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I don't want to take the time to check the specs now, but I'm thinking that the interior dimensions of the '92 Civic were probably similar to the "baby Benz." One major difference, though, is FWD vs. RWD. The other major difference was that the Civic was reliable whereas the 190, from everything I've read, was troublesome. Yet, I still see 190s being driven, so some people must like them enough to repair and maintain them.
In terms of styling, the Civic was nicely styled, but I liked the 190 even more, and still do.
BTW, my daughter just traded her Versa for a new Subaru XV Crosstrek, Premium model. We discussed her trading a while back....
Those 92+ Civics were probably over-engineered a bit, as they were able to take a lot of abuse and keep going. I see some really rough ones still moving along. The 190 is 30 years old now, it has aged well, looking better than it did 10 years ago when it was just looking old.
I think a lot of its shortcomings are simply a by-product of the fact that, despite the more modern sheetmetal, it's still a 1979 design.
FWIW, one of my grandmother's friends used to complain about Grandmom's '85 LeSabre, that the passenger seat was too low. And, it was. Plus, the floor was raised up a bit to accommodate the catalytic converter. The driver's seat was good, as it had a ton of adjustments on it to get into a good position, but the passenger seat just had manual fore/aft and oddly, a power recline button
I chatted briefly with a guy who pulled up in a manual 190D at Mc Donald's a couple of years ago. Don't remember if it was a 2.2 or a more recent 2.5, but he was the original owner of this low mileage example, and he really liked it. Unlike the one near my home, which has a dent in the left rear quarter panel, the one at Mc Donalds seemed well cared for.
My dad had (I think) a 1984 white Buick Electra Park Avenue, and sitting in the front passenger seat it felt like you were sitting on a thin cushion on the floor. He couldn't ride in the passenger seat for more than 100 miles at highway speed without havingbtomfet out and stretch his legs for a couple of minutes.
However, the latest measure won't help the company meet potential demand over the coming months, the top executive said.
The car maker has been working on improving its supply of vehicles in recent years. Its U.S. inventories increased to a 40-day supply from 18 days at the end of 2011, but still well below the U.S. car industry average of around 60 days."
America Is Running Out of Subarus (Wall St. Journal)
Not always true, but I think a fair number of Ford models I've driven have a less than optimal interrelationship between the A pillar, dash and firewall. It ends up making them feel a bit more cramped than many GM models, particularly if you are tall. But then, Toyota generally has such tight headroom that it's often tough for a six footer to drive one with a sunroof without severely reclining your seat back like a banger (and it certainly ain't a banger type of car!). I guess they figure the oldtimers are shrinking or something.
Did anyone starve here while the one store here (of many it was a big retailer) was bought, shut down for a few weeks, changed the name? Don't think so. People just shopped other stores.
Kinda like I dunno......Fiat buying Chrysler. As I stated we don't HAVE to drive but we have to eat.
And other car companies would have been happy to supply more cars if GM couldn't. But they were "to big to fail" so we will never know.
The past several cars we've bought have been Toyota and Honda products since we all thought we were buying good quality, high reliability vehicles. But it sure seems like the domestics are closing the gap there. We rent a lot of cars and generally the domestics have more comfortable seating and quieter rides, so I think we'll seriously consider going back to them on our next purchase. Then again, maybe the younger generation has it right - cars as a commodity. Maybe it's best these days to narrow down what you like and then buy whichever one is cheapest or has the lowest projected total cost of ownership.
I'm wondering if Japan is becoming the new "old" Detroit???
The South survived the Civil War, too, but its hard to find anyone educated in the subject that would suggest the war was the ideal solution to resolving the issues of the day.
The most destructive solution is rarely the ideal, most beneficial solution to a problem, even though some may benefit in such a circumstance (the "carpetbaggers" that moved into the South after the war, for example).
Yes, others may have benefited from a GM bankruptcy, but in an unusual twist, Ford was out there encouraging GM's bailout, because they knew what the common suppliers would experience from a landscape where GM was no longer a player.
I doubt anyone could find any politician wielding enough power to actually influence the GM bailout directly that would have put his/her political career on the line by doing nothing to save GM.
Cover of Automobile Magazine, ten best cars for 2013--Camaro ZL-1 is on the list.
Ill be the first one to say I'm no expert on the bailout details, but IIRC, the UAW took a significant hit in wages and benefits.
I don't see myself as having a dog in this hunt, but on the surface, I'd say the UAW got more than a minor trim in the deal... At least, compared to where it was pre-bankruptcy. Maybe more needs to be cut, I really can't say one way or the other.
Was it "fair and balanced" to all parties concerned? Probably not, especially from each individual faction's perspective. In a bankruptcy, someone always loses more than others.
Just my opinion...
The idea of lower starting wages had been in place for NEW HIRES ONLY for years. My neighbor, and his now exwife, both started working at a UAW auto-related plant at the lower wages 15 years ago. After a couple short years, the work was moved to Mexico. They both were dropped since they chose not to move to another plant in the deep South to retain jobs.
The UAW gained because they did not lose their contract rights and have to renegotiate. Instead they have substantial ownership in the company, so there will never be any way of getting rid of the UAW from the GM plants.
Various things happened to give value to others rather than bond holders as would occur in the usual bankruptcy.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I believe because UAW did not take a pay cut but rather only the new employees got the pay cut, they gained because they now own part of the company. The high seniority workers, who are the brunt of the usual, deserved jokes, still get their wages.
>because you can bet the transplants weren't going to take over plants in the heart of UAW territory
Right on. Even the Honda plant built in Indiana near Columbus a few years back was allowed by then governor Daniels to carve out which counties from where they would employ a given percentage of workers. They included Indianapolis' county but not the closer county area around Anderson. Anderson had been the site of many UAW plants supplying GM in the past. They did not want any possibility of a pro-union worker getting into Hondai.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If the bondholders didn't want to take the deal and thought they had the bankruptcy law on their side, they could appeal the court decision. They didn't - more money after bad.
Bush set it up so Obama could procede as he chose since he had "won" the election. BO blamed everything else, even IRS scandals now, on Bush. But can't get by with this one.
Also on a political theme, the misuse of the banktupcy method by BO giving advantage to the UAW was payback to the UAW for their hard work and big money contributions, above board and hidden, to support his campaign.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Car Sales Expected to Get Back on Track in May
Incentive spending is up. Audi is selling the fastest, Mitsubishi cars sit the longest.
Consumers in the US are gobbling up Subaru models, a trend that may result in dealer shortages if the Japanese automaker isn't able to meet the surging demand. A quick look at the numbers reveals a 25.2 percent year-over-year jump in April US sales, and a 17-percent gain for the first quarter of 2013. The sales are so strong that the company's CEO, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, told the Wall Street Journal that Subaru will exceed its 2016 goals (380,000 US units sold) by the end of the company's current business year. The US market has grown to be one of Subaru's best, with the company now logging about half its global sales on our shores.
A good problem to have, but not one that I would strive for...
On a side note, the Forester has taken off very well in New England. I covered a good amount of miles over the weekend and I saw countless new models in my travels. Quite a few BRZ models as well. :shades:
Chrysler Posts 11% Rise in U.S. Sales (wsj.com)
A huge value proposition, solid fuel efficiency, near-luxury ride, and pretty sheetmetal make the Kia our near-unanimous choice for first place.
2nd place: Chevrolet Impala
Despite a few flaws, the Impala offers a well-thought-out package at a reasonable cost. This is a solid step forward for the American sedan.
3rd place: Toyota Avalon
Extremely efficient and generous in interior room and features, the Avalon is let down by a bone-shaking ride and an uninspiring drive.
4th place: Chrysler 300S
A pretty face goes a long way, but it can't argue with reality. Poor fuel economy and interior room relegate the good-looking Chrysler to fourth.
5th place: Ford Taurus
The Taurus needs more than a refresh to compete in this segment. If you're on a budget, shop for something in the midsize category.
I'd be willing to bet the same could be said for any assembly-line job, whether it be making cars, iPods, or processing chickens.
Personally, the main issue I have with any organization such as the UAW is the guaranteed defense of the members by the organization, regardless what the offense might be in which the members participate. Sure, its a great deal if you can get it... And, I'm sure I would have enjoyed a much more exciting adolescence if I had a defender always at my back, providing "cover" for everything I might have done.
All one has to do is take a cursory look at Congress to see what happens when folks somehow feel the rules everyone else must follow don't apply to them.
I personally participated (at various levels) of taking 4 companies through Chapter 11 from the mid 1990's-early 2000's.
In each case, there were some groups that others thought fared better than themselves, and to some extent, they may have been correct.
One thing I have never seen in any bankruptcy is where each participant felt he had been treated as fairly as all the other participants.... For some, I doubt if anything could have been done to make them feel they were justly compensated.
It's the nature of he beast.
Anyway, I expect with the resources Toyota has, this partnership will resolve any issues with suppliers.
Not making any judgements here, but the Forester is a hands down favorite for Lesbians in the west and northwest, taking the crown from the no longer available Ford Ranger. No idea why. :confuse:
Anybody who hasn't worked in an auto plant, ought to look at that issue of 'Hemmings Classic Car' that's on the stands now. The guy talks about building Belvederes in Illinois, '67 model year. He said he quit because more and more tasks kept getting added on his first day..."I felt like I was going to be building the whole car pretty soon!" LOL
It's a very modern, clean plant and its always dry inside, with a pleasant temperature for the employees.
Each time I go through it, though, I always think how bad things would have to get before I could submit to the daily grind of assembly-line work. Of course, if I was 18, just out of high school with no means of furthering my education, it might look far more attractive.
Also, I believe the sales of the Equus can be counted on a calendar, and the Genesis isn't much better.
GM entered the realm of "junk bond" status back as early as in 2005...
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/05/gm-m09.html
Along with all other financial analysts, S&P pointed to GM’s “burdensome post-retirement benefit obligations” as a major drain on profits. The company’s unfunded retiree medical liability, it noted, increased to $61 billion at the end of last year, up from “the already massive $57 billion” at the end of 2003. And these obligations “could become even more onerous”. If GM were able to find some way to “roll back its health insurance benefits” then it could reduce a significant competitive disadvantage.
Junk bonds sell because they offer a higher return on investment, albeit at a higher risk. I don't really have a lot of sympathy for investors that buy high risk instruments and then complain when they go south.
Here, in the upstate of SC, is an example...
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/2004-02-05-homegold_x.htm
Folks bought into Carolina Investors because they were paying 3 times the going rates on CD's. Many put their life's savings into the company. Of course, at some point, it had to fail.
Not a very good investment strategy.
As someone else pointed out, the bond holders had a legal remedy avenue available, but they didn't do much to pursue it.
No use in throwing good money after bad...
Comparison:
The Big Test: 2013/2014 Full-Size Sedans
Chevrolet Impala LTZ vs. Chrysler 300S vs. Ford Taurus SEL vs. Kia Cadenza vs. Toyota Avalon Ltd
Kia Quoris Flagship Sedan Coming To U.S in 2014
The Quoris shares a rear-wheel-drive platform with the Hyundai Equus and its size and proportions also match up with the Hyundai flagship. To differentiate it from its corporate sibling, the Quoris forgoes a V-8 and relies instead on a 3.8-liter V-6 rated at 285 horsepower.
A direct-injected version of this engine with 330 horsepower on tap is expected to be fitted to models sold in the U.S. An eight-speed automatic will be the standard transmission.
Kia Quoris
Hyundai Genesis Sales 2012 = 33,973
Hyundai Equus Sales 2012 = 3,972
BMW 7-Series 2012 Sales = 11,092
BMW S-Class 2012 Sales = 11,794
Caddy XTS 2012 Sales = 15,049 But 2013 YTD May Sales = 12,450
I am shocked 80 Equus sold per week. Not surprised about the XTS, it has some presence, and starts around 45K IIRC.
I agree about the articles in Classic Car and people working in the auto industry. Those are interesting tor ead.
Fintail:
I toured the GM plant, Moraine, Ohio, and the movements the assembly folk made did not seem strenuous at all in terms of needing quick, difficult movements. Things that had weight we usually supported by overhead hooks as the assemblers wiggled them into place on the car.
This was an IUE plant instead of a UAW site. The plant originally built S-10s when new; it had been revamped for the SUVs years earlier than my tour. It was warm inside the plant on one of the coldest days of winter. I was the only touree because the others had failed to show up due to the severe cold.
Not bad work compared to many jobs out in the real world.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,