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I see where Ford dealers are still selling plenty of cars. Long Lewis is breaking records believe it or not. I can't help but think the no haggle price in the window is a great selling tool. I do most of my car shopping on Sundays or after hours where the sharks don't attack. The Dodge and GM dealers should follow the lead. It seems they would be trying anything to advertise all the incentives, even the dealer hold back cost and show a bottom line out the door right there on the window. When I look at their cars I immediately suffer sticker shock and do not come back during business hours to get haggled.
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I speak strictly for myself here but I'm impressed with Ford's decision not to accept Government money. If folks will remember GM was contemplating buying out Chrysler just before they sought Government money which made me skeptical of their claims. For my part even if Chrysler and GM make it now my first choice in an automobile will be FORD with out question because they did it the right way.
I have a friend I work with that her hubby just changed jobs to Family Ford from one of the other dealerships. His sales has greatly improved due to the advertising and other things Ford is doing to keep their customers happy.

I will not be buying any GM products again due to the fact that the CEO resigned under pressure from Obama. Any company that will allow thugs that is on a power trip dictate terms isn't deserving of my business.
quote:
Originally posted by gbrk:
I speak strictly for myself here but I'm impressed with Ford's decision not to accept Government money. If folks will remember GM was contemplating buying out Chrysler just before they sought Government money which made me skeptical of their claims. For my part even if Chrysler and GM make it now my first choice in an automobile will be FORD with out question because they did it the right way.



Ford was lucky because they basically bet the company in 2006 when credit was available. They still have been losing money but they were slated to become profitable again right when the bottom fell out last year.

As for the GM purchasing Chrysler, that came out because Cerberus was basically going to force them into taking it. A year or two before Cerberus purchased Chrysler they purchased controlling interest in GMAC, and when it became obvious that the Chrysler purchase was a bad move they allegedly threatened to stop financing loans for GM vehicles. The only reason it didn't happen because they knew it wasn't going to pass gov approval.

This leads into GM's problem. For the past couple of years, be it Fiat, Delphi, UAW or Cerberus every one has been hitting them up for cash, most of them in ways they couldn't avoid due to past contracts. They may would have been alright for another year or so before the shakedown they experienced for money late last year.
I have never owned a Ford, and although I know they have very loyal followers, it seems that every time I have rented a ford, or had one for my company car, I have had trouble with it.
At least for the near future, I will try to buy GM when I'm looking for a new car.
Got 2 Buicks, and a Chevy now, and all of them have been just great. The oldest is a 96 Buick which still will get 34 MPG and the only problems I have ever had with it was the new equiptment battery went bad after TEN years, and last year I had to put a water pump in it (actually had Danny Smith fix it === Damm, I'm gonna miss him).
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Originally posted by interventor1:
My 2000 Cavalier still gets 36.5 MPG. After 15-months, I re-connected the battery (after recharging it), changed the oil, and put a gallon of fresh gas in the tank. It started on the first crank!


Cavalier !!!! Your a Republican. You are supposed to drive a big black gas guzzling SUV with a "W The President" sticker on the back window. Wink

Cowboy up and start burning more gas.
quote:
Originally posted by gracies old man:
I don't buy new cars, but if I did it would be a Ford. ryokurin, that wasn't luck, but strategy. Ford has better incentives, and isn't using taxpayer money to do it.

If you think about it, Ford is now competing not only with the other brands, but against the very government that regulates it, in GM and Chrysler.


A bit ironic...part of the taxes paid by Ford Motor Co. and there employees is used to keep their competition afloat.

Let's see...A private corporation competing with a company with a never ending supply of money that doesn't have to make a profit...seems difficult at best.

I wonder if GM's business continues to flounder...when the government will start offering tax breaks if you buy a GM.
quote:
Originally posted by Firedancer:
quote:
Originally posted by big red afro:
i wont buy gm because i hate onstar


Care to elaborate...?...?


More than likely its due to the fact that it has gps capability, to theoretically you could be tracked.

Never mind the fact that you cellphone has gps capabilities, or if someone really wanted they could easily mount one to your car without you knowing.
2009 Kelly Blue Book Pricing:
1. Ford Expedition base 2wd $35,770
2. Chevy Tahoe base 2wd $37,915
3. Ford Expedition EL/Excursion base 2wd $39,295
4. Chevy Suburban base 2wd $41,320

Pricing I've seen around here:
1. $32,000
2. $40,000
3. $39,000
4. $45,000

Hmm...looks like GM priced themselves right out of the market or at least their Dealers did. I don't feel sorry for them.

I'm a car guy and hate to see any of them go down but like I said GM has done it to themselves. Why in the world does a SS Trailblazer at Jim Bishop cost $43,000? That V8 isn't that special! I like performance cars but that is just absurd!
I have a 2nd Ford Ranger , first 1990 brother in law still driving it, my 2004 Ranger has never gave me a problem . both v-6 mpg around 20, I had a PT Crusier 2001 , never had one minute problem in 4 years, the PT got around 20 to 21 mpg, I got a new 2006 HHR Chevy had it 3 years, not a problem at all , 30 to 31 mpg , same horse power as my PT , 4 cly. I drive all about the same in town or on the road. I am thinking of getting a new Malibu, maybe the v-6 , my concern right now is with so many getting layed off and the ones that havn't lost their jobs , they have to be worried about maybe when , are they doing the same good work as before all this Mess came about. I do beleave after the 90's our Car Manufactorys was putting out a better product, they just waited way to late. The HHR I got in Athens , Great Service, the only two times I had to take it, a short in tail light, both times a rental car within 30 minutes both times, they found a wire with a short.
Midnight-
That is a good point that I hadn't even considered. Ford, by paying it's taxes, is helping out it's own competition.

Has anyone noticed that the dealerships that were told they are no longer part of the Chrysler operations, were mainly, if not exclusively the smaller, family owned, longtime dealerships. Many of them have been in existence for decades, some for 50 or 60 years.
Originally, it was reported that they would only be the less profitable dealers, but that simply isn't true.
The majority of the stores cut sold less than 100 cars a year or only sold one or two of their brands. Many were also just right down the street from another dealer that sold more or sold all their brands. Long standing or not someone had to go.

I figure GM will be the same once they release their list. Only 1 out of every 5 cars sold are GM, vs. 3 out of the 5 thirty years ago. Someone has to go.
wrong, recheck who you're getting your info from. Mine came from interviews with the actual owners of the dealerships that were cut.

But even if you are right, as long as the dealerships were in good standing, what gives them the right to take away their livelyhoods, with no reimbursement, and give it to the one down the street. The problem was not on the dealers end, it's with corporates end.
Last edited by gracies old man
Of course a dealer is going to wonder why he's being cut if he's profitable in their eyes. There were still too many dealers for the sales that Chrysler was getting. This correction has been coming for years. As far as source,

Link
Link

Let me put it in a different perspective. Starbucks recently closed a bunch of stores that were basically on top of each other. Their original reasoning for allowing stores to be so close was because they wanted to be convenient to where people were, and while they were it also killed the existing stores sales often as much as 30%. Thus when times get tough EVERYONE hurts. convenience means nothing when most of your stores are unprofitable.

GM and Chrysler are well past the point of paying dealers to close, and even if they could it would take years. GM is STILL dealing with lawsuits from when they closed Oldsmobile five years ago. does it blow that they have to be so cold? Yes, but again, someone has to go.
I may be showing my age, but I do remember when Studebaker went out of business. I remember that there were factory parts stores for some time after that. There must be a gigantic market for parts if GM or Chrysler suddenly stopped selling cars.

Well, as long as I'm here. Why don't the domestic automakers get together and only manufacture about three sizes of everything. Three batteries, alternators, starters, radiators, or even wheels and tires. Two four cylinder engines, and two sixes. Then let each company design the sheet metal and the interior and then put the parts together.
quote:
Originally posted by gracies old man:
as long as the dealerships were in good standing, what gives them the right to take away their livelyhoods, with no reimbursement, and give it to the one down the street.


Apparently the contract they signed gives them the right, or it wouldn't be happening. I'm sure a lot of these dealers went into the contracts many years ago with eyes wide shut, never fathoming the day when GM would shut down a third of their dealers.

Now is one of those "oops" moments where they are realizing they should've scrutinized the agreements more or unionized for leverage.

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