6 Myths About Ford, GMC and Chrysler

[Brent]

6 myths about the Detroit 3 | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Quote: The debate over aid to the Detroit-based automakers is awash with half-truths and misrepresentations that are endlessly repeated by everyone from members of Congress to journalists. Here are six myths about the companies and their vehicles, and the reality in each case. Myth No. 1 Nobody buys their vehicles. Reality General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC sold 8.5 million vehicles in the United States last year and millions more around the world. GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota. Ford outsold Honda by about 850,000 and Nissan by more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States last year. Chrysler sold more vehicles here than Nissan and Hyundai combined in 2007 and so far this year. Myth No. 2 They build unreliable junk. Reality The creaky, leaky vehicles of the 1980s and '90s are long gone. Consumer Reports recently found that "Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers." The independent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study scored Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Mercury, Pontiac and Lincoln brands' overall quality as high or higher than that of Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Scion, Volkswagen and Volvo. Power rated the Chevrolet Malibu the highest-quality midsize sedan. Both the Malibu and Ford Fusion scored better than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Myth No. 3 They build gas-guzzlers. Reality All of the Detroit Three build midsize sedans the Environmental Protection Agency rates at 29-33 miles per gallon on the highway. The most fuel-efficient Chevrolet Malibu gets 33 m.p.g. on the highway, 2 m.p.g. better than the best Honda Accord. The most fuel-efficient Ford Focus has the same highway fuel economy ratings as the most efficient Toyota Corolla. The most fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cobalt has the same city fuel economy and better highway fuel economy than the most efficient non-hybrid Honda Civic. A recent study by Edmunds.com found that the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact is the least expensive car to buy and operate. Myth No. 4 They already got a $25-billion bailout. Reality None of that money has been lent out and may not be for more than a year. In addition, it can, by law, be used only to invest in future vehicles and technology, so it has no effect on the shortage of operating cash the companies face because of the economic slowdown that's killing them now. Myth No. 5 GM, Ford and Chrysler are idiots for investing in pickups and SUVs. Reality The domestic companies' lineup has been truck-heavy, but Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have all spent billions of dollars on pickups and SUVs because trucks are a large and historically profitable part of the auto industry. The most fuel-efficient full-size pickups from GM, Ford and Chrysler all have higher EPA fuel economy ratings than Toyota and Nissan's full-size pickups. Myth No. 6 They don't build hybrids. Reality The Detroit Three got into the hybrid business late, but Ford and GM each now offers more hybrid models than Honda or Nissan, with several more due to hit the road in early 2009.

[1234]

Good article im goning to pass this one around.

[Mustangfan2003]

all of this is true but some people are iditos. as far as mpg's go the GM 3800 that's been around for years doesn't have trouble getting 30mpg on the highway.

[meteorachick]

nice article

[IceMizer]

Good article. I have been complaining about 2 for several years now.

[slostang]

No. 3 not so true, my wife's accord and two other friends regularly get 32-34 on the highway... But my mom's impala gets about the same also...

[Rocket 442]

Quote: Originally Posted by slostang No. 3 not so true, my wife's accord and two other friends regularly get 32-34 on the highway... But my mom's impala gets about the same also...

They're talking about actual EPA Testing ratings, not the I drive X miles and divide it by my gas tank size.

[OsirisGuy]

Can I get this as a print out and just hand it to people on the streets?

[DaDant!]

i need a black hood scoop... if this article gets out there will be MORE silver gts running around lol. i need some thing to set me apart

[1234]

^^ my car looks just like yours. Only difference is my windows are tinted darker.

[DaDant!]

you have the mustang s style rims too?

[DaDant!]

i have a skull and cross bones tag on the front... and my wife got pissed cause she saw a silver mustang with a skull and cross bone tag and wheels and thought it was me. luckily it wasnt.

[1234]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaDant! you have the mustang s style rims too?

Yes i do. I think its a Cobra wheel but ive been wrong before.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaDant! i have a skull and cross bones tag on the front... and my wife got pissed cause she saw a silver mustang with a skull and cross bone tag and wheels and thought it was me. luckily it wasnt.

There is like 5 Mustangs in my township that look exactly like ours do. The only difference is window tint. My old lady use to call me 5 times a day wondering if it was me or not.

[DaDant!]

mix between the saleen and cobra... mostly saleen minus the raised sides of the 5 spokes but they do have a head of a cobra in the middle lol

yeah tell me about it thats why i plan on taking my top and making it flat black and a hood scoop flat black and getting the black rims like ours

[1234]

Imma go with the termi frint bumper and a 3 inch cowl hood. And i might not sure yet on the wheels.

[slostang]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocket 442 They're talking about actual EPA Testing ratings, not the I drive X miles and divide it by my gas tank size.

I divide it by the amount of gas I put in at the pump....

[Thomas91169]

yeah. most of the import love is from left-winged liberal media at its best. there is absolutely nothing the honduh/toyota/nissan cars have over the big 3. nothing. however the media still makes it seem the big 3 are emission spewing rattling rust buckets and fail after 50 miles.

just this week a co-worker had to take his Tundra to 'yota due to tranny issues, another one took their 02 civic to honduh due to not being able to rev over 3k and having a cel. My ford starts every day, puts down 450whp, and is reliable as hell to boot. I would feel bad rubbing it in their face, but then i realize they would just as soon rub it in my face had i been the one needing repairs from the stealershit. and they are both out of warranty, hahah bend over.

[Brent]

The big 3 are close to bankruptcy for a reason. It's not the liberals fault.

Keep thinking everything is bad because of liberals and keep seeing sub par Republicans getting their ass kicked every 4 years.

I have no faith that Republicans will get back into power. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity speak for too many Americans.

[n8r]

This is just an opinion, but I think some of the Big 3s problem is the UAW. The union was a great thing and did amazing things for blue collar workers when it first started, but like a lot of political type organizations, strayed from the original goal and become more of a pain than good. I am not saying the UAW is the ONLY reason they are having trouble, but I feel that it is part of the reason.

[Brent]

I agree it is part of the reason.

[Rocket 442]

Quote: Originally Posted by slostang I divide it by the amount of gas I put in at the pump....

Bah, nevermind. You obviously missed the point in that the EPA has a Standardized test that they use for all cars.

Some of the blame can be on the unions. They've put the big 3 in a weird spot.

My biggest grief with Obama is his big ties to Unions and wanting to strengthen unions. If that happens, I doubt good will come from it.