Bye Ford, we'll miss you

UPI | The Bear's Lair ^ | 3/17/2003 | Martin Hutchinson

[Thommas]

... the rise of the ugly, dangerous and catastrophically fuel-guzzling sports utility vehicle, after all, was the result of a fuel efficiency standard mandated by government, from which SUVs, as "trucks" were exempt.

Ooooooooooh! What a gratuitous slap in the testicles this statement conveys. I thought I bought my SUV's because they carried people (my kids, parents, boy scouts, soccer & basketball teams) safely and efficiently.

It is interesting how the enviro propaganda slides into so many otherwise informative screeds.

[uncitizen]

And as a result we're losing not just manufacturing jobs (those are gone already), but professional jobs, engineers at the present time.

[newgeezer]

There is some validity to what the author wrote. If auto mfrs. would have been forced to classify SUVs as "passenger vehicles" rather than "trucks," they would have counted toward their CAFE-standards compliance calculation. Then, SUVs would have been a drag on the aggregate MPG, and -- if they ever sold well enough -- the mfrs. would have had to pay BIG fines to the govt. With that in mind, any anticipated fines would have been added to the price of the SUV and, due to their higher prices, rather than gaining popularity with customers, the Bronco, Suburban, et. al. likely would have disappeared altogether.

[RnMomof7]

you may take the zero off..my error you are correct 1,500 and 3,500

[biblewonk]

On the upside, this should give the used-car market a chance to rebound. Since the mfrs. have been selling their new ones so aggressively, used car prices have been weak.

On the other up side they are still making a profit. How long has it been since United could say that and they are still flying.

[newgeezer]

they are still making a profit

"Of the major U.S. manufacturers, Ford, which lost $980 million in 2002 after losing $5,453 million in 2001, is in the most vulnerable position. ..."

[newgeezer]

But, you're right in that GM still makes a billion here and there, Thurston. ;-)

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

I've owned two Fords and they were both TERRIBLE vehicles. I'll never own another one. I hate to say it, Freepers, but I take solice in NOT buying American Vehicles. My experiences have been less than fantastic and my foreign vehicles (Nissan Sentra, Hyundia Sonata, Volkswagen Jetta, Mazda Miata) have all been very reliable.

The only exception if my Fiance's Escort ZX2, but it happened to have been manufactured on the Mazda line outside of the United States.

Blame it on the Unions, or whatever you will, but I've been done with American cars for years. I added Daimler/Chrysler to the list when they gave money to Je$$e Jack$on. I added VW when Germany started to speak out. I guess I'm stuck with Japanese and Korean cars, now. =) If things get any worse, I'll be riding a bicycle.

[biblewonk]

Ok one weak year and one marginal year. United hasn't made a buck since Klinton was pres.

[ffusco]

What is your solution to the continued loss of manufacturing jobs? Heavy subsidies? Tarrifs? State-Owned industry?

The US continues to evolve into an information and services economy. The stategic industrial base has consolidated and should prevail.

[uncitizen]

It is too late for a solution to that problem anymore. The cost of union labor has driven up the cost of manufacturing, therefore it can't compete with that cheap "overseas" labor as you undoubtedly know.

I do understand that the US economy is an info technology and service based one, but those jobs too are being moved out of the country for labor cost reasons.

Pretty soon, nothing but those jobs which require the worker to be physically in the United States of America (e.g. nurses, truck drivers) will be left here.

[ffusco]

I have my windmills too.