BINGO; I don't care what anybody says we (americans) suck at building Japanese cars, Just look at the also ran Honda wannabees that detroit currently rolls out.

The Japanes are just better at degsining a Japanese car than we are

BUT the flip side of that is the Japanese suck at building American cars but we're really good at it (or at lease we were) Dodge has recently rediscovered this.

I go both ways strictly depending on the type of automobile I'm looking for at the time

 

If the american car companies would look at John Deere they would see what it
takes takes to compete in the world. JD makes products all over the world, sells
them all over the world, rolls out fresh products relentlessly & there resell is tops,
they pay a high wage & make money year after year. If they can do it why can't
GM, Ford, & DC ?

 

Dude, GM owns the full size SUV market clearly. The new Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban models have been a huge sucess and the gap is growing wider. Check the sales numbers. GM sets the benchmark for this segment.

 

You're right. Since 1936, they have been a truck based station wagon. When I was a kid many years ago, you only saw them hauling railroad workers or highway workers. When GM added 4X4 to them, they became SUVs. Per Edmunds.com "Introduced way back in 1936, the Chevrolet (and GMC) Suburban was based on a commercial panel truck, but instead of having a huge, windowless cargo area there was a large passenger compartment. Basically truck-based station wagons, the early Suburbans had two doors (not counting the two-piece tailgate) and three rows of seats that seated up to eight passengers."

Ford is a recent entry and they have never found their place and have bounced in and out with their products (Excursion, etc).

 

Madhatch, I', having trouble following your thinking. You wouldn't worry about GM? The worlds largest auto company and htye one that sells as many trucks as Ford and the company that has a new series truck out right now? What awful advice ....

BTW, Taurus's are still the leading rental car. Too bad, their last run was about 5 years too long... very, very dated.

 

And, unfortunately, as has been stated, Ford decided to dump new products on the market instead of retooling a proven success in the Taurus, like the Japanese do with the corolla.

Osbornk,
Nice little history lesson, I had forgotten that the 'burban had been around for so long.

 

The Taurus WAS a good car in its time but the last generation went too long with little updating. Changing the shape of the rear window from oval to recatangular doesn't count.

 

Ford (and GM) mistakes.

Replacing a proven, popular car name like Taurus, or Cutlass with 500* or Intrigue..when introducing new models.

If the 500 had been named Taurus...sales would be greater...and if Olds had used Cutlass, instead of that awful Intrigue name..Olds might still be with us.

Camry, and Accord have had...what..three or four updates? The looks have changed, the names haven't. Successful, aren't they.

If the names are successful and popular, why do American car companies insist on dropping these well known names, and using a non-entity on a new model.

I do worry about GM and Ford...if these two old line companies go bankrupt...you'll see the worst depression since 1929. People in this country just don't realize how our economy revolves around auto sales. The death of either Ford or GM would be catastropic!

*I am aware that Ford wanted to use the Futura name instead of 500...but since they gave up the rights to the name years ago, they were unable to use it...as Pep Boys wouldn't allow it. Pep Boys has a Futura line of tires.

 

NumberDummy,

You've got it right for the most part. But for the bigger picture you've got to look at how these Smart Corporate Leaders have chosen not to redefine the American brands and decided to attempt to revive other Asian or Eroupean Brands instead. Ford bought controlling interest in Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover and a huge stake in Mazda. On the other hand GM bought controlling interest in Saab, Daewoo, Isuzu, Subaru and Suzuki. Most of these mergers have not produced. For instance Ford invested 5 Billion in Jaguar and it's still bleeding cash. The only one of these companies beginning to show any gain is Volvo but needless to say many of the mergers still draining huge sums of money. Now Toyota on the other hand resisted the need to gobble up failing brands and focused on redefining it's own line up of Cars, Trucks and SUV's. When Toyota decided to launch it own luxury brand Lexus it bacame the laughing stock of the Automotive Industry. No one understood why they wouldn't take a controlling interest of one of the many failing car makers. Who's laughing now?

 

Did you know that Toyota almost blew it with the Lexus name? After spending billions...they discovered to their horror that the name Lexus was already being used in the US.....by a Lawnmower!

They had to pay the lawnmower maker millions to secure rights to the name.

Yes, Ford and GM blew billions of dollars on their foreign purchases...GM has ruined Saab's reputation, sales have hit rock bottom....and GM has just about killed Isuzu, too.

Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover...why these brands? Jaguars have been dogs for years...about the only good thing Ford did with Jag was to dump the Lucas electrics.

Aston Martin...a specialized market...too few sales for too big an investment.

Land Rover..an overpriced poorly styled box on wheels...IMO..and now since Ford got involved, its already poor reliability record hasn't improved much.

Instead of pouring billions into the Premier Auto Group, Ford should have spent the money improving Mercury...giving the division some panache...I fear Mercury will not be with us much longer.

Lincoln sales are poor too, the brand has been sinking every year since the mid '90's.

 

Here we are going back and forth about Ford, GM, and others....

But is it any single one of them or is it the American business model of today? Maybe something went wrong twenty to thirty years ago at the big MBA schools and they turned out a huge crop of business imbeciles who are so good at what they do that they can't do anything else i.e. they can't hit a curve ball, think outside the box, whatever you want to call it.

Seems the bigger they are, the dumber they become.

 

Amen,

It's all that and more. Look at what's occuring all over the American Landscape. I guess all these Top Notch CEO went to the same Business Schools. None of these guys have thought outside the box for many a years. Seems like these guys along with the ones running the big airlines, Delta, Northwest and TWA etc. all went to the same school. But even though their the head of a ship that appears to run aground, they still manage to take home millions of dollars in bonus and stock options. All this for being shortsighted, laying off thousands of people and running a great company into the ground. Wish I could ask Bill ford that question!

 

Brent and dallbright, you realize of course, that it's only going to get worse.

I'd love to know where GM finds their vehicle designers. Harley Earl must be rolling over in his grave.

The entire GM lines are fugly, plain, and un-appealing. Anyone with half an eye can look at a new 'Vette front end and see...Viper! The 2007 Chevy trucks have Titan overtones and have copied that trucks wide open rear doors on extended cabs, and Titan's Util-I-Trac system.

GM's continued use of OHV engines and 4 speed automatics ain't helping them either.

GM..The once industry leader for style and engineering, has been reduced to copycatting every other manufacturer.

Sad...

 

Yep their way behind in breaking new ground. I currently own 2 FORD Vehicles an '04 6.0 KR and a Expedition. I just picked it up for my wife a few days ago. I've always wanted those little extra or at least an option to purchase them from the dealer but they weren't offered by FORD. I guess they feel like if your buying a SuperDuty you wouldn't won't those creature comfort. Well for me it would have been nice to not have to worry about an aftermaket dealer. Who wouldn't like an option for hands free mobile service, you can get it from Toyota, Lexus or Nissian. I sure would have liked a Tie Down System offered by Nissian. What about Navigation? The list goes on and yes your right, seems like were replicating what's already on the market. Looked at GMC the other day and the Denali, Yukon, Surburban etc. all have a Cadillac appeal. Heck look at Jeep they all have a resemblance to the Mercedes Wagon. The current cars that are offered are pretty bland also. They've got a lot of catching up to do but before they can do that they need to get innovative. I'm sure those guys in R&D have some great ideals but there being restrained by the top brass. Toyota and Honda have had Hybryds on the highways for years and the Big 3 are just offering them. Well that's my 2 cents for now.

 

Aftermarket Util-I-Trac systems are now being offered for other makes.

I saw some on...where else...ebay.