Posted on 01/24/2007 5:37:16 PM PST by Flavius
So since #1 car manufacturer Toyota also builds hideous, bubbly cars,in my opinion, one can assume the only loyalty is in years of reliable service or perception of that track record.
Since parts are virtually from same suppliers for all car manufacturers, then it can be the no hassle repair/quality customer service that builds brand loyalty.
Lastly, for foreign cars there are no union dues on a car, which I guess is $1500 premium per USA vehicle.
UNION workers and pension plans.
Ford of Michigan or Ford of Tennesse? :)
Sounds like they're not feeling very GAY over at Ford.
and for this they were paying $900,000 per year for Mark Fields to commute to Miami on weekends?
http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/18/news/companies/fields_flights/?postversion=2007011814
Although there are Ford brands- Jag and Land Rover.
well i was trying to focus on plastic on rubber wheels that passes for "trucks" these days
You also pay somewhat more than $500 per vehicle for the insurance premium that the manufacturer has to carry in the USA.
Ford will collapse. Someone else will buy the plant up and continue producing cars... this time without having to support the ridiculous union compensation levels and after firing all the managers that brought the company to this pass. The govt will end up carrying the weight of the ridiculous pensions.
Until ford can bulid a full size pick up worth a dam i will keep buying toyotas every ten years and worry only about gas tires and oil
the jag looks like ford Taurus with 20 cent more expensive head lights
i just cannot believe that in a country as creative as United States
the car industry relies on old ceo's old accountants to make designs decisions
its really a crime, i know there are probably thousand of talented kids that are not allowed to create
that part is management fault as well,
off course all in my opinion
The govt will end up carrying the weight of the ridiculous pensions.= You and me
I figured that the brighter people here would understand that without having to explain it. Thanks for helping the others out.
Ford will survive. No Ford fan I, but the family still has enough money and borrowing power to survive as a smaller maker. Why Mercury ? Why this stupid pig they're trying to pass off as a Lincoln SUV ? Gad.
Well, Ford is still better than the NY Times.
Boeing turned it around, so can GM and Ford.
ahm well yes shredded paper absorbs much more then shredded car
Chrysler's second nearest bankruptcy came as a result of their designs in the late forties/early fifties. They did extensive surveys about what customers wanted. Looks was far down the list. Chrysler designed the boxy cars that people said they wanted and got laughed at for their efforts.
Maybe Toyota just builds cars that people will buy. Seems to work for them. Buyers like to think about "style" and performance but many buy on price and reliability.
Per news reports also out today, the UAW is in negotiations for the union to assume retiree health benefits, which could potentially save $1000+ per vehicle.
We'll see if it happens, but if it does, it would almost guarantee to save the companies and the taxpayers $$$, as the savings could be greater than the per vehicle losses the companies are currently seeing.
I guess putting all that time and energy into engineering a reliable, attractive, affordable product didn't seem necessary.
And then there's the unions.
Well it was for the trolls and and lurkers from du and for Sean Hannity he he he
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