Did Anyone Read this Article?

[70 copo]

Yes, GM might have to go out on a limb and build some good product, but alas - it did get worse. For those of you driving a newer Silverado you might want to get your affairs in order.......

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/06/Auto...ests/index.htm

[70 copo]

Worse news....

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/25/Auto...call/index.htm

Toyota was asked to Help...

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/26/Auto...reut/index.htm

[Kim_Howie]

Very sad. I will walk before I drive a rice burner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. T]

[ QUOTE ]
Very sad. I will walk before I drive a rice burner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

DITTO!!!

[Chevy454]

If Toyota and Honda won't raise their prices voluntarily, then why not just jack the tariffs up on the import cars to where they SHOULD BE and be done with it?

[COPO_Anders]

Rob, to jack up tariffs might not be a good idea. It could hurt your export, if other countries did the same. And I want to be able to buy American cars here in Europe!

We are seeing Swedish companies buying from China instead of producing here in Sweden. I would like to see the Swedish goverment lowering costs for the companies producing here, instead of jacking up tariffs on import.

Anders

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I'm not concerned about a recall on my new truck, I see it as a responsible step from the manufacturer. The impact tests are simply that, a test, and not to be deemed a reality. For goodness sake, I don't plan on hitting a concrete barrier on a partial head-on with my truck! If anything, it would be another vehicle which would change the accident dynamics exponentially. I believe that anyone can be seriously hurt or fatally injured in any type of crash, so I take the tests as additional info.

I am amused at the mere thought of the Japanese raising their prices to help the US automakers! Why? The weakening Yen is hurting the US, but that's life. If the US automakers would trim themselves down, and make a comparably quality vehicle they would be able to protect their main moneymakers. I am ok with big business, but even more so for Capitalism - and letting the product dictate the success of the company. In College they used the Harley Davidson tariff/turnaround as a case study, and it worked. The automakers have had a lot longer than the 5 years that Harley had.

I'm a die hard American though, who believes that the Japanese have helped increase the quality and reliability of the US cars. Now, the sport ut's and trucks are next. That being said, I will continue to buy American.

[mike s]

i drive a 2005 ford f-250 with the trailer brakes and no foreign truck can compare i traded an 01 silverado 1500 in on it, but i bet my ford could a pull a tractor trailer with some lite mods to the bed so american all the way

[Chevy454]

I can agree with that, M, but we simply can't compete with the dirt cheap labor and such that other countries provide. I can't remember the exact product, but I saw a study where I *believe* China could pay to import steel from the US, produce the product on their soil, then pay to ship it back to the US for retail, and could still be done cheaper than their US counterpart could do it. Granted, that's not the fault of the foreign producer, so why penalize them, and I can agree with a trim down of the US auto manufacturers (starting at the top)...but is it too late?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

China's labor is indeed the cheapest, but several US companies have gone the route of Mexico, Asia, et al, only to find that their best response time, delivery and eventually their ultimate cost is better right here in the US. I know they had to get out from under their Union arangements to enjoy their lower costs, but that's another debate! I don't think it's too late, provided the automakers are committed. They can survive several quarters of losses, that's why the account is called 'Retained Earnings' and it holds all of the non-disbursed income from prior periods.