Ah, now for a trip down memory lane. I started driving shortly before the gas crisis of 1974. My drivers ed car was a brand new 73 Pontiac Bonneville.
About the only fuel efficient car on the road in those days was the quirky, and loved only by a 'niche' of drivers, VW Beetle. No threat to Detroit's supremacy.
Then came the crisis. Many people think that the reason for the Japanese market share jumping from being virtually non-existent to being dominant was the result of three high quality small cars introduced following the sudden doubling of gas prices in the 70's: The Datsun B210,the Toyota Tercel and the (original) Honda Civic.
But there were two other automobiles which also helped usher in the era of Japanese surging into dominance in the marketplace, just as much as those three, IMO:
The Ford Pinto and the Chevy Vega. Detroit's two answers to the Japanese cars. My brother's first car was a 74 Vega. My cousin owned a Pinto. Those cars were such unbelievable pieces of low-quality CRAP. An absolute disaster for Detroit's reputation. ESPECIALLY when compared with the alternatives.
Fast forward THIRTY years, and GM is STILL having problems putting out a product as reliable as my Honda Accord, assembled in Ohio; zero, and I mean zero problems - after 65,000 miles so far.
I have no idea who is to blame. And I would rather "buy American." But the three Japanese cars in my household run like swiss watchs, and my son's 2000 Buick Regal....well, last week I had to spend $975 at the mechanic, on a variety of problems such as replacing (the THIRD one out of four, now) an electric window motor. Sigh. Just as when I owned MY last Detroit product (1987 Olds Calais Supreme), I just wait and wonder what is going to break down NEXT on that damn car of his.
Lifelong Democrat; Former president, Broward County, Florida Young Democrats; Former member, Broward County, Florida Democratic Executive Committee; Former city commissioner, City of Cooper City, Florida; Graduate, The University of Florida; Practicing attorney, Miami, Florida; Member, The Florida Bar; Member, North American Snowsports Journalists Association; Broward County Young Democrats' Trailblazer of the Year, 1994; Broward County Young Democrats' Young Democrat of the Year, 1996.
2 comments:
Except that it's not a bailout of the auto industry, it's a bailout for the auto UNION.
There are cars being made at a profit in the US, but they are being made by non-union workers in states like Tennessee and Indiana.
Union thugs have priced themselves out of the market, and now they want a handout to reward them for their greed.
Ah, now for a trip down memory lane. I started driving shortly before the gas crisis of 1974. My drivers ed car was a brand new 73 Pontiac Bonneville.
About the only fuel efficient car on the road in those days was the quirky, and loved only by a 'niche' of drivers, VW Beetle. No threat to Detroit's supremacy.
Then came the crisis. Many people think that the reason for the Japanese market share jumping from being virtually non-existent to being dominant was the result of three high quality small cars introduced following the sudden doubling of gas prices in the 70's: The Datsun B210,the Toyota Tercel and the (original) Honda Civic.
But there were two other automobiles which also helped usher in the era of Japanese surging into dominance in the marketplace, just as much as those three, IMO:
The Ford Pinto and the Chevy Vega. Detroit's two answers to the Japanese cars. My brother's first car was a 74 Vega. My cousin owned a Pinto. Those cars were such unbelievable pieces of low-quality CRAP. An absolute disaster for Detroit's reputation. ESPECIALLY when compared with the alternatives.
Fast forward THIRTY years, and GM is STILL having problems putting out a product as reliable as my Honda Accord, assembled in Ohio; zero, and I mean zero problems - after 65,000 miles so far.
I have no idea who is to blame. And I would rather "buy American." But the three Japanese cars in my household run like swiss watchs, and my son's 2000 Buick Regal....well, last week I had to spend $975 at the mechanic, on a variety of problems such as replacing (the THIRD one out of four, now) an electric window motor. Sigh. Just as when I owned MY last Detroit product (1987 Olds Calais Supreme), I just wait and wonder what is going to break down NEXT on that damn car of his.
Post a Comment