[Sam the Sham]

I lived under Communism and I assure you that life was much better than in free market Dickensian England.

How many English perished in the Dickensian gulags?

How fundamentally ignorant of history you are, Toddster ! Anybody in Eastern Europe twixt 1945 and 1989 lived better than the slums of Dickens East End or the company towns of the coal country. The forced eviction of the peasantry caused by enclosure (when the noble lords decided that sheep herding was more profitable than agriculture) was no different from what Stalin did to the Crimean Tatars.

And as for using basic common sense on your part, try this. Once upon a time the auto industry was rich selling plenty of cars with no more than three year loans. Now, a troubled auto industry must sell cars with seven year loans and employee discounts. What does that tell you ?

[1rudeboy]

Now, a troubled auto industry must sell cars with seven year loans and employee discounts. What does that tell you?

That they are facing falling demand? Incidentally, how are the Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda plants in the U.S. doing? Are they offering employee discounts? Don't think so. They're probably running flat-out producing Corollas, Tundras, and Civics.

[Toddsterpatriot]

And as for using basic common sense on your part, try this. Once upon a time the auto industry was rich selling plenty of cars with no more than three year loans. Now, a troubled auto industry must sell cars with seven year loans and employee discounts. What does that tell you ?

So, no actual stats on 7 year loans? I just went to the Honda USA website, 60 month max terms. Toyota USA, 72 months. Mercedes, 60 month. VW, 60 month. Maybe the only way Ford and GM can compete is to offer 7 year loans to marginal buyers. I guess these poor credit risks would be better off if they walked to work? Or took the bus?