6:40:01 PM PST
by
2ndDivisionVet
(Barack Obama: In Error and arrogant -- he's errogant!)
To: kempo
Sorry to say it but you better sell it fast since gas at $1.25/gal will not last too long. Eventually there will be too much competition for the all needed gasoline. It may not go up to the mid 4’s but it will not stay long at the low 1’s either.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
Choppers, cruisers, ATVs, dirtbikes, and even a trike.
Buell - which I thought was Italian - is the only company on that list that makes sportbikes.
Cheapest one is $10k.
I appreciate the effort, but I stand by my earlier question. :)
19
posted on
12/06/2008 6:59:39 PM PST
by
CE2949BB
(Fight.)
To: CE2949BB
I can't think of a single motorcycle (besides HD) or scooter that's made by an American company.Harley only survives because the government gave them protection and preferences when they were about to go under. That and all the bikers that can't get the Japanese bikes to backfire when they detune them.
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