The American Automobile Industry: Detroitasaurus Wrecks

. . . is in a shambles.

In my opinion, if everyone had simply stepped back and allowed every auto industry shoe to drop, the collapse of GM and Chrysler would have occurred earlier, would not have drained American coffers needlessly to the tune of, literally, billions and billions of dollars squandered -- dollars that American taxpayers will never see again.

1. CHRYSLER:

Over-riding a glitch by SCOTUS, Chrysler and Italian automaker Fiat have now made good on their proposed merger, ramrodded by the U.S. government, one day after the Supreme Court then cleared the path for the deal.

The new company will be formally called Chrysler Group LLC, after Chrysler/Cerberus Capital Management sold nearly all of its assets to the new firm.

If you're not aware, the Chrysler crash equals the first American car company to go bankrupt since Studebaker in 1933.

And who "owns" (and I proffer that word quite loosely) what? And does Fiat CEO -- and now named Chrysler CEO -- Sergio Marchionne really think he'll be in complete command of Chrysler?

Check this out:

-Chrysler Group is 55% owned by the United Auto Workers union.

-The U.S. government holds an 8% stake.

-Canada owns a 2% share.

Fiat will not be allowed to take a majority stake until the new Chrysler pays back the $22.1 billion lent to it from the Treasury Department, including Wednesday's $6.6 billion wire transfer.

Do what I call the "logical extension":

The REAL Big Dog in Chrysler, then, is Ron Gettelfinger of the UAW. One question: what the FUCK does Ron Gettelfinger think he knows about running a massive company like Chrysler?

He is clearly no Robert Nardelli or, moreover, no Lee Iacocca.

In the meantime, Chrysler is dropping 739 dealer locations. My. That should certainly make it easier to find and purchase a Chrysler vehicle, eh? No biases here, real or imagined. And dealerships, who allegedly "contributed to Republicans," might have been forced to close first? Perish the thought! Simply specious allegations!

Fiat will bring such J.D. Power losers as the Fiat 500 to America.

And, uh, oddly enough, the newest J.D. Power survey lists Fiat as dead last in satisfaction in the United Kingdom. And they know small cars, eh? Fiats actually rate even lower than, say, Chrysler products in the UK.

Are you beginning to sense the slightest amount of irony here -- ?

2. GENERAL MOTORS:

The new CEO of GM, Edward Whitacre, admits "knowing nothing about" the car industry.

Good for him. A smidgen of honesty prevails.

On the other hand, as Hugh Hewitt points out, the Socialism of GM disadvantages Ford who -- of course -- doesn't have the American Government behind it.

Billions spent; billons lost and pissed away. Government Motors.

3. FORD:

Ford hasn't taken one government dime. I purchased a new 1997 Ford pickup which had, essentially, every electrical problem imagineable. Its 4.6 liter engine staggered; the rear sliding window leaked. The cruise control didn't.

Ford's Alan Mullaly -- oddly enough -- hasn't supped from the Poison Cup.

And -- if limited to only US cars -- I would purposely avoid Chrysler and GM. I'd give Ford another chance.

Simply because Ford is NOT controlled by the United States government and had the BALLS to turn down a staggering amount of cash.

Let's review, shall we?

Chrysler: the UAW doesn't have a clue as to how to make a profit with 1/3 of the American Automobile Industry.

GM: their CEO simply doesn't have a clue.

Ford: viable, still present.

If you're insisting upon purchasing domestic, I'd suggest NOTHING but a Ford vehicle.

I purchased a 2007 Toyota RAV-4 myself, with the 3.5 litre engine. Chipped up to 290hp. And still getting up to 28 mpg, with an average of 24 mpg. I refused to be shat into a Tuna Can.

I drove a Toyota Prius once. I'd seriously consider buying another for 2010.

BZ