The buck doesn't stop at the Union. The buck stops at the leadership of GM and the US gov't. Now we all know the government has policies that support the Unions (which give them too much negotiating power). But this has been going on for years and years. GM just kept plodding along with no contigency plans whatsoever. Everybody says the auto companies were producing the wrong products? Only partly true. It was the entire business model and US tax and labor policies.

The problem is that our tax policies promote spending all profits. If a company wants to create a "bank account" for future investments (or a rainy day fund) it has to pay more taxes than if the money was spent. Remember after 9/11 and the airline industry was down 10%, and they all shouted bankruptcy? If companies can't weather a temporary 10% drop in revenue then you're always going to have problems. Much less the gargantuan drop the auto industry has seen.

I personally don't mind people spending money in any economy.
Would we rather have companies going broke or making huge profits? I'll take huge profits.

Oh the car...I don't like the color either.

So Mr. Ireson, you wrote the article. Why do you think Porsche is lying about the times?

Another company that has yet to produce 1 vehicle for sale. Great ideas (although not new) + exorbitant costs = no solution.

They are trying to get $450,000,000 from the gov't (like Tesla). I saw the CEO/founder testifying for a Senate sub-committee about the auto bailout stuff back in Nov. or Dec. You would have thought Bright Automotive was the answer to everything the way it was being touted. Right up to the point where the estimated price of their standard 4 door hybrid was pegged at $50,000. That is if all the costs of manufacturing "come in line" over the coming months and years.

For all the bashing of the major auto manufacturers, at least they can produce lots of cars inexpensive enough for almost everyone.

And the heavens opened...I think I may have to sell one of my old cars. I hope it is so.

Axial66...Hey I have no sympathy for Wagoner. But WHY bring up Toyota as a shining example?

They offer 6, that's 6, SUVs. They have three (more if you count Lexus) of the biggest gas guzzlers (in their class) on the market. Those gas guzzlers have plumeted in sales as much or more than most.

Why didn't they see it coming? Why did they introduce 2 of their biggest and worst guzzlers right when gas hit 4-5 bucks a gallon?

Why did their quality go down so much in recent years?

I am sick of hearing how great Toyota is because they came out with a hybrid.

Image is more important than reality. Again.

Another example of impression being more important than reality.

CARB does no research, yet contends they know how to fix something because it "sounds" good.

Remember when asked, "what do you think should be done to reduce rollover deaths in vehicles", Nancy Pelosi said she thinks more metal ought to be put in the roofs.

Remember when Claybrook forced airbags into cars when the auto cos. said not so fast, we need to study them further. Those first few years airbags killed more children than guns in schools ever did.

Hey Trelin, the sky roof option is cool. I just cannot get over the fact that any viable auto co. still offers a 4 speed automatic in 2009. Especially after their relation with Merc who seems to be obsessed with more gears.

BTW Chris,

I've owned 3 BMW's, 2 Porsches, and 1 Audi.

All the rest have been Fords and Lincolns and 1 Mercury.

With the exception of the Audi. (I still have a '93 S4 with 190,000 miles.) The German's absolutely blow away the Fords in ownership costs and repair. There is no comparison. My 911 has more repair cost in it than the purchase price itself. If something goes wrong with the BMWs I automatically figured $2000. If it's less, I won.

So there is no way Lincolns and Merc's are worse than German's.
I don't think JD Power accounts for pride of ownership. Because otherwise the German cars would rank lower in pure costs and reliability. They drive great, and still drive great at 100,000 miles. And I love that. My 740il had so many problems I can't count them all, but I still love that car.

It's about image, not reality.

Diesels have a huge image problem to overcome (in the states). Hybrids are like Obama. Everyone feels great about them now; they are the "in" thing. The follow the leader public is just getting going on hybrids. They still think hybrids are our answer.

Beta vs. VCR. Beta was better but lost.

Jaguar ain't gonna all of a sudden start selling cars because they are the number 1 most reliable car after 3 years of ownership. Can you imagine! The public still thinks they are nightmares.

As Gus points out half the cars on the list are 'mericans.
Again, ask a mostly non-informed public and you'll always get the same answer. "Why can't 'merican companies make a car like Toeyoto?"