You should be proud you don't get welfare, I have more respect for a drug dealer on the corner than a welfare recipient or bureaucrat for that matter. At least drug dealers make their money in a free market taking risks and serving their customers. Unfortunately most of the drug dealers are also welfare recipients.
Welllll, I guess that I am the most simple minded of all, but the car companys[ all] priced me out of the market a long time ago....I never, ever buy new any more and have the opinion that vintage cars are the only way to go.... when I wake up in the mornings, my cars are worth more than they were the day before.....and they turn just as many heads as a new car would, actually moreso...... This whole thing was brought about by political correctness and the government meddeling with the banks because of political correctness....not good honest people that are just trying to make a living.... Butttt, I refuse to pay the high prices that it takes to drive ''new''.....:Smarty:
Agreed, I just pray the enviro nazis/ ruling class dont force us out of our old cars by law or by economic necessity.
When the "law" is unreasonable and threatens your liberty and freedom,that is tyranny. The Constitutions are supposed to be the real law of the land. The De Facto law/policy in place now is "color of law". We have been systematically taken over as a nation and most don't truly understand that. Most statutory laws go against the constitutions of this nation and are designed for revenue enhancement. The forefathers that started this great nation must be rolling in their graves right now.
I was a GM shareholder from 1965 until 2008 (I bailed out in time). During that time I never once saw anything in the annual or quarterly reports that were any more negative then to the effect that earnings are not where we want them to be - but we expect them to get better soon. Lets face it - GM management has done a horrible job starting with Roger Smith and continuing to this day. Yes the UAW has to take some of the blame, but there is plenty to go around. Management did not adequately fund retirement and health care contractual agreements. Quality of product was beyond poor - I won't rehash a lot of stuff you all know, but what about the 350 gas/Diesel? Metric 200 transmissions in big cars? Surface rust in less then a year? Rust through in less then two? And management is surprised that customers went elsewhere? Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. GM has lost it. I really want to return to being a GM guy, but they will have to do one hell of a lot better then they have for the last 30 years before that happens. I hate the thought of purchasing a foreign car - I have never owned one - but it could happen. Rats!
Bail out? How about a bail in? The foreign competition was SUBSIDIZED to be here in our own country. And we helped them! Who do you want to blame for that? So even where these implants were built, the surrounding communities and states don't get the bump to their tax basis they normally would! So everytime someone uses the rationalization that "they're built here" for buying a foreign car, tell them (politely if they are a Buick fan) to go pound! So these wonderful foreign automakers that are the pinnacle of quality and a target for us to shoot for weren't even willing to make it a go without the good 'ole USA helping pay! And guess what else? The profits go back to their homeland, they don't stay here! We are the only country that allows the high percentage of imports in our borders, all veiled under "they are assembled here so it must be okay", we are our own worst enemy! Ever hear of tariffs? Duties? We now know that about 50% of cars bought here are from foreign owned companies. No other country is even close. And I know some of you are out there thinking "this guys just sour grapes" but I've lived abroad, in some countries there is not even a procedure available to import a US vehicle. Talk about protected markets? We've done it to ourselves people, but 'til the day I die I will not buy a vehicle manufactured by a foreign owned entity. And if there are no US companies left, I will drive my 71 Skylark right to the grave.
I work for a large Gm dealership. I live all this information everyday at work. If the "Big Three" go under, It will hurt EVERYONE. People dont relize how far this will trickle down and effect everyone from the top of the ladder to all of us as consumers. Many more factories will close. Our economy will crumble in a big hurry if they go down. Lets not forget why the big three are hurting right now-it is because of the banks. It is difficult now to get someone financed with a 700 credit score because the banks have put a hold on loans. Certain banks wrote some bad notes that created a good majority of the problems we are facing right now. We should all consider buying American...our future depends on this. All the profits That Toyota are making go overseas-That money does not stay here! Yes, some of their vehicles are "assembled" in the USA, but that does not make up for the BILLIONS they are profitting from us overseas. My wife has a friend (not mine-I refuse to associate myself with idiots) who has a husband that is stationed in Iraq....FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND RIGHTS AND FREEDOM THAT WE DESERVE AS AMERICANS-GOD BLESS HIM. Just before he was sent over, he went out and bought his wife a new "foreign" car (i refuse to mention the make). Everytime she pulls in the driveway with that car I want to burn it! Unfortunatly, AMERICAN PRIDE IS GONE! Years ago, an American soldier would not have ever thought about buying a foreign car! IF WE WANT TO SEE OUR ECONOMY COME BACK AROUND, WE ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT BUYING AMERICAN!!
John where have you been? The quality of the American made cars has been climbing for years now and the quality of the GM cars in particular is at an all time higho No: I scanned through an article in Motor Trend yesterday about how the Chevy Cobalt outdid a couple of foriegn crap cars. I don't have the answer as far as GMs funding of retirement or healthcare maybe they were too expensive to fund due to the unions unreasonable demands. I read somewhere that it costs them around $1500.00 per car just to pay health care cost.:shock: Don't know if that included retirement or not. Bob H.
I just drove a Malibu rental car. Absolutley fine, evan had heated seats! Compare it against a Civic, I'll buy the Malibu. Problem is, everyone still believes the Big Three quality is still stuck in the 70's and 80's and we all would admit there were issues back then! Guess what else we have a Dodge Caravan with 120K+ on the odometer, our neighbor has a same vintage Honda Odyssey minvan with about 140K on the odometer. Guess which vehicle has now had three(3) transmissions in it? HONDA BABY!!! Everybody is like little lambs anymore, baah baah!
Hope the foreign cars serve everybody well. They'll need them to drive to the unemployment office and pick up they're food stamps!
I'm with you. I think it's in the bible, "thou shalt not drive imports". Good advertising on their parts, people think they are better just because they tell them they are on t.v. Smart marketing also. Hyundai has a dirt cheap car, gets something like 39 MPG, 100,000 mile warranty, and if you loose your job within a year you can bring it back. Well, it's a safe bet for them. You have a down payment, they hold the contract, you have made payments, if you bring it back they can re sell it. And since it's going to cost more to replace the thing with a good used car, no one will bring it back! Smart little bastards. I still say a Caddy will stand up to any car on the market for quality. They are a lot cheaper to work on than a lot of other cars too, after all they are a G.M.
Why do I not buy any GM built today? Well for me that is easy, nothing looks good all GM ( all 66 + models) have no style, not one looks appealing to me. GM vehicles lack looks in my eyes. As bad as they are:laugh: :laugh: :grin: . At least Ford has some looks. With GM and Chrysler needing billions to survive. Ford seems like the only one with there sh!t together. GM is closing plants and cutting jobs, Chrysler is cutting jobs and stopping production on three vehicles, ( whoopy) GM needs to stop production on like 20-30 vehicles. Don't start with the imports, as I believe BE American, Buy American!! And the it's made in America isn't going to fly either, where do the profits go straight to Japan. The US should have put a terrif on imports years ago, twice the sticker price. That is what Japan does with our imports. Tim
I have to come clean here. My wife is exactly the person this thread is referring to. I was overseas in Afghanistan and she was driving my Riviera around and I told, "Go find yourself a good Riviera" She looks at a couple but decides on a Lexus RX300. What can I do? I'm halfway around the world and at least it gets her outta my car. I saw the "Women Drivers" video. So, I failed you guys and I'm sorry. She wanted the cutsy little SUV but at least it was used. When the time comes, she will be getting an Enclave. Hopefully it's still around. BTW, why do people keep poo-pooing the 70's and 80's American cars. Last I checked, there still out there running strong and I can't remember the last toyota from that era I saw. Regardless of quality, there are still some great cars in that era and I put them against most any import today. Did they have issues -yes. Could we fix it - yes. I can't even shange the back 3 plugs on the stupid Lexus.:spank:
I don't understand why the new spending bill includes a tax deduction for sales tax on any new car that is purchased. It should ONLY apply to cars that are primarily American made in my opinion. Now, we taxpayers are subsidizing the purchase of any foreign car! Between the blow-hard phony politicians and the greedy unions... they will "kill the goose that layed the golden egg", ending once and for all, decent manufacturing jobs her in America.
Hey Guy's, Let's stop with the Greedy Unions stuff. It has been stated that the price of a car contains less than 5% of the cost of building it. I worked at Buick for 35 Years and did see people there just for a check, but most were hard working. They knew which side of the bread was buttered. Yes the unoins are too self-serving now, but I would hate to work there without them. Also the layers of management was staggering. White Shirts all over the place. I had no idea what they did. I see they are finally getting rid of some of those layers. Also the comment about Old Hippies wasn't cool!! And Jim James, keep up the good commentary! PONCH
This was not the case when I referred to my wifes freind. Her and her hubby actually picked the car out together while he was home!! A true couple of damb a$$es! Welcome to the future of America! In your case, I would hide your car and leave your wife the first chance you get!:TU: You are off fighting for our freedom and she is home collecting a check while you risk your life! She buys foreign? Does she not even care if you are shot fighting for the "freedom" of AMERICA? That does not sound like support to me! Maybe she is a great gal who just needs an education on what makes the American economy survive. I would at least dump that car for an American Car the first chance you get! BTW the Enclave is a great car-We have seen No issues with them yet. I have a freind that bought one and they love it! My wife wants one but there are too many other priorities right now. PLEASE, educate your wife so she does not do this again!
To rmstg2, I've been right here buying American cars! You need to read a bit closer, I said that trust is hard to earn and easy to lose... I did not say that American cars have not gotten better. The American manufacturers have lost the trust of their customers - deservedly so - and they will have a hell of a time getting it back. I wish them all the luck in the world (as I replace the outer tie rod ends in my Dodge Magnum at 65,000 miles).
My wife is actually really great. She does let me have any (within reason) and as many (within reason) Buicks I want and for that I am very grateful. I have 5 to her 1 so I guess if that reflected the landscape of America, this thread wouldn't exist. But I'm with you. As soon as that thing peaks and is ready to go, we are getting an Enclave. We actually went and test drove one and gotta say, nice! She kept coming up with problems in her own head ("is it supposed to excelerate so fast?"). Besides, if I get rid of her, I'll have to get another one and since 18 year olds aren't really into American cars like the imports, I'd be even worse off. I guess I could just resort to onlinebootycall.com - I'll have to think about it:TU:
You said they have to do better than they have been for the last 30 years Which sounds to me like you mean up to today. You didn't say 30 years ago you said last 30. And if you had bought a GM car instead of a Dodge Magnum you wouldn't be putting on tie rod ends at 65,000. :moonu: Bob H.
