GM does not anticipate issuing stock for public trading until some time next year.
It’s nice to see the SHO back in action. And with a Ford engine this time, not Yamaha. Ford really seems to have their head on straight. They’re making all the right choices, and have been for the past… three years, obviously, so probably about five years, less than obviously.
Not ALL the right choices. Car and Driver shows many really cool small European Fords,then mentions that they will not be selling that model in the US. The current Focus is just a tweaked version of the old one which is based on the 1990s Mazda Protege, while the European Focus is based on the much more modern Mazda3. If they offered all the small car choices here that they make elsewhere, they’d be kicking Toyota and Honda’s butts in that department.
True. I was in the market for a small wagon/hatchback recently and I didn’t see anything in their lineup that was even close to what I wanted. The Ford Fiesta would have been a strong contender if it were available here. (I ended up with a Honda Fit.)
Hmm, maybe I spoke too soon, it says here the Fiesta will be available in the US starting next year. Wasn’t soon enough for me but I guess they are making right choices.
The Euro-Focus is coming over next year, too. Learned that about two years ago. I didn’t say the decisions were operable yet, just public.
Basically, right about here.
The only problem with Ford was that a Ford was running it. Alan’s running it now, Bill’s got his thumb in, but he’s essentially emeritus.
GM and Toyota had a joint venture for years (they made Chevolets which were essentially Toyotas). GM knew how to build quality small cars, but could not do it profitably-because of its high debt level and labor costs. In contrast Toyota has no debt and its USA operations are not unionized. Did GM screw themselves Yes-they had no profitable sall car line, when gas prices soared. Saturn was a bright spot, but they starved that division.
I went to the food store a few days ago, and as I was walking across the parking lot, I saw an unfamiliar model of small commercial van pull in. It was a Ford, and appeared new. Looking at Ford Canada’s website, I see that it’s a Transit Connect. Is that one being sold in the States?
Built in Turkey on the Focus platform. Imported into US/Canada beginning mid-2009.
Until the labor albatross of unions in the USA is resolved, foreign companies will continue to whip our ass. Labor is the single highest cost for just about any business. The legacy costs incurred by large American automakers are insane. Paying people not to work is insane. Having to call in a unionized technician for a job that the average factory worker could resolve is insane.
GM is recently building good cars. They need to regain market share in the domestic market in the US. Ford is ahead of the game. Chrysler, I have no idea what they are doing, and I don’t think anyone else does, either.
Nevermind.
The only American hatchback I found that was the size and price I wanted when I was looking 3 years ago was the Chevy Aveo, and if I wanted more size and a higher price there was the Pontiac Vibe. That was it. And it made me sad, because I really would have liked to buy another Saturn (I loved my old SC2) but they just didn’t have anything that fit what I needed.
I also wound up with a Fit. Best. car. EVER.
(Bolding mine.)
That’s pretty slow for a sports car.
I knew about this two years ago and I’ve been (semi)patiently waiting for it. I love small cars and I do want to buy American. I didn’t like the Caliber, though I tried. I don’t like the Aveo or Cobalt and the new Focus has horrible lower back support. I’ve been so excited for the Fiesta to come out. Ford’s finally figured out that there’s a market in the US for actual European cars, not the European cars they’d bring over and then turn to complete shit by making it a slow heavy hog.
I find it funny how many people here just spout off on what the (former) Big Three are doing wrong… when there’s been plans in the works for fixes for the problems that apparently they haven’t paid attention to.
And neither of these hatchbacks are purely American. The Aveo is designed and manufactured by Daewoo (a South Korean subsidiary of GM). The Vibe is a joint venture with Toyota.
I suppose the Dodge Caliber is technically in the same category. I didn’t consider it myself because of the poor experience I’ve had with my previous (and only) Chrysler vehicle. I’ve also had two co-workers who had it as a rental and told me they hated it, even without my asking about it. (Though to be fair, I think there is an inherent bias against rental cars regardless of make/model.)
Tre, though I’m not sure if we should give them credit for plans unless (and until) they are actually implemented.
Just run down to a Ford dealership and buy a Ford Fusion. This car is kicking all sorts of ass in comparison tests.
The Hybrid Fusion beats the Camry and Accord hybrids, and is probably the best hybrid car in the world right now.
The Fusion is also one of the most reliable vehicles on the road.
And, Ford didn’t take a dime of bailout money.
Yeah, but things like the Fiesta are an answer to “American car companies don’t have any nice, small, fuel-efficient vehicles!” It is coming stateside, but it’s for next model year. They can’t just wave their hand and get new models out in two days. Car development takes time, and even if it’s an established model over in Europe, they still have to make changes needed to meet different safety specifications, etc.
I’m not saying the former Big Three never did anything wrong. I’d never say that! But they honestly are making some good decisions (at least Ford and GM, anyway). You just have to wait more than two weeks to see results of those decisions.
That’s nice. But we’ve seen it over and over and over. The big three announce some new thing that sounds great in theory, and when it arrives, it sucks. Why should this time be any different?
In other words, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Besides, why would I want to buy such a car from a company that hasn’t figured out how to produce “nice, small, fuel-efficient vehicles” for the American market yet? It’s 2009 for pete’s sake! Yes, car development takes time, but it was abundantly clear by the early-to-mid 1980s that there was a large and steady demand for good-quality yet economical cars. Even if they do okay with their latest attempt, it’s really too little too late.
p.s. I have more faith in Ford than GM or Chrysler.
The point is that the American companies are way behind the game. Honda and Toyota managed to turn European models into nice, small, fuel-efficient American models 4 years ahead of Ford bringing the Fiesta over. Do you honestly think the Japanese were able to wave their hands and have those new models out in 2 days? No, the changes took about the same time it’s taken Ford. They just started 4 years earlier.