Well, the Big 3 should suffer for wasting this chance!

[R.I.D.E.]

When I tried to show them my drive design the oil imports were 120 billion a year. They weren't interested.

Almost 5 years later they say they can't afford to invest in any new technology.

For a couple of million they could prototype this design and kick Toyotas and Hondas butts for a few years until they caught up. It really is that simple.

Their real problem is the huge anchor of costs they are dragging behind them that can only have its chain cut by bankruptcy. Then everyone gets real sober about survival, jobs, and whatever security they might have left.

JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

Sorry ladies and gents, they have had many opportunities to see the future and never even gave it half a thought or looked ahead like any small business must do to insure its survival.

And thats what Congress told them after they hopped in their corporate jets, show us the beef or we keep the cash.

The interruption in their operations would not be as long as some of the strikes that contributed to this whole mess in the first place. They would need 3 months to get rid of the inventory they are already sitting on, or they could ship it to Saudi Arabia.

regards
gary

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by JESSE69

I finally found through the web about the 1993 program where the US Gov did give the Big $3 1 Billion to develop a hybrid high fuel efficiency car! They wasted their chance! And no Japanese companies could participate in the program! Now, only the Japanese have real good hybrid cars, that they developed at their own expense!

I agree, but when 3+ million people loose jobs, we will ALL suffer. gotta look at the big picture here.

[VetteOwner]

chrome is in and i welcome it, tired of seeing the same shaped cars with all painted bumpers(if u can call them that nowadays, more like rounded protrusions). i think thier trying to emphasise the "retro remakes" and styles from that era.

its probably why i like the old cars better where they had chrome trim around the windows, chrome bumpers/grilles/tailight surrounds/etc. i dont know about you but im glad thier moving away from the all grey interiors and all one color exteriors.

[R.I.D.E.]

The loss of 3 million jobs is a scare tactic pure and simple.

The Unions should buy the Auto manufacturers and institute a program of total attention to efficiency and building cars that are simple and most importantly efficient.

The new people"s car that bridges the gap between todays available technology and tomorrows future vehicle.

Powertrains can be the bridge with 80% improvements in mileage that would blow any federal mileage requirements away.

Not a $40,000 car that represents less than 1% of total production. Instead a practical $12,000 car that provides us with 45 MPG+ overall mileage, with radical changes in the components that are the cause of the majority of mechanical failures.

Options should be plug and play, easily removeable for an exchange in minutes if their is any problem.

The results would be immediate overall improvements in each families overall mileage and lower fuel costs. A message to the Cartel that we are truly serious about breaking their stranglehold on our economy.

In ten years, if the US manufacturers can get their heads out of their arses, we can resume the position of world leaders in technology.

regards
gary

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by R.I.D.E.

The Unions should buy the Auto manufacturers

I'm sure you're not the first person to say that, but that's the first time I've heard it. It sounds like a great idea if you assume that the unions are made up of people who can think further than their next paycheck, but I'd be afraid that they'd just bleed it dry and then.........ask for a bailout.

[zero_gravity]

i've always thought that the big 3 have not been listening to their customers while the asian manufactures were and stealing their business away. now its too little too late. no sympathy here other than for those losing their jobs.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I don't know. GM sold 9,369,524 vehicles in 2007, which is a statistical dead heat with Toyota (Toyota did not release exact sales figures, they just reported 9.37 million). Essentially GM and Toyota are tied for selling the most vehicles in 2007. Sounds to me like they were producing vehicles that over 9 million people wanted.

-Jay

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/g...heat-with-toy/

[R.I.D.E.]

Think back to the Airline Industry after 9-11.

We're still flying and Boeing is still building planes.

Bailouts are not a solution, unless they admit (the govt) that they created the problem. If they do that we should fire every one of them.

regards
gary

[Jay2TheRescue]

Aaaah, the airline industry. There's a lot of people like me... I don't generally fly because for me its just as fast, or faster to drive. Think about it. Take for example when I'd visit my relatives in Daytona Beach, FL. Yes a flight from Dulles airport is only about 1.5 hours, but a non stop flight is $800! I have 2 other choices. I can fly to Atlanta, and get a connection to Daytona, or I can fly nonstop to Orlando (usually about $200), rent a car, and drive to Daytona. In either of the two affordable situations by the time you get to the airport a few hours early, clear security, board, wait to takeoff, fly, wait to land, then rent a car and drive some more its just quicker & cheaper to drive. Conservatively estimating 20 MPG (I think I can do better than that now) it works out to ~40 gallons of fuel, and at $2/gal that means I can make the trip for $80 (and looking on the internet I can get gas at my favorite stops for less than that). I can make the trip driving in ~12-13 hours. That's why I always drove. Its quicker, cheaper, and I don't have to rent a car when I get down there so I save on that expense as well.

-Jay

[Rick Rae]

Originally Posted by R.I.D.E.

...bankruptcy. Then everyone gets real sober about survival, jobs, and whatever security they might have left.

JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

Sorry ladies and gents, they have had many opportunities to see the future and never even gave it half a thought or looked ahead like any small business must do to insure its survival.

Passing along what my brother has to say about the whole bailout thing.

Rick

===

Hey, here is what I want to know...

WHO BAILED OUT STUDEBAKER?
WHO BAILED OUT HUDSON?
WHO BAILED OUT KAISER?
WHO BAILED OUT NASH?

Need I go on?