American Cars: Is It Too Late?

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock! Time is rapidly running out on two major car manufactures in the US, General Motors and Chrysler. President Obama yesterday stated they have failed to make the necessary changes needed for these companies to become profitable and it’s very possible that both could file bankruptcy. Rather than go into how this could be disastrous for American and for Japanese car makers that compete here I want to focus on the potential lost if these companies are sold off or forced to drop some brands from their line-up. Lately and I mean over the past 2-4 years GM, Chrysler and Ford (Ford has not taken any bailout money) have slowly been producing cars that look good and in some cases look great that’s competing technologically with German and Japanese cars. They no longer look like your father’s car...

In 2005 Chrysler had a hit on their hands with the Chrysler 300. Dodge also released the Magnum that also bolted out the gates quickly but died two years. The Charger is still doing well and most are stating the 2010 Challenger will also do well. The Buick Enclave crossover has been a hit as well as Buick also attempts to shed the fuddy duddy image, I’ll get back to them in a minute. Cadillac has several vehicles that look fly and has just about completely shed the stigma of being an old person’s car with the Escalade, CTS and STS. The 2010 Camaro is debuting this year with high expectations however the Malibu is already doing well and now the Traverse crossover (looks just ok to me) is directly competing with the Pilot by Honda.

Ford though seems to be company that will come out of this crisis in very good shape. The Ford Fusion is one of the most advanced cars in the world. They have the extremely popular redesigned Mustang and the very impressive redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus. To me the 2010 Buick LaCrosse is a stunner, it doesn’t look American and it shockingly good looking. So with the clock ticking on GM and Chrysler is it too late for them? Would you buy American these days, check out the demo for the Ford 2010 Taurus and the Buick 2010 LaCrosse.


2010 Ford Taurus
[youtube]2fuZjPoAD0c[/youtube]

2010 Buick LaCrosse
[youtube]olWcOxRmvTM[/youtube]

 

Too late? Well, its never too late.

Now, I have never liked American automobiles (except the Escalade) and may never buy one in my lifetime.

Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, GM are all about to see some serious changes before this year ends.

 

i drive a honda but i am getting ready to buy a new car...not trading in my honda just going to fix it up for spencer when he gets his drivers license...who is in the know about what the tax deductions will be on a new car? does it have to be an american car? is it all the interest or just a percentage? only on new cars? not used? my honda is a 2000 and all i have had to do in repairs over the last 8 years is one set of brake pads, a new battery, new windshield, regular oil changes and new tires...now i am getting ready to do all of that again before i set it aside...

what midsize suv would you buy right now?

 

Japan: hybrid technology

America: SUV

FAIL.

 

Well that depends on what you are willing to spend. As for the cash back incentives all dealerships have something going on these days since the industry is in dire straights as a whole. Obama's newly announced auto purchase incentive should help American Cars, here's the gist lipstick.

Legislation pending in Congress would offer incentives of up to $5,000 for vehicles that are more than 8 years old and are traded in for new vehicles that get good mileage; the better the fuel economy, the more the incentive. CSM Worldwide reported recently that vehicle sales in the European nations with these types of plans will be 400,000 more this year than they would have been without the cash incentives. The National Automobile Dealers Association and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents major automakers except Honda, issued statements Monday supporting a cash-for-clunkers program.

Here's some suggestions though for mid-size SUV's

• Lexus RX
• Lexus GX
• Toyota Highlander
• Acura MDX
• Infiniti QX4
• Buick Enclave

I am actually not all that surprised though that thus far no one has voted yes, they would buy American. Had I not taken a closer look recently at American cars I would have checked off nyet as well...

FYI Los Angeles, Ford has not extended their hand for any bailout or TARP monies. They are in the best shape out of all of them. Furthermore Ford is step maybe even a half step behind Honda for putting Hydrogen vehicles on the road.

Ford History of our Work with Hydrogen

Ford first began working on hydrogen technology in the early 1990s. Our first hydrogen internal combustion engine demonstration vehicle, released in 2001, was based on a lightweight aluminum sedan body, which also was used in the development of our first drivable hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Currently Ford has a fleet of 30 hydrogen powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 650,000 miles since its inception. With this fleet on the ground, information is being generated in different local environmental conditions that can be integrated into future fuel cell vehicle propulsion systems.

 

I drive a Benz and if were to get a different vehicle, it would be an Escalade. I have to drive in style and luxury.

 

I would love to see someone other than Chrysler build Jeeps. I have been a Jeep owner for over twenty years until my last. Chrysler ruined Jeep.

Now I drive a Mercedes, just bought a new C63 a couple months ago. (I never would have looked at that model but I heard someone start one durng a service visit and that was it.) I did look at American, but the build quality just wasnt there. I guess I got spoiled. I can tell the minute I sit in other cars and pull the door closed. I know it sounds pretentious, but its true. :smt077

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/3...el=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1

 

I absolutely would and have been a Ford Consumer for several years.

Perception is much harder to change than reality. That's the burden the domestics brought upon themselves.

Perception: The domestics have inferior quality to the Germans & Japanese.

Reality: Only Honda outpaces Ford in the quality Surveys and they're essentially tied with Toyota. GM is just on their heels. Chrysler is still lagging far behind, .
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/29/ford-ties-toyota-in-strategic-vision-2008-total-quality-awards/

3yr dependability survey:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090319/ap_on_bi_ge/autos_dependability_top_vehicles
I think clearly you can see the domestics makes their presence known. Yet, no one actually pays attention to this.

Heralded German brands such as Mercedes & Audi have done poorly, VW has done even worse. However, many people believe they are of superior quality w/out doing their homework. Now I wouldn't compare MB to Ford, that's a luxury make vs. a mainstream mfg. MB naturally uses richer materials across their productline, hence the perceived build quality.

I'm not bashing them, I like MB, but there are some models I would definitely avoid, particularly the ML-Series.

You can go to JD Power to view the surveys. Also, understand there is a difference between Corporate surveys and nameplate surveys.

Buick just finished 1st in 3yr dependability outpacing Lexus. However, Buick has been in the top 5 for the past several years. I'm not a Buick fan, but I give credit where it's due. Lincoln, Cadillac, & Mercury have been ranked very high for most of this decade.

It's ok to have a preference, but make sure it's based on facts vs. what someone tells you.

 

Oh, the C63?

Wow, I like your style. :smt023

 

Build quality and customer satisfaction are two different things. Check into the insurace rates and see how they rate for MB because their owners fair better in crashes.

I am not sayng MB doesnt have problem, I myself have experience with electrical gremlims on the last one.

I like fords. Tbirds have always been one of my favs. I looked at the Mustang with the pink stripes, but it ultimately was uninspiring to me. I found the interior to be too manish. I guess I wasnt their market for the car.

Oh and LA, yeah it is sweet.

 

Yeah it is, 443lb-ft of torque! Goodness, gracious!

Lemme guess, you got it in black or grey?

 

Nope, I got red. I found some lightly used CLK black series wheels on eBay and they look really good on it.

 

You rock, Fly!

Rep has been added. :mrgreen:

 

Isaac handin' out rep like hand jobs from Paris Hilton

 

Issac always was a generous guy, but seems like Captain Stubing always got the girl.

 

hey!

 

i wouldnt buy one just because its being nationalized and the unions and executives both have driven the auto industry into the ground, let them crash and burn.

Buy NON UNION!!!!!!

 

I have a Toyota Land Cruiser and also a Lexus ES in the garage am giving to my son. I am thinking about getting rid of my Land Cruiser and getting a black Lexus IS250. I am into Toyota products and their dependability.

 

some of my favorite cars

 

TUCK the union has it's fangs too deep into the neck of the industry, the UAW is the way of life now. I'll say it again be careful about hoping GM and Chrysler fail. The domino effect would be MASSIVE to the economy and not just to the auto industry, the auto suppliers, the banks and of course us. Their failure could potentially extend this de-cession into the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2010.

It's bad out there and can get a hell of a lot worse...