The Quagmire Ahead (GM)

New York Times ^ | June 1, 2009 | David Brooks

[freekitty]

Also, I am sure they have much improved as I remember one of Toyotos first cars, can’t remember the model name was nothing but chicken wire put together along with the engine. If you had a screw driver; you could lift up the hood and stick it in the automatic choke and then start the car. Otherwise you were out of luck. It also didn’t stay in gear as you never knew when you came out of a store where you were going to find it parked as you left it or would it be in the street?

[Steel Wolf]

I disagree that it would be "politically suicidal" for the Republicans to allow a real GM bankruptcy if they ever return to power.

Yeah, Republicans wouldn't want to lose those precious swing votes from the UAW.

Oh, wait...

[Rummyfan]

The U.S. government will own most of G.M. It would be politically suicidal for the Democrats, or whoever is in power, to pull the plug on the company — now or ever.

This is going to be a money-sucking venture like we've never seen before.

[hopespringseternal]

Republicans have a lot of work to do in undoing the damage being done, and not just by Obama. The last few years of Republican rule did a lot of damage too.

The problem is that in spite of all the rhetoric, most of them still believe they need to chuck principle to stay electd.

[omni-scientist]

When they should have hit the RESET button on GM, they used that OVERCHARGE one again.

[IamConservative]

Why?

Preference, power, economy, reliability and ability to make/run biodiesel.

[SoothingDave]

A V4?

[Tallguy]

G.M.’s core problem is its corporate and workplace culture...

If I had a nickel for every time some 'analyst' pointed to 'corporate culture' I'd be set for life.

Seriously, if David Brooks thinks that this is the core problem, then Obama's takeover was the correct thing to do -- and we already know that Obama will fail in his attempted remake of the auto industry.

Dave Brooks needs to think some more.

[mort56]

G.M.’s core problem is its corporate and workplace culture — the unquantifiable but essential attitudes, mind-sets and relationship patterns that are passed down, year after year

Mr. Brooks just nailed it. This is exactly the reason the New York Time is circling the drain

[Tallguy]

I could never see the advantage in going with a V6 over a V8. Maybe it’s the way I drive, but I could never realize a significant enough improvement in gas mileage. And then there’s the trade-off in power... Maybe if the cars were significantly lighter the V6 would have made sense... but then I’m not a fan of rolling beer cans.

[SatinDoll]

Isn’t it nice to able to work on your own vehicle?

I’ve kept the 240Z because I know how to tune-up the engine and change out parts - it is not a complicated machine to maintain - and is my “Garage Queen”. No more snow and ice for Spunky either, though Zs are a super winter driving car. Put four studded snow tires on and it tracks through snow like a kitty cat!

[philled]

Speaking of Mustangs, well I used to have a 1966 Mustang but it is really lousy on snow and ice, whereas my Datsun 240Z (1972) was a real cat with claws on snow and ice.

I went the other way. I replaced my 1966 Mustang with a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. It had a 383 in the front and nothing in the back. Barracuda was a perfect name for a car that would fishtail when ever there was even a chance of rain or snow!

[seatrout]

I think it was the Toyopet, Toyota's first ill-fated attempt (late 50s IIRC) at penetrating the US market. It went over like a lead balloon, and cost Toyota much goodwill. Ten years later, the Corona would get that goodwill back.

[freekitty]

ROTFLOL. I can see why and it was the Corona that was the bad car, or atleast the one I drove or tried to try.