10 Cars Detroit Should Copy

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My husband and I went out to buy a Kia in 2008. The sales rep spoke so fast and having a spouse with thought impairment as my only back up, I got stuck with a vehicle that we both (disabled and having approx a $1400 income ended up with a vehicle at around 400 a mo. They saw us coming and took advantage. My husband has severe cognative impairment, ca'nt write his name or dial the phone, personal hygiene, or change his clothes. I have unrepairable back problems and severe depression and anxiety. I know this is far the topic at hand, but isn't there something that can be done? I cashed in my meager from retirement to keep us afloat. and my meds are expensive. With our health we need car? Is there anything we can do???Have not been out of the house in several years for entertainment at all, and husbands health has taken a severe dive recently. Stupid error under extreme stress, but co knew what they were doing to us with financial statement produced. Please advise

aileen cary of NE 1:31AM March 04, 2010

I'm afraid that Mr.Falabrino has the right of it when he says that twas quality(or the lack thereof) that slew Detroit. The best American-built car that I ever owned was a 1997 Ford Escort wagon that would carry me and anything I could cram into it, anywhere that I wished to go at 35mpg hiway and 27 mpg in town. Its engine lasted 117,000 miles and expired with a loud bang in the middle of the Mojave desert. My current vehicle is a 1991 Toyota Previa mini-van that I bought used for $3,500. I have put an additional 190,000 miles on it to bring its total up to 247,988. I also use it to tow a good-sized utility trailer, and have never gotten less than 32 mpg hiway or 24 mpg in town. THIS is why people are deserting the Big 3 and mobbing Japanese dealers. Ford discontinued the Escort to produce SUVs and Pickups and left those of us that wanted inexpensive, RELIABLE cars with good mileage. The Big 3 dumped us; we are now reaying in kind.

W. H. Musser of CA 3:24AM August 27, 2009

This guy is clueless!!!! The 2010 ford fusion hybrid has beat honda and toyota at the hybrid game. 41mpg EPA rating in a midsize sedan and the ability to go in the mid forties on electric power, leaves honda and toyota behind in Fords wake These type of articales are one of the reasons the detroit auto makers are where they are at today. It just seems to be fashionable to talk down about america before you check your facts. Less not forget that the F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in the world for over thiry years. I guess some people want to buy full sized trucks after-all.

R Tipton of FL 5:47PM June 04, 2009

I just came from an extended stay in Mexico, and Ford and GM both make tiny little cars and trucks,and sell them for peanuts compared to what we have here. It seems as though we are still being scammed, even during this crisis. And don't tell me about crash ratings. Just give me the cheap, economical version of what you have please.

Norm Gorton of WA 11:38AM June 02, 2009

@Proud american - for being so proud you got in this situation, the ignorance that you have brought the problems to your car-making industry.
@Golf GTI - dear article writer, you must be crazy to write such a thing as "poor men's race car" .. it is a neart-to race car, but not for poor men, also the Mustang V6 has about the same price - are the milions of americans who had bought it poor ? Anyway, i have one in Italy and i enjoy it every day.
About the rest of the article, i really think this is the right way of doing bussines from now on for the Detroit 3 ... Ford, as a personal opinion would be ok by itself, instead GM no .. because you can't sell one car line with 6 badges and also have a profit ... as a client, what could make you consider a more expensive model with a "Premium" badge instead of the cheaper one but with Chevy badge??
I might think that Detroit3 were making this huge-cheap interior-no refinement-very big engines-low mpg-great emissions cars because americans were loving them, as this guy @proud american said.
How can you make a fair comparation between Audi, BMW, VW, Mercedes and the american 100% premium brands ? Have you seen the interiors they make, at least for the Chrysler lineup??
I am afraid that, in some years .. those Trucks, Pick-ups and huuuuuge, gas burning, no performance sport cars made in US would be history, in books .. the new economic forecast, doesn't have a place also for them.
PS - Finally i would really hope that this cars will survive : Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro/Corvette/EX-Pontiac G8 ... the rest, should be changed !!!
Grazie,
Raz

Raz 5:17AM May 27, 2009

I just bought one this past weekend after shopping Infiniti G37, Mercedes Benz C300 & the Genesis. The genesis is so much more car than the Infiniti & Mercedes....and costs significantly less. I was considering a Cadillac CTS, but after watching the bailouts/bankruptcies I've decided I won't even CONSIDER buying a Chrysler/GM product until the US Taypayers are paid back with interest.
That said, IF Chrysler & GM Bondholders get a lesser share than the UAW I will NEVER buy another Chrysler/GM product. I think FORD might end up being the sole survivor of the "old" Big 3.

Jack of NE 10:36PM May 26, 2009

I remember when gas was cheap and Expeditions and Yukons, F150s and Rams, ruled the roads. And Americans LOVED them. Toyota desperately tried to COPY them, to have their own Big SUVs and Trucks.
Toyota got lucky when gas prices shot up because their "copy cat" SUVs and Trucks werent selling too well.

tim of OH 7:38PM May 26, 2009

You have got to be kidding me. The Mazda 5? Ford sold more Fusions in one month than Mazda sold 5s in a year! And the Ford Escape outsells the Forester 9 to 1. Please!!!

Tim of OH 7:17PM May 26, 2009

we should just quit, because we cant compete with these car makers, we just dont have the know how. i have been saying since the early 90's that American auto makers were going to go bust.they focused on trucks & suv's for too long and when they discontinued the F-bodies i knew it was over!. here is the main problem with american auto makers... it's the exterior & interior Styling of the cars...when you look at a benz, audi, bmw & lexus you see that the shapes and lines are so simple but so pretty. all american auto makers should fire all of its designers today, then go to germany and Japan with a boat load of cash so that they can bribe thes designers into making cars for them, thats the only way i see us getting back on top... put a new top of the line impala next to a new base model 325i or used G35 sedan and you will understand completely what the problem is!

qwezzie of CA 10:55AM May 26, 2009

Rick has no idea what it would take to save Detroit. He is just like all the CEO's that have run GM, Ford, and Chrysler for the past 30 years. It was QUALITY It was always about QUALITY. The Japanese are beating us on Quality. People switched to Japanese cars because they were more reliable then the American Cars. That's it! plain and simple.

Dino Falabrino of CA 9:21AM May 26, 2009