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| Clint Eastwood |
By the next morning, of course, Karl Rove was on Fox News politicizing the ad. Has Clint Eastwood --America’s tough guy and the former Republican Mayor of Carmel, CA – gone soft in the head? Or worse, become a Democrat? Never mind that Clint is an actor who probably got paid bazillion dollars for reading a speech for 2 minutes. For the same money, I would have dressed up as Bo-Peep and sang Deutschland, Deutschland Uber Alles. This debate (over nothing) has gone viral since.
Lost in all this discussion is any analysis of the validity of Clint’s (and Chrysler’s) claim. Are the Detroit Big 3 producing cars that can compete on a global stage? More importantly, are they competitive in the world’s most important market, the U.S. of A?
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| 2012 Buick Regal |
Last year, I blogged about Bob Lutz’ book, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters (They Don't Write Songs About Volvos). It’s a great book even if you’re not a car nut. Lutz spent his life working in the industry and was largely responsible for Chrysler’s comeback in the 90’s. The book is well written and Lutz is a great American character, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot whose treatise offers terrific lessons in leadership.
While Lutz’ book may be self-promotional, he also goes out of his way to say the he doesn’t believe anyone, including him, could have saved GM from its 2009 bankruptcy. However, the changes in cost structure brought on by that event coupled with his decade long focus on design and engineering have resulted in a great product lineup from Chevy, Buick, Cadillac and GMC. Ditto, Ford and Chrysler.
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| 2012 Chrysler 300C |
However, if you are in the market for a new car, you owe it to yourself to check out the American competition before you make your final choice. Before you buy that Lexus, stop off at a Buick dealer. That’s right. Buick!
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| 2013 Ford Fusion |
In each case, you will find the American car offers similar (or even better) performance, utility, ride and handling – at a lower price!
As for the S-Class Mercedes? Well, not yet. But, then it’s only half time.
Bernardette Enochian • I had a hard time following Clint's ad. I think at least Chrysler has gone back to design and come up with something new & different. That's where the US cars need to go. Quit making cookie cutter cars that if you had a row of silver cars you might have to take more than a second glance to find yours in the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteI hope the GM cars catch on...but it's hard to go up against the fuel misers from KIA, even if they are a "disposable" car which might not last. The price will suck them in...I've seen quite a few KIA's on the road and their gas mileage is VERY persuasive (but I STILL wouldn't buy one). The other fuel saver is the Prius. GM has to come up with a better answer than performance. We need to get rid of the gas guzzlers.
I think the big 3 need a good kick in the pants to get back on track with improving gas mileage or finding an alternative. My dad lost a bit of money (stock) when the old GM folded. He was hoping the new GM would come back...so he invested again. So far he has lost almost 1/2 his investment. He plans to ride it out and hope they will turn the corner and make a comeback.
John Nice plug for American metal. I hope you were paid enough for it to. The last decent American car I have owned was the 1968 Olds (still have it) every other one right down to a Caddie bought a few years ago are just junk. I won't go on as I just get more frustrated as I consider the plight and lack of pride in American workers.
ReplyDeleteGeo McL
John Calia • Regulation will force all of them to find alternatives. And, each has it's low cost entries. I am a 21st Century Dinosaur (see previous blog entry) and still hooked on horsepower and all the noise that goes with it.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I haven't made any investments in GM. They still have pension liabilities that are underfunded and their brands are tarnished by decades of neglect. But, I do love the new Camaro
Bernardette Enochian • My dad is one of those GM retirees (at 91 he has made more through his pension than his 26 years at GM). Hence his desire to try getting some stock again.
ReplyDeleteI miss the days of horsepower and street drag racing, but now I'm also more aware of blowing the $$ out the muffler. I had my Camaro in 1981 and my Mustangs in 74, 75 and 76. since then I've had my share of Cadillacs (I was the Cadillac kid, since dad worked at the Caddy tank plant from 1950-1964 in Cleveland) and then my own used ones since 1978-1987. Now I've got a used 2006 Buick Park Ave because I'm driving my elderly parents around and we need comfort (and driving 50 miles each way to visit them on the weekends besides). But the gas mileage is tolerable 23-27 mpg. I would have preferred the 50 mpg KIA, but can't shake the import and value mentality.
Come on Detroit...get with the program!
Zachary Sochacki • I love Chrysler. Not all of them. Their top of the line 300C series.
ReplyDeleteI know...I'm nuts.
But I bought a 300C when they first came out. It's got a big Detroit V-8 (probably made in Canada) pumping out about 345 horses, handles better than the average cruiser, has some style in a retro way, has good technology and, when I bought it, was a real head turner.
Since Daimler was the owner at the time, Chrysler engineers borrowed heavily from the suspension and transmission from the Mercedes 300 series. However they still had bugs in the front end...which rumor has it has gotten better.
And the price was right. Instead of laying out $60K to $100K for some Euro Cruiser, I paid about $40K loaded. Great deal.
Chrysler upgraded that model this year and had tweaked it a bit. The engine grew a few more horses and they're supposed to put in an 8 speed transmission. The interior also received an upgrade in terms of fit and the quality of the materials.
I really like my car. And I'll probably shop for a replacement 300C...or even an SRT with a few more horses and better handling...sometime next year after they've shaken out whatever bugs there are in the revision this year.
Frankly, their new "relationship" with Fiat seems to be working well. Maybe they'll regain some of the "chutzpah" that made them a contender in 2005.
John...I enjoy reading about cars as well, but I find the most important information in Consumer Reports and similar magazines. Looking for best value, which is a combination of price, quality, reliability, cost of ownership, etc., the U.S. manufacturers are still eating Japan's dust...
ReplyDeleteHarold Bernaert • I drive a beaten up Land Rover Defender.
ReplyDeleteThe car that never failed me while in the marines, and still never fails me.
Parts are dirt cheap because half the armed forces of the world have spare parts stocked to the roof.
It is also the most environmentally friendly car in the world because it does not require asphalt roads.
I do not care if my wife drives it because if she crashes into something it won’t be her or the car that has a problem.
There is enough space for every body and everything inside it and then some. A few dents here and there only make it look better.
And what can you say about a car that was first launched in 1948 and is still being produced in 2012.
Zachary Sochacki • @ Harold
ReplyDeleteHere in the States, Land Rovers are never used for the purpose they were originally intended. They're considered "upscale" here because of their relatively high cost. Most are driven by suburban Soccer Moms who use them to drop the kids off at school, go shopping and meet their friends for lunch at the club.
They emasculated the brand, Harold!!!! Even their own advertising focuses on that aspect of the vehicle with a short nod to it's off-road heritage.
Jeep is the name that was most associated with off-roading here. The old CJ-5 (and CJ-7) series was the old doorless dirt hog with prominent roll bars and a paramilitary demeanor. But they suburbanized them as well!
And then there was the Hummer!!!!! I remember when "Arnold" ("The Governator") got one as a gift from the company. Good combat vehicle, but a bit much for civilian use. It took up 1 1/2 parking spaces at the mall! So then came the H2 and H3, which were smaller and popular for a while. But when people figured out they were more sizzle than steak...and when gas prices went ballistic here...the company went bankrupt.
Now, most people just get 4 wheel drive pick-up trucks if they're serious about off-roading. All of the SUV's made these days are just for hauling kids, dogs and groceries.
Harold Bernaert • I drive a beaten up Land Rover Defender.
ReplyDeleteThe car that never failed me while in the marines, and still never fails me.
Parts are dirt cheap because half the armed forces of the world have spare parts stocked to the roof.
It is also the most environmentally friendly car in the world because it does not require asphalt roads.
I do not care if my wife drives it because if she crashes into something it won’t be her or the car that has a problem.
There is enough space for every body and everything inside it and then some. A few dents here and there only make it look better.
And what can you say about a car that was first launched in 1948 and is still being produced in 2012.
Zachary Sochacki • @ Harold
ReplyDeleteHere in the States, Land Rovers are never used for the purpose they were originally intended. They're considered "upscale" here because of their relatively high cost. Most are driven by suburban Soccer Moms who use them to drop the kids off at school, go shopping and meet their friends for lunch at the club.
They emasculated the brand, Harold!!!! Even their own advertising focuses on that aspect of the vehicle with a short nod to it's off-road heritage.
Jeep is the name that was most associated with off-roading here. The old CJ-5 (and CJ-7) series was the old doorless dirt hog with prominent roll bars and a paramilitary demeanor. But they suburbanized them as well!
And then there was the Hummer!!!!! I remember when "Arnold" ("The Governator") got one as a gift from the company. Good combat vehicle, but a bit much for civilian use. It took up 1 1/2 parking spaces at the mall! So then came the H2 and H3, which were smaller and popular for a while. But when people figured out they were more sizzle than steak...and when gas prices went ballistic here...the company went bankrupt.
Now, most people just get 4 wheel drive pick-up trucks if they're serious about off-roading. All of the SUV's made these days are just for hauling kids, dogs and groceries.
Harold Bernaert • @Zach
ReplyDeleteThat is why I drive a Defender. and not a Range Rover or Discovery.
I do not think a self respecting "Soccer Moms" would like to drive around or be seen in a car with the handling and road comfort of an "Tractor" and that looks like it was a left over from the "Falkland War"
But the roads here in Norway are so full of pott holes that you need a 4x4 to get out of them ;-)
Keep them rolling ;-)
Zachary Sochacki • HAH!
ReplyDeleteI had an old friend of mine with whom I used to go pheasant hunting. He loved the old Jeep Wagoners. They were big! It was the only Jeep made with a V-8 engine and would go through anything. And they could haul anything. Big enough to pull 4 hunters, their equipment and their dogs. Or to throw a few deer on the hood and bring home the bacon. Great vehicle.
When they stopped making them, he'd scour the papers for used ones to replace the ones he'd just "burned out". He loved those machines.
His name was Hans Braun. He was about 6'2" tall and tipped the scales at 300 pounds. (He passed away from cancer a few years ago. I miss that old son-of-a-bitch.)
I miss him too -- and, I didn't even know him. :->>
ReplyDelete