The headlines shriek: "Obama blasts Detroit, Ford again." Oh please. As if Detroit and the Big Three are above reproach. Obama simply shared a memory of a dismal ride from the 1970s, a Granada.
Even if you are loyal to Ford or GM or Chrysler, you can't argue they never ever produced a dud, especially in the 1970s.
My first ride was a late 1970s Chevy Nova with cheap interior, bad radio, hideous color choices, and no sound proofing.
Obama has criticized Detroit for indulging consumer appetite for gas guzzling SUVs and large trucks. And he recently pointed out that the Japanese makers are getting ready to trounce the Americans with their well-developed fuel efficient vehicles. He is right. Toyota will soon raise the base price of their popular small cars. Take that GM.
For anyone who came up in the 1970s, the decision to build gas hogs has been unfathomable. They are wasteful and cost more to operate. Building them takes more resources but delivers the same level of function of a more fuel efficient car. They are icons of conspicuous consumption. Monuments to ego.
Obama is spot on when it comes to the Detroit Three and their pursuit of greater profit through the sale of SUVs.
If you have a memory of a domestic dud from your early driving years, feel free to share a comment.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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3 comments:
In the 1990s, Clinton wanted to boost CAFE standards but lacked any help in the Senate. As an alternative the DOE built a partnership with Detroit. They jointly funded the technology to bring about high mileage cars. Hundreds of millions were spent but in the end the corporate experts 'knew' Americans didn't want such vehicles.
So when a 'new vision' arrived in 2001 they promptly dropped out of the project. They switched to another - making the hydrogen car/economy. (And both remain many decades away) They built their gas hogs with big profit margins instead.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific the Japanese were watching. They were concerned about the project so they started their own. The result was the Toyota Prius, with over 1 million sold as of this year.
If Obama's plan to retool Detroit to the tune of $4 B comes to pass, taxpayers should be allowed special priviledges. I want to hit the boards of directors across their skulls with 2x4s, until they apologize for the stupidity.
Detroit Plays Catch-Up In Race for Hybrid Car; With Fewer Subsidies, Japan Is Ahead Jan 1, 2001
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D81338F932A35752C0A9669C8B63
obama know everything.... you should follow him to the end of the earth. He was just in Warren michigan giving a speech telling the unemployed they need to go back to school and get a 2 year degree for green jobs. Lest just give them more hope, remember that hope will not pay the bills. Green Jobs Babawaewaweaaaa oh ya a lot of green jobs just everywhere in detroit. looking in the classifieds, its all just green jobs
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