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Comments
Good question. I know the '75 Buick Regal my grandpa gave me had the Ziebart treatment. I don't know how much it helped, as it spent most of it's life in Florida during the winters and it was starting to rust in '87 when he gave it to me.
When I lived in Midland, Tx back in the '80s, I bought a '76 Grand Am (it was a rocketship!) from a buddy whose dad drove it in Michigan nearly it's whole life. The floor panels were rusted, you could see a little of the maroon carpet underneath! And the rear quarter panels had their share of rust too. But, man, could that baby move out!
Yes it is a daily driver and it gets driven quite a bit year round as it has over 87k miles on it now. It's not rust, but corrosion on the rear tailgate as it's aluminum. The paint is bubbling in several spots. I've been noticing the same paint bubbles on other Expedition tailgates too. Particularly around the license plate area.
How is the Left-handed govt doing on the left coast???? Things are busy for I read somewhere that SanFrisco was trying to ban Gold Fish..Wow
Flint, Michigan in 1960 had 80,000 auto-related workers, and today they have 6,000...During the recent recession Detroit lost 342,000 jobs..There are 3 congressmen in Michigan who for years have been targeting the Big3 and looks like they got their wish..I believe Levin, Conyers, and so other old guy, a lefty, are happy to see the state of Michigan trashed..
Ford has a pile of debt, but they are handling it...and based on the current political climate that probably doesn't bode well with some Washington folks..
Spent 34 yrs selling parts to the Big3, was a great time, had 7yrs running a UAW auto-supplier operation, and the last 14 yrs straight-commissioned mfgr rep..Under the current economic climate I sure could not do what was allowed in the past..Too much Global!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of junk.....Now..
The industry has recovered in Michigan such that the concern now is that we're putting too many eggs in the auto industry basket.
Michigan Leans Anew on Big Three (Wall St. Journal)
No argument with that. Are you saying that the reason the government "destroyed" US makers was the multitude of years of supporting the labor movements? I might even agree with that. I thought you were speaking of the last few years of GM, etc.
Chinese Debt Bubble Threatens to Explode
And speaking of American jobs Even hard sciences are being offshored so the top few can consolidate wealth
and other vehicles being sold abroad the future for Ford might want you to invest a few bucks.They seem to be doing alot of R@D.
And there's this in recent news:
Ford Part of $500-Million Obama Manufacturing Initiative (AutoObserver)
I like Ford but they aren't adverse to federal handouts. And they have paid back some debt, but remember, they hocked everything, including the brand name back in the dark days. Selling Volvo helped too.
Their debt load was 16 billion back in February, down from 34 billion at the end of '09. They are making good progress. (link)
June 28, 2011
The Cars.com Automobile Index rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. based on popularity, sourcing of parts, and a variety of other factors. Global Automakers garnered half of the top ten spots in this year’s Cars.com annual ranking of “Most American” vehicles, with the Toyota Camry earning first-place and the Honda Accord coming in at No. 2.
Like it or not.
Regards,
OW
(AutoObserver)
Ford now "applauds the outlines of the revised U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement that were announced today."
Can Auto Sector Win In New Korea FTA? (AutoObserver)
According to some, free trade only needs to exist here - if others act unfairly, it is fine so long as we can't see it.
It sounds good but IMHO is not really that big a deal. The big market is China.
I also see that we export a huge number of airliners to Korea, but they don't sell any of theirs here. :P
You know, you might have hit on a way to get a few million of those empty containers back to the Far East. Stick Fords in them.
Korea also subsidizes and coddles the living hell out of its industry - something our globalist-capitalist betrayers could never endure...so indeed asking them to play by our rules won't happen.
Uh, GM...... Chrysler.......AIG.......B of A....... Chase........etc.
Let's not forget farm subsidies (ADM?). How about padded and overrun defense contracts (Boeing, Lockheed, etc.).
We ARE enduring it!
The defense issue is another world entirely, and a huge factor in our problems today, just as bad as the financiers.
cars.com names Camry "Most American" car - again....
P.S. Full disclosure: my TCH was built in Japan. But hey - it's in the CAMRY FAMILY at least !!!!
The defense issue is another world entirely, and a huge factor in our problems today, just as bad as the financiers.
See, we DO agree on a bunch of stuff. Just not everything! :shades:
I don't like subsidizing tow truck businesses either, give me MADE In Japan, or MADE in Germany, thank you very much!
GE would have gone bankrupt in 2008 without the aid of the US Govt which guaranteed all of the company's debts through 2012---for free!!!!!! Our tax dollars at work, don't you love "American Socialism"???????
Somewhere I read that our cost for the each job created under the "Government Stimulus" was $270,000. I might come out of retirement for a couple years and get on the "gravy train"..
Back to Ford, their debt level is high and our Federal Govt will do no favors to the auto industry with the insane EPA regulations forthcoming to push the "Green BS"...
Didn't GE recently order 60 jet passenger airliners from a French company, must be their Globalism spirit shining through, Jeffrey takes his orders from the WH...Didn't the WH pledge to bailout "Greece" recently with money borrowed from China?????
The good old days of motoring are finished..Been there and done it!!!!
The Chevy line up is awesome--Volt, Sonic, and Cruze...All powered with the Volt 4-banger tweaked to various horsepower levels, maxing out at 138 hp..Wow
Malibu for the future is 4 banger only..The Impala will be the upscale item.
.
The only Ford product I like is the Mustang GT which will be back in my garage after the dealer's lots are full of unsold Mustangs..The economy is going to swoon again, and lose steam..
The Japanese mfgrs have been hurting due the crisis of the earthquake, but they are loaded with cars, maybe people are dropping the Camry and Accord for the Malibu, Cruze, and the smaller Ford products..Camry dealer in Venice, Fl has 67 Camrys in stock, $4,000 off MSRP.. No product shortage here..
The Big3 production capacity in Michigan is probably larger due to the closing of out-of-state assembly plants during the last 5 yrs with the consolidating of product lines..Capacity is not being used, it might be available, look at the total picture, and the Big3 aren't cranking any big numbers..never will under the current business climate...
The big losers in the area are the suppliers to the Big3 which have been decimated by the global supply chain..I quit the business 2/02 and in the last 6 yrs, 3 of the 5 manufacturers I represented are gone, one in Canada and two in Michigan..
Living in Florida the real estate business is still caving, and in Michigan, short sales and foreclosures are the bulk of the activity.. Immediate family members are in the real estate business, 12yrs in Fla, and the other one 26 yrs in Michigan..In the suburbs of Detroit one can buy a house, rent it for 18 mos, recouping the original investment and flip it for a big gain..
The automotive game has changed with the supplier side developed by the Toyota, Honda, and other Asian assembly plants did invade the Big3 supply chain which was historically 100% owned by American business people..With the Big3 in the tank for a couple years these small suppliers folded, and the Asian transplants grabbed the business..Many of the Asian suppliers are not located in Michigan due to fear of unions, and high costs..Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and the southern states are a haven for the low-cost supply base..
In many ways, production capacity increase noted for Michigan is about as believable as the 9.2 unemployment figure..as reported on 7/8/11..
All the other factors are minor besides unions of all kinds...there is the problem, and there WILL be the problem for here and all eternity until the unions are busted for good...when floorsweepers stop thinking they are worth $35/hr plus lifetime benefits, then sanity will be restored...
Therein lies the problem...regardless of how much they have been hammered, they still THINK & BELIEVE that sweeping floors is worth that much, so in their little militant brains, they are ready to strike at any time to regain wages that they were nenver worth to begin with...
Just a few years ago (has it been that long?) that someone linked to an article about the closing of, I think, the Nummi plant in Fremont, Calif...and they quoted one UAW member, a female, I believe, and she stated that (I paraphrase) "at least we didn't give in"...
They, the UAW members, still don't get it, almost as bad as public employees...in essence, they lost their jobs but proud they didn't give in to "the man"...anyone who ever tries to post and inform me about the "skill and intelligence" of UAW members would have an easier time convincing me that our space shuttles were designed by carpenter ants...
If I was a UAW member, I would be ashamed at the intelligence level I exhibit, almsot as much as that lady who screamed when Obama was elected "No more mortgage payments, no more car payments, Obama gonna pay for everything"...stupidity that would disgrace any race, if you ask me (and I know you didn't ask me...:):)...).
:shades:
The D3 have no sole claim on that anymore.
Regards,
OW
I buy American- BMW of North America and Mazda USA!
Oh yeah, and Triumph Motorcycles USA!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Regards,
OW
"This means that, if Nissan can get back on track, the first U.S.-built Leafs will roll down the assembly line in Smyrna, TN in late 2012. Nissan says up to 150,000 Leafs will be built at Smyrna annually. "
150k sounds pretty optimistic, but sales are growing so maybe it's not so unreasonable...
Nissan Leaf sales soar in June
June 2011 auto sales figures were posted today and the Nissan Leaf has taken a commanding lead. Last month, 1,708 Nissan Leafs were sold, up from 1,142 Leafs sold in May 2011 and significantly higher than the 573 sold in April. Year-to-date Nissan Leaf sales total 3,875.
At least Ford did better in this one.
LOL, J/K. But I do wonder if you meant to post this on one of those political sites or Pennsylvania.org?
Forget Bushisms, Biden Gaffes, We have Obama blunders
Based on my experience that's a good guess.
Perhaps you should drop some acid on it until it corrodes through?
Not a bad idea;)
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
If anything, Chrysler should have been fined by taxpayers and citizen arrested for producing fraudulently bad vehicles for the past few decades!