Is Chrysler Shutting Down for a Month, or Forever?

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Seems that Detroit refuses to understand that we don't want little bites of fuel efficient vehicles. We want Detroit to wake up and realize that, for once , they do not dictate what we will buy or won't buy. I for one want a vehicle that just doesn't give me 35 Mpg. I want a new designed engine or probulsion system that will give me 100 mpg. Detroit, many years ago, bought up anyones inventions that would give high milages to vehicles. I say it is time to bring out those dusty inventions and start producing comon sense vehicles.

Seems that Detroit still believes that we will accept an increase of 5 mpg and like it. How far up in that ivory tower are they?

Rodney Stuart of NC 9:18AM January 13, 2009

buying foreign products is what got us into this mess, its time for us to evaluate our assets, i recently sold my foreign car in favor of a american made product. its time for americans to think america. we have lost our manufacturing base and what do u have, service sector, and a few tech jobs. look at what u own and see what is american made, its time for us to get america under control, and worry about ourselves

henry duplease of MA 8:35PM December 27, 2008

I once swore off American cars in the 80's, but I had three great GMC trucks/suv's in the 90's, and my 15 year old GMC runs great. No trouble for the first 10 years. I've replaced the aircon completely at year 14, the exhaust rusted away, and a head gasket, water pump and alternator, a few batteries. But for 15 years, its chummed along nearly without trouble. I currently own a Mercedes, an E class built in Germany, and while the motor and transmission is great, the quality of the plastic and stereo have been suprisingly bad. And the routine maintenace is about 10 times the cost of an American care. I'm sick of people badmouthing American cars like they are junk. Part of the problem is the constant changing of models, instead of the incremental changes Mercedes makes. GM and ford completely overhaul cars and change everything and sure, the first few years will show design flaws. But you take a car like the corvette, and make small incremental changes every year, and that is probably the best quality/price/value sports car every. Give American cars a chance.

Scott Johnson of TX 11:24AM December 25, 2008

I once swore off American cars in the 80's, but I had three great GMC trucks/suv's in the 90's, and my 15 year old GMC runs great. No trouble for the first 10 years. I've replaced the aircon completely at year 14, the exhaust rusted away, and a head gasket, water pump and alternator, a few batteries. But for 15 years, its chummed along nearly without trouble. I currently own a Mercedes, an E class built in Germany, and while the motor and transmission is great, the quality of the plastic and stereo have been suprisingly bad. And the routine maintenace is about 10 times the cost of an American care. I'm sick of people badmouthing American cars like they are junk. Part of the problem is the constant changing of models, instead of the incremental changes Mercedes makes. GM and ford completely overhaul cars and change everything and sure, the first few years will show design flaws. But you take a car like the corvette, and make small incremental changes every year, and that is probably the best quality/price/value sports car every. Give American cars a chance.

Scott Johnson of TX 11:24AM December 25, 2008

I have had a Pontiac and a chevrolett Bud i GM build all cars like My BUICK RIVIERA or like My oldsmobile AURORA it coud easyly continew to be the number one. My next car will be a Cadillac CTS. Why GM did not build the 1992 ultralite consept car a proven 100 mpg non hybrid tecnology. GM had the tecnology for years. Why they're delaying to build'it?

Daniel 6:57PM December 23, 2008

You guys have had it to easy for to long,you have finally slain the golden goose!

You guys talk about how hard you work,that's a laugh,you couldn't last a day in construction.I have seen how hard you guys work,what a laugh!

Now your all begging us common workers without a union(who are working,BTW)to bail you outa this mess,in essence to keep your ass in the upper style your used to,get ready to be brought down to our level boys,you'll have to really work now!

3 hour lunch's ,hour breaks,45 minute bathroom breaks,i have heard you all brag on how you screw the company,so don't deny it,its all finally caught up to you,bet you dont brag about it anymore.

$75 buck an hour,wow,bet you wont see that for a long time now eh? LMAO Big Shot fat cats,ya got what ya deserve,enjoy!!!!

Toyota Tacoma driver of OH 10:11PM December 22, 2008

I just love those cars from asia.

I will not buy from gm, ford, or chrsyler regardless of whether their products improve or not.

keeping it real of MI 12:30AM December 21, 2008

As a past OEM mid-level manager/supervisor and auditor who got to vist and work in most "big three" manufacturing plants around the country - time to change.

UAW members "unofficially allowed" by management to do anything but work for hours at a time on a daily basis, while management looks the other way. Daily production occuring at a snail's pace during the work week only to guarentee overtime on the weekends. Millions of dollars worth of inventory scrapped annually because rework operations would "cost too much" to repair at UAW rates. Hundreds of millions worth of new inventory sitting idle in off site warehouses only to be used as collateral for loans - never to be sold for public usage. Don't even mention the outdated employees on either side that cannot even turn on a computer and have never taken any type of work related training, who will sit at a desk or in a plant until retirement, not contributing in the least to their companies objectives.

I say a change is way past due - and a little pressure from the government is good for change!

automanager of MI 7:40AM December 20, 2008

Yes, yes we are screwed. No one want to take personal responsibility everyone wants a bailout. Home invasions are on the rise in my area...things are getting bad.

American of UT 7:23PM December 18, 2008

GM needs to go into BK for it to have any remote chance going forward

dlebeau of IN 3:22PM December 18, 2008

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Rick Newman

Rick Newman

The global economy is mysterious, even scary. Chief Business Correspondent Rick Newman connects the dots. In addition to his writing for U.S. News, Rick is the co-author of two books: Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11, and Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail.


Read Rick's latest blog entries here.

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