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Is it just me...

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Spinal_Tap

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Is it just me, or does anybody else see any similarities between Detroit's big 3 (or 2.8 as some say) with their financial troubles today and the demise of the British car industry a couple decades ago?

Are we about to witness the demise of the US auto industry, and if so, who will survive or emerge from it?

Cheers!
 
My prediction: GM goes through bankruptcy, losing Hummer, Buick, and GMC. They mearge with Chrysler and only keep Jeep and either Dodge or Chrysler brand.
Ford goes through bankruptcy and emerges small, maybe merges with Nissan or other suiter from China.
 
I heard on the radio that 1 in 10 American workers is connected to the Big 3, either directly or in someway. This situation will resolve somehow......
 
In the end, the British car industry had union problems, quality problems, mismanagement and lack of innovation.
Yeah, similar.
 
It is not just you, The New York Times has a long article comparing the situation to the British auto industry today.

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/business/economy/18car.html?_r=1

they also took a look at that 1 in 10 figure, which turns out to be from about 10 years ago, and they included taxi drivers, the guy who washes your car and the gas station attendant in there "who works in the auto industry" now, even if GM goes under, I am pretty sure that taxi drivers, the guy who washes your car and the gas station attendant will not be directly affected.
 
Yep, our other thread here in The Pub - Rant... - talked about that this morning.
 
I heard today that GM officers all flew to dulles airport from detroit to beg for cash.
They all flew there. The thing is is your going to beg for cash you shouldn't do it flying to the meeting in several lear G3's .
Its there corp. perk so they each took one.
lets see, I bet they cost what several millions a piece and probley cost what.. about 5,000 per hour of flight time. tickets on Northwest are about 400 coach and 700-800 max first class to DC.
They all need a reality check your broke! idiots!!!
They should all be canned.
They cant just hand these clowns cash and hope for the best like the banks.
There needs to be some acountabilty.They will #*## it away if they let them.
what a bunch of bafoons.
 
I was just posting in another thread.

536 miles from Detroit to DC in a Chevy hybrid that gets approximately 35 miles to the gallon.

20 gallons of gas at $2 per gallon = $40 AND shows you are willing to sacrifice.

Instead they fly down on their 25 million dollar jets that cost $10,000 round trip to whine about being broke.

Well duh!
 
terriphill said:
I was just posting in another thread.

536 miles from Detroit to DC in a Chevy hybrid that gets approximately 35 miles to the gallon.

20 gallons of gas at $2 per gallon = $40 AND shows you are willing to sacrifice.

Instead they fly down on their 25 million dollar jets that cost $10,000 round trip to whine about being broke.

Well duh!
Click to expand...


Ah, but if they're paying themselves a gazillion bucks/hour they save that cost... don't they? :devilgrin: :jester:
 
It can be said that using those private jets is really just a small amount of money compared to what the companies are hemmoraging at the moment. But, as one of the congressmen said, "It's like showing up at a soup kitchen in top hat and tails." I remember when Lee Iaccoca asked the government for loan guarantees for Chrysler. He had a definite plan, which these guys don't have, and he took NO SALARY until all the loans were paid off...which were before they were due. As far as I'm concerned, the execs at the big three just don't have a clue, and after their appearance in front of congress begging for money, coming in as they did with no plan whatsoever, they deserve to sink. If the government decides to loan them the money, I sure hope it's with the provision of a sound plan and complete replacement of upper management...and NO SEVERANCE PACKAGES. They should hang their head in shame for having driven some once fine corporations into the crapper.
 
I agree they realy are a worthless bunch.
They all need to be replaced.
They board needs to go to.
This should be run by a new group of people and throw out all the old ideas and start a new this should be looked at as an opertunity to retool to effecent manufacturing practices and alternative fuels.
lets face it I think it was said a pig is still a pig even in a sunday dress.
Get out of bed with the oil companies and get us the cars we need now the piston driven engine has gone about as far as it can.
Get some R and D going.
If they dont change at the core they will rott from within.
I work for #@ no we are not perfect but we are trying.
I have been in GM and ford plants and the waste and ignorance to recyle and
Lean manufacturing is just unbeliveable.
we tryed to get them to change some of there water handling and reuse and chemicals. Showed them the dollars they could save and the eco benefits . It was huge but they said no we have been doing it this way forever. Its just crazy..
They even sabatoge some areas that we were able to up date just to collect over time and save a postion. there so counter productive it sick.
 
Bankruptcy, in this case, would be a good thing. Chapter 7 would allow them to renegotiate all aspects of doing business and they may become competative again.
The Unions ruined the big three as it did the Steel industry. Too much of a good thing.
 
AND, they have somehow established that 35 mpg is something to brag about. Why don't we have acces to the super efficient diesel engined cars that the EU have? My son't diesel VW Passat 5-speed gets mid 40's easily and in comfort!
 
Think you ment chapter 11.
 
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