Economics Obama team drives imports...few American made cars... [Archive]

petegz28

02-23-2009, 08:26 AM

So our Fed Gov is tossing billions of $'s at the "Big 3" but the man's team talking stimulus and recovery has done little to support such....

WASHINGTON -- The vehicles owned by the Obama administration's auto team could reflect one reason why Detroit's Big Three automakers are in trouble: The list includes few new American cars.

Among the eight members named Friday to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and the 10 senior policy aides who will assist them in their work, two own American models. Add the Treasury Department's special adviser to the task force and the total jumps to three.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090223/AUTO01/902230327

jAZ

02-23-2009, 08:31 AM

Yes, the problem is that these guys should buy American cars. Maybe we can convince them to do so, and it will all be better.

Garcia Bronco

02-23-2009, 08:32 AM

Yes, the problem is that these guys should buy American cars. Maybe we can convince them to do so, and it will all be better.

It's called setting the example, but you have to admit it's really a reflection on the sorry nature of American made cars. Let them fail.

petegz28

02-23-2009, 08:35 AM

Yes, the problem is that these guys should buy American cars. Maybe we can convince them to do so, and it will all be better.

Well JFC, why then are we tossing billions of $'s at the Big 3? Why is it these are the very people that say we need to do such?

Quit being such a suck-ass for the Admin there, jAZ.

petegz28

02-23-2009, 08:36 AM

It's called setting the example, but you have to admit it's really a reflection on the sorry nature of American made cars. Let them fail.

I agree. But don't sit there and toss billiosn of our $'s saying how we need these companies so badly as you climb into your Saab or whatever. And since these peopel are paid with the tax $'s of Americans, including the people who work at the Big 3, it would be a nice symbolic move on their part.

J Diddy

02-23-2009, 08:36 AM

It's called setting the example, but you have to admit it's really a reflection on the sorry nature of American made cars. Let them fail.

You had me until the "let them fail"

BigRedChief

02-23-2009, 08:38 AM

WTH? Is this the flag pin issue of the year?

It's obvious they hate america.

jAZ

02-23-2009, 08:41 AM

It's called setting the example, but you have to admit it's really a reflection on the sorry nature of American made cars. Let them fail.

It's not reflective of much other than the fact that Detroit has paid little attention to the Luxury vehicle market over the years. That's not a defense of Detroit, they've failed badly in many ways.

But this is pointless "gotcha".

Oh, and if the Obama administration was spending their energy looking for economic advisors who drive American cars, or wasting the time of those people they do hire by demanding that they buy new American cars (only to have the media and people like denise demonstrate the same faux outrage that Obama's advisors didn't buy American until it was politically beneficial and look how phoney they are!!!) I'd be pissed, as should every American.

Just hire the best people and tell them to keep their head down and do the work that needs to be done.

Ultra Peanut

02-23-2009, 08:42 AM

This is just like that time Josh Lyman crashed an SUV into a Prius!

jAZ

02-23-2009, 08:43 AM

Well JFC, why then are we tossing billions of $'s at the Big 3? Why is it these are the very people that say we need to do such?

Quit being such a suck-ass for the Admin there, jAZ.

That's the stupidest thing said in a long time. You can object to the decision to bailout Detroit, but it has zero to do with what cars the advisers to Obama drive.

This is a colossally stupid thread.

Stick with objecting to the Detroit bailout on it's merits. That's a solid argument to make. This thread is pointless gotcha.

chiefforlife

02-23-2009, 08:46 AM

I agree. But don't sit there and toss billiosn of our $'s saying how we need these companies so badly as you climb into your Saab or whatever. And since these peopel are paid with the tax $'s of Americans, including the people who work at the Big 3, it would be a nice symbolic move on their part.

Saab is owned by GM.

Garcia Bronco

02-23-2009, 08:48 AM

You had me until the "let them fail"

We have to let them fail. Government proped businesses stiffles innovation. That innovation can include but not limited to design, financial practices, and management. I know what it means to let them fail from a supply chain perspective as well as their direct employees, but the truth is they will continue to be a failure under current business practices and managment. The longer we prop them up, the more we are enabling and encouraging their bad business behavior.

MagicHef

02-23-2009, 08:49 AM

Some of them don't even own cars! How can you be on an auto team if you don't own a car?

chiefforlife

02-23-2009, 08:50 AM

A lot of Honda's, Toyota's and Subaru's are made in the US. Volvo is owned by Ford and Saab is owned by GM. This is stupid.

HonestChieffan

02-23-2009, 08:54 AM

Its only patriotic when Republicans pay taxes and now we see only republicans need to buy American as well.

Change we should have seen coming.

aturnis

02-23-2009, 08:55 AM

So our Fed Gov is tossing billions of $'s at the "Big 3" but the man's team talking stimulus and recovery has done little to support such....

Yes, let's show the nation we are patriotic by buying inferior products just so we look good to the American people. Or...buy the better product and hope the domestic manufacturer's get the message.

I just think this is something completely ridiculous to bring up. You want me to buy your American made car? FUCKING BUILD A BETTER CAR!

Not to mention that the foreign cars sold here in the U.S. probably have more parts made in the U.S. than their Domestic counterparts.

Right out of h.s., while attending college, I had a job at a furniture store. Some of the furniture had "Made In America" stickers on it. Made in America meant, that the wood was taken from America, sent to China on huge cargo ships, cut to exact sizes, shipped back, and assembled. FUCK THAT! If that's what their trying to pass off as "Made In America", I ain't buying.

aturnis

02-23-2009, 09:09 AM

Here's a link (http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-03-21-car-content-chart_N.htm) to what car's, and what percentage of those cars are built in America. Which cars are Obama's team driving?

mlyonsd

02-23-2009, 09:28 AM

I just think this is something completely ridiculous to bring up. You want me to buy your American made car? ****ING BUILD A BETTER CAR!

This post is amplifies what is wrong with Detroit. Their message is not being heard.

The Ford Fusion beat both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in Consumer Reports relibaility tests last year. The Buick Lucerne beat the Toyota Avalon in the large car class.

Detroit heard the message and has changed. It's the consumer that's not paying attention.

Simplex3

02-23-2009, 09:29 AM

It's just like taxes. You should pay taxes and you should buy from the Big 3. Us? Err, not so much.

jAZ

02-23-2009, 09:35 AM

This post is amplifies what is wrong with Detroit. Their message is not being heard.

The Ford Fusion beat both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in Consumer Reports relibaility tests last year. The Buick Lucerne beat the Toyota Avalon in the large car class.

Detroit heard the message and has changed. It's the consumer that's not paying attention.

Branding takes time. That's for sure.

What doesn't help is that the "Detroit heard... we are winning awards... the public doesn't listen" is something we've heard again and again over the years.

But if you have to keep say "THIS TIME, we did change!"... it loses it's effectiveness.

jAZ

02-23-2009, 09:36 AM

You should pay taxes and you should buy from the Big 3.
Who said this?

Iowanian

02-23-2009, 09:40 AM

"Buy Green, electric, fuel efficient cars!!!" [/driving away in Hummer]

Brock

02-23-2009, 09:42 AM

King_Chief_Fan

02-23-2009, 09:42 AM

jAZ

02-23-2009, 10:28 AM

Somewhat true, but their product mix is still all screwed up.

It says a lot that a whole new brand like Psion can come in and fill a niche like it did, with no legacy reputation at all. And that Hyundai has established itself so effectively over the least several years as a relatively reputable manufacturer who's quality has improved dramatically.

And US auto makers have help pat for decades up to now.

Simplex3

02-23-2009, 10:32 AM

Who said this?

So you agree with Harry Reid that I don't have to pay taxes? Sweet. There aren't any government funded programs propping up the Big 3? No "Buy American" programs?

jAZ

02-23-2009, 10:35 AM

So you agree with Harry Reid that I don't have to pay taxes? Sweet. There aren't any government funded programs propping up the Big 3? No "Buy American" programs?

Is this your way of refusing to answer my question?

jAZ

02-23-2009, 10:40 AM

What doesn't help is that the "Detroit heard... we are winning awards... the public doesn't listen" is something we've heard again and again over the years.

But if you have to keep say "THIS TIME, we did change!"... it loses it's effectiveness.

My first "good car" was a used 1990 Geo Prizm. I got it in 1992 I believe... for $6000. It went 115 MPH and got 35-45 MPG on the highway. It was fun to drive and inexpensive to maintain.

I've always wondered why they did away with such a high quality car, rather than follow the Hyundai path which was to improve the luxury, image and price over time.

This thread got me checking...

http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/201284?articleid=201284

The Geo Prizm based on the Toyota Corolla Sprinter is one of the more known vehicles having won various awards in its credit. The list accolades include being named the Consumers’ Digest Best Buy. What brings its ultimate demise is the passive marketing ploy by Chevrolet. Since the Prizm has joined the Chevrolet line in 1997, and the Chevrolet Cavalier is on the same class, it faced a competition from within, and the Chevrolet marketing scheme of putting the Cavalier on top of the Prizm led to the waning interest on the brand though it is of higher quality than the Cavalier.

Simplex3

02-23-2009, 10:42 AM

Is this your way of refusing to answer my question?

Your question made no more sense than the statement that prompted it.

aturnis

02-23-2009, 10:47 AM

"Buy Green, electric, fuel efficient cars!!!" [/driving away in Hummer]

Beings they all drive foreign cars...I'm guessing their probably fuel efficient Toyota's and Honda's. Which both of their companies most popular models have large numbers made in America.

MagicHef

02-23-2009, 10:52 AM

My first "good car" was a used 1990 Geo Prizm. I got it in 1992 I believe... for $6000. It went 115 MPH and got 35-45 MPG on the highway. It was fun to drive and inexpensive to maintain.

I've always wondered why they did away with such a high quality car, rather than follow the Hyundai path which was to improve the luxury, image and price over time.

This thread got me checking...

http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/201284?articleid=201284

The Geo Prizm based on the Toyota Corolla Sprinter is one of the more known vehicles having won various awards in its credit. The list accolades include being named the Consumers’ Digest Best Buy. What brings its ultimate demise is the passive marketing ploy by Chevrolet. Since the Prizm has joined the Chevrolet line in 1997, and the Chevrolet Cavalier is on the same class, it faced a competition from within, and the Chevrolet marketing scheme of putting the Cavalier on top of the Prizm led to the waning interest on the brand though it is of higher quality than the Cavalier.

It says something when one of the best cars you sell is one that you re-branded from another company.

aturnis

02-23-2009, 10:52 AM

This post is amplifies what is wrong with Detroit. Their message is not being heard.

The Ford Fusion beat both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in Consumer Reports relibaility tests last year. The Buick Lucerne beat the Toyota Avalon in the large car class.

Detroit heard the message and has changed. It's the consumer that's not paying attention.

I just check consumer reports "best in class" for new cars. Only "American label" I saw was the Chevy Avalanche. That was in the SUV's, wagon's and pickup's category.

There is a reliability link that won't come up. Is there somewhere else I could look at this?

Simplex3

02-23-2009, 10:55 AM

The Ford Fusion beat both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in Consumer Reports relibaility tests last year. The Buick Lucerne beat the Toyota Avalon in the large car class.

Was that actual reliability or projected?

Also, it would be interesting to see how often CR hits their projected reliability numbers.

aturnis

02-23-2009, 10:55 AM

There is a reliability link that won't come up. Is there somewhere else I could look at this?

There is a link description below the link to new car reliability ratings. The description says "Gas-saving models lead in reliability". In my mind, that would mean mostly foreign cars, with a few from the big three sprinkled in.

jAZ

02-23-2009, 11:01 AM

It says something when one of the best cars you sell is one that you re-branded from another company.

In reading around, that's not all the uncommon. And it's basically how Microsoft built it's empire, so it's not an unworkable model. Buy up the innovators and milk their resulting cash cow. Still employs American workers and keeps profits here in the US.

MagicHef

02-23-2009, 11:25 AM

In reading around, that's not all the uncommon. And it's basically how Microsoft built it's empire, so it's not an unworkable model. Buy up the innovators and milk their resulting cash cow. Still employs American workers and keeps profits here in the US.

Well, GM certainly did not buy up Toyota, and since the Prizm was assembled at the same facility in Fremont, California that the Corolla was already being made, I'm not sure it changed much for American workers. Also, since the cars were more or less purchased from Toyota, I'm guessing that about the same amount of profits ended up leaving the US. It did give GM a quality car to sell, which they later decided to compete against with their own, lower quality car.

SNR

02-23-2009, 12:09 PM

I wouldn't drive the shit that American car companies are shoveling down my throat, either. They all suck.

Ultra Peanut

02-24-2009, 06:52 AM

BigRedChief

02-24-2009, 07:03 AM

I wouldn't drive the shit that American car companies are shoveling down my throat, either. They all suck.
My last 2 cars were:
Ford Explorer
Saturn
Ford Mustang

I've been very happy with each one and have had no mechanical or hardware issues with them.