GM & Chrysler coming together??

[GWalter]

One thing about it, if plants are closed and employees put out on the street, you can bet it'll be Americans. It really upsets me that our corporations and our government has sold us out. If the corporations don't go overseas they bring in the cheap help, either leagally or illeagelly and it dosen't seem to matter to the present administration. Sure glad I don't have much time left in the work force.

 

[RustyJC]

Why is it the government's fault if the Big 3 automakers don't manufacture product that the American public wants to buy? The domestics continually lose market share to the Toyotas and Hondas because the American people are voting with their wallets. The reason they're closing plants and laying off workers is that they have excess capacity - the reason they have excess capacity is that they're selling fewer and fewer vehicles.



Rusty

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The real reason we buy these CTD's is for the HP and torque for towing/hauling and the Cummins reliability. If you never tow heavy, this truck does not make sense economically. The engine is a $6000+ option and diesel fuel, at least here in Washington State, has been 30-40 cents a gallon more then regular gas for several years. That eats into your fuel economy, over a regular gas engine truck, in a big hurry. There have been attempts, in this country, to bring out diesel powered vehicles, but this has never really panned out (very expensive option, etc). Even Chrysler has been talking about a diesel engine in a smaller truck (i. e. the 1500). We will just have to see if that happens, but I don't expect that consumers will be beating the door down for it.



The bottom line for me is this: If I didn't have a 32' 5th wheel to haul around I would not own this truck. If the price of the diesel option continues to go up, along with fuel cost, and this causes RV sales to go into a decline (which some say has already happened), many others will not own one either...

Absolutely 100% on the money!



Gassers are now frequently getting 300K mile lifespans, the regular gas they use offsets the diesel advantage in economy - and is further eroded by the substantial added cost of the Cummins, you can buy LOTS of gas for the several thousand dollars extra the Cummins costs.



If I didn't need the extra Cummins power for RV towing, I'd undoubtedly be driving a Gas powered truck... Blind brand loyalty is for Ford owners... :-laf

 

[RCash]

Just a few points to consider

Hello,

When it comes to this subject, a few things come to mind, and I'd like to share them.



A chief impediment to developing a broader diesel market in this country has not been desire, the standoff is between manufacturers and available fuel. The EPA has dropped the gavel on fuel quality and petrolium industry responds with the expected lethargy we have come to expect (and the associated higher prices at the pump). So now someone has blinked and the manufacturers respond, we have alot of models coming out that will show off some really impressive economy gains (when we look not so closely at the price per gallon, but the operational cost per mile). Quick return on that investment is what will help consumers get over the next point.



The reliability of diesel powered vehicles is not in question, for me to sing its praise would be preaching to the choir in this forum. The average consumer has a "throw away" mentality about vehicles, trade them in on the last payment month for that loan note, it constitutes a paradigm shift for them to feature having a vehicle longer than the note. While this might not be the case in every example, I believe it prevails in the majority.



What do ya'll think on these points?



Bob

 

[JStrosnider]

HHMMM... . This seems to be the same talk that GM had with Ford Motor Co. a few months ago. . Heard on the news that GM and Ford were looking into a possible merge. That deal must have went south so they decided to look elsewhere. I think Ford and GM both are in fincancial trouble due to all of the import hoopla coming in. . They are not making the money they were 15 years ago so they are just looking for ways to make profit. . I think this is all a big scam.

 

[RJOL]

... A chief impediment to developing a broader diesel market in this country has not been desire, the standoff is between manufacturers and available fuel. The EPA has dropped the gavel on fuel quality and petrolium industry responds with the expected lethargy we have come to expect (and the associated higher prices at the pump). So now someone has blinked and the manufacturers respond, we have alot of models coming out that will show off some really impressive economy gains (when we look not so closely at the price per gallon, but the operational cost per mile). Quick return on that investment is what will help consumers get over the next point.

It's not just the cost of diesel or MPG that has prevented the US auto industry from producing lots of diesel models. In Europe, diesel power is the norm. In the US it's not. During the early 1980's, when we had a shortage of oil, the US auto industry rushed in and tried to convert gas engines over to diesel (GM was a big player in this). They came out with a model that turned out to be a turkey for dependability and cost. I think this led to a negative impression of diesel powered vehicles and Americans have responded by not buying them in mass quantities. The current diesel models, like the Volkswagon TDI or the Jeep diesel may have been a popular choice, but they just don't add up to even a fraction of the market share. This may change if the cost of diesel goes to $6+ a gallon, like in Europe. As far as the petroleum industry... They will always react to demand / profit. If we start buying lots of diesels, they will increase the supply. The only problem is that they are currently trying to guess how much diesel they can sell and that's dependent on winter weather. That's why the cost of diesel jumps when the weather (typically in the Northeast) takes a dive.

... The average consumer has a "throw away" mentality about vehicles, trade them in on the last payment month for that loan note, it constitutes a paradigm shift for them to feature having a vehicle longer than the note...

This point is well taken. I owned my Ford diesel for 14 years. I kept my 2001 CTD for about 5 years and only sold it as I needed a 3500 dually to tow my 5th wheel. I plan on keeping my 2005 until it breaks, or I stop needing it for my RV. When that happens, it's gone. If I buy another one, it will have a Cummins in it, or I think I'll pass...

 

[GCross]

I don't believe that the GM/DC merger will ever happen. After shedding 13,000 jobs, DC claims that they can return to black ink in 2008.



-George-

 

[RRees]

Now if Toyota and Chevrolet merged - you'd be driving a "Toylet".

 

[Grizzly]

Now if Toyota and Chevrolet merged - you'd be driving a "Toylet".

That's very funny, of course that will never happen because Toyota wants the # 1 spot all to themself.

 

[jhnbrll]

I understood this as a merger with just the Chrysler brand and GM, That did not include Dodge or mercedes or freightliner.

 

[betterthanstock]

Now if Toyota and Chevrolet merged - you'd be driving a "Toylet".

Ugh, read this. The Toylet corolla/NOVA has been with us for many decades.

Now it's the Toyontiac or Pontyota VIBE/corolla



http://www.nummi.com/us_roots.php



http://www.nummi.com/vehicles.php

 

[Matt400]

This Chrysler/German marriage has been on the rocks every since it was conceived. One things for sure... If diesel stays at or above $3 a gallon, there will be a lot less CTD's on the road in the future.

I don't see how unless nobody does the math, at my mpg 4. 00 would put expenses more on line with a gas big block provided regular stays low.

 

[NUKEMAN]

How about a GM with a Cummins engine, AISIN transmission and NP-205 transfer case. Sorry I am not brand loyal. I havent seen any consumer groups do a side by side durability test on any heavy duty trucks. If the new Dodge trucks have sheet metal and a paint job like my 91 I am not really impressed.

I completely agree and I'd be standing in line for one of these; Allison or Aisin.