Do You Agree? LA Times Blame Big 3 Problems On Unfair Foreign Competiton!

At the end of the day, the lackluster products the Big Three produced for decades are the true source of their problems. Too many oblivious executives and greedy unions certainly contributed as well.

Product product product!!! Was the government to blame even when they were doing well and selling well? They coasted through that stage, kicked back their feet instead of striving to improve, thinking us dumb Americans wouldn't notice while they hid behind the American flag. WRONG!!!

"Shame, really. But the facts are the facts. The bar keeps moving and Ford, Chrysler and General Motors are forever in catch-up mode. Have been since the first muscle car era became the first energy crisis. Hate to be the one to say it out loud, but Detroit remains a lap down....And if the members of the automotive press actually voted with their dollars instead of writing with their hearts, they would all be driving something from Japan or Germany. Well, the smart ones would anyway. The ones who don't live in Detroit."

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2008/09/detroits-big-problem-its-cars-are-never-the-best.html

Well, if you know that the system is not fair, then get on board...

You have to make good cars in order to sale. The number one selling vehicle in the U.S. is a pickup truck (f150). The rest of the cars Ford makes look like sh**. I am kinda feeling the new Lincoln MKX. I like Caddies and Vettes and I used to love Mustangs. Most people probably agree with me...thats only a few vehicles that are appealing out of the many that are produced

What happened was the rest of the auto industry caught up to them and they didn't prepare properly. When Toyota and Honda were researching and developing hybrids back in the 90's, the Big 3 were still pumping out big SUVs and cheaply built sedans that all went to pumping up their bottom line. And it did. But by doing so they got caught seriously off gaurd by the imports and now they're paying for it. I will say that GM finally figured this out and they're best positioned to get out of this mess they got themselves into. Ford and Chrysler are another story.

Up until recently(say in the last 7 or 8 yrs),the big 3 have been reactive rather then proactive. Although I cannot blame Chyrsler directly as it was owned by Mercedes.One problem that has persisted through the 70's fuel crises was the persistence on making big vehicles. The big 3 had a golden oppurtunity from the gas crises to really set out to develop fuel efficient vehicles.They did not. The Japanese have always made their money on the other end of the market(small vehicles) and only in the last 10-15 yrs ventured into the larger vehicle market. In my opinion I think Toyota has ventured too far.But this is the Big 3 mistake. The other is protectionism to foreign car makers in the US and the rest of what this article said.The combination has been near lethal.

What a typical response from the "Big Three" = unfair competition.

Ok, Mr. Roby, what are these "fair rules" that Washington should lay out for your numbskulls to get back on track...let me guess, low interest loans and bailouts from the taxpayers? Furthermore, the Big 3 has known about these legacy and medical costs for years, it's not like they just sprung up one day out of the blue.

Ok , lets put health care as a liability to the taxpayers like the Japanese doo

Didn't Chrysler get bailed out by our tax dollars? Isn't that government help?

First off, Chrysler, at that time led by Lee Iacoca, was 'bailed out' by the govt in the form of a large,(I believe 1 billion dollars at the time), LOAN. Not a 'bail out gift' They used it wisely and, thanks to the minivan they invented, paid the govt back, with interest, in less than 5 years. I believe they were given 10yrs to pay it back. So, yes they were helped, but not subsidized. Like other govt's do for there respective auto industries. (ie; Japan, Germany, China, etc). Not to mention that many of these countries still impose much greater tariffs and fees on car imports that result in the imported vehicles being much more expensive to own than there homegrown vehicles. The US has never reciprocated with the same level of tariffs against imports, thus, with the subsidies the import govt's provide to the homegrown car industries to help keep there exported product prices artificially low, and the low tariffs we charge for what they import to us, plus the fact that many of these 'imports' are very, very good vehicles; there market share here as continue to grow and grow every year. Thus we come to the real issue as to why the 'American' car companies have continued to falter; (here it is. in all it's capitalistic glory):: The real issue is; Profit is more important than product or loyalty. Profit is why the Americans companies have never allowed themselves to build a truly great small car. They could have. The deisgners and engineers wanted to. But the bean counters had to be sure It would be somewhat profitable. So the interiors were always just not quite as nice. the drivetrains not quite as smooth. The fit and finish not quite as good. Less standard or even available features than the imports. The suspensions not quite as taut. So, to this day, there really is not a homegrown small car sold by an American car company that is as nice or desirable as a Civic or a corolla. They are reliable and economical,(heck Ford has the highest Customer Satisfaction rating as far as reliability goes in the industry. Higher than Toyota!) But many American cars continue to fall short on that 'IT Factor' that the imports continue to hit, time after time. Throw in the fact that the imports continue to be, for the mosr part, very good cars; the loyalty factor comes into play and the repeat business numbers they generate far exceeds the American brands. Along with the avoidance by the American co's to realize, at least until the last 5-7 years, that they too had to build vehicles for a world market, not just the American market. They are only now, Saturn being the shining example of this, truly utilizing the vast resource for good vehicles that GM and Ford have available to them outside of the US. The imports have for years, with a few exceptions, built there vehicles to be sold all over the world. I could go on, but it's late and I'm tired.
Later.

Holy effing PARAGRAPH Batman!

Poor is the man who hides behind his shortcomings by blaming others, Ayn Rand.
This seems to be the mantra of the Republicans and 90% of the US, lately blame everybody else but be very afraid to look in the mirror,Palins the biggest Hypocrit,joke in the US.

Asshat 76 i am an independent,so back in your trailer and go back to making kids with your cousin.

I live in L.A. County so what does a liberal rag L.A. Times know about the car business. They know the newspaper business and they are losing market share and customers faster then anything!! They can't even make what they are suppose to be good at profitable! They're going in the RED! So, maybe they should quit craming there anti-american car business propaganda own our throats!