A newspaper advertisement put into circulation today by General Motors acknowledges the automaker “disappointed” American consumers and “lost focus” in recent years. “While we’re still the U.S. sales leader, we acknowledge we have disappointed you,” the ad reads. “At times we violated your trust by letting our quality fall below industry standards and our designs became lackluster.”
Titled “GM’s Commitment to the American People,” the ad is formatted as an open letter from General Motors to the public.
“We have proliferated our brands and dealer network to the point where we lost adequate focus on the core U.S. market,” the ad explains. “We also biased our product mix toward pick-up trucks and SUVs.”
The ad goes on to say the financial crisis is blame for much of GM’s immediate problems.
“Despite moving quickly to reduce our planned spending by over $20 billion, GM finds itself precariously and frighteningly close to running out of cash.” A failure of GM would put “millions of job at risk,” and potentially deepen the recession, the company argues.
A GM spokesman told Reuters the ad was meant as a “pledge directly to the public.” The ad specifically indicates GM wants to begin repaying taxpayers by 2011.
Full Text – GM’s Commitment to the American People
We deeply appreciate the Congress considering General Motors’ request to borrow up to $18 billion from the United States. We want to be sure the American people know why we need it, what we’ll do with it and how it will make GM viable for the long term.
For a century, we have been serving your personal mobility needs, providing American jobs and serving local communities. We have been the U.S. sales leader for 76 consecutive years. Of the 250 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today, more than 66 million are GM brands — nearly 44 million more than Toyota brands. Our goal is to continue to fulfill your aspirations and exceed your expectations.
While we’re still the U.S. sales leader, we acknowledge we have disappointed you. At times we violated your trust by letting our quality fall below industry standards and our designs become lackluster. We have proliferated our brands and dealer network to the point where we lost adequate focus on our core U.S. market. We also biased our product mix toward pick-up trucks and SUVs. And, we made commitments to compensation plans that have proven to be unsustainable in today’s globally competitive industry. We have paid dearly for these decisions, learned from them and are working hard to correct them by restructuring our U.S. business to be viable for the long term.
Today, we have substantially overcome our quality gap; our newest designs like the Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS are widely heralded for their appeal; our new products are nearly all cars and “crossovers” rather than pick-ups and SUVs; our factories have greatly improved productivity and our labor agreements are much more competitive. We are also driven to lead in fuel economy, with more hybrid models for sale and biofuel-capable vehicles on the road than any other manufacturer, and determined to reinvent the automobile with products like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle and breakthrough technology like hydrogen fuel cells.
Until recent events, we felt the actions we’d been taking positioned us for a bright future. Just a year ago, after we reached transformational agreements with our unions, industry analysts were forecasting a positive GM turnaround. We had adequate cash on hand to continue our restructuring even under relatively conservative industry sales volume assumptions. Unfortunately, along with all Americans, we were hit by a “perfect storm.” Over the past year we have all faced volatile energy prices, the collapse of the U.S. housing market, failing financial institutions, a stock market crash and the complete freezing of credit. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Just like you, we have been severely impacted by events outside our control. U.S. auto industry sales have fallen to their lowest per capita rate in half a century. Despite moving quickly to reduce our planned spending by over $20 billion, GM finds itself precariously and frighteningly close to running out of cash.
This is why we need to borrow money from U.S. taxpayers. If we run out of cash, we will be unable to pay our bills, sustain our operations and invest in advanced technology.
A collapse of GM and the domestic auto industry will accelerate the downward spiral of an already anemic U.S. economy. This will be devastating to all Americans, not just GM stakeholders, because it would put millions of jobs at risk and deepen our recession. By lending GM money, you will provide us with a financial bridge until the U.S. economy and auto sales return to modestly healthy levels. This will allow us to keep operating and complete our restructuring.
We submitted a plan to Congress Dec. 2, 2008, detailing our commitments to ensure our viability, strengthen our competitiveness, and deliver energy-efficient products. Specifically, we are committed to:
- produce automobiles you want to buy and are excited to own
- lead the reinvention of the automobile based on promising new technology
- focus on our core brands to consistently deliver on their promises
- streamline our dealer network to ensure the best sales and service
- ensure sacrifices are shared by all GM stakeholders
- meet appropriate standards for executive pay and corporate governance
- work with our unions to quickly realize competitive wages and benefits
- reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil
- protect our environment
- pay you back the entire loan with appropriate oversight and returns
These actions, combined with a modest rebound of the U.S. economy, should allow us to begin repaying you in 2011.
In summary, our plan is designed to provide a secure return on your investment in GM’s future. We accept the conditions of your loan, the commitments of our plan, and the results needed to transform our business for long-term success. We will contribute to strengthening U.S. energy and environmental security. We will contribute to America’s technical and manufacturing know-how and create high quality jobs for the “new economy.” And, we will continue to deliver personal mobility freedom to Americans using the most advanced transportation solutions. We are proud of our century of contribution to U.S. prosperity and look forward to making an equally meaningful contribution during our next 100 years.
12/08, 3:06 PM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
Specifically, we are committed to:
produce automobiles you want to buy and are excited to own
lead the reinvention of the automobile based on promising new technology
focus on our core brands to consistently deliver on their promises
streamline our dealer network to ensure the best sales and service
ensure sacrifices are shared by all GM stakeholders
meet appropriate standards for executive pay and corporate governance
work with our unions to quickly realize competitive wages and benefits
reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil
protect our environment
pay you back the entire loan with appropriate oversight and returns
Oh, so you gonna start a new company? Cause your not talking about GM, are you?
12/08, 3:10 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
So its Managements fault ?
12/08, 3:12 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Does wall street have to pay $700 bil back, nope didn’t think so, but EVERYBODY is quick to crucify the Big 3.
12/08, 3:13 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
lmao. Politics. This is like Jimmy Swaggert’s apology
12/08, 3:13 PM
posted by:
unleaded vaseline
400horseSS. The Wall Street bailout and the proposed automaker bailout are completely different. Not saying eiither is more worthy than the other, but either do some research or shut the **** up.
12/08, 3:15 PM
posted by:
miket
“produce automobiles you want to buy and are excited to own”
I know I’m excited by the Escilade hybrid. Youd have to be excited to drive a vehcle with a hundred logos….I also am excited by the fact that there are “more hybrid models for sale ….than any other manufacturer” The GM “mild” hybrids get me all excited I can spend more money to get a couple MPG.
YAWN!
Give em the money anyway—at least with THIS bailout, we will know where the money is going. GM actually makes cars—banks cant even seem to make loans with the bailout.
12/08, 3:21 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
What I dont get on the bank bailout is the banks aren’t even making loans with the money they got. Just sitting on it. You’d think the government would require them to get it in circulation somewhere else besides a company party at a resort.
12/08, 3:27 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
If I had to write a diatribe like that every time I disappointed the wife I’d never make it out of the house.
12/08, 3:29 PM
posted by:
savedsol
See Paragraph 3 and then ask why this quote and the rest of the article make NO SENSE! “Over the past year we have all faced volatile energy prices, the collapse of the U.S. housing market, failing financial institutions, a stock market crash and the complete freezing of credit.” You’ve been running your business like ass and making **** cars for DECADES. This is not down to one year!
12/08, 3:30 PM
posted by:
Borat
Yep it is management fault. It is also UAW fault. It is also investor’s fault: they should let bums out go earlier
12/08, 3:34 PM
posted by:
scootness
The wallstreet bailout and the bridge loans for the big 3 are completely different! However, I don’t understand why the big 3 have to explain exactly how they will spend every penny and how they will pay it back and wallstreet just gets free reign to to whatever they want with it. I know that they are different but most people are putting them in the same category.
12/08, 3:36 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Despite all its faults, GM must live because of Corvette, Camaro and Volt.
12/08, 3:49 PM
posted by:
LeftLaneVy
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/11/16-6
I wrote an essay in Sociology about how big business corporations capitalize by limiting the options available to consumers. They’ve done it with the mass rail transit systems in the early 1900s, and similarly they’ve done it with the electric vehicles in the late 1900s. SERIOUSLY.
but jobs are on the line…so I can’t have that much ill-will towards those bastards…
““The Rise and Fall of Mass Rail Transit,” by R. Feagin and Robert Parker
nice reading
12/08, 3:51 PM
posted by:
simonc
“unleaded vaseline
400horseSS. The Wall Street bailout and the proposed automaker bailout are completely different. Not saying eiither is more worthy than the other, but either do some research or shut the **** up.”
Dude, 400horseSS is right!!
“Does wall street have to pay $700 bil back, nope didn’t think so, but EVERYBODY is quick to crucify the Big 3.”
You may not like what he states, but HE IS RIGHT!!
“EVERYBODY is quick to crucify the Big 3″.
And that is wrong.
12/08, 3:58 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
LOL admitting they have an inferior product is the first step Next is to tell us where all the money went
12/08, 4:00 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
Simonc, don’t bother arguing with 400horses. He is one of those idiotic high paid high school drop outs that GM is blaming for their financial crisis. What I want to know is, why can GM admit their products suck, but all you Mexican/Canadian humpers (aka domestic humpers) cant?
12/08, 4:08 PM
posted by:
HoosierHero
About time they sacked up and admitted to f*ing up.
12/08, 4:33 PM
posted by:
sharpie
The bank bailout IS different than the auto industry bailout. You can’t let one securities market failure spread to another. It started with the housing market, then to student loans, bonds and the collapse of the credit market is just starting. If these banks don’t get their bailout, Moody, S&P, Fitch, et al. are going to have to lower their credit rating due to weakening portfolio, whether they like it or not, leading to massive default with companies who use these shares as collateral (Often time, there is a clause requiring that the collateral be above investment grade). Insurance companies guaranteeing these securities will then go under, and soon there will be no financial market. Wall Street largely trades based on speculation and expectation. You start allowing banks to go bankrupt, many more will follow, resulting in stock market crash (think 1929).
Ford, GM and Chrysler’s stocks are already on the junk rating level. Not helping them won’t have as much of a negative impact on the financial market. Besides the umemployment issue, the bailout really only benefiting 3 car companies. Wall Street could live without them. But American labor market cannot. Even so, the reasons for the two bailouts are quite different.
Why should the Big 3 be required to 1) repay 2) account for how they spend it? Because their failure is mainly product related on multiple levels. Badge engineering is a waste of company resources. Making more products don’t mean they will sell. It just means you are killing the resale value and extending the inventory days. Banking market is one of liquidated market. It’s a lending practice issue, but that has nothing to do with the product, namely the houses that were built. No one said the banks failed because they lend money for people to buy houses that are not up to par.
Just because they are both bailouts doesn’t mean they are the same. For the records, I don’t support bailout as a principle, but as a realist, there is no other option. It is not just the U.S. who is giving bailouts nowadays either, Europe, Asia (including China) are giving out stimulus packages and bailouts too.
12/08, 4:34 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Certainly a much better letter and explanation to the taxpayers than any of the financial institutions that were bailed out did.
Where is AIG’s letter of apology, explanation, and plan of repayment for their $150 BILLION they already received??? Or did the average idiot American already forget about that?
12/08, 4:45 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Admitting that you have a problem is the first step tors recovery…
Some one should let them know that we are not paying for rehab also…
12/08, 5:00 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
GM is begging forgivness for the ‘87 Celebrity.
“Of the 250 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads today, more than 66 million are GM brands.”
That turns out to 26.4 percent — I’d bet that of 1986 models, GM’s percentage would be higher.
Bad idea to mention Toyota in the ad.
“we made commitments to compensation plans that have proven to be unsustainable in today’s globally competitive industry.”
What that means in English is that GM has promised to pay out more than it can afford to. That is correct.
Taxpayers should get equity. Fifty-one percent or better.
00horseSS: “Does Wall Street have to pay $700 bil back?” Wall street has better Lobbyists.
miket: at least with THIS bailout, we will know where the money is going. GM actually makes cars—banks can’t even seem to make loans with the bailout.” I think the ream job the banks are doing to us has caused bailout fatigue.
scootness: Again Lobbyists: Wall Steet’s are W.’s homies.
tripleonefive: “admitting they have an inferior product …” Is like Alex Rodriguez admitting he’s the worst player in the Majors.
sharpie: F— the banks. I’m glad to say come march, i won’t owe anybody anything!
I also oppose bailouts in theory, but looking at the repercussions … I figure for equity it can be (reluctantly) lived with.
Z06ified: “Where is AIG’s letter of apology, explanation, and plan of repayment for their $150 BILLION they already received?” Good luck with that. Financial criminals!
12/08, 5:09 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
“Taxpayers should get equity. Fifty-one percent or better.”
It’s safer as a loan – equity holders are last out in a bankruptcy liquidation. A government loan would be repaid ahead of any equity claims if it failed and had to be liquidated. There are a lot of assets there, so chances are debt holders would get a significant portion of their principal back from liquidation proceeds. Plus, debt has defined terms and repayment plans – equity does not.
12/08, 5:10 PM
posted by:
A4
its clear they know why they are in the toilet, and its clear that they wont let it happen again anytime soon if they get the help, because lord knows if they make another crap lineup nobody will help them a second time around.
12/08, 5:14 PM
posted by:
swamp donkey
“While we’re still the U.S. sales leader…” If this is so why are you asking Canada & US for money?
12/08, 5:28 PM
posted by:
oldraven
GM may have lost their market share and profitability on their own, but the Financial Institution’s screw ups are DIRECTLY to blame for putting them in the position where they had to beg for tax payers money. Stew on that for awhile.
And, correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t an additional $800B promised to those Financial Institutions? That would be $1.5T that they don’t have to pay back or be accountable for, or even begin to lend back to those who need it. Who cares if the cash was actually given FOR THAT REASON. They’ve got the cash now, and they can do what they want with it. Like cover their own personal losses and let the rest of the nation squirm through the recession/depression. The banks will come out the other side just fine, with hoarded cash and a whole lot of new Real Estate on their books.
Good on you GM, for explaining what you shouldn’t have had to.
12/08, 5:29 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
It just sickens me that the auto makers have had such a hard time getting help while the banks have gotten essentially blank checks with no reasoning or oversight at all.
12/08, 6:06 PM
posted by:
scootness
It really bothers me that they had to explain so much to get half of what they were asking for especially when it is a “BRIDGE-LOAN” not a bail-out! Loans get paid back! The automotive industry is the largest gross domestic product in the US and we are making them jump through all these hoops to stay afloat. Its insane!
As fast as their quality and mpg were increasing, the US economy was decreasing! They are a victim of circumstance and so many people just want to hang them out to dry! The economic fallout from their collapse would be impossible to recover from and many people are just ready to let it happen while at the same time giving yours and my money to AIG and others virtually no questions asked! Its nuts!
12/08, 7:08 PM
posted by:
FSVT_ROCK
I think what should happen also not just pay us the money back, also when we go to the dealership they need to start treat us as customer and not to force people buying something they don’t need. They also need to give ever family a free vehicle, doesn’t matter what’s our choice. if they want to make us happy.
Scootness – AIG was the biggest mistake that we had made to give them $180Billion dollar for nothing, the CEO and all Manager use the money for party and their large couple million dollar’s of bonus. They need to rethink and pay us back also.
The British and European countries, that every dollar the Government has got from taxpayeer on this situation they will try to find the way to pay people back. That’s what our government should done too, not just take our tax money and not pay it back.
12/08, 7:50 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Some people may be able to forgive but they certainly won’t forget.
12/08, 7:52 PM
posted by:
Payton Byrd
@scootness
The auto makers have never been asking for a bail out. They’ve always asked for loans. Bail-out is a term the media has applied in an attempt to put the final nail in the coffin of the US auto industry which it has hated forever because they are the #1 nemesis of the labor unions.
12/08, 8:35 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Toyota and Honda are names, brands, that you CAN’T TEAR DOWN!
You look like a stupid a$$ when you rip them
Why?
Because all these companies do is protect their brand image
They are quality
They aren’t sexier or glamourous
They do EVERYTHING you need, and some of the things you want
And you can bet your life on them
That’s their value
The Broke 3 sold their names out for a quick sale, a rebate, and a little “planned obsolescence”
They sabotaged themselves, and that’s what they’re talking about in that Automotive News statement today
WE sold you out, ourselves out, and boy are we sorry!
Damn right you’re sorry!
Simple and sorry as you’ll ever be
They can make cars out of diamonds now
It wouldn’t shine
The sky would turn grey
Learn from Trump, Toyota/Lexus, Apple, Sony
Don’t sell your brand
Build it
Or you’ll be sorry
DrFill
12/08, 9:07 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Reads like a forlorn sniveling lover seeking palimony while the other has moved on. Let’s just chalk it up to irreconcilable differences shall we?
12/08, 10:07 PM
posted by:
Omnicient
Well considering that your product is still garbage, despite whatever JD Power and Associates want to give your cars for initial quality.
To even compare the quality of GM’s cars and say that initially they are the leaders, beating Honda or Toyota, is a complete joke. Everyone with half a brain knows there’s no comparison in quality … Well you’ll find out 3 years into the cars life when its breaks need to be changed every 30k because they are warping.
Figure this, my grandfather (an immigrant to Canada) made it in his life. He always used to buy Cadilacs because of the nostalgia they carried through his generation. The last 2 were a 1992 Fleetwood, and the last one was a 1999 Deville.
The 1992 developed a shimmy in the steering wheel around 50-60km’s and then it would go away. They couldn’t figure it out at the dealership. SOLD that dissapointed.
Then he bought his final one a 1999 Deville. This thing was in the shop more often than a Hyundai. Finally, the last nail in the coffin was the “GREAT” Northstar engine (*sarcasm). These are old people, they only had about 60,000km’s on the thing and the head-gasket was leaking. $3000 repair bill if he wanted it done. He sold it and bought a E320 4matic.
They couldn’t even keep their quality on their TOP Luxury brand, just imagine all the problems in the Sunfires or Cavaliers. If they could grow lemons big enough GM would try to strap wheels to it and sell it under Pontiac or Chevy.
*************
My dad, same thing, always bought domestic cars. Last domestic he had was a 1995 Grand Prix 3.1L V6 engine. Not to mention the fact that the brakes kept warping on him at every 30,000k, without any extreme driving (my dad drives like a grandfather), but by 2001 the damn thing had 1 cylinder that wasn’t working. It served the purpose for the price he paid, but having stuff break on it all the time leaves a sour taste in the consumers mouth. Eventually they just get fed up and switch brands. My dad now drives an Accord, with my advice, and subsiquently has no problems … I don’t think he’ll ever go back.
I bought my first car, a 2002 Civic Si, and I have about 87,000km’s on it right now. Only things I’ve had to do to it since I bought it was oil changes and finally got a brake servicing (not even needing to replace them yet), 87,000km’s and no warping of breaks or anything. Lets just say I’ll never ever, EVER, EVER buy a domestic car (GM, FORD, CHRYSLER) in my lifetime. I’m planning to start with Japanese and move eventually into German (when I can afford a BMW).
************
My friend works as a mechanic at a dealership here in Ottawa, Canada. He says how they get in cars all the time, van’s especially where 15,000km’s they need complete new break jobs. Plus, he’s said to me that he’s seen many of those same Cadilac Northstar engines in those 1999 Caddy’s come in for the same head gasket leak problem.
You know what they dealership told my grandfather, as I was there with him (cause his english isn’t that great). They said because you dont DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH, that’s why it was leaking. WTF ???? WTF KINDA ANSWER IS THAT. Yet despite this my buddy says he sees that model all the time.
Face it, their cars are junky. Why should I have to feel bad for a company that took the American public and Canadian public for granted. They produced **** quality, on technology that was old and tried to pawn it off as better than their rivals (especially japanese). I mean come on they were still using pushrod 3.1 V6’s in 1999. Haven’t you heard of overhead cams yet ???
I have lost faith in their ability to produce a solid quality automobile and I never plan to buy one in my lifetime. I’m 27 years old. Most of my friends think the exact same way – so the newer generations (not tied to any type of American nostalgia) are turning their backs on these brands.
The proof is in the pudding and most of us have had bad experiences with cheap quality and even cheaper designs, especially interiors.
12/08, 10:14 PM
posted by:
DrFill
You’re only 27?
Can barely pee straight!
Imagine how people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s feel?
Welcome to 45% doemstic market share!
DrFill
12/08, 11:29 PM
posted by:
sxrcamaro
unleaded vaseline I think Wall Street should pay us back and then some, they are part of the problem with the big 3. They drove up the price on crude oil in the stock market.
Every car in the 90’s sucked bottom line. Some get good ones some may get bad, if you take care of it you shouldn’t have any worries. I had a 1992 ford escort wagon LX drive the **** out of it and never changed oil, drove it 195k. Had many Camaro’s all ran awesome! Over 140k on the clock, previously enjoyed by the state police and still runs mid 13’s in the quarter. Now I have an 2003 GMC Sonoma bought brand new and over 65k on that and still runs like new and never had any problems to date and use it like a truck too! I would buy any new GM or Ford anyday, they both have turned around. Would buy one right now if i wasn’t saving to get a house.
12/09, 1:30 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
So when Toyota told me to pack sand when my Sienna van’s engine locked up at 21000 miles because of “sludge”..TOYOTA CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES..I SHOULD TRUST THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH QUALITY PRODUCTS.?? They later after I got legal help, “agreed” that they would “help me out” and replace the engine as long as I would remain a loyal customer. Bull****! I traded it for a Lincoln MKX AWD and have had absolutely ZERO issues with the car….yah thats right…ZERO problems. I love the car and everybody that rides in it only complains how quiet it is. So Toyota will never get another chance, and I fully hope the US auto industry gets a loan from us the taxpayers!
12/09, 11:37 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
had a 1992 ford escort wagon LX drive the **** out of it and never changed oil, drove it 195k
LOL Yea right This thing didnt even have six slots in the odometer
12/09, 11:59 AM
posted by:
oldraven
“They also need to give ever family a free vehicle, doesn’t matter what’s our choice. if they want to make us happy. ”
Wow. That is ludicrous. Great recovery plan, dude.
How about, if you want your money back, buy a Domestic, and they’ll be able to pay it back in 2011.
12/09, 1:44 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
Why does anyone even care if they “pay us back?” Once the government gets our money, we never see it again in any form.
12/09, 1:54 PM
posted by:
AZS2K
To Omnicient and others who feel as if GM & Ford make inferior products….
First of all let me tell that I come from a family that has for the most part driven Honda and the occasional Toyota. I currently have 2 now, ‘96 Accord and a ‘02 S2000. No problems at all on either cars I could run down the usual ie how many miles etc but we all know the story by now. Honda (& for that matter Toyota et al) build great quality cars no doubt. That being said, I must also state that since my early 20’s (I’m now 38) I have worked at a GM dealership(parts dept). I also grew up in Detroit. GM no doubt made (on the whole) crap! However, that was THEN. I have seen first hand GM improve it’s quality (on both fronts – reliability & quality of materials used) While there are certain cars still in our line up that are lacking
ie the Aveo, Trailblazer & DTS aka Deville-its an old platform, there are good to even great cars
such as the Cobalt, Acadia/Enclave/Outlook/Traverse, CTS, STS, G8, Sky/Solstice, Corvette(an excellant value!) and more. But the car that is actually going to make me buy American? Malibu! As a matter of fact it is on par with the CURRENT generation Honda Accord and I feel is better than the Toyota Camry. We have no problems with car at all.
As far as it’s tech? Both engines are DOHC, the V6 comes with a 6sp auto and the 4cyl as an option. The car does get great gas mileage and to top it all off it looks better then the either the Camry or the Accord. Sure there is a bit of opinion involved and personal preference, but I can tell you this as a die hard Honda nut I am impressed with the new Malibu. I have always said that when GM finally builds a car the meets the standards of a Honda (or Toyota) that I would switch. Why wouldn’t anyone since after all GM, Ford & Chrysler are truly American (one can debate the merites of “American made” at later point) and thus in our trying times we, as Americans (& also our brothers to the north of us- Go Leafs!) buy American. Just my two cents. Obviously, one can debate the causes of this problems and for sure there is not just one culprit but many factors that have lead to the current predicament but thats for another time (or post).
12/09, 10:19 PM
posted by:
sprockkets
Where’s Need More Oil For GM now? I believe he is hurt now that his car company finally admitted what he never could: GM sucks.
Next he will be going through the stages of denial and will either move on or commit suicide.
12/10, 12:15 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Omnicient: if your brakes need to be changed every 30k, you need to stop driving.
My Cavalier made it to 190K, or almost 100K longer than my Civic.