Originally Posted by
skybolt
I've driven three Ford trucks, two Rangers and a F250 well over 150K miles each in the last 20 years. A Merc van over 100K, a Taurus over 100K, and a Focus over 100K. Yes, I drive a lot. Not once have I experienced an engine or transmission failure. My Neon did have a bad head gasket (leaking oil) at 30K. My son's Mustang went over 100K with only a head gasket failure at around 120K. My Dodge Ram sits most of the time, but it's never had more than an oil change in seven years.
But what did I say that implied anything about bailing anybody out? I said that American buyers buying American produced cars will bring back DTW. I didn't say that Americans should buy for patriotic reasons. The politics was all your idea. If Toyota produced autos in DTW, I would be saying the same thing. If you don't keep up, ALL auto manufactures sales numbers have been way down the last two years, I'm sure that some city in Japan (likely Hiroshima) is suffering the same as is DTW.
You buy what you want, I'm all about personal freedom and personal responsibility. I won't try and control your buying choices. FWIW, I'm looking at a US produced Honda Ridgeline for my next truck. US production is what matters to me. I, in fact, support American laborers.
My point was: Fix it the proper way. Have them make competitive products and the customers will come back. Looks like Ford just woke up and trying that lately. Buy it for the sake of it being American does not help anyone. My opinion.
I have personally witnessed 2 brand new Navigators going through 2-3 transmission changes each. Both cars under 50k miles before the 2nd happened. Plus a GMC Savannah getting 2 as well. All company cars, all new, all city driven only. The Savannah was super nice inside, it had ambient lighting, etc and a beverage cooler. When I took the lid off the cooler and turned it around I could see the staples holding the leather to the plastic lid. It was clearly manually stapled because they were all over the place. I could not believe it. This was in 2001-03 ish... But so much about the hijack.
Welcome all the furloughed back. Union email seems to confirm that there may be more than just 70 new hires for 2011.