The Poor Automakers And Us

At Ford Motor Co. they called it "Blue," a team set up around the year 2000 to design an array of small, fuel-efficient cars to compete with the Japanese. It didn't get far because no one could figure out how to make money on low-priced compacts with Ford's high labor costs.

What a bunch of bullshit and we're supposed to give these company's money. It wasn't that they couldn't figure out how to make money it was they couldn't figure out how to make enough money as they were making big bucks building fuel hogs. These corporate back alley whores could care less about the future of our country. The title of the linked to article above is "Automakers struggle to survive past mistakes". If there were mistakes made they were intentional for the most part.

My view on conventional vehicles except when I was a young gear head is very simplistic. Just want to get from point a to point b without breaking down and do it cheaply and safely with all the comforts intact and that requires driving certain models of pre-owned vehicles. My cost to drive per mile is very low.

Every year new models are introduced since forever it seems. Never seemed right and I love cars. What that does is increase the price. Maybe that was the first example for me of consumerism of excess.

When you can't compete in the market place because you are negligent in delivering the products needed and want my money to survive I take issue. Wages in some cases are part of this and I support unions. A friend who turns wrenches for an airline just took a 14% pay cut. It's not the ones doing the labor that's the problem but the dummies at the top that are all fucked up.

Have long thought there has been a need for the production of a very simple efficient vehicle that costs considerably less to produce than what's on the market now. Make the body parts out of recycled plastic I don't give a shit what it looks like. Design it so a dummy can work on it with manuals and tutorials along with a tool kit to do the needed preventative maintenance and minor repair work. Make it simple and plain but make it well so if taken care of it has the possibility of lasting for years. What I do give a shit about is getting to that point a or b cheap. It's time for that type of option.

With our society's forced lifestyle changes that are not going away and which will continue to decline another option for personal transportation will look very attractive. Many would be able to continue to have an association with a powered vehicle our country is noted for.

I don't need to go a 100mph or be able to accelerate quickly to cruising speed. I'll wind up a spring to operate the windshield wipers if that helps. Ok I can live without the heated seats and plush carpeting and other interior features. But be damn sure there's a heater to blow me outta there and let me be able to reach at least 70mph and come close to maintaining that speed.

Something like this is possible. I understand the jobs that are at stake in the auto industry but if it isn't viable or there are not plans on the table to insure the success of this industry why continue. Sure as hell not many problems making weapons of war. We're very good at that.

The wheels need to get their beaners together and formulate some quick action and that doesn't mean just an infusion of capital that results in them coming back in awhile with the same
problem.