U.S. Automakers Battle Public Bias

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070108/autos_ap_poll.html?.v=2 ^ | 1/8/07 | Will Lester

[relictele]

"My great-grandfather, grandfather and father fought against these people," he said of countries that are leading competitors of American automakers. "We're killing ourselves by buying their cars. I drive a Dodge truck, and always buy American."

This person is 25 - very sad. He needs to stop worry about the battles fought 60 years ago and worry about the ones being fought now. His "American" cars may very well be built in Mexico or Canada.

[Don W]

I believe that NAPCO built a few "factory" chebby Apaches in 4wd for GM in 1957-60. I'm not positive, mind you.

Every GM but one that I've owned has been a POS. Chevs, buicks, Pontiacs, one caddy, and a couple of Oldsmobiles.

The ONLY one I would buy again is the 1964 LeSabre. 355HP aluminum v-8 YAHOOOOOO!

Not much luck with Japanese, either. For commuting, I'd jump all over another Nissan Sunny (not sold in USA, called the Micra in Canada), though. Hondas have NO personality or style, and Toyota is overrrated and overpriced. Subaru is quirky, and Mitsu is Japan's Chrysler.

I've been quite pleased with my Fords. Then again, I don't go for the econoboxes or sportscars. My current ride is a crown victoria, and my next will most likely be from the same mfr. unless something really interesting comes out by then.

[CGTRWK]

--Eighty-five percent of foreign car owners said they were very satisfied with their cars, while eight in 10 owners of American cars were very satisfied.

What a curious way to phrase that. So, there is only a 5% difference in satisfaction level, hence the story is not really that important.

Phrased a more meaningful way, American car owners were 33% more likely to not be satisfied. That's significant to me.

[Dixie Yooper]

I don't see how the big three are ever going to dig their way out of the hole they have put themselves into. Even if they solve the union problems, they still have to design a vehicle from the ground up with parts that are of quality,not made like the junk they currently use throughout their products. My first two BMW's, an 82 320i and an 89 325i had cloth, then vinyl seats. Both held up extremely well vs. the cloth and vinyl seats I had in my Chevys from the 70's. Even the knobs on the heater felt much better and lasted. By the time I finally got rid of my 78 El Camino, everything was falling apart. The headliner was coming down, the crushed velour seats were wore through, and the windows leaked. There were also numerous electronic problems and the engine. I sold to a guy I worked with for $300.

[1rudeboy]

I don't see how the big three are ever going to dig their way out of the hole they have put themselves into.

I think it can be done. But will it? GM and Ford (especially) need to move away from this "our cars are just as good as" **** and toward "our cars are better by any measure."

Make the consumer buy your products. Step it up.

[Little Pig]

Nope. That's an AM General/Kaiser-Jeep M-35A1 2.5-ton truck, better known as the Deuce-and-a-half.

[mr_hammer]

"Having worked as an engineer in the industry"

You to, then you also know the truth as do I.

[1rudeboy]

I think the early Taurus/Sable models had a design-problem with regard to heat-dissipation. At the same time you had your "problem," I rented a Taurus and was returning it to Hertz O'Hare. I cut it too close in terms of time, unfortunately, and in my desire to avoid being charged for another full day, I ran it flat-out on the Northwest Tollway for maybe 15-20 minutes to get to the airport. (Let's just say somewhere in the 95mph range).

As I was leaving the Hertz lot (in my friend's car), I glanced over and saw a Hertz employee running toward my recently-returned rental with a fire extinguisher.

[the OlLine Rebel]

"The problem started in the late 1960s and early 1970s."


EVERY problem started in the late '60s!

(I'm not kidding!)

[the OlLine Rebel]

As if Jap and Euro cars weren't ugly.

They are the definition. Never mind just looking wimpy.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes, it's COMMIE selfish-driven UNIONS, but it's also the garbage from the commie mindset:

-taxes
-enviroMENTAL regulations
-safety BS

and on and on, I'm sure.

Note all this started happening in the grand ol' period of the late '60s.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Dodge and several other makers made Duce & a half military trucks in the 1940s and 50s. One of these was brought to Japan in the early 1950s by an agency of the US government to be copied and produced by Isuzu. These "Japanese Dodges" were used in VN and the PI for decades...

[the OlLine Rebel]

That would be FORD, then.

Plus, you just can't get serious SIZE or POWER with non-American cars/trucks (I am dead serious about that). Power is important in a truck! These people don't understand BIG. That could be seen right away in the 1st "serious" Jap truck, T100. Couldn't bear to build a full-size cab to match the rest.

[Little Pig]

Ah, now I see. The Deuce I prefer is the mid-to-late '60s onward version with the wider, unsloped nose and in-grille headlights, made by Reo, Kaiser-Jeep, or AM General.

[go-dubya-04]

That's because Wal-Mart does more for the poor in this country thatn any gubmint program ever has! And the "Big Three" have screwed the US consumer for so long with such inferior products that they diserve all the condemnation they get. Easy enough to understand?

[Bernard Marx]

the Ford 3.8 V6 with self-dissolving head gaskets

I'll never forget -- plus the obnoxiousness of Ford in "taking care" of the problem.

No more Detroit iron!

[go-dubya-04]

What's the "Chevy walk around" Thanks in advance for the info.

[advertising guy]

dealer to dealer coached walk around of the product's features and benefits. Once won locally, then there is regional ( 5ish states winners) the the finals( all that's left)......I won the national last year and 2nd this year

[Dixie Yooper]

Plus, you just can't get serious SIZE or POWER with non-American cars/trucks (I am dead serious about that). Power is important in a truck! These people don't understand BIG. That could be seen right away in the 1st "serious" Jap truck, T100. Couldn't bear to build a full-size cab to match the rest

You probably say "super size me" every time you get fast food as well, whether you need it or not. Power is important in some trucks, but not all trucks. It all depends on what you intend to do with it. If your only going to use all that power a few times over the time you own it, your better off renting a commercial truck when you need it. Toyota took their time learning about how Americans use their trucks. The last model of the Tundra was for the truck owners that do haul stuff, but also drive their trucks to get where they are going. Having all that power to go back and forth to work everyday is a waste of money pumped into the gas tank. Also, what good is the extra power when the truck it's attached to becomes a rattle trap after 2 years? In another month or so, Toyota is coming out with the new Tundra. It's bigger and more powerful than the last, but don't worry, you will still be able to go to Ford, Chevy and Dodge and say "super size me", and get something that's bigger, just not as good.

[doorgunner69]

That 5% difference is we old goats who remember the exploding Pintos and Fieros,the Corvair (Yes, I had one), the Ford 3.8 V6 with self-dissolving head gaskets, GM V-8's that had pressed-in rocker studs, and other tributes to cost-driven "engineering".

Now, now...........Let's spread the credit around: Remember the Audi and its infamous "unintended acceleration"? I had an Audi(VW Fox) and it was the biggest POS I ever owned. Still would never buy one of those things.