The decline of the American car industry
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Been watching this one for a while and I really have to agree with Bighersh here. Here's my gripe with (former) big 3 products. Every single one of them is designed to just get you out of warranty before stuff starts going south. Why did I have to replace my rear rotors and pads (at only 22,000 miles) with aftermarket Brembos? Because Ford only offered to turn them. Why did I just (at 62,000 miles) replace the alternator and 3 out of 4 brake calipers? Because somebody was pinching pennys on the factory stuff. Don't even get me started on what Ford replaced under warranty. Sure, it didn't cost me a dime, but it shouldn't have had to be worked on that soon or that much. The final insult is how much my very well cared for truck is worth. Why is it worth so little? Apparently the word is out on how much care and feeding these things take.
By the way, my 2006 Scion xB now has 26,000 miles on it. Things gone wrong? Zero. Resale value? It's worth approximately $800 less than my F-150 - which cost twice as much. Get my drift? Ford, are you listening?
By the way, my 2006 Scion xB now has 26,000 miles on it. Things gone wrong? Zero. Resale value? It's worth approximately $800 less than my F-150 - which cost twice as much. Get my drift? Ford, are you listening?
Suspended
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Originally Posted by 2stroked
By the way, my 2006 Scion xB now has 26,000 miles on it. Things gone wrong? Zero. Resale value? It's worth approximately $800 less than my F-150 - which cost twice as much. Get my drift? Ford, are you listening?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 2stroked
By the way, my 2006 Scion xB now has 26,000 miles on it. Things gone wrong? Zero. Resale value? It's worth approximately $800 less than my F-150 - which cost twice as much. Get my drift? Ford, are you listening?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,762
Likes: 0
From: Windsor, Ont.
I agree, I say again, I'll walk instead of driving something like a Scion? OMG, buy something used if you can't get better than that new. What's next, "hey guys, check out my new "Gelly" or "Gellie" pile of crap, see, I don't even know what it's called, but it was cheaper". Give me a phuqing break, what's next, rice burgers and tofu flavored pop?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: North of Dallas, South of Frisco
Hell, at $3.00 a gallon, I'd drive it Mon - Friday, and have my truck for the weekend.
The new Xb is nicer and more appealing than the previous model. But, I liked both. There are only a few cars I don't like. The Scion Xa is one of them... I happen to like the Xb and the Xc (If that's still the name for the sporty car they had out).
Toyota's knows it's not attractive- I saw an add in a magazine from Toyota/Scion for the 2008, where they essentially said:
Cons: Ugly, Boxy, People will stare
Pros: Ugly, Boxy, People will stare
It's cool to some, not cool to others. Personally, I've grown past worying about what others think, so Hell yeah- I'd drive it. I like the Honda Element too. There are a lot of minivans I like, but- the wife whipped out the veto pen on that idea. Otherwise, my 2007 might well have been a 2007 Honda Odyssey EX-L with Navigation.
Our Edge is nice, but it'll never be as comfortable on a 400, 500, 800, 1600 mile round trip as an Odyssey would've been.
The new Xb is nicer and more appealing than the previous model. But, I liked both. There are only a few cars I don't like. The Scion Xa is one of them... I happen to like the Xb and the Xc (If that's still the name for the sporty car they had out).
Toyota's knows it's not attractive- I saw an add in a magazine from Toyota/Scion for the 2008, where they essentially said:
Cons: Ugly, Boxy, People will stare
Pros: Ugly, Boxy, People will stare
It's cool to some, not cool to others. Personally, I've grown past worying about what others think, so Hell yeah- I'd drive it. I like the Honda Element too. There are a lot of minivans I like, but- the wife whipped out the veto pen on that idea. Otherwise, my 2007 might well have been a 2007 Honda Odyssey EX-L with Navigation.
Our Edge is nice, but it'll never be as comfortable on a 400, 500, 800, 1600 mile round trip as an Odyssey would've been.
Last edited by Bighersh; Jan 29, 2008 at 01:10 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by scott1981
I just couldnt stand the shame of signing the title
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,762
Likes: 0
From: Windsor, Ont.
Originally Posted by s2krn
No sour grapes here... I work in a marketbale profession. Due to my education I can work in any city in the US. I don't need a Union to "negotiate" for me. If job conditions are unfare, or pay is bad, or benefits suck I move on to the next job. If I lose my job there's 5 more waiting on me.
You say you would gladly decrease your own wage to keep your job, but you can't make that bargain. The union has to vote on wether or not that is an option. So is the Union helping you or hurting you in that situation. The reason auto workers need the union is because they are not "marketable". If Ford ships jobs overseas do you think Chevy would ****** up all those out of work union laborers? I can answer that one for you! So where does the Union worker look for work after the unions have bled the auto industry dry? Without a trade or an education WalMart jobs will start looking a lot better.
You say you would gladly decrease your own wage to keep your job, but you can't make that bargain. The union has to vote on wether or not that is an option. So is the Union helping you or hurting you in that situation. The reason auto workers need the union is because they are not "marketable". If Ford ships jobs overseas do you think Chevy would ****** up all those out of work union laborers? I can answer that one for you! So where does the Union worker look for work after the unions have bled the auto industry dry? Without a trade or an education WalMart jobs will start looking a lot better.
By the way, yes, the union helps you find work in many venues, job fairs, resume writing you name it. The company does the same, pays for education, supplimental pay for periods of time. I also have chairmen as references for new jobs, that says alot because they know many of us at a personal level. That bodes well on a resume.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Originally Posted by scott1981
I guess if you can put a dollar value on pride thats cool. Any red blooded American would be ashamed to be seen in such a car
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,762
Likes: 0
From: Windsor, Ont.
Originally Posted by 02SuperCrew4X
You're kidding, right? The Taurus? Don't you mean the re-badged "500"?
That's right, that car was a flop too (not enough power, boring exterior and interior) so how do we make it better? I know! Re-badge it as a Taurus, the 1989 best-seller. Yeah, that will make it sell! Did it work? Nope. Still ugly, still selling slower than ever. Look at the number of Taurus' you see on the road compared to Honda/Toyota/Nissan.
The Impala? Laughable at best. Again, a rental car in disguise. Nothing exciting or innovative about it, other than maybe the availability of a V8, but oh yeah it's FWD so nevermind all that.
Pontiac G6? Same thing as previous. You see more of them at rental lots than in people's driveways. Why? Because they're plain, boring, and lack excitement.
The Mustang, I'll give you that one. Ford really knows what they're doing with that car and they're on the ball, and there is ONLY ONE Mustang.
Pontiac Grand Prix? Sorry, same as the General's other entries. Boring, lacking character, not fun to drive, rental lot queen. I don't think I know ONE person who ever bought a Pontiac Grand Prix off a lot, whether it was new or used.
Let's face it, the Japanese just make a better car. When it comes to trucks, the Americans rule, but in the car department, the Japs got us licked and sticked, just like a postage stamp.
That's right, that car was a flop too (not enough power, boring exterior and interior) so how do we make it better? I know! Re-badge it as a Taurus, the 1989 best-seller. Yeah, that will make it sell! Did it work? Nope. Still ugly, still selling slower than ever. Look at the number of Taurus' you see on the road compared to Honda/Toyota/Nissan.
The Impala? Laughable at best. Again, a rental car in disguise. Nothing exciting or innovative about it, other than maybe the availability of a V8, but oh yeah it's FWD so nevermind all that.
Pontiac G6? Same thing as previous. You see more of them at rental lots than in people's driveways. Why? Because they're plain, boring, and lack excitement.
The Mustang, I'll give you that one. Ford really knows what they're doing with that car and they're on the ball, and there is ONLY ONE Mustang.
Pontiac Grand Prix? Sorry, same as the General's other entries. Boring, lacking character, not fun to drive, rental lot queen. I don't think I know ONE person who ever bought a Pontiac Grand Prix off a lot, whether it was new or used.
Let's face it, the Japanese just make a better car. When it comes to trucks, the Americans rule, but in the car department, the Japs got us licked and sticked, just like a postage stamp.
And the Nissan's are just beaming excitement, right? Aside from bieng overpriced, they are boooooooooooooring. Toyota is way more boring still. You can get a Mustang, Denali and much more at rental places, what's you're point? Don't buy THAT car when it's due, we all know why
Sorry my man, jappo cars do absolutely nothing for me, the 350z is OK, but a stang trumps it huge. European cars deliver more of everything, give me that at least.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
From: Temple, Tx
Originally Posted by scott1981
If that thing was free I would not take it
Suspended
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Originally Posted by 2stroked
I'm as American as they come - and damn proud of it. One of the things that makes this country great is our freedom to make our own choices. Yes, the xB is so ugly I have to chain it to the porch every night. You know what though, It's an absolute gas to drive and has comfortable room for four 6 foot adults inside - and it gets 32 MPG all day long. Oh yea. and don't forget the resale value. One can put up with a ton of ugly when you see what its worth. My truck looks a ton better - but isn't worth crap on resale. Bottom line, for a second car - it's absolutely awesome.