MSNBC.com mailbag - why Big 3 cars suck

[keith]

Readers offer U.S. automakers some advice

Bringing the success of the Big 3 to one and all:

"Aaron Blankenship of Durham, N.C., thinks that, for the American automotive industry to remain competitive, the United States must consider nationalizing healthcare."

Make everyone else pay for the Big 3 ineptness

(is it really the big 2 now, because Chrysler is HQ'd in Germany? Why doesn't someone ask how come it's cheaper for the corporation to HQ in Germany rather than the US? Why are US corporate taxes so high?)

 

[cousincletus]

Articles like this one are one of the biggest reasons why people are reluctant to buy American. They didn't say one thing positive about the industry, only negative myths. GM leads the industry in fuel economy in several models, has high quality according to JD Powers (higher than European) and pays working men and women respectable wages. I have not had one single problem with my 2002 Cavalier or Dodge p/u and paid way less than a Toyota or Honda, but this continued bad press is what's driving the industry down. Did anyone know that the USA is the ONLY industrialized country w/o national health insurance? It's long overdue but since this would help the working man it's a bad idea.

 

[NJC]

Keith, if GM can convince the gov't for a "bailout", wouldn't US taxpayers be footing the bill?
Here's the rest of the quote:

"Aaron Blankenship of Durham, N.C., thinks that, for the American automotive industry to remain competitive, the United States must consider nationalizing healthcare. “We simply cannot compete with the outside world by paying these spiraling costs; it’s crippling us as a nation,” he said. The greed of insurance companies needs to be reduced, he added.

“ When my family of three costs me and my employer $900 a month for a low plan of coverage, it’s easy to see why we cannot stay competitive with other nations,” he said.

[emphasis added]

Although I don't agree this is "the" solution, I believe the comment is valid. $900/month is a large monthly expense.

 

[NJC]

And this is funny!

"Some, like Charles Adams of Vienna, Va., said they still think American automobile manufactures are in a position to create the future of the automobile industry.

'They should be on the forefront of such innovations as alternative fuel vehicles, such as hydrogen fuel cells, by creating a cooperative effort with the oil companies to transform the infrastructure of the country’s roadways to support fuel cell refilling stations at gas stations,' he said."

A nice thought but it won't happen first (or at all) with the Big 3.

 

[Win]

Well, maybe they cherry picked responses, maybe not.

It's been awhile, I remember it only vaguely because it was so long ago, but wasn't it NBC that helped a big three car catch on fire so it would make a more compelling investigative report?

Their credibility will always be suspect with me.

 

[michaelc80]

I have to say that I think the article hits pretty close to the mark. The perception being right or wrong is irrelevant, the fact is there is at least a strong perception of better value for the money when you look at a Toyota or Honda over a Ford or GM.

Things like the UAW job bank don't help either. I quite frankly don't want to spend my hard earned wages so 12,000 workers in Michigan can sit on their collective UAW duffs and do crossword puzzles all day long.

I'm sure that there is no one here that begrudges a "working man" a job or health care, but in all honesty the UAW has been a pig at the automotive trough far too long. Couple that with poor management and you have a receipe for the current mess.

Most Americans want to spend their hard-earned dollars where it will give them the most bang for the buck. The downward spiral of Ford, GM (and to a lesser extent Chrysler) is a reflection of that.

 

[Racerjk]

Good grief.

 

[keith]

The article is writing about responses to an open inquiry about US car quality. The reponse, from regular people, was overwhelmingly negative. On this occasion, MSNBC is reporting and not editorialising. [I couldn't say if a similar response to foreign car quality would make the news - that's where a bias would come into play]

I happen to agree that the perception of US car quality is worse than the reality, but the bad perception has been well earned since the 1970's and especially the 1980's. It can take decades to restore trust.

One way or another, we probably will all end up paying (through direct bailout as we did for Chrysler 25+ years ago, or having Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Audi, etc. customers and everybody with a pulse pay for the Big 3 health care premiums, or in many other ways).

 

[kanling]

Auto insurance should be like group health insurance. $15 copay to get my oil changed or my car washed. But I have to get my Primary Care Mechanic's permission to go to the dealer. But I'll only have to pay 10% of the repair cost if the dealer is "in the network". Oil and gas additives are $20 copay if brand name, $10 if generic. Repair parts must be on the formulary and cosmetic attachments such as rear spoilers are not covered unless determined to be necessary for rear downforce.

Just kidding, of course... but it illustrates how crazy health insurance is compared to traditional insurance.

 

[2Fast4U]

No one on in this thread yet has posted that for the most part.... Domestic vehicles look like total crap.


True Story... My wifes cousin bought a used Nissan back in November from a Pontiac dealership used car section. When he was filling out the paper work he was speaking with one of the lady's that worked the desk. She stated and I quote, "You're making the right decision, you wouldn't believe the amount of problems our vehicles have."

 

[brianl703]

A friend of mine's brother is a tech for a combo Pontiac/Jeep dealership somewhere in Michigan.

I had him ask his brother about my mom's N-body Malibu Classic (mechanically similar to the Pontiac Grand Am) before she bought it, particularly regarding the reliability of the 4T40E transmission. His brother told him (paraphrased): "They're great cars. The Jeeps are the ones I think are pieces of junk."

 

[Bror Jace]

Keith, without having opened that link, I think bias comes into play because someone selects which comments to print and which to omit … and even asking the question contributes to the perception that the Big 3 are in a great deal of trouble … I'm not saying they aren't but this non-scientific survey is just another rain drop contributing to the flood.

I usually don’t go for these kinds of opinions … the man-on-the-street interviews, etc … A lot of dumb people out there trying to appear intelligent … but only appearing foolish to those of us that know better.

I usually don’t side too much with cousincletus on car brands, but I think he has some valid points. This is just piling on.

Yes, if given a choice most people prefer 'someone else' pays for their stuff.

kanling, that's exactly how it would work!

But, as I said in the other current “Big 3” thread, I don’t think costs is the factor most people make it out to be. People will pay extras for cars they want.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Audity]

Cousincletis makes a good point regarding the lack of national healthcare. When it happens in this country, it will be because GM, Ford, and other industrials ask for (demand) it. Then it will suddenly lose the label "socialist" and become "sound economic policy".

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Nationalize car insurance first. While we're at it, we should nationalize homeowner's /renter's insurance. Then flood insurance, malpractice insurance, extended warranties on major purchases, etc., etc. etc....

 

[1sttruck]

Quality is in some cases a moot point if you can't get the basic configuration that you want. We looked at Accords and Camrys before buying a Taurus as we needed to seat six, and wanted a bench seat up front. I also wanted a stick but the SHO was an extra $10k. A few years later we bought another Taurus for the same reason.

Also, before burying someone make sure that they're dead first:

DETROIT (Reuters February 1, 2006) - DaimlerChrysler AG (DCXGn.DE)on Wednesday said its U.S. sales rose 5 percent, to 167,934 vehicles, in January.

The world's No. 5 automaker said sales for its Mercedes brand rose 3 percent to 12,469 vehicles, while its U.S. Chrysler unit saw sales rise 5 percent to 155,465 vehicles.