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I just love the way people want to lessen my rights while giving more control to bureaucrats and corporations. Meanwhile those same folks turn around and rag on bureaucrats and GM like they're evil incarnate.
It's all fun and games until you're the one injured by someone else's negligence.
Who drinks McD's coffee anyway? Dunkin' Donuts, bro.
Never understood why step-ladders have top steps that look like steps either. One of mine is set up with tool holes and bucket hangers to discourage using it as a step.
Well, I see a difference between fresh, hot coffee and known collusion to cover up a defective/dangerous product.
McDonalds never (to my knowledge) advertised its hot coffee was safe to pour into your crotch, and a bit of common sense would tell any reasonable person that anyone's hot, fresh coffee just poured from the urn was, in all likelihood, hot. I don't think anyone ever turned up any evidence that McDonalds intentionally withheld evidence that hot coffee would scald someone when dropped into their lap.
OTOH, Ford DID advertise the Pinto as a safe, albeit inexpensive vehicle, and knowingly designed the car with a gas tank likely to explode into flames in a rear-end collision. And, they intentionally withheld that information from the buying public.
I see a big difference there.
The Ford brand has had 92 recalls since 2009, substantially higher than the next highest brands
But it's the embarrassing nature of the problem that is the real issue.
Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, and Escape are all the best looking cars in their class IMHO, but that have got to get quality back under control.
And it's not just myFord touch, it's transmissions and engines, big stuff.
I remember back in the late 1980's, buying my Granddad a new stepladder for Christmas. It had this new warning I had never seen before "Do Not Stand or Sit On or Above This Step". It was placed on the next-to-the-top step. So essentially, that 6-foot stepladder had a useful height of about 4 feet. And fully open, probably more like 3 feet, 9 inches.
So, if I we ever needed to use those top two steps, instead of the new ladder, we'd pull out the rickety old 6-foot ladder that the new one was supposed to replace. The old one didn't have that warning label, so that meant it was okay to stand on or above that step, right? :P
I think that's exactly what McDonald's did. After many complaints of too hot coffee, they didn't change their practices in order to save money on the coffee beans. Don't believe me; go look it up on some place besides the tort reform sites.
Ah well, let's climb the ladder (carefully :P ) back to GM News.
At least, from a Ford perspective, the name "Escape" seems to have a whole new meaning....
That just seems second nature to me.
After all, pick your favorite fast food coffee joint, buy a cup and pour it immediately in your lap. I suspect you will find it painfully hot
I would also think one should be able to assume a new car is relatively safe for its intended purpose, which is driving on the highway, without an ensuing explosion from a relatively minor rear-ender.
I don't consider the injury in the McD case entirely, or even significantly, McD's negligence. I wouldn't want anybody's hot coffee between my legs, but I guess I have a bit more sense.
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm
That might be true for German brands due to the inherent cost of the repairs, but I'm not so sure about the technology in general. The auto tranny was more complex than the manual, too, and it has done pretty well. With the addition of airbags, cruise control, electric windows/locks, etc., I don't see why DSG adds any more complexity than all of the other stuff we've put on our cars.
The fact remains that GM is lagging in trannys in that there is nothing similar from them. While I've not driven a DSG, every review praises it in the Audi and VW vehicles.
Personally I love to drive stick, and I suspect the main reason isn't because I like to shift, but the fact that I hate the delay prone rubber band feeling you get from traditional auto trannys. When you punch it, the normal auto takes a bit of time to shift down, the engine races, and then the torque converter (liquid) slowly matches speed with the engine, giving the not-really-connected-directly rubber band feeling. It is my understanding that the DSG eliminates this problem, as it is in direct connection to the engine and shifts faster than either an auto or you could if you were driving a manual.
Ford needs to fix this quick.
For the inconsiderate driver's thread.
You can't use a straw so your eyes pretty much have to leave the road for each and every sip.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2012/12/04/best-selling-cars-2012/1745385/
The Cruze and Malibu are running neck and neck...
Of course, they might be a bit optimistic on the Escape unless Ford sorts out its problems quickly...
July 12,345
Aug 14,495
Sept 11,188
Oct 9,629
Nov 10,227
And yes, if Ford can't solve the Fusion/Escape soon, it could be very bad.
McDonald's shouldn't have had to pay even if the coffee was 1000 degrees hot, as long as the cup was manufactured and designed to handle it without leaking with proper use.
Putting it between your lap while driving is not proper use of the cup. Knowing it is coffee is knowing enough that it is hot and will hurt if you spill it on yourself. She simply mishandled it and hurt herself. I find the temperature to have very little relevance (same argument as speed kills, well, speed can only kill if you hit something).
If a GM car kills you while you are driving, handling, and maintaining it properly, then you have a case. If you drive it off a cliff and expect to live but then don't, you don't have much of a case in my mind.
It all comes down to if you were handling and using it properly.
Now if her argument was that the lid popped off too easily... I'll listen. Poorly designed lid that came off too easily would be an acceptable argument to me.
Back to GM, although focus has been on the overabundant supply of pickups, the Malibu is causing concern too:
"GM has announced a hurried “mid-cycle refresh” after only 18 months, confirmation that the now-degraded Malibu needs an emergency rescue."
GM Watch: Who Blew the ‘Bu? (dailycaller.com)
65,000 miles, 1 rebuild, >$1,000 to repair at 60K miles, fluid changed every 15 to 30K miles.
2006 Cutting Edge DSG 6-speed in my '06 A3:
95,000 miles, 0 rebuilds, 2 services (every 30-45K) so far.
I'll take the expensive tranny that never needs a repair over the cheapo version any day of the week!!!
P.S. The DSG is a big part of the reason I'm able to get similar fuel mileage to the Neon with double the horsepower and torque. I'd rather fund German auto engineers than OPEC sleazeballs.
I'd rather have 40 cent coffee with a lid that doesn't say "Caution: HOT" on it than 50 cent coffee so that 700 idiots out of 700 billion served can be spared injury (remember: billions and billions served). :P
Same with the ladder story:
I'm sure the rungs are all the same to save on costs and customization. I'd rather save a few bucks on my ladder rather than design it for the lowest common denominator dummy who's 1 in a million going to hurt themselves by "KEYWORD" misuse.
Apparently GM is doing just that, judging by the Malibu refresh story.
Are they doing it because of criticisms from customers, or because sales have been soft? I vote the latter.
Regards,
OW
I agree, one should not forget when one gets burned. The party that causes financial loss upon another should refund that purchase that caused the burn. 50 cents in the case of McD's, or 15K or more in the case of a car.
I vote that the TARP funds should be used to funnel money to GM and Chrysler's former burn victims, to reimburse them for lemon purchases of the past. Actually, the victims funds should be limited to one reimbursement, because if you allowed yourself to be burned more than once that's on you!
The only caveat to receiving this TARP money 100% refund as a former burn victim of the Big 3 is that you have to apply the money towards another Big 3 vehicle.
Like I said, GM bashes itself. Any questions Steve?
P.S. Heard GM does not expect to meet year-end inventory targets. :P
While it remained disciplined on incentives, its inventory grew to end November with 245,853 full-size pickups, or a 139-day supply. That's up from 235,585 units or a 110-day supply at the end of October.
Analysts have been watching GM's pickup truck inventory, which is much higher than the less-than-100-day supply considered ideal for full-size pickups. The automaker has been building full-size pickup inventory this year to compensate for downtime at plants as it transitions to new 2014 Chevy Silverados and GMC Sierras coming next year. Now with higher inventory, some analysts expect GM will have to offer bigger incentives to move the metal.
"While the rest of the industry had higher incentive spending in November than in October, GM didn't. As a result, sales for its headline vehicles like Volt and Silverado showed noticeable decline," Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell said in a statement. "This result shows howcompetitivethis industry is and I imagine GM will be veryaggressive spenders in December to end the year on a high note."
The carmaker previously said it wanted to end 2012 with truck inventory of 200,000 to 220,000.
GM's Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations, said GM expects to hit the high end of that range, or possibly go a bit over. He also said Monday GM's total year-end inventory target of 660,000 to 670,000 "is in jeopardy," as inventory grew by 49,000 in November. Total inventory stood at 788,194 at the end of November, up from 739,034 on Oct. 31.
Camaro = 4,464
Mustang = 5,309
:P
Regards,
OW
Mustang = 5,309
It's about time. It took three years for your prediction to become reality!
But you were still wrong for three years.
That is why their market share is declining rather than increasing.
Regards,
OW
Give it up already! :shades:
Regards,
OW
Pony car USED to mean "affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image." Well, these days that's (among others) the Focus ST, Mazdaspeed 3, Subie WRX, FIAT500 Abarth, and the Civic Si. (and *shudder* the Veloster Turbo) Not the full-size monstrosities that are the Challenger and Camaro. Wake me up when Chevy's SS division goes at the Cruze and Sonic (the RS doesn't count). Dodge has already promised a Dart R/T.
For balance, Honda is also doing an accelerated refresh on the Civic.
Both the Civic and the Malibu were poor updates to fairly well-regarded previous models.
I may have missed your comments here about Ford's recalls of late. I know GM's, even on a smaller scale, would've been mentioned. And to say "this is a GM forum" is a cop-out. If that were the case, no other makers would ever get mentioned here.
Mustang vs. Camaro: The question is: Which is the ALL-TIME sales leader?
I never mentioned "since 2009". That was you dreaming again. :surprise:
Apparently, the shine is off the Camaro this last few months. OH, well, time to put CAMARO back in Moth Balls for 5 years or so!
Fixed Or Recalled Daily. Stay away from GM, F and C for the next 5-10 years!
Take your pick of far better choices! :shades:
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
I know I've brought it up. While I like several of Fords new products, I don't think I'd buy any without an extended comprehensive warranty.
The Fusion/Escape recall has the potential to be disastrous for Ford depending on how quick they can solve the problem.
So true, especially since the only word I've seen so far is to "park your car and wait for further updates".
That telegraphs the message that Ford really doesn't have much of a clue as to the root cause of the problem. One has to wonder how such an issue made it through the quality control and testing phases before going into production.
That telegraphs the message that Ford really doesn't have much of a clue as to the root cause of the problem. One has to wonder how such an issue made it through the quality control and testing phases before going into production.
No question. From what I've read, I don't even know if they've isolated the cause yet. Not good. Ford doesn't have the brand equity of Toyota to withstand a major quality issue. For whatever reason if it's only effecting the cars recalled to date, it might not be to big of an issue, but if it also affects the cars coming off the line, then the success of both the Fusion and Escape could be in jeopardy.
True, and good point.
Honda had to discount the Civic, but it did sell well. Problem is transactions prices were lower than for Elantra. Who would have predicted that a decade ago?
I think the strategy of launching the mild hybrid Malibu first was a major fail. It just doesn't put up the numbers to get any marketing traction, and it was expensive. Now that the mainstream engine and cheaper models are out, it's not as new as the competition.
Better to launch either the cheapest model first (quick sales interest, get it to be popular) or the sportiest model first (to win magazine comparisons).
Launch the not-so-green model first and nobody cares, even GoGreenAutoEverythingBlog.com.
They should have stuck with plan A.
$26 grand base ain't cheap. In that price class expectations are higher.
Personally? I would have looked for a left over previous generation model, there were bargains to be had. I think those held up the numbers artificially at first.
Heck, I'd STILL look for a previous-gen Malibu, even if I had to go used, before I'd take the 2013. For one thing, the Malibu doesn't even register with me as a midsized car anymore. That, and the lack of a V-6 option puts it on par with large-ish compacts like the Dart, Cruze, and Sentra in my mind. However, it comes in at a higher price point, so for me at least, it's just priced out of its market.
Unfortunately they're, um, hotter than even Ford intended.
Maybe a 2l EcoBoost AWD Fusion.
That's continuous improvement. It used to be you had to hit a ford for it to catch fire, now they do it automatically;)
According to a letter Ford sent to the NHTSA, Ford said "that two of the reported fires actually occurred at the Louisville assembly plant where the Escape is made. "
Spokesman Said Deep (really, that's the name in the article) "says the plant is continuing to build Escapes with the 1.6 liter EcoBoost even though the cause of the fires has yet to be pinpointed and a fix devised."
Say, WHAT?!?!?
I'd be curious to see what the Big 3 budgeted for quality control and testing yearly, since 1980, and how that compares with better car manufacturers.
Also, I'd be curious to see the performance evaluations of those who worked in those departments of the Big 3, assuming they even had anyone doing quality control or testing; figured the budget was $0.00 for that at Chrysler.
Now, imagine a situation in which the entire plant management staff was given a short time frame (24-48 hours) to resolve the issue, or kicked to the unemployment curb.
How long does one think it would take to resolve the issue then?
Say, WHAT?!?!?
They are probably building them and parking them somewhere awaiting resolution.