6 Myths About GM, Ford, and Chrysler

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US vs Foreign cars

Let me start out by saying that,

"THE ONLY PLACE TO DRIVE A FOREIGN CAR IS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY." People believe what they percieve. Japan did a better job of making people believe their cars were better. They did everything they could to suck up to JD Powers to get their cars listed as best, And people bought into it. I sold cars for some years,(foreign and domestic) and I would say that American cars are not as bad as the press might say. The foreign cars are not as good as the press would let you believe. During that time the Buick Le Sabre was listed in the top five in customer satisfaction. While the Olds 88 was not listed. Suprisingly enough they were built on the same assembly line by the same workers. The difference was that Buick was first to act on the JD Powers surveys. They found out that they could buy a customer's favorable survey results with a free oil change and such as were the Japanese. Thus placing them high on the list of satisfaction. However, I will say in my experience that the Japanese dealer service departments were superior to the domestics. I would also say that a poorly maintained American car will outlast a poorly maintained Japanese car by far. And that if maintained properly there will be very little difference. I also realized that there are only a few types of buyers. Domestic, Japanese, foreign, and trucks. Bigger people don't hardly fit into an import, so domestic might be a better choice. Immigrants from some countries might be more familiar with the Japan or German products. And the last, is for the most part, you can still get a better US truck. I drive a Ponitac Firebird and a Buick Century. They have V6 engines with 165,000 miles and 125,000 miles. Get 27-33 miles per gallon hwy. If I have to rebuild a 1950's Chevy in the future to have a car to drive, I'll still drive American. I hope that when people are driving their foreign car to the unemployment office they might stop to think what part in the economy they had. And that they might ask themselves, Why has Japan had the best fuel efficient or alternative cars ready to sell when the gas shortage of 70's and the recent high prices of fuel have hit? Pearl Harbor, Never Forget!

Jim of AZ @ Jun 09, 2009 14:25:00 PM

Auto Industry

There is so much wrong with the American Auto industry that I would need space equal to "war and peace" to list it all. The Automakers have lost touch with the American public. They have spent a Century trying to please a greedy Union. While most other consumable products prices have been going own,Automobile prices keep going up. The main reason? Paying all the Union Demands. The Car manufacturers have added all kinds of bells and whistles to cars and told the American public that " it's what they want." Most people don't know how to operate half the accessories on their car. Most people can't remember what year their car is. You can't buy an American car or truck with manual windows anymore. The best thing for the American car manufacturer to do is to go bankrupt. Maybe the some of purchaser of the components can actually get it right this time. At least for a while.

Fred of VA @ Jun 09, 2009 12:18:50 PM

Too Many Vehicles

All three major manufacturers make very good vehicles

especially GM.

The fact that there is no halt to imports such as Kia

is what is hurting the US market. THERE IS SIMPLY TOO

MUCH PRODUCT. This means that the price should come

down to meet the supply. Take a look at the sticker

price on a Tahoe Hybrid (over $50000 and only avialable

with all the extras).If you find that there is a

limit on Kias, for example, and people really wanted them,

let the market bid up the price for the 10000 limited ones

allowed into USA every year.

We need to LIMIT imports. Protectionism in this case

is a national issue since we would be left with no

manufacturing base. Do not blame the American public

for purchasing that Kia SUV or any other import.

They buy them for their PRICE and in the case of

for example Toyota and Honda, the service records,

fuel efficiency and trade in value.

If foreign vehicles are so good, let us have our people

pay for that quality as they do for the German cars.

Unions are another issue. Let the car manufactures deal

as the airline traffic controllers did with Reagan with the

walkout: new hires, new rules, new life in the american industry.

We have cars to build, you want a job, this is what we pay.

Good example, yesterday, a guild at Boston Globe turned down

an offer for 10% pay reduction(on guaranteed jobs) and now

they shall be getting a 23% reduction next week. Bitter pill

but get the picture before the picture is no longer there.

JMega of MA @ Jun 09, 2009 09:16:02 AM

Blaming unions

So if the japanese wish to play in the United States markets, let them pay their workers prevailing wage. Let the companies compete against each other on the strengths of their products, not the degree to which they can short their labor. Blame the unions if you wish, but the healthcare costs have far outstripped the wage disparity as a cost factor. Most tax systems operate on a percentage basis. Therefore, if you replace union wages in a municipality with sub-prevailing wages, you have immediately shrunk your tax base.

Since the birth of the labor movement, anti-union propagandists have utilized these arguements to undermine the strength of union ideals. Whether they fear a level playing field with static labor costs or whether they revel in denying their workers a dignified wage is unclear. The fact remains that Union jobs are good for your locality, your city, and your state, as well as your nation. Prevailing wage jobs mean a stronger, healthier tax base from which excellent goods and services may come. The math is simple.

T DeMoor of Los Angeles of CA @ May 10, 2009 20:12:12 PM

American Quality

I have been in the auto repair business since the mid 60's and have seen cars and trucks go from not much better then motorized hay wagons to the sophisticated marvels of engineering they are today.When I hear people say things like "they dont make 'em like they used to!"I always think "thank goodness".I believe that american auto makers as well as canadian factories still make a good vehicle and in many cases as good or better then some imports from japan or germany.Our biggest problem in north america is our complacency to change .We also sit back while the media trashes american made cars instead of fighting back and pointing out the positives .I also think that G.M.and ford do not train their dealers enough marketing and people skills.For example attitude over the years hasnt changed much;if you have a problem with a north american car likely the service department will try to push the problem onto the consumer where the japanese service dept will say "no problem ,pick it up tonight "so that when that customer talks to his friends he may say how poorly he was treated at the domestic service dept ,whereas the import consumer will tell his friends that it must have been something minor since he was able to pick his vehicle up that day or as soon as complete.

My shops work on domestic and imports ,I notice an inferiority complex in customers with our domestic products ,almost an apologetic attitude,this has to change ,we also have to demand our manufacturers change their attitude toward customer satisfaction !!

Bob Andronyk @ May 10, 2009 16:42:46 PM

Auto Mfgrs. Union Assembly Plansts

American auto assmebly plants in the South average hourly wage rate of approx.$74.00/hr plua. Whereas the import auto assembly plants in the same southern U.S.states pay an average hourly rate of appox. $45.00/hr. These are total of hourly wages and benefits,

LET'S STOP KIDDING OURSELVES: THE UNIONS ARE NOT IN THE IMPORT MFG. PLANTS. HOW CAN WE PAY $74.00 WHEN OUR COMPTITORS ARE PAYING SO MUCH LESS. THE UNIONS HAVE KILLED THE AMMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY.

J. Dalton of CA @ May 06, 2009 17:46:21 PM