7 American Cars Worth Bailing Out

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i am the original owner of a 1964 G.T.O. tri. power etc, 180'ooo miles ALL. original never any problems and wouldnt trade it for ANY forign any thing. i think the biggest problem with American cars are not the cars but lousy dealer treatment as a whole and to this day they have not learned that fact this green hype is the biggest fraud ever to find another way to rip off the low income american buyer with laws equip. etc to cost cost cost to once again fill certain corp. pockets with what little money they have.Globle warming is a natural evelotion of eartes cycle but used to make money for the clever at the expense of the masses.to bad

bob allenby of CA 5:59PM June 14, 2009

No way in hell I'd ever buy or own one of those pieces of junk. I love my Fords, Hondas, and Jeeps. No need for any more than that.

Don Cowan of NC 4:41PM June 14, 2009

THIS ARTICLE IS A BALONEY LIKE THESE 7 CARS WITH THE MOST UNRELIABLE RECORD ( SEE> CONSUMER REPORT, J.D.POWER & ASSOCIATES ). WHY SHOULD I BUY THE " CHEVY VOLT" FOR $40,000 IF I CAN BUY " TOYOTA PRIUS " or " HONDA INSIGHT " FOR $20,000 ????

Dick of CA 3:13PM June 14, 2009

I love my cadi. Her name's "Mawtimba". She is a boat...a true blue cadi. I have been looking at the CTS since it debuted. What's holding me back from it? It's a chopped down, chopped up "I want to be a Cadi when I grow up" Yes there is a need for downsizing cars and houses. But I sorely miss the good old days of having the option of driving and enjoying the feel of cruising down the highway with the comforts of my living room couch. Yes, the lady likes her petrol premium grade only. If only I still had the option to buy another one just like her, shiny and new. But I don't....due to the ever slumping economy and global changing demands. Ahhh-I do so miss the "hemis" and true muscle cars of the 60's and 70's. Generations between then and now and to come will never know the pleasure/thrill and sheer enjoyment of driving and working on them.

I rebuilt my first 396 Chevy from the block up back in 1978. Enjoyed every knuckle-busting, geasy, sweaty moment. Was fortunate enough to get my hands on a 70 383 Charger back in '81. Replaced her rods, timing chain and a few other essentials...she runs like a champ to this day.

Please, please let's as Americans continue to buy and support American made cars/manufacturers. Let's keep the decent wage union jobs in the good old USA. Let's all dig a little deeper in our pockets to buy from GM/Ford/Chrysler. The dividends are far reaching across our communities in the support of other local companies and suppliers. Everyone is outsourcing these days, it's a global market/economy. Outsourcing will never cease. It will only become more expansive. Take that to the bank....but support our American manufacturers/most especially the American automaker/worker at every given opportunity.

I am a four foot ten, small frame woman who loves to drive solo. Be it in the "boat" cruising down the hi-way or stop and go city traffic in the hemi (the gutteral throaty rumble of a hemi-if it were only possible to can the experience for future generations), I am one of those consumers driving along side you solo in a megacar. Why? It's the old fashioned American way and every young boys (and some girls) American Dream.

Oh well, guess it's time to give that CTS another look. That Chevy Camaro is a good looking little brute too. May consider downsizing to something like that. As for "Mawtimba", she need not fret. She'll never be insulted with the trade-in option.

karlotta woodcock of MO 2:36PM June 14, 2009

Being an enemy of socialism, I never would buy a government car, so GM and Chrysler are out--forever! Being a friend of foreign companies which invest here and hire American workers--and produce good vehicles--I am likely to buy a so-called foreign car here, such as a Toyota or Honda.

I am disgusted by the politicization of our economy by the Obama admin. Obama said he would not manage GM, but he already called the mayor of detroit to tell him that GM will not move away. He put a senior official in charge of "taking care of" GM and Chrysler families, which means making sure that they vote right in the next congressional elections. He promised CHANGE, but he is just another pol!

Fletcher Phelan of CA 6:04PM June 02, 2009

It seems that Americans feel that a car built in the US means a US vehicle. The domestic auto industry employs American engineers, designers, and support people to design and engineer American vehicles. GM, Ford, and Chrysler employ 1,000's of engineers and designers. These are some of American best jobs, jobs that send children to college, build homes, buy vehicles and all sorts of things.

The foreign automakers assemble vehicles in the US and employ essemblers and manufacturing types of positions, very few design and technical jobs. When Toyota experienced difficulties with its finance unit earlier in 2009, it went to Japan for help and the government helped. Of course, Americans want all types of companies to build in the US and all jobs are important also. But the design and engineering jobs are mostly available only from the domestic companies. Support for foreign automakers mostly come from their own governments. Even though both build vehicles, the design and engineering components for foreign companies remain in the home countries.

I think that Americans should support the enginerring and design jobs that domestic automakers provide.

There is a difference in where the development takes place. So if we lose the domestic auto industry, we lose the expertise that goes with the development of transmissions, engines, drivetrains, electronic controls and a host of other areas of vehicle developments. It is very, very important to American to keep these types of jobs!

Barbara of IN 1:52PM June 02, 2009

I hope that we are not going to "think and build big". Remember, during the depression

the Third Reich intoroduced a people car Volk Wagen"... Yes, lets have cofortable

roomy cars but GM should think how it is going to sell cars to college students, single moms

and dads who are moving from wellfare to work and all the people who are currently unemployed and are going to struggle to retrain and get back into the workforce. The megahomes are gone and so should the megacar not dominate the market. We should have the

choice of a small 4cyl pickups for family use and for work. When I see these huge pickups on the road with one passanger...it makes me sick....I hope GM can add small fun cars to their fleet like at an $8000-$100000.

alexander modenos of CA 12:43PM June 01, 2009

The idea that Americans choose the best quality cars is bunk. Case in point; Packard, Studabaker, Nash. All quality built cars and little or no glitz and polish. Everyone left them behind for the huge tailfins & tin bodies covered with clearcoat paint.

Like the politicians we elect, our cars are not selected for thier abilities, but for the "esteem" they will give us.

For the last 20 years salesmen have been touting customers to get the bigest,(and therefore safest), car they could buy! Drivers, car buyers, have flocked to the "bumper-car" mentality that gives the one in the bigest car the best chance of survival.

Seems to me that would have made Peterbuilt, Mack, and Kenworth the best choice for these idiots, but I guess they have to evolve a bit more.

Charles of LA 2:35PM May 30, 2009

GM could copy Toyota and mfg only two brands, Caddy & Chevy. and do a good job.In Houston Toyota and Mercedes seem to rule road in popularity, Honda is right behind them. US car makers are not all to blame, People seem to feel as though thry are above others driving a foreign auto. I'm 86 yrs old and this has been the thing a person wants to do to keep up with and be better than the Joneses. I own a 2004 Caddy with over 84,000 miles this is to me the most comforable,fuel efficient (24mpg avg. on one occasion 29.1mpg) and smooth riding auto on the road, had the auto serviced twice. I've never owned a high end foreign auto but have driven most of them. GMs been so good to me, but in GMs present condition, I'm afraid to trade it even though it wont be worth much after 100,000 miles. I really don't want a foreign auto

howard P. Davey of TX 10:16AM May 29, 2009

So why toss in the Fusion and Taurus?

msnyder275 of IL 9:23PM May 27, 2009

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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.


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