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Comments
That's a related factor to the problem. Also a factor on the part of the UAW and other unions involved in production of vehicles (IEW?). Dealers also weren't supported well until into the 90s on giving
goodbetter service. I go back to my dealer because the dealer gives quality, honest service. They also give info that I use to decide to have something done or not or do it myself. If I choose to have a dealer do it, I go to them with no complaints on price.2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
>Yes, just be blind to years of reliability
If you want bases of past record, I can arrange to get Enron stock and Worldcom stock for you. They have years of good records and desirability. Is that what you're trying to say?
>hopeless GM devotee
See first paragraph.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
umm i live in america, and i have a job thanx to honda.. hmm wow i guess i should quit and become jobless and homeless, just cause they dont create jobs for americans right... hmmmm wow..
Main Entry: ma·jor·i·ty
Pronunciation: m&-'jor-&-tE, -'jär-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 obsolete : the quality or state of being greater
2 a : the age at which full civil rights are accorded b : the status of one who has attained this age
3 a : a number greater than half of a total b : the excess of a majority over the remainder of the total : MARGIN c : the preponderant quantity or share
4 : the group or political party whose votes preponderate
5 : the military office, rank, or commission of a major
- majority adjective
If only these angloamericano's could read the good Kings English.....
Facts are your friend. Pls dont ignore them.
"Nice Camry, Toyota dealer! But I can't even afford a ten year-old Kia on my Wal-Mart pay!"
Proof of this statement? I suppose the Honda engine plant in Ohio is simply a massive plywood cutout hiding a giant empty field? BTW - this is the largest Honda engine facility IN THE WORLD. IN OTHER WORDS, they build more engines in this plant than they do in Japan. They also build engines at their plant in Alabama and have a separate transmission plant in Ohio and a new transmission plant announced for Georgia.
All ANYONE in here knows is what is listed as the % of domestic PARTS content on the vehicle label. If you have evidence that Honda/Toyota is 'cheating' to boost the domestic content on that label, I'm sure the government would love to see it. But according to Honda's corporate website, they use parts and materials from nearly 600 different U.S. suppliers.
http://corporate.honda.com/america/overview.aspx
BTW - I'm still trying to find an on-line source listing % of domestic content for vehicles sold in the U.S. Any ideas?
Then how do you explain the fact that the U.S Manufacturing sector has been growing since June of '03? And how do you explain the fact that the U.S. manufacturing sector grew at a faster rate in December, and for the entire year, than originally forecast?
http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=economicNews&storyID- =2006-01-25T160930Z_01_N25342684_RTRIDST_0_ECONOMY-MANUFACTURING-ISM-UPDATE-1.XM- L
I've attempted to provide proof that Honda uses parts manufactured (not just assembled) here in the U.S.
You've made assertions that the engine plants only ASSEMBLE parts shipped over from Japan. Could you even ATTEMPT to provide proof of your assertion? Or are you the Townhall Oracle who's statements should always just be accepted as facts with no outside proof necessary?
SWEEEEEET!!!!!
You ARE aware that TRD (Toyota Racing Development) builds engines (including casting the blocks) for their efforts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series as well as their upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup series cars here in America.....and I'm fairly certain the parts for these motors DON'T come from Japan... :P
And you're not taking either of my daughters out, you dirty old man.....they're only 4 and 6 years old... :surprise:
http://www.toyota.com/about/news/manufacturing/2005/11/09-1-bodine.html
Bodine Aluminum Inc. (Jacksonville, TN) casts engine blocks for the Camry and Avalon (annual capacity: 1 million blocks).
Is that more than 12?
Odyssey 70% American, 20% Japan
CRV 5% American, 75?% Japan
I've said this before. Honda has 600 suppliers in North American, employs 12,700 associates in Ohio alone, exports 22,568 vehicles to 41 countries, paid $23.6 million in personal and real estate taxes in 2004, donated $2.l million in United Way contributions.
Sorry I don't have the stats on all of the others. Maybe someone out there can contribute.
http://world.honda.com/news/2004/c041109_b.html
and I quote:
The plan also includes significant investments to add production of high precision gears at a Honda transmission plant in Ohio, and key engine components at a Honda engine facility in Alabama.
and
In Alabama, HMA will invest US$ 70 million and add 100 new jobs to begin machining additional engine components at its existing engine plant operations.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
AutomobileJanuary 8, 2006
Honda Sweeps 'North American Car and Truck of the Year' Awards
2006 Honda Civic and 2006 Honda Ridgeline Take the Top Honors
Watch The Video
DETROIT, U.S.A., January 8, 2006 – The 2006 Honda Civic and Honda Ridgeline have earned the prestigious 2006 "North American Car of the Year" and "North American Truck of the Year" awards respectively, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced. This marks the first time ever that a single brand has won both awards in the same year, and it marks Honda's first win in either category.
Honda Ridgeline
Honda Civic
The North American Car of the Year and Truck of the Year Awards are given by a group of 49 international automotive journalists. The awards are unique because instead of being given by a single publication, radio or television station they are given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Presented each year at the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, they recognize the most outstanding car and truck of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. "We set out to have the Civic and Ridgeline become benchmarks in their respective segments, and having them chosen as North American Car and Truck of the Year certainly validates that effort," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We couldn't be more pleased with the reaction to both vehicles. This will be great news to the Honda associates in North America who build them."
http://world.honda.com/news/2006/4060108COTYTOTY/
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Just look at the Impala board where the SS & GXP guys are discussing trans failures.
I'm not quite sure I understand your point. According to the website for Bodine Aluminum, they had 2 main plants: one in St. Louis which makes aluminum castings for hydraulic & pneumatic components, electrical equipment, diesel engine components, agricultural equipment, pumps, compressors, etc. etc. etc. and a different plant in Troy, MO which was dedicated to parts production for Toyota.
In other words, Bodine Aluminum was a going concern (and probably a supplier in VERY good standing with Toyota) before they became a Toyota subsidiary in 1990.
http://www.toyota.com/about/operations/manufacturing/bodine/
http://www.bodinealuminum.com/
All I'm trying to point out is that Toyota doesn't just ship a bunch of parts over from Japan for assembly to a bunch of line workers at their engine plants in the U.S. They use domestic parts from AMERICAN suppliers in their cars, INCLUDING the engine blocks, heads, manifolds, etc.
Want a different twist? How about Toyota suppliers here IN AMERICA who supply products NOT JUST for the American market but also supply parts for EXPORT to plants in Japan?
TABC, Inc., employing 550 people builds (amoung many other items) catalytic converters for the American market but also exported to Canada and Japan.
http://www.toyotasupplier.com/about/tabc.asp
MADE BY 70% AMERICAN/CANADIAN PARTS
15% JAPANESE
ENGINE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AMERICA.
TRANSMISSION, JAPAN
FINAL ASSEMBLY WAS IN ONTARIO, CANADA.
The last time I checked every Ford 4.0L engine which is used on Explorer and Mustang was made in Germany, and every 5-speed automatic transmission used on Explorer and Mustang was made in France. I also seem to recall that every 5-speed manual used in F150 was made in Japan by Mazda and every 6-speed automatic used in Fusion and 500 was made by Toyota in Japan. Ford also buys 6-speed automatic transmissions used on Navigator from ZF which is a German company.
Lets not forget that the 2.3L 4 cylinder engine used in Focus and Fusion was developed by Mazda not Ford. Lets also not forget that the Fusion itself is based on Mazda 6 and that Ford 500 and Freestyle are both based on Volvo S80. Where do you think most of original engineering for all of these products was made? Not America that is for sure.
Who are we kidding here? How does any of this help our economy? Look there is not a single 'large' British owned car company in England. Does it really matter to the British? Did British economy collapse when Rover went out of buissnes. For sure not.
What about the inefficiency that UAW bring to making cars. Look here is an article about the layoff benefits that UAW members will receive from UAW after GM's and Ford's Layoffs:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060124/OPINION03/601240423/1- 148/AUTO01
Basically the worst that an UAW member will have is 95% of his pay until he finds a new job in maybe 10 years. Read the article and see for your self.
And Now I Ask You: Where else do you get a job like this in America? Not even the government provides 95% of your pay until you retire, and then you go in retirement. Nice Job If You Can Get It. And where do you think all of this money comes from? Yes the American Car Buying Public. Well it does not have to. All we have to do is stop buying UAW made cars.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The Ford Focus needs to be updated. It is losing its edge. It needs to get better mpg then it gets now. It needs better engine variable valve timing and c vt
transmission.
Then you have Dodge replacing the Neon with the Caliber. It's mpg is in the cellar also from what I have seen. They do not have a true economy car.
With the price of gas going up and more people turning to more fuel effecient cars. Detroit is giving us all half baked products. The foriegn car are meeting are needs better than the big three. In a nut shell Detroit need to get bold and inovative. They need to become leaders in auto industry and not followers.This important American industry needs to come clean and give us better cars. They need to do this now or are children will know them only in history books. Does any one remember the Vega or the Pinto it is funny how history can repeat itself.
"Union members: After your unemployment benefits end at 26 weeks, your sup pay will continue to make up 95 percent of your normal take-home pay. When your sup pay reaches the 48-week total under the term of the contract, you must either be called back to work or put in the Guaranteed Employment Number pool. The GEN pool is just like the jobs bank at General Motors, where idled workers get guaranteed pay and benefits." From Detroit News
After 1 year of unemployment idled Ford and GM union workers go into "Guaranteed Employment Number pool. They continue to receive 95% pay as well as health benefits. I am not making this up. Its right there in Black and White.
I can understand that UAW made a killer contract with Ford and GM and now they have great benefits. But UAW workers have to understand that all of the money for your benefits comes from American Car consumers. They spend the money to support your overly generous contracts. American Car consumers can also decide not to support this anymore by simply buying cars not made with UAW workers.
I'm obviously critical of the Big 2.5, but I really don't see the need to point fingers at the workers.
The problems at Ford and GM ultimately stem from the fact that, for the most, they make relatively undesirable cars with a largely well-deserved reputation for poor reliability. These problems are rooted in bad designs, poor product differentiation and mediocre engineering.
You could fire everyone in the UAW tomorrow, or build every Cobalt in a Mexican factory next week, and the Cobalt would still be (and deserve to be) toward the bottom of Consumer Report's list of small cars. Since when does a union make a yea-or-nay decision to launch any car in the lineup?
The UAW has proven that it is capable of working well in certain plants, such as Spring Hill and Oshawa. And now GM is going to shut those plants down, when they are among their best performers, while keeping others open that don't perform nearly as well. Why you aren't holding the management responsible for the bad designs and lack of vision, I can't understand.
Not that I know what I’m talking about but
If the union “forces” a contract that costs 2K extra for each Cobalt, then GM will be forced to cut 2K worth of engineering from each Cobalt. Of course I made up all these numbers.
Even with unbelievable union contracts If you look at the sale price (Cobalt, Taurus) they are usually a couple thousand less than the Japanese competition I’ve often thought if only Ford had spent an extra 2-4K on the Taurus instead of having a blue light special maybe the car may have turned out better. 2-4K can go a long way.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Jackpot point. That includes healthcare costs and retirement costs since they don't have a young workforce with relatively few health and retirement expenses. They also don't have a hire for pay situation so they can boot problem workers and nonproblem workers if they want them out just because, well... because they are getting older and going to become an expense like the Big 2 and German .5 have become.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That's a strawman argument. For one, let's look at the use of this $2k figure, which surely you got from GM's own PR department. This stat is being offered to you in a vacuum, with no sense of what every other automakers' costs happen to be. If it turned out that Honda's costs were $1,500 per car, for example, wouldn't that $2k be less meaningful? (By the way, I don't know what Honda's costs are, but we can be sure that these for its US workforce are not $0 -- the difference in the amounts is likely nowhere close to $2,000 per car.)
For another, you have no reason to believe that GM would actually spend more on R&D than they do now, if it didn't have these health care costs. They have had such overhead for quite some time, but these expenses haven't prevented it from:
-Having enough net worth to buy up losing "foreign" nameplates such as Saab
-Getting more heavily invested into the gas guzzler market just as it was peaking, i.e. acquiring Hummer
-Using unionized labor abroad to build competitive Opel/Vauxhall small cars for the European market that are not sold in the US
-Getting involved in a deal with Fiat from which it would eventually have to extricate itself by paying over $1.5 billion.
GM's problems are numerous and are largely based upon poor products that don't serve the need of many US consumers, and whose relevance declines years after year. Have a look across its various lineups, and consider the costs related to the extensive overlap and redundancies both across brands (i.e. the minimal differences between Chevrolet and Pontiac) and within their lines (i.e. numerous SUV's with minimal differentiation and questionable market need). Then compare that to other, more successful makers such as Honda and Toyota that have fewer models to market, service and promote.
GM could probably have a higher likelihood of returning to profitability just by cutting out some models entirely, and by consolidating the various brands so that they don't effectively compete with and cannibalize the other. (Is having numerous similar mid- and large-sized sedans and coupes from Pontiac, Chevy and Buick with nameplates of old really helping?)
Excluding its outside acquisitions such as Saab and its limited sale of US-models, GM operates in Europe largely under one marque (Opel/ Vauxhall), and might be wise to adopt a similar approach here. Much more productive than complaining about health care costs that they agreed to pay a long time ago and are obliged to fulfill.
It might also consider selling off some of these brands to other firms. Not sure if they'd be interested in acquiring it, but I would bet that a firm such as Volkswagen could do more to use this car as a way to round out its lineup than can GM.
Dream on!