If Ford, GM, Dodge/Chrystler and the rest want to sell more vehicles, they need to lower the prices by about half. What blue collar working person can afford $40,000 to $70,000 for a damned vehicle? Henry Ford made it a point to make his vehicles affordable for those who made them and for most others in society. What ever happened to that concept?
They also need to increase quality. I won’t ever buy another GM product. In fact, after owning a scion 1st gen xB (225k miles on it and still runs like new), and what I’ve heard about the Camry, I’ve completely switched to being a Toyota only guy. Period.
I’m old and it’s all about reliability. When I see blatant fails on a car I’m done with the brand. I’m not an auto beta tester. I did that with a brand new 1980 Buick Skylark. I swore I wouldn’t buy another GM product I violated my rule and got a 2004 z71 silverado. The truck harkens back to the 60’s - everything breaks. And most of them are chronic problems with the truck. I’m talking failed instrument cluster, failed fan switch, failed heater output control, failed mirror motors, window motor, exhaust, can’t get the spare off, rusted through brake lines, power steering hose connector.
About the only thing that has not failed is the actual 4WD drivetrain. What crap.
Two words for you: Government mandates.
Prices are insane.
#3 My limit is $10,000 with tax. I see the sticker price and cannot believe a new car can cost the high prices they charge. My parents had a house built for $43,000!
I’m with you. Technology lowers cost and improves quality in most industries, except autos, healthcare, and education somehow. GM employs about a third of the American workers they used to, but product prices doubled??? Well if automation and global slave labor doesn’t produce a reliable inexpensive car, then build them here. Don’t see anyone bitching about the Godzilla size TV business, because benefits of automation and cheap labor are obvious.
drypowder wrote:
If Ford, GM, Dodge/Chrystler and the rest want to sell more vehicles, they need to lower the prices by about half. What blue collar working person can afford $40,000 to $70,000 for a damned vehicle? Henry Ford made it a point to make his vehicles affordable for those who made them and for most others in society. What ever happened to that concept?
I remember in 1993, I bought a Chevy S10 (5 speed!) for $14,000. yup, that’s it.
In 2007 I bought a GMC Canyon (basicaly, the S10 equivalent) for $21,000.
No maker is targeting the $15,000-20,000 range, which is why so many “millennial” are forgoing ownership for Uber/Lyft.
(BTW, I do own a F150 FX4 now, plus an older model Lexus, and even an older model Dodge Neon (5-speed)).