beleive me, the foreign cars break too! It just costs more to fix them when they break! Have you seen the powertrain warrenty on a GM vehicle? 5yr 100k! Gm was able to do this because we dont see the engine and tranny failures we did years ago!
"The United Auto Workers' deal with Detroit's three automakers limits overtime, changes work rules, cuts lump-sum cash bonuses and gets rid of cost-of-living pay raises to help reduce the companies' labor costs....... Base wages for UAW workers will remain the same, but the deal limits supplemental pay that laid-off workers receive while they collect unemployment benefits," This is a good start by the workers to help the big three make it through. Not much can be done for the cost to retired workers. No matter what you think of the terms of the contract that requires this debt, it is way too late to do anything about that. They kept their half of the bargain when they were working. The asian cars over here have much cheaper labor costs because they don't have the history behind them. This is a good step to get the American cars going again. Now, if only we could get uncle sam off their backs I think they could make a go of it.
My rant: My family has always bought 90% GM (other 10 being Jeeps) but I think the quality in GM trucks has gone down. My company purchased 6 new K1500 trucks from 2005 to 2007. Three have gone down with catastrophic wheel bearing failures.....happened to me while I was driving one and there was no indication of a problem the day before and all of a sudden WHAM, nearly lost a front wheel.....this truck had less than 45,000 miles and I know one other had the same mileage when it went. Our mechanic checked the other bearing and it was very sloppy and needed changed. My 1992 K2500 has 128,000 and the original bearings! Don't even ask about my 2001 Alero.....so many problems. I try to buy American but I've got to shop around after these experiences. Mark
I think the 80's killed the big 3. Even though my 86 Crown Vic ran forever, got so ugly from all the things falling off, I had to donate it. Anyone ever see an 87 Pontiac on the road? To quote the great Forest Gump..... "That's all I've got to say about that."ou:
To be clear, my original post was never about the quality of American cars, but rather the mis-guided efforts of management and/or union officials which ultimately ran the company into the ground. Philisophically, I've always been for supporting the local economy first and foremost to reward good honest work. GM management is not good honest work. That said, I resent being "forced" to pay for their mistakes via my tax dollars. :Smarty: Jeff ~
"My family has always bought 90% GM (other 10 being Jeeps) but I think the quality in GM trucks has gone down. My company purchased 6 new K1500 trucks from 2005 to 2007. Three have gone down with catastrophic wheel bearing failures.....happened to me while I was driving one and there was no indication of a problem the day before and all of a sudden WHAM, nearly lost a front wheel.....this truck had less than 45,000 miles and I know one other had the same mileage when it went. Our mechanic checked the other bearing and it was very sloppy and needed changed. My 1992 K2500 has 128,000 and the original bearings! Don't even ask about my 2001 Alero.....so many problems. " I've had several 2000-2004 work trucks, and the compay that I worked for in Idaho ran all trucks in this range. They've been driven hard, taken bad care of by the crews and no big issues. I bought my wife an 05 Trailblazer, we've put a lot of miles on it, no problems (other than my head hits the roof when I drive). I have no doubt that you've had issues, but I've had good luck. My 07 Dodge truck on the other hand.... Nothing major, but it suffers from bad engineering. It's a 4x4 and it's got hoses under it that get caught on little sticks in the logging road and cause the check engine light to keep coming on. Other small issues that I shouldn't have to put up with. That Hemi sure does pull though. I will buy American till my last days on earth.
Kudos!! That said, look what else our tax dollars are going to be paying for. I guess if you have to pick your poison, I'd prefer to help the Big 3 given how they sorta got were forced in this situation
Hey David I miss those logging roads. My last 11 years in Washington I lived in Elma and spent time on those logging roads on my quad.:beers2: I came through your neck of the woods last Sept. on my way from Tacoma from the big car show in Ocean Park. Bob H.
Well Bob, maybe I'll get to see you and your car at the show this year. I won't enter it, but I'll be at it and I'll be out on Friday and Saturday night with my Buick.
If you like working 40 hour weeks with benefits then you should be happy with labor unions, these people fought, bleed and died for most of the opportunities we have today and if they had not we would still be sold down the river buy guys like John L. Lewis and being gunned down by Rockerfellers militia. I'm a UNION IRONWOKER and I say GOD BLESS the coal miners that died for what I have today, and no I didn't forget about the 9 year bobbin girls in the mills who died in thier 20's of brown lung.
Unions had their time and place. In the late 1800's-193-'s, employees were definitely exploited. Now there are so many other laws in place that they are not as necessary. Labor laws, both state and federal, now eliminate the exploitation that was so prevalent back then. If a union were to come into my shop, I would be driven out of business. My labor costs would have to be significantly higher than anyone else around. A small business cannot afford health insurance, sick time, personal time...unless its employees are kicking a$$...grabbing the ball and running with it, not looking at the next guy asking 'what do I do, this isn't in my job description? That's so and so's responsibility.' Americans have become soft,... everyone expects, is entitled to, deserves, should be given...etc...:af: Ya gotta make it before you can spend it. Ya gotta work hard, defend your country, promote your country, and help make it the best country it is. Work through the hard times, cause that what we're in right now, hard times. Not asking for handouts and what the union can do for me and how can I squeeze so and so for more... Work hard and you will not be laid off, be the best you can be,' cause only the strong survive. People who rely on the "system" are in trouble. They need to put back what they took, and all the people sending their money overseas ought to be deported to the country they send their money to. Now is not the time to promote a foreign economy. Now is the time to make the American economy strong again. The reason we are where we are today is our lust for foreign products. All our money is going overseas, not here where it is needed. If you love japanese products that much, go live in japan! or china, whatever. There's plenty of people that would give their left nut to take your place. You can go on and on about how much "better" that japanese product is, but what it all boils down to is...you sent your money to japan, you strengthened Their economy, Their government...etc. And you wasted how much fuel/emissions to have it shipped over here(they don't just grow on the shelves). You want a green enviroment? buy American. We have the strictest EPA laws anywhere. Does anyone know what ISO9000 is? It means that the factory complies to all epa laws, does not pollute in any way, creates a sterile environment for its employees so they are not exposed to even (omg waste engine oil) the slightest harm. Does anyone realise how much that costs a company? Does anyone even care? Nope, just want my benefits, my paycheck, my vacation time etc :af: :af: :af: Done ranting, but I'm about fed up with the attitude I see from the younger generation. Heck, even some of the older generation. Me Me ME.
Well done, I will give you that. We do need to stick together because we can make it, we have proved it before. I myself will always flip labels to see where the product is made and if given a choice I will buy USA. One thing that has troubled me of late is that I have bought Carhartt clothing for decades and have seen them go from a union label to made in USA to fabric cut and shipped to Mexico and back to be assembled in USA to flat out made in Mexico. I myself do not mind paying extra for an item made in the USA I just wish the companies would understand this. Yes, as we call it in my industry there is alot of dead wood out there and I'm very fortunate to work for a company that is pro union and wants everyone home safe at night with money in their pocket and isn't worried about buying the spare boat just to say look at me. Please one more thing and I'll stop because I did get off forum a bit and I apologize. My wife is a special ed teacher here in CA and the district she works for is up once again for a pay cut along with the benefits being cut. It saddens me that with a masters in speech pathology and a heart of gold to take her skills to our next generation instead of making the big bucks she is constantly having to give back. We are always passing bonds for the teachers but they never see it. Maybe someone can help me understand why our government doesn't seem to think this is a concern. My opinon is we need to educate the little ones, Am I wrong? No matter what your opinions and no matter who you are I will always be a PROUD AMERICAN and will always be there to help. I do love this country and respect everyone. OK you can shot off the fireworks now. :beer
Forgive me, but I haven't read this thread all the way. :Comp: You mean Buick still exist? o No: Other than a Buick emblem stuck on a chevy, did I miss something? ou: I'm sorry for the people who are facing losing their jobs, or may have already lost their jobs. The Big 3 did it to themselves, with their idiot operations, fat spending and big pay-rolls for the corporate ex's. Lack of quality product and what the people want. The Buick-name should have been canned in 1990, then Olds should have immediately followed. I got 3 letters, for anyone looking for a new vehicle. BMW Bought mine brand new in July and love it. By the way, runs 13.40 in the 1/4 at Beech Bend in BG-KY home of the Buick GS Nationals. :3gears: Even took out a C-5 Vette with it.... lol :bla: Not a GM enthusiast, but with the exception of Buick (the real company/divison of the day, not this modern-current nonsense of an emblem slapped on a Chevy) I love Vettes. :bglasses: I'm even a life-time member @ the museum, with a brick on the side walk. Was considering buying another new Vette, BUT... I couldn't pass up what BMW had to offer!! :dollar: The BMW warranty is second to NONE. They even warranty the brakes!! Being as I'm so busy these days, I don't have time for keeping maintenance or just wrenching on a car period. My parents can run it by the stealership for service and get a loaner. Part of the BMW warranty is covering ALL maint for 4 years or 50,000 miles, INCLUDING brakes AND oil changes, filters, etc.. I saved $3,600 per year in payments VS a Vette, plus maint cost on top of that by going with the BMW. They say once you go BMW, you never go back. Time will tell.. but so far, I can tell ya I'm enjoying this car. The ladies dig it too. :Brow:
I have never seen a k truck have a wheel fall off from a wheel bearing-it is nearly impossible-the cv shaft bolts through the center of it. A hub does not just fall apart-they make noise long before they would ever separate. I would be curiouse to know what the trucks are being used for and how well they have been maintained. We have had to change a few hubs but in many cases we have had to beat the snot out of some of them to get the cv axle to release from them before they can be removed. Show me a manufacturer that is not having hub issues. A sealed bearing will not last forever if you cant re-lubricate it. Have you seen any of the toyota trucks that have been having frame issues? The frames are rotting out and the trucks are splitting in two. It is ok though because Toyota will give the customer a "fair" deal on it for trading it for another new Toyota! I will never own a foreign car-period. Our GM rep bends over backwards to keep our customers satisfied. He has agreed to some pretty rediculous demands some of our customers have made to keep them happy. GM does actually care what the customer wants and they are willing to work with them.
Have you seen what it will cost to maintain and repair that BMW after that 4 year 50k warrenty runs out? :laugh: Did you forget this is a BUICK website? Not exactly a good place to bash BUICK.o No: I would never own a Vette or a BMW....I do just fine without them!:TU:
I won't have it longer than 4 years (at least I hope not) and I NEVER bashed Buick. I can't go buy a new Buick (not a "REAL-1") so what else is there? :beers2:
Just a quick note to the anti union crowd. So you think that the retired workers health care costs are a big problem? If I retire before the age of 65 my family insurance for the wife and I would be 3500 per month. When this was put in the GM contract I bet the costs were not that high. Seems like the sky rocketing cost of health care is the major problem. I watch all the financial shows and hear the talking heads complaining about the great deals the auto workers are getting . I agree on some of it but whats wrong with someone making a decent living? To me the whole world economy has lowered out standard of living. Some will not be happy until we all make 5.00 an hour with no bebefits. 1960-- Dad works, Mom takes care of us and the home, Dad buys a house for us, Dad buys a new car almost every 3 years, Dad has insurance on himself and the familyand a retirement plan 2010-- Dad and Mom work, kids in daycare, buy a house not a new one but a house, drive a 18 year old PU, No retirement plan, insurance takes 1/3 of the paycheck, private school ( unacredited schools here) another 1/3 of the paycheck, start another job to keep the bills paid, cannot tell you where the kids are cause we are at work all the time, got to save for college, hope theres a job for them after college WOW I just lost 40 percent of my 401K. Guess I will just get another job. Americans need to wake up and start reversing this trend or we will all be working at ( fill in your fast food preference) PS I noticed that Mr BMW seems to make a nice living. Wonder if hes a banker or a politician?
