SpoiledMan
New member
Tasty said:
Er uhm, the Accord Hybrids come from Japan.:secret
Rumors of GM buying Chrysler group
- Thread starter TigerMike
- Start date
Er uhm, the Accord Hybrids come from Japan.:secret
I think its a little silly to be talking about supporting American by supporting domestics. We've all already stated the reasons for that... not to mention that all the domestics are pretty heavily invested overseas and collaborate regularly with foreign companies.
It's as silly as the whole "terror-free oil" nonsense. No such thing exists, everyone is mutually dependent. Supporting terrorism? Nearly everything we do "supports terrorism."
It's as silly as the whole "terror-free oil" nonsense. No such thing exists, everyone is mutually dependent. Supporting terrorism? Nearly everything we do "supports terrorism."
Picus said:
But it is ok to buy that Mexican made Ford Fusion because "the profits come back here." Crazyness. It ticks me off how many people will buy a "domestic" car, which there is no such thing as a 100% made in the US car, but sit in their Korean made recliner and watch TV on their Japanese television, while they burn their China made light bulbs, and then go sit down at their Taiwan made kitchen table and eat while wearing their Malaysia made clothes. It's so hypocritical it sickens me that people think the way they do.
imported_Larry A
New member
Are American car companys that make a lot of there care overseas, supporting our troops? If they made more cars here then there would more jobs for soldiers when they come home. Car companys complain about pensons. Dont you think that when you spend all your life working for a company, that the company owes you something. The customer is number one but the employees are number two, and the companys should realize this. How many cars could Henry Ford build without employees? How important are the big shots that make big bonuses? How many fenders did they put on?
You want to know what "supports the troops"? Paying your taxes, which is what companies do by making more profits. I think labeling companies as unpatriotic/patriotic is also pretty silly.
Soldiers already have jobs; they're either full-time soldiers, or weekend warriors (reserve soldiers). The draft isn't in effect so its not like we have a mass exodus of the average joe worker who will lose his/her job once they get back here.
Besides, the purpose of a business isn't to serve as some type of "job charity." Their purpose is to make money, pure and simple. It sounds harsh, but really, that's what it is about.
Soldiers already have jobs; they're either full-time soldiers, or weekend warriors (reserve soldiers). The draft isn't in effect so its not like we have a mass exodus of the average joe worker who will lose his/her job once they get back here.
Besides, the purpose of a business isn't to serve as some type of "job charity." Their purpose is to make money, pure and simple. It sounds harsh, but really, that's what it is about.
More updates:
Private equity firms eyeing Chrysler
NEW YORK (Reuters) - At least four private equity groups have been in preliminary talks with DaimlerChrysler AG about buying Chrysler, the Financial Times reported on Friday on its website.
Apollo Management LP, the Blackstone Group, the Carlyle Group, and Cerberus Capital Management LP, as well as several European firms, were contacted about their potential interest in buying the company's loss-making U.S. arm, the paper said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The buyout firms were contacted before last week's announcement by DaimlerChrysler that "all options are on the table" for the unit, the paper said, adding that the discussions continued after the announcement.
In New York Apollo, Blackstone, Carlyle and Cerberus could not immediately be reached.
Private equity firms eyeing Chrysler
NEW YORK (Reuters) - At least four private equity groups have been in preliminary talks with DaimlerChrysler AG about buying Chrysler, the Financial Times reported on Friday on its website.
Apollo Management LP, the Blackstone Group, the Carlyle Group, and Cerberus Capital Management LP, as well as several European firms, were contacted about their potential interest in buying the company's loss-making U.S. arm, the paper said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The buyout firms were contacted before last week's announcement by DaimlerChrysler that "all options are on the table" for the unit, the paper said, adding that the discussions continued after the announcement.
In New York Apollo, Blackstone, Carlyle and Cerberus could not immediately be reached.
Yeah, seems like private equity would make more sense than GM pursuing the deal. Everyone knows GM already has its woes to deal with and I can't realistically imagine they would want to compound it with Chrysler's troubles too. Seems like maybe a private group could be a better option, and if they can turn it around, then re-IPO the thing.
I too work in the auto industry and have some observations.
Firstly, that darling of the media, "Toyota" has plenty of quality problems and recall issues of their own. In 2006, they recalled more cars than they sold here. Some think Toyota has grown too quickly to keep an eye on quality.
GM's problems run deeper than product line. GM currently has the highest cost per vehicle built of the makers. Almost $2000 of every vehicle they make goes to health care costs, They are also heavily laden with costs associated to pensions and the like.
Jurgen Schremp (SP?) set up the whole buyout, I mean, merger of Chrysler with Benz. It has been mismanaged from day one. The end of last year as sales slowed, they kept production up..and pushed the cars into "Sales banks". This is an old term for building cars that have no buyers. Then they had to give thousands on each one of them to get dealers to take them.
As fas as GM buying Chrysler. It makes sense is some ways. It would give GM the ability to make an H4 off the Wrangler platform, and give them plants to build rear drive cars that are in the works. They could also get the minivan lines, and other cherry picked vehicles and distribute them through the existing lines.
The problems? Well, for starters, there will be a bloodbath with layoffs and firings due to redundancy. Next, there will be too many dealers...so lots of dealers will have to be bought out which will cost a mint. GM should remember this from the Oldsmobile dealings.
About quality. That is a subjective term. Some say that because Motor Trend made it Car or Truck Of The Year...it must be good. Well, the Vega, Omni, Volare, Alliance, and Mustang 2 are among previous year winners. Does that tell you how much that accolade is worth? I have owned both Japanese and domestics, and can honestly report the neither was really better than the other. I had a Mitsubishi (Dodge Stealth) that was a complete piece of crap.
Firstly, that darling of the media, "Toyota" has plenty of quality problems and recall issues of their own. In 2006, they recalled more cars than they sold here. Some think Toyota has grown too quickly to keep an eye on quality.
GM's problems run deeper than product line. GM currently has the highest cost per vehicle built of the makers. Almost $2000 of every vehicle they make goes to health care costs, They are also heavily laden with costs associated to pensions and the like.
Jurgen Schremp (SP?) set up the whole buyout, I mean, merger of Chrysler with Benz. It has been mismanaged from day one. The end of last year as sales slowed, they kept production up..and pushed the cars into "Sales banks". This is an old term for building cars that have no buyers. Then they had to give thousands on each one of them to get dealers to take them.
As fas as GM buying Chrysler. It makes sense is some ways. It would give GM the ability to make an H4 off the Wrangler platform, and give them plants to build rear drive cars that are in the works. They could also get the minivan lines, and other cherry picked vehicles and distribute them through the existing lines.
The problems? Well, for starters, there will be a bloodbath with layoffs and firings due to redundancy. Next, there will be too many dealers...so lots of dealers will have to be bought out which will cost a mint. GM should remember this from the Oldsmobile dealings.
About quality. That is a subjective term. Some say that because Motor Trend made it Car or Truck Of The Year...it must be good. Well, the Vega, Omni, Volare, Alliance, and Mustang 2 are among previous year winners. Does that tell you how much that accolade is worth? I have owned both Japanese and domestics, and can honestly report the neither was really better than the other. I had a Mitsubishi (Dodge Stealth) that was a complete piece of crap.
It is important to remember where the profits go. Regardless of where the car is made, the big two retain profits right here in the states. Moreover, the number of Americans employed by the Big 2.5 (both directly and with suppliers, dealers etc.) dwarfs the number employed by all the rest. Finally, never forget the contribution of the American auto industry in World War II. Ross Perot once stated, "If America no longer produces steel, what are we going to fight the next war with? Spitballs?"
If you want to buy a foreign auto, enjoy it. Just be thankful some of us try to practice a little economic nationalism. Again, as someone said, being the only nation in the world that believes in free trade is like being the only woman in town that believes in free love.
If you want to buy a foreign auto, enjoy it. Just be thankful some of us try to practice a little economic nationalism. Again, as someone said, being the only nation in the world that believes in free trade is like being the only woman in town that believes in free love.
imported_Picus
New member
There is no such thing as economic nationalism in North America.
slawinlaw said:
This is what I can not stand. "It is important to remember where the profits go." The profits that line the pockets of the big wigs? What is more important? Supporting the big wigs of companies or supporting the workers who build them? You would rather buy a car from the Detroit 3 built in Mexico with 90% Mexican parts than by a Honda made in Ohio with 98% US parts? Makes no sense to me at all. Some of you need to read a book on Global Economy I think.
Show me proof that the Detroit 3 uses more US suppliers than Toyota and Honda and the rest of the "imports".
I've said this 100 times already. I have family that works for US Steel in Ecorse, MI. In 2006 the car and truck of the year was a Honda Civic and Honda Ridgeline. Where did the steel come from to build those two vehicles? US Steel! Where did the steel come from to build cars for the Detroit 3? China?
Since you are so hard up to support "American" companies...Do us a favor and show us a list of items in your house and where it was made. Everything from your cooking utensils to your TV and computer and computer components.