GM is making 65mpg cars, lines are up and running, wont sell them here >>Link>>

[sam sarrha]

65mpg made by GM http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099060491065.htm?chan=autos_autos+--+lifestyle+subindex+page_top+stories

why do forign cas get tax credits dor diesel and GM says they cant sell them here
https://www.examiner.com/x-1524-DC-Auto-Examiner~y2008m11d12-Buy-a-BMW-diesel-get-a-tax-credit

[kikiek]

1. Probably have an agreement with the oil companies that they won't.

[bluecollarcharlie]

13. You can't really be serious about that????

What is it about conspiracy theories with you people???? I mean to suggest that GM being on the ropes would totally work to keep a high mileage vehicle out of the showrooms and off the road to help the oil companies and not themselves is just stunningly ridiculous.

[cmutt]

24. Be honest with yourself

How many people know that GM makes a 37mpg 4-cyl? And no: I'm NOT talking about the Aveo. The 155hp Cobalt gets 37mpg highway. The sad truth is, even if GM makes quality cars (and they do, more on that in a minute), even if they make cars with great gas mileage, the bulk of the populace is turned off by their 'legacy'. Most people are too close-minded to consider a GM vehicle. Their experience with that 197x or 198x Chevrolet/Pontiac/Olds/Ford/Mercury xxxxxxx has closed the door on some people ever purchasing a domestic brand forever - and that's a shame. Some of their product deserves a look.

Consider this: GM's Cobalt gets 37mpg while producing 155hp. Honda's Fit does 33mpg hwy while producing only 117hp. The problem with diesels isn't that people won't buy them: it's that people won't buy them from domestics. A diesel engine flat-out costs more to produce; it's internals need to be reinforced to handle the extra-compression required of the engine. On top of that, emission treatment equipment on the engine bring the price up even higher. The fact is that the target audience of diesels are pretty closed-minded to domestic brands. It'd be hard for an exec at GM/Ford to make a business case for producing and selling these engines at a premium in the US. Some of you won't even consider a domestic--even if they are of the same build quality, of the same dependability and are CHEAPER to purchase than their foreign counterparts. Let me quote you some numbers from the stat-gathering people of JT Powers.

Take a look at the all-important 'midsize' sedan segment of the marketplace. The one the domestics have so-called ignored. In initial quality, domestic vehicles have taken FIRST place 5 of the last 6 years and have placed first, second or third in 11 out of 18 possible spots. In vehicle dependability, domestic vehicles have taken FIRST place 6 out of 6 years and have placed first, second, or third in 15 of 18 possible spots. The quality/dependability gap has narrowed. I'd suggest that some of you step back from your personal experiences of 2 decades ago and take a fresh look at a domestic auto-- to support local (and union!) labor. I'm not saying everything the domestics produce is great, or doesn't have their issues -- I'm sayin that they've made significant strides and are worth consideration and our support in several areas of their product lines.

JDPA Initial Quality Survey Rankings; Midsize category:
2008: Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Galant, Ford Fusion
2007: Mercury Milan, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Galant/Ford Fusion (tie)
2006: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hynudai Sonata
2005: Chevrolet Malibu, Hyndai Sonata, Volkswagon Jetta
2004: Buick Century, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Mitsubishi Galant/Toyota Avalon (tie)
2003: Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, Buick Regal/Chevrolet Monte Carlo (tie)

JDPA Vehicle Dependability Survey Rankings; Midsize category:
2008: Buick Century, Mercury Sable, Toyota Camry
2007: Buick Century, Mercury Sable, Buick Regal
2006: Buick Century, Buick Regal, Mercury Sable
2005: Chevrolet Malibu, Oldsmobile Alero, Hyundai Sonata
2004: Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Pontiac Grand Am
2003: Chevrolet Malibu, Plymouth Breeze, Chrysler Cirrus

Links; gas mileage of Chevrolet Cobalt & Honda Fit:
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_engines.aspx?year=2009&make=Chevrolet&model=Cobalt&trimid=-1
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_engines.aspx?year=2009&make=Honda&model=Fit&trimid=-1

Links; Initial quality
2008: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008063
2007: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007088
2006: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2006082
2005: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2005069
2004: http://www.jdpower.co.jp/press/pdf2004/2004USIQS_E.pdf
2003: http://www.jdpower.co.jp/jdp_e/press/pdf2003/2003USIQS_E.pdf

Links; Vehicle Dependability:
2008: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008115
2007: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007130
2006: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2006133.pdf
2005: http://www.jdpa.com/pdf/2005089b.pdf
2004: http://www.jdpower.co.jp/press/pdf2004/2004USVDS_E.pdf
2003: http://www.jdpower.co.jp/jdp_e/press/pdf2003/2003USVDS_E.pdf

[bluecollarcharlie]

26. THANK YOU!!! Finally a contextually-laden post.

[kikiek]

31. How can you be so sure their investments aren't dictating their moves?

And for your information I have been for the auto bailout as long as Congress mandates what changes they feel need to be made. Like protecting the pensions and union workers wages. So get off your high horse sometimes things aren't just conspiracy theories. http://ev1.org/gmoil.htm It is claimed GM killed the electric car. As we all know from the documentary.

[Champion Jack]

2. Not GM, Ford

[madrchsod]

3. the ford article is from sept.

one of the biggest problems with bringing in this car from europe is the front bumper has to be redesigned and an air bag has to be added.

since this article was published ford has said they were going to produce some of their small cars in america.

[TwilightZone]

4. Ford, not GM.

It's right there in the headline. "The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have"

[Jackpine Radical]

5. I'd buy a well-made modern diesel in a minute!

We considered a TDi Passat but I kept hearing about electrical problems, and anyway we really need 4wd where we live, so we both drive Subarus. But give me a high-mileage American diesel 4wd pickup, and watch me go for it.

[Granny M]

9. We have one.

It's a Toyota Rav 4 with their D-CAT diesel engine. We've had it about a year now. Here in Europe, diesel is cheaper than petrol.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. You make me envious. What kind of mileage?

[Granny M]

17. I think it gets about 38 or so on the highway.

I drive slower than DH, so it does better for me. I think it's about 30 around town. Wish it was better, but it is a bigger car, and taller, so all that makes a difference.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. From what I understand, diesels are pretty sensitive to their operating rpms.

Each engine has a relatively narrow band of optimal performance, and if you run it over or under that band your mileage really suffers.

[napoleon_in_rags]

6. Just stunning.

Sometimes it really does seem like we value stupidity as a virtue here. I'm always so disappointed when I hear about this kind of thing.

[Bread and Circus]

7. The wichita genius car guy says the best best is plugins w/ diesel range extenders...

I have a feeling that's where we will be in about 10 yrs.

[doc03]

8. Mini Cooper also makes a 65MPG diesel

sold in Europe, not in the USA.

[dysfunctional press]

10. we test-drove a vw beetle tdi and my wife just didn't like it...

it was loud, the transmission shifted really roughly, and it had the smell of a diesel.

[CRF450]

11. The problem is emission standards here. They're too damn strict on deisel cars. NT

[doc03]

16. Is your post sarcasm? If you read the posts VW

and other European manufactures sell them here, how do they meet the emission standards?

[DainBramaged]

32. Bumper standards too

European bumpers are designed not to 'injure' pedestrians, but are not designed for US crash worthiness standards So, instead of doing dual platforms to MAKE them compatible, Ford and GM didn't spend the money not realizing that these little shit-boxes would be their salvation.


Rick Waggoner needs to go.

[bluecollarcharlie]

12. Just some more unchecked anti Big Three bias for you.

The guy didn't bother to look at what he posted, he just wanted to help throw GM under the bus.
Typical of this place.

[madokie]

15. I guess you just don't like this place, huh

Oct 22nd 2004
Number of posts 57

[bluecollarcharlie]

25. I was busy working at the time........

....but if some people here get what they want I, along with thousands of my union brothers and sisters, will be here quite often.
I prefer to a have a better job that that. Besides, the conspiratorial logic here make me dizzy.

[Kolesar]

19. this place became a lot more pro-domestic in the last week

A week ago, people were insufferable. Some people like to start fights.

[bluecollarcharlie]

27. That's why i keep posting. Somebody has gotta fight this stuff!

Some of dumbest stuff i heard is coming from here. In 13 years of working on the assembly line, i have never heard from people so biased against working people. And these are supposed to be DEMOCRATS!!! I kept thinking(and still do ) that i stumbled in FREEPER territory by mistake!

[DainBramaged]

33. I gave up, I don't give a shit anymore

We become a third world country, maybe I meet some of those assholes on a bread line somewhere. Then we can talk about the value of Unions.

[Kolesar]

18. Diesels don't sell in America

There had been smog standards to prevent them.

It will take a long time to reintroduce them.

[kikiek]

29. I have owned a VW Beetle TDI for 5 years. 50 miles to the gallon and great performance.

[leftofthedial]

21. capitalism is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

for those whom it serves.

Alas, in the US, we serve it.

[upi402]

22. I'm SHOCKED! Shocked I tell you!

Hmmm
Gas prices dropped before the elections, spiked back up after, now the threat of a Democrat-gone-wild investigation has them down again.

And they want to loot our taxes from the treasury too.

I wonder what happened in Cheney's private energy meeting (actually public business)...
Could GM be in on it with big oil????
:eyes:
:mad:

[Taverner]

23. Because Standard Diesel cars spew carbon like no other car

Granted if they go Biodiesel, whole different story

[Enthusiast]

34. Advanced diesel engineering has changed all that.

Diesels are now as clean as gas engines. Bio diesel not required for a clean diesel.

[JohnWxy]

28. Ford will be importing the Fiesta (gasoline version) in 2009 or 2010.

I think it gets about 45 mpg on the highway. Don't know about city mpg, maybe 26-28 mpg.

[DainBramaged]

30. Looks like a Ford to me??????

Blame GM yet again.