Interesting Read

[black88gt]

Letter to the Editor- Elkins Fordland

Incredible editorial from one of our Dealers in the Pittsburgh Region….
Attached is a well written "Letter to the Editor" from Elkins Fordland.
Editor:
As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions of viewers.

Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.

When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.

When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.

Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.

When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.

When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon.

Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.

It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabamahas given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's $180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and decisions.

After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!

We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.

Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.

The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?

As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment.

So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country.

So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit. Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a Ford lately? Or a GM product for that matter???????

Jim Jackson
Elkins

[Inferno333]

Fantastic!

[Drifte]

that was interesting. half way through I had to ask myself "is this a fod guy or what?" Sure enough...
I like some of his points, but I haven't seen the quality products hes referencing.

[DustinsDuster]

not being a smart ass or anything Colton, but when was the last time you drove a new car from the big three? i would have been more skeptical of it, but after driving the new Challenger, i am pretty damn impressed with the build and ride of the car. and from the sounds of it, Chrysler is the worst of the big three...

[Domestic Disturbance]

Big three quality wise really are turning a corner. Its the bad taste from the last few decades that are still scaring people. New malibus and fusions are both good evidence of that, out rating the almighty camry. Look better, too

[Drifte]

I used to drive everything that came though at the shops I worked at. The only car Ive heard good things of is the Ford Fusion. But I havent had to work on one of those so I cant say much about it. If a ford escort came in I knew I was about to bank.

[DustinsDuster]

the Fusions i have heard nothing but good things about, the Malibus as well-although i will admit i personally havent driven either. a good friend of mine worked at Avis and drove a lot of the newer Fusions- he had nothing but praises about them- and he's not much for domestics at all. he said the new Charger's and such had great chassis and ride, but the V6 engines were junk. might as well get the Hemi i guess, the new incarnation of the 5.7 is supposed to make 375hp and get 4% better gas milage than the first 5.7...

[Drifte]

I was reading about the chargers. Come in 3 models (i forget the model names). Basically for the price it was best to go with the middle model. Loads of power and styling, without the price of the top of the line model.

[DustinsDuster]

SRT8 maybe? i could see that. strictly taking from the research i did on Challengers, i really think the RT(middle model) will be the hot ticket. its $10k less than the SRT8, with 50hp less, and still available with the same 6 speed and LSD rear and all.

[69gt4speed]

My car (a ford) is a pos by some and honestly don't care. I know it's caveman pretty much but puts down over 448/+500 whp, 26mpg hiway on 93 oct. beat on a lot, u all have seen and still hanging in there at 40k mi. Only real non maint. issue is I broke the halfshafts, and I jammed a gear for the hundrendth time and broke that key which all t56's have. We could argue crown vics are highly reliable since they do police and taxi work for yrs and were bought endlessly but who cares.

I say the newer domestics are pretty damn good and no reason not to buy them. My bro works on fords and honda's, he's got plenty of stories. Got some good stories on all that crap zimmerman sells too even bmw as we hired 2 ex mech. I saw lots of fusions and 500's in k.c. and the road this weekend look pretty popular there.

Those southern joker senators hate unions, have import car co. in their states and want them to succeed, pretty easy to figure that out. They probably hate the term "union" in itself.