The problem is the "legacy costs", and NOT the cars. Yes, we have a sh*tload of Big Thirsty Huge SUV's//// That's what SOLD! HELLO!!! They make things that SELL and make $$$. A sudden and manipulated tripling of gasoline prices and suddenly nobody wants the Navigator V8. They tell everyone how terrible it is that Detroit makes big thirsty cars that don't sell but they ignore that Nissan Armada, Toyota Tundra and all the other foreign makers sold the same jumbo type things! I drive a 46 MPG Canadian built Geo/Chevy Metro. They stopped selling despite being Cheap but super reliable (Suzuki) and surprisingly comfortable. Couldn't give em away until now, and the new Hybrids cost a fortune to get that kind of MPG.
All the "experts" that insisted gas would NEVER be less than $5.00 are now saying Detroit should die. To hell with the 2 - 3 MILLION NEW unemployed and regional DEVASTATION. Screw the pensions and the uninsured dumped into welfare and medic-aid. They are the ones who tell us unrestrained Free Trade is GREAT (for CEOs) and the USA is incapable of making anything here.
They forget that foreign companies are here making cars and the Big 3 still sell over 8 million here. NOBODY is making $$$ now, but the newcomers don't have retired workers to pay tho the wages are not far below UAW (ya never hear THAT!)
Add the artificially high exchange of the US Dollar and its as if they planned the destruction of US manufacturing base. Why is it that a Korean only needs 1/3 the income of a US worker to live a comparable lifestyle???
As to the rental car user who notes the Sebring vs Accord, did you know they are both made here? The management at Honda paid better attention to detail and I agree as far as Chrysler is concerned the quality is below what it should be, but FORD and GM are making some damned nice cars. Folks are gun shy about buying them thanks to the late 70 to early 90;s P.O.S.' s and it is ASSUMED they are still POS's. That's the hardest to overcome, as is the resale/trade-in values
I need a drink............
Tom
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