Auto Execs Fly Corporate Jets to D.C., Tin Cups in Hand

[AGDee]

Last year's Truck of the Year was a Toyota.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Everybody has a different idea of when a car has died a natural death. If I have to pay more than the blue book value to cover a repair, I consider it a dead car. Once a car has over 200K, by my definition, buying new tires for it would probably put it over the edge into the "dead" category.

My 86 Honda CRX has nine lives. I drove it 180,000 miles, sold it to a friend in 1997, who passed it to his niece and nephew. It's around 300,000 now.

FWIW, when I was in the Mercedes club, I saw numerous cars (typically diesels) with their 200,000 mile badges on the grill.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by AGDee

However, I'm sure you'll find people with GM cars that failed before that, just as you find people who drive Hondas or Toyotas who have problems with their cars (like my boss, whose Honda Passport who had it in the shop a zillion times for transmission problems right after it was off warranty). I have another co-worker who had his Prius in the shop repeatedly.

Exactly. We can all find anecdotes galore about any car manufacturer, domestic or foreign, where the car was fantastic/the car was horrible, etc...

My husband and I got a 2009 Saturn Outlook in September in anticipation for the arrival of our second kid. It was the best vehicle for us that fit our needs and was in our budget. My husband and I are both tall, there are very few vehicles where we can both ride comfortably while having two carseats in the back. We've never fit comfortably in a non-European, foreign car and larger SUVs (both foreign and domestic) were out of our price range. We love the Outlook and hope it will last us a good 8-10 years.

Except for our Jeep, I've never had a non-GM car and have always been happy with them.

[VandalSquirrel]

My Subaru is close to 140,000 and I've had no major problems (I bought it used). Most of it is just general maintenance like belts. Considering it lived part of the past 10 years in Alaska, and since I've had it, in Idaho, it has held up amazingly. It is going to need brakes and tires soon, but I doubt I'd buy something other than a Subaru (maybe a Volvo) if and when I upgrade.

[nittanyalum]

^^^buying a Volvo would kinda be like buying American since Ford owns Volvo.

Here's something that hadn't even occurred to me: Nascar's feeling the pinch of the "Big 3" troubles: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269152/

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

^^^buying a Volvo would kinda be like buying American since Ford owns Volvo.

Here's something that hadn't even occurred to me: Nascar's feeling the pinch of the "Big 3" troubles: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28269152/

Never said I wouldn't buy American, just that I had a preference for my Subaru, and I'd consider a Volvo. I'd probably end up with the snazzier Subaru, like the Tribeca or whatever they come out with.

[nittanyalum]

George Will weighs in: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1

[Elephant Walk]

Hopefully the UAW somehow falls as a result of this.

The Union's deserve the loss of their jobs, afterall they created it.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

George Will weighs in: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1

Very interesting article. Mulally has given me a big respect for Ford.

[jojapeach]

^^^ I have to agree.

However, I'm sticking with my Honda. I've got 209K miles and counting. It's lasted me through the Bush years as I've planned, even after a nasty rear-end collision. Given this economy, I hope she can last through Obama's first term.

[jojapeach]

BTW, just posted 10 minutes ago: President Bush: Automakers to get $17.4B

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/...meltdown_autos

The line that got me was, "The White House package is the lifeline desperately sought by U.S. automakers..." So what lifeline is available for the average American? *sigh*

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by jojapeach

BTW, just posted 10 minutes ago: President Bush: Automakers to get $17.4B

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/...meltdown_autos

The line that got me was, "The White House package is the lifeline desperately sought by U.S. automakers..." So what lifeline is available for the average American? *sigh*

My anti-Obama father called a few minutes ago blaming this Bush bailout on Obama. He said Bush was forced into it because Obama had promised the automakers a large amount of funding and that this bailout is just a "Bridge to Obama."

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Very interesting article. Mulally has given me a big respect for Ford.

I agree. I am in the market for a new vehicle and my mind was set on Honda, but I am planning to give Ford a serious look now.

[nittanyalum]

The auto company loans were the right thing to do.

They better NOT, however, let Paulson touch one more dime of the TARP money. The other $350M should stay put and be dealt with by the next Congress and administration.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Very interesting article. Mulally has given me a big respect for Ford.

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I've been a fan of Mulally since his Boeing days. He still impresses me.

I agree with both of you, I think Mulally is a good thing for Ford. It looks as though his "bad days" (my words, not his) at Boeing, when they had to cut jobs, etc gave Ford a heads up in this auto bailout.

I'm glad he's doing good at Ford, cause i still really want a Ford Edge! hahaha.