What did you get for your $303?

[ceemes]

I think GM should give us all a car. They might actually be able to increase revenue if they sell their cars for what they are actually worth....

They would have done better to build cars worth buying in the first place. The build quality of GM in particular (all domestics in general) is terrible, and has been getting even worse the last few years.

I don't understand how they can lose money building vehicles that cost $1.63 in materials.......

And yet both GM and Ford Europe build outstanding vehicles of good quality....so how can that be?

[Theweapon52]

I think GM should give us all a car. They might actually be able to increase revenue if they sell their cars for what they are actually worth....

They would have done better to build cars worth buying in the first place. The build quality of GM in particular (all domestics in general) is terrible, and has been getting even worse the last few years.

I don't understand how they can lose money building vehicles that cost $1.63 in materials.......

And yet both GM and Ford Europe build outstanding vehicles of good quality....so how can that be?

Because when ford and GM went over to europe the idea of a good car was something that was economical to run, got your daily errands done all on cheap compact package. The vast majority of North Americans thought bigger was better up until a few years ago and that really ran things into the ground because car manufacturers weren't prepared for the shift in needs.

On a side note i don't think ford is doing toooo badly yet compared to GM. At least they don't need a bailout....yet. It seems as though ford is keeping enough people pleased to stay on the afloat.

[Wrider]

Know why Ford isn't asking for a bailout? Because the bailout terms specifically say that if you get a bailout you can't pay out shareholder dividends. What does the Ford family live on? Ding Ding Ding...

But yeah, domestics aren't doing well because, well, it's expensive to run them compared to the rest.
As for how can they be expensive when they cost 1.63 in materials, that's because the starting worker in the plants gets 20 bucks an hour. That's to START! If only I could make that much! Unions can be useful, don't get me wrong, but in this case they outlived their usefulness and shot themselves in the foot (feet?).

[Theweapon52]

Know why Ford isn't asking for a bailout? Because the bailout terms specifically say that if you get a bailout you can't pay out shareholder dividends. What does the Ford family live on? Ding Ding Ding....

you learn something new everyday right?

[High_Side]

Know why Ford isn't asking for a bailout? Because the bailout terms specifically say that if you get a bailout you can't pay out shareholder dividends. What does the Ford family live on? Ding Ding Ding...

Or is it because they are not completely bankrupt like the other two? They might not be far behind, but there is a big difference between in their situations at the moment.

[Theweapon52]

Know why Ford isn't asking for a bailout? Because the bailout terms specifically say that if you get a bailout you can't pay out shareholder dividends. What does the Ford family live on? Ding Ding Ding...

Or is it because they are not completely bankrupt like the other two? They might not be far behind, but there is a big difference between in their situations at the moment.

Thats what i thought? Maybe not though. To me it seemed like they were doing the best of all the domestic car manufacturers.

[BuzZz]

I actually thought about buying some Ford stock, with the idea they may be like Harley was in the early 80's.... dirt cheap with no place to go but up when the World stops ending and people start buying new cars again. As the last American car maker, the government should put some heavy import duties on the rest of the makers to help out.

But I know exactly dickall about the stock market and never trusted it in the first place. See no reason to start now..... I sleep better knowing I actually produce something of value for my money..... and waiting for the Lotto to hit....

[blues2cruise]

Budget Alternative

Dear Mr. Harper,

Please find below my suggestion for fixing Canada's economy.

Instead of giving billions of dollars to the car industry that will squander
the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.
You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.
Pay them 1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Ten million job openings - Unemployment fixed.

2) They MUST buy a new CAR. Ten million cars ordered - Automotive Industry fixed.

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing and Mortgage Crisis fixed.

4) They must send their kids to school / college / university - Crime rate fixed.

5) Buy $50 of alcohol/gas a week - there's your money back in duty / tax etc.

It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances.

Works for me.