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By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com
November 21, 2008
The Los Angeles Car Show is normally a time of back slapping, smooth
sales pitches and wide smiles. It seems a little different this year,
according to attendees who have wandered the exhibit hall filled with
shiny chrome.
"October was the worst month for U.S. auto sales in 25 years," said
Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renalt. "Nothing is moving. The
decline is not confined to the U.S. market; most of the mature auto
markets, including Europe, Japan, are also down significantly, with
slowdowns in the emerging markets as well."
If the Japanese carmakers are gloomy, who can just imagine how the
contingent from Detroit feels. GM canceled its events but still has
cars on display. It scratched plans to showcase a new Buick LaCross
sedan and a new Cadillac model. Instead, it will lift the veil on
those models in Detroit in January.
Chrysler has only a minimal presence at the show as well. Ford, on the
other hand, is showing off a new Mustang model, as well as a restyled
Fusion hybrid.
With hybrids in demand for much of the year, when gas prices were
north of $3 a gallon, you might expect every carmaker to be going
green. There were plenty of gasoline-electric hybrids to see, but not
that many all-electric cars, the next-generation of green
transportation. Honda is displaying the FC Sport, which is powered by
a fuel cell, and BMW is displaying the Mini E, a battery-electric
model.
Many of the hybrids on display have improved fuel economy and more power.
There's power to spare in the Mazda Kann, winner of the Los Angeles
Auto Show's 2008 Design Challenge. The Mazda Kann is an electric race
car that has a patented electronic tire system to reach 250 mph with
no harmful emissions. It was chosen for how well it integrated a high
level of innovation and technology into the design.
The Los Angeles Auto Show opened Friday and runs through November 30.
Reader comments
Jeff of Whitehouse Station:
I own one american and one foreign car. Both good vehicles, but I am leaning against buying american if there is a bail out.
We will be bailing out union people with unbelievable benefit packages that are causing the industry not to be competitive. And once they have our tax payer money, given by our politicians, they will strike the companies for more money. Then what will our government tell us.
We need to send a message to washington, when they act against the peoples will, we will act with our purchases. So the american automakers lost an upcoming sale from me in the range of 45,000 dollars.
Sorry Charlie...
Alice of Alberta:
We in Canada, like you, are also being asked to "bailout" the auto industry in Ontario, Canada. Unlike in the States, taxpayers have been bailing out these companies for years and years especially when they were threathing to move to Mexico where they can produce a vehicle cheaper "and no I do not consider Mexico slave labour when our countries are overpaying". The trouble is, our politicians will not listen to the taxpayers either and they have already bailed out banks that have been making HUGE, HUGE profits for years and years. One recently reported how many millions of dollars they have already made and yet, they will probably get some taxpayer money. Am I angry, you bet, every time the banks takes money out of my account for cheques, pay a bill, use an ATM, bounce a cheque, etc., etc. Now, about the car market, my husband does taxes so I know quite a bit about it. Here is a link that I hope works as to WHY so many Americans, I am guessing companies more because of the d eductions, bought big vehicles over little enviromentally sound cars.
The other thing that bugs me because I am sure we have the same problem is the salaries that these people make. In Canada it is said the average worker makes about 73,000.00 Canadian a year plus benefits. The Unions here are collecting HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY while screwing everyone else royally. Vehicles in this country are waaaay higher than in the States and that is why so many of us are now buying our vehicles in the USA. Here is another interesting link.
Oh, and one other thing, when they say they will cut their salaries to $1.00, don't believe the CEO's. It is the bonuses, shares, perks, the really big handshake at the end (pension) and this one is a doozy is what should be cut.
Steve of East Greenbush, NY:
Lift the "green" mandates, CAFE mileage standards and
OSHA regulations and put the UAW workers on a wage scale of three times the minimum wage plus a profit sharing plan. Then watch out - Detroit will solve everything. Congressional mandates on the auto industry do nobody any good, they only pander to special interests.
Chris of Indiana:
Yes They Should. Wake-up America! Someone needs to take a serious look at who is actually running the anti-American Republican Party. I'm sure you will find they are all Globalists. There has only been one Democratic President since Reagan, and he was from a pro-foreign southern State and brought us NAFTA. This whole down slide started with Reagan breaking up the Air Traffic Control Union, and encouraging, through tax breaks, businesses to build on the Mexican border. We all know NAFTA followed that. Someone, or some group is trying to drain the wealth from this Country. If we don't stop it soon, we will cease to exist as a free Nation.
Mark of Louisiana:
No. Absolutely not. How many automakers went down in history? Many. Were they bailed out? No. The Big 3 do not have too much to bargain with when the useless union has got them bent over. That money would be better spent in a stimulus package to TAXPAYERS!!!! Not beggers!! It is a capatalist country. If you have something to sell and it is desired, it will be bought. Very simple. A small businessman would begin selling assets, eating cheaper/less, cutting employees/salaries, etc., until times get better with a new strategy. Plain and simple. The reason we pay so much for goods in this country is due to the unions.
Lois of Akron, Ohio:
First off, this is a loan not a bail out! We give billions to the financial institutes with no strings attached so they can buy other banks and not use the money as intended. We require no reporting of how the money is used and everyone is fine with that. This economy is built around the automotive industry and in fact it is probably 4 in 10 that are associated with automotive. The trickle down effect would be devastating if any or all go bankrupt. Wake up America, this country cannot survive without the automotive industry!!
Brummbaer of Independence, KS: I have no real heartburn with the proposed loans to the auto industry, so long as there are sufficient checks in place to ensure that the money is used wisely. I am not entirely certain that the Federal Govt. is the right entity to determine what is the correct vehicles for America to build. My real problem is with GM planning to discard Pontiac which provides a true product mix that reaches a substantial portion of the market while continuing to maintain the GMC brand which is nothing more than a re-badged Chevy. This is one of the most blatant cases of badge engineering in the market today. If they must cut let it be with some actual thought as to product mix and viability in the world market.
Tammy of Michigan: Big Three retirees do NOT make full pay pensions. Actually they are payed about HALF (50% less) of what they made while working. In addition to that, they still pay taxes and pay for Health Insurance out of their pension checks, including deductables and co-pays. They also pay for optional life insurance. When the retiree becomes old enough to collect social security, the pension payment is CUT by the amount of social security payments.
It's amazing how much misinformation there is out there. So I thought I'd clarify.
Dean of Pomona Park, FL: Hell no and hell no, give the working people the money and let them pay off all off their debts. That will take care of the problems.
Linda of Michigan: The average auto worker makes about 25.00 per hour. Today, new hires make $14.00/hr. Yes, most of them do not have a college education, but please do not underestimate the job they perform. Doing repetitve motion for 8 hours is taxing. Try it stand in your home and do the same thing for 8 hours. Reply back when you are done and let me know how it went. Will ya? They have to raise their hand to use the restroom, so another worker can take their place. They inhale paint and exhaust fumes all day long, and often the noise in the plant is deafening. They have no windows in the plant to look outside, most have no air conditioning. They don't a free hand to use a cell phone, or access to a computer to pay their bills, shop on line, read email jokes and contact their friends on line like most of you do while working. Their jobs are not a cake walk. And for the record: Chrysler asked the gov't for a loan guarantee (NOT A LOAN). This means they asked the gov 't to co-sign or back the loan they obtained from elsewhere. The loan was paid back...with interest!!! PLUS... YOU, the taxpayer made a HUGE profit on the deal because the gov't made out like bandits on the stock. Why don't we ask those Congressmen to give us a detailed report on what they did with the millions they took it with that sweetheart deal and then WE will let them know if we plan on giving them anymore money to waste.
Derrick of Matteson, IL:
It's not about the CEO's, it's about the 1.5 million people that work under or with them.
Think about it if these people (neighbors) lose their jobs some of them will be in the same job market competing for the same jobs as some of you are, some of them will receive a government bailout by way of welfare, some of them will become desperate and result to criminal acts, some of them will have to foreclose on their homes, and ALL of them will add to the growing unemployment statistics.
My point is that when a industry of this magnitude goes under it will effect the entire country.
Next time you drive down the "Dealers Row" in your area count the number of Ford, Chrysler, and GM dealerships and picture all of the abandoned buildings.
Charissa of Indianapolis, IN:
Absolutely not! Tell the executives to cut their salary in half to come up with the money. Do they honestly need to make that much money while they are running their companies into the ground? By the way, my Honda was made in America and is much more reliable than my previous "American" Ford Taurus which was full of foreign parts and seemed to have been slapped together. It was in the shop 12 times during the first year I bought it and it was brand new when I bought it!!!!
Fedup of Jacksonville, FL:
Helloooooooooooo! Bail ME out! Because my mortgage is not past due I can't refinance. Countrywide is the rogue mortgage holder. In the USA you must be a dead beat, gate(border)crasher, a white collar crook, have ties to the underworld, be a politician or such other group of crooks, or one of their buddies in order to be considered for any kind help. So I guess I need to get three or four months behind in my mortgage.
The union workers/UAW gang have been riding the steak and gravy train for decades, fortunate enough to be among people who've been paid higher than average salaries, with their C-Level executives enjoying multi-million dollar salaries, riding in their private corporative jets, and now, finally, it's time to pay the piper.
All a sudden they're America's sacred cow? Why bail them out for them to continue doing business as usual? I can see them now, just as those did AIG bums--going to expensive outings, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on parties, then turning right around and asking for yet more millions and billions of undeserved of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Please spare me of those tired old cliches. I'm sick of hearing that 1 in 10 people are employed some way with the automotive industry. That STILL leaves 9 other people out of the famous 10. WHAT ABOUT US--THE OTHER 90 PERCENT? W-T-F ABOUT US??? Don't we count for anything?
Sue of Ontario:
No Bail Out. They should Kick Out CEOs and the boardroom execs. They have failed.
They chose profit per unit over profit per sector. They ignored the growing small and mid-size categories, of which they only have one entry each, the Caliber, Vibe, and Focus.
Ford Fusion is the only viable competition with the Camry, Accord and Altima.
Joe Mainstreet wants a little room, multi-function, and affordability (showroom and mpg), yet if the Vibe is too small, you have to go into a sport utility. Ford cut the Focus wagon.
Sorry big 3 but my next car is a Subaru Outback.
Richard of Plano, TX:
It is time that the cogress starts to us our taxpayer money using some common sense.
Giving money to a failing business is only delaying the failure.
It's time that company CEO's start earning their money. Either fix THEIR company problems or find themselves out on the street.
When Southwest Air was having financial problems it was solved by EVERYONE in the company working together, taking cuts, and ultimately fixing THEIR problem. Today they are the best run airline in the industry. Congress cannot keep borrowing on OUR money to bail out every tom, dick and harry who comes running with a "sky is falling" story.
I heard Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (michigan) tell Cavito that this bail out money is NOT the taxpayers money. This guy, and any others like him, need to be "bailed out" of congress at the earlist possible date.
It makes one wonder just how many other congress people have this screwed up thinking.
Alan of East Meadow, NY:
Japanese car makers were producing 100,000 mile cars when Detroit was locked into 50,000 mile cars. That\'s why Americans turned away from cars manufactured here. Detroit has fought against every efficiency and safety feature that became available: seat belts, fuel injection, radial tires, safety glass, disk brakes, rack and pinion steering, etc. -- all of which were developed in Europe. Detroit fought against fuel efficient vehicles, as though they were partners with the oil companies in ripping off our very own citizens. What is needed is to get rid of the management, straight up and down the line, and start over. There should be no reckoning with the current management. Perhaps, ironically, some managers ought to be hired away from Toyota and Honda to set things right in Detroit.
Michael:
Why is it they're paid so much? Their jobs require virtually no skill level -- put part here and tighten bolts, robots do the majority of welding, aircraft workers arent making this type of money and there is a lot more skill level required and needed to assemble aircraft.
Tim of Portage:
Any corporation that get 1 cent of taxpayer money should have a salary cap that doesn\'t exceed $250K including options and perks. This way the rest of the employess and retirees have more of a chance of retaining their pension and benefits. We need to stop the $400K AIG parties and $M salaries for CEO's and corporate jets. Let them fly business class.
Frank of Tucson, Az:
Absolutely no bail out! I retired from IBM and my retirement is $580 a month. I was a professional programmer making 52K a year. My retirement is a litle over 7% of what I made working and no medical benefits at all. Cry me a river over 50% retirement from the auto makers with medical paid. I have my own business now and guess what if I fail I go bankrupt. Who bails out the small business man. No one! and why should they. The big three executives made the decisions and they blew it. Tough cookies. Go chapter 11 and regroup.
Richard of Newington CT:
You want a toyota or honda in every driveway and then be attacked by japan or china?
30 years ago gm ford and chrysler were very profitable and every driveway had an american car in it..We the people (fellow americans) let this happen Remember hotdogs, apple pie and chevrolet? Think America and buy american and save this country....NOW.
Karen:
Absolutely not. The CEOs need to give the millions of dollars they stole in so called salaries and benefits and fix the problems their greed created. CEO salaries should be capped at what the US President gets paid.
Tony of Spartanburg, SC:
Bankruptcy court is the way to go for the automakers. It will force them to create a more viable corporate structure as well as streamline policies and procedures. Come on guys, get a grip. In order to compete in todays marketplace you have to be diverse and look to the future. The Unions are also part of the problem. Those contracts need to be renegotiated.
Jake in Greeneville, TN:
It's the Unions that have caused all the headaches. When you retire, your health insurance is paid for life and while you are working making big bucks (50.00) per hour, no wonder they have no money! The should file for bankruptcy as us little people have to do.
N of Lebanon Junction KY:
If you people want to buy everything from Foreign countries go ahead, don't help the the Auto Industries. Let them fail. How can they compete when the Foreign companies are importing 43,58,084 a year into our country and we are only allowed to export 504,626? That is lower tax breaks on their part which equals higher profit back to their country. Your already buy everything else from them why not Autos as well. Let ask you something, where are you going get your paycheck from when we run out of jobs because everything has gone overseas? The Bail-out and your tax dollars will be useless then.
New Car Reviews of San Diego: My thoughts exactly Gaurav of Vienna, VA.
Why all of the sudden are car makers jumping on the band wagon. I am sick and tired of the lack of vision and forward thinking in America. This should've been predicted and with a little diversification in the product line, avoided.
American automakers haven't competed on the national market for a long time, with a few exceptions. Product lines have been too focused on large SUVs. Seriously, the PT Cruiser (Loser) and the HHR are some of the worst cars ever designed. In fact, I was shocked to see another special edition of the PT Cruiser coming out just this year.
I do feel bad for the folks who didn't have a hand in the design blunders and hope they make it through this crisis.Long story short, poor designs, cheap materials and poor performance isn\'t going to cut it when you're competing against the Japanese auto makers.
Let's reward our most innovative Americans before every company goes begging to the government for money. Set an example quick. The rest of us are scrambling to survive right now and the auto makers should do the same. Bring us alternative energy cars now and provide technology to the world and we can turn around our economy.
Rosie of Westland, MI:
Bonnie, you better check your facts before you go blabbing about the retirees getting full pay. You are soooooo wrong!! If that was so, then why am I just scraping by, receiving the same amount while Medicare goes up and everything else goes up, including my health insurance?
Don of San Antonio, TX:
No. If the government bails them out, it would generate
requests from every business in the country. Chapter 11 seems like a good way to
resolve a good number of the problems.
Laurie of Haslet, TX: Glad to hear that Paulsen made the correct choice. At last!
They want the bail out, but have the funds to pay executive bonuses - NO WAY.
EXECUTIVES SHOULD BE TAKING HUGE PAYCUTS - NOT GETTING BONUSES.
Any bail out for Auto must include bringing back all the outsourced jobs. We know they build cars in the US, but get the parts for those cars comes from 3rd world SLAVE LABOR! Any bailout plan has to have contingency that those jobs COME BACK!
Steve of Canton, IL: Chapter 11 is the only way, the American way. Don't be fooled by whining executives wanting to line their pockets with our money.
Gaurav of Vienna, VA: Absolutely not. Competition is good for the market and it's about time we stop throwing away tax payer's money on these careless companies, who didn't bother to innovate for decades, which has given the japanese automakers the edge over US automakers. I would much rather propose an incentive in the form of billions of dollars to newer companies who are willing to innovate and bring the US auto industry back in the global map.
Ron of Lewisburg, TN:
I think that because of the economic situation our country is in right now, we have no choice but to give GM a loan to keep them going until things improve. They already have a contract that has many concessions given to them by the union and it will allow them to be profitable again. Also they have a new line-up of vehicles with huge improvement in gas mileage and quality. To allow them to go under would be a disaster for the country. As for retirees getting full pay, I don't think so. I am a GM retiree and do not even get half what I earned when I was working, plus I am paying more for my medical. I don't think folks realize how vital the auto industry is to this country and what would go down with it if we let them sink. I agree that there needs to be some strings attached. Upper management is responsible for a lot of bad decisions that were made in the past and they always still got the huge bonuses. The workers always had to make the sacrifices. With the new agreement with the UAW, those days many folks are mad at are no longer around. The workers are much more productive and the benefits were greatly reduced.
Marilyn of Springfield, MO:
The CEOs of the big 3 need to looke to their selfs as far as bailout. Also the big 3 need to do some searching of how they can modify and change their need and become more self sufficent
JimmytheGeek:
If we let the automakers have it freely, then we\'ve accomplished NOTHING! If the automakers want our taxpayer money, then they need to meet our demands. Congress should make a bailout available on the condition that the automaker convert 80% of their vehicle lineup into hybrid cars that pollute substantially less and have 30% increase in fuel efficiency!!!
Dick of Coupeville, Wa: The executives of Ford, G.M. and Chrysler are arrogant and incompetent and their autoworkers are over paid and under worked. These companies cannot succeed with their present business plan and need to use chapter 11 to restructure. We have an innovative and successful auto industry that provides more than 100,000 good jobs for American workers just a few hundred miles south of Detroit. Ford, G.M. and Chrysler could do the same if they were willing to make some hard decisions, but it is easier for them to ask politicians in Congress to give them my tax money!
I am angry about this!
Louis of Naples, FL: Absolutely not!If any other business fails it simply GOES OUT OF BUSINESS! SIMPLE
Gianna of Dallas, TX:
No, absolutely not- and here's why: if the big 3 fall, the stranglehold that the UAW union has on them will collapse and automakers can then rebuild with workers who receive reasonable wages rather than $30 an hour to attach windshield wipers.
Mike of Nebraska:
If the U.S. auto industry is aloud to collapse it will be catastrophic to everyone in this country. 1 out of 10 Americans is directly tied to the U.S. auto industry. Every person in this country WILL suffer. Millions of jobs lost. BILLIONS of tax dollars lost. BILLIONS of dollars lost in everyone's retirement 401K plans. If you think this crisis does not affect you, you are sadly mistaken. some of you talk about the problem being the large SUV\'s and Trucks being the problem. It's funny that those huge trucks and SUVs sold so well. Two to one over small fuel efficient vehicles. so who is really to blame the automaker or the American public for their popularity?
Donna of Ontario, Canada:
I don't live in the U.S., but in Canada we are very much affected with the economy of the U.S. These multi-million and billion dollar bailouts to banks and automotive are outrageous, and I don't blame the U.S. taxpayers for being upset. Why doesn't the government BAILOUT the hard working middle class citizen who is losing their jobs, homes, cars and patience. Maybe then the U.S. tax paying citizens could pay off debt first, and get the economy rolling again....the greedy cooperations, who pay outrageous salaries to their CEO's...got themselves into this mess...and should maybe look at firing their CEO's who are making millions of dollars...to cost the tax payer's billions so the CEO's and Greedy Cooperaions can continue to get bailouts from the government, and are celebrating by spending hundreds of thousand dollars on 5 star Resorts and Spas...!!!! AIG...shame on You....But more importantly Shame on the Government for allowing that to happen. Those high roller's
should be paying back the money's owed to the tax payer. My question...WHO's NEXT...health care...education...airlines..and so on and so on. Does anyone have the power to stop these BAILOUTS????
Kay of Chester, GA:
You know I work in the auto ind. well I do the financing at a dealership, and I really cant see where this bailout money will help our buisness unless these banks change their guidelines. The best apr you can get with gmac and this is if you have perfert credit 700 becon and higher will be 12.49 apr. What customer with good credit in there right mind would pay that? none i hope. I'm just waiting to see how this bail out money will help the smaller ones in the auto business. I can probably tell you without having to wait!!
Scotty of TN: I don't understand why the government has approved a bailout for lending institutions to free up credit to businesses, and now all the major auto makers want (their) share. It seems to me that the plan is already in place to help them resolve their problems. My advice to GM, Ford, and Chrystler would be, use your assets for collateral, go to a bank getting all this money, pay the intrest and let old fashioned business practices work. STOP LOOKING FOR A FREE HANDOUT !!!!!
We have enough deadbeats doing that without companies joining the bandwagon.
Jim of Eugene, Oregon:
No bailout for auto industry. As stated by previous people, why do we need to pay for retired workers health care & there dependants when the companies that most of us work for do not cover dependants. I pay over $600.00 a month for health insurance for my wife & son, is anyone going to help me with that? Also why not give $50,000 to the tax payers who can prove that they can afford a mortgage to use a a down payment towards purchasing a house. Don't you think that that would help stimulate the economy instead of all the banks getting the money? One bank in town said they do not need the money (Upmqua) but said that they qualified for $214,000,000.00 so they were going to take it anyway even though they do not need it to make loans. Thanks to all of the fat cats on wall street & at the auto industry we are the ones who are being held accountable.
Ken of Detroit: I love how everyone jumps to "oh, they're bailing out the ceo's, what about joe everyman?" Has everyone forgotten just how many "Joe Everymans" are employed at the auto companies, the factories, the suppliers, the dealerships, etc etc. Let's let them lose their jobs and be unable to take food home to their families because we hate ceos. That sounds reasonable. *sarcasm*
Josie of Nashville, TN Why should we bail them out? And why are these CEO's making this kind of money anyway? It seems to me that now when Americans are needing help as things are also bad for us, we get ignored while these rich CEO's and other executives get paid very well and when things get rough for them, hold their greedy hands out for more. Meanwhile, we get to struggle and are losing our jobs left and right. Americans are losing their homes and their cars. No one is coming to our aid. And there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel for us in the near future. No, I don't think that the taxpayers should have to help them. Why not give a million dollars to every American taxpayer in this country with the requirement that we first pay off any debts we have and then the economy would be be booming again. That sounds like the best plan of all.
Doris of Columbus, GA: The so-called taxpayer funds used for bail out are actually monies the US borrows from foreign countries. The top two being Jspsn and China. If you ain't got it don't spend it. It is just like using one credit card to pay off a balance on another credit card. Eventually it catches up with you. We bailed out AIG, for example. I saw on ABC news that they provided yet another luxury retreat for their top dogs at taxpayer expense. How do we know automakers won't do the same. The little people should not have to foot the bill for the poor business decisions made by the overpaid, foolish chiefs at these failing companies. Most of these so-called American made vehicles are actually manufactured overseas or use mainly foreign made parts. Why not restructure these automakers to employee ownership companies and make those CEOs and robber barons give back some of the wealth they siphoned off.
Sonja of College GA:
Yes if they cut the price of cars and the finance charge. And to work with people if they lose their jobe. That should be a stipulation of the taxpayer money they get and cut CEO's money by 1/2 plus any bonus or commission paid to them. They also harassed me when I lost my job and now they say I owe them over 7,000. even though I only had 3 weeks left on my lease.
Randy of Portage, PA: Bail out, try buy out. It's true year after year, they compete for the biggest, baddest, beasts in the market (SUV, Heavy Duty Trucks) when you look at other Countries, they get 40 mile to the gallon, economy cars. They did this, not us, don't look like they have plans to change. Find a buyer group(s) to buy the companies, get them good loans for capital and let them merge the technology to make the most fuel effecient, economy cars. If you just give them whatever they want, they will be like a spoiled kids and expect Mom and Dad to bail them out the next time they are in trouble.
Marty of Michigan: No, why should my tax dollors that I earned from a company that has no health plan or retirement plan go to a company that does? Maybe they would still be in the black like the company I work for and not drowning in red.
Lynda of Ridge, NY: At first glance, on a gut level, I think the gov't. SHOULD NOT BAIL OUT AUTO INDUSTRY, BUT, because of the financial disaster to so many innocent employees which would ensue, perhaps a bail-out could work if THERE WERE STRINGS ATTACHED like,fuel-efficiency requirements, limits on CEO SALARIES, NO MORE BUILDING THOSE HUMMERS ETC, ETC ETC. If that can't happen, then let them sleep in their beds they made all these past yrs.!! We all used to buy their cars but when they lowered their quality standards, Americans switched to higher quality vehicles. The Japanese cars were/are sooo much more durable and dependable. Designs are so more pleasing to the eye. I stopped buying CHEVYS IN THE 70'S JUST BECAUSE they seemed like "pieces of crap" to me after taking test drives of Toyotas or Hondas versus Chevys. I did not want to switch. I had to. I needed to depend on my car. I bought Subarus. They've been great. I had a 93 IMPREZZA which I sold in '05 with 306,000+ mi. It was still in really fine shape and was running "clean" as they say. Someone gave me 300.00$ for it. It's sad to think that Americans invented the auto but it seems that greed by the upper echelon of these corps. have no one but themselves to blame for their demise. They could've built fuel-efficient cars and delivered high quality etc. They chose high profits.
Dora of Irving, Tx:NO!
S. of Middlesex, NC:
Are YOU crazy? How about 'lending' a hand to those of us unable to make payments on time or none at all until there is a job? Why is it that NO ONE 'Jumps' at the chance to help out the citizens hurting by this economy? These automakers have ALWAYS made very high profits off of us 'buyers' and now because THEY charge TOO much for their product and it's hard to sell and payback, WE, the citizen, have to help them out??? Again, I ask you "ARE YOU CRAZY?
Pat of NH:
NO way when the CEO of GM is making $106 million per year and the UAW took a 50% pay cut something is wrong here all the big 3 need to cut the fat at the top not the bottom everyone blames the UAW unions but take a closer look at the top level exc on down your eyes will be open wide on what they make. One more thing i saw an interview with MR Wagoneer of GM and the reporter ask the very same question the UAW took a 50% pay cut why , wake up America the CEO's and top level management are to blame GM lost 75% of there stock value before the Big Hit in September.
David of Huber Heights, OH:
Yes. Bail them out. Then change the rules to allow them to merge their operations like the government in Japan allows their car manufacturers to do.
For years we have been operating with one hand tied behind our backs by antiquated antitrust laws. The imports do not operate under those handicaps. They are allowed to combine research to produce better cars than we produce. We need the same rules.
Dashaun of Detroit: I agree with Mitch, in the inflexibility of the Automotive industry, as it pertains to Auto loans. I too have been harassed by Chrysler Financial. When I contacted them to explain that I lost my job, all they were concerned about is getting the next payment. When, I informed them that I was willing to turn the car in 3 months early, I was told I would be penalized and the car would be auction off. I would then be responsible for the difference between what the car was worth and what the car sold for at a dealer auction. My note is 600 per month.
My car probably would have sold for peanuts and I would have been held responsible for the balance? I simply placed the car in storage and I will return it to them in January 2009 and pay the difference when I get a job. This was the cheapest way out for me. The US is dependent on the Auto Industry. Although, it only makes up 3% of the GDP, the impact of a failed Auto industry would be catostrophic for the USA and Michigan.
What the government should do is bail them out with conditions. One condition being work with the individual who are financing vehicles. The USA is in a tight spot and we need to work together to get out of this.
Bonnie of Michigan: Absolutely but with strings attached such as; new management, more oversight and cut the full pensions by 50% on retirees. They are receiving full pay in retirement and able to collect social security in addition to that. Some are way better off than they were when working when they didn't have to save a dime for a secure retirment like the rest of the country.
What do you think?
Should taxpayer funds be used to bail out U.S. automakers?
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