2 Out of 3 U.S. Auto CEOS Drive Hybrids? Big3 & White House

hb06 · 11-14-2006, 05:01 PM

"OK, so maybe they are starting to get it in Detroit. When GM, Ford and Chrysler CEOs met today with President Bush, two out of three drove through the White House gates in hybrids: a Ford Escape Hybrid and a Saturn VUE Greenline ... "

"With GM and Ford closing plants in many states and cutting thousands of jobs, the political influence of the Big Three is likely to wane."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../611140360/1148

tripp · 11-14-2006, 05:12 PM

I was reading something about a bail out and how unlikely it is. The auto industry has changed a bit since the last bail out back in the early 80's. First off, for auto mfgs employ about 100K americans and have invested billions in plants in the US. The idea that "what's good for GM is good for America" just isn't true anymore. The big 3 contribution to the American economy has shrunk considerably over the years. They're just not THAT important anymore.

hb06 · 11-14-2006, 05:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Nov 14 2006, 02:12 PM) [snapback]349066[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I was reading something about a bail out and how unlikely it is. The auto industry has changed a bit since the last bail out back in the early 80's. First off, for auto mfgs employ about 100K americans and have invested billions in plants in the US. The idea that "what's good for GM is good for America" just isn't true anymore. The big 3 contribution to the American economy has shrunk considerably over the years. They're just not THAT important anymore.
[/b]

The White House was able to meet with American Idol before the Big 3 according to the article.

eak354 · 11-15-2006, 05:21 AM

bah... them driving to the White House in hybrids is just for show... and they got the attention they where hoping for. <_<

**TonyPSchaefer** · 11-15-2006, 01:35 PM

Agreed.
I'm sure they would have rather shown up in their custom Stretch-Hummer, Stretch-Excursion, and Stretch-Pacifica.

They were probably riding in there saying, "good God what do people see in these things?"

hb06 · 11-15-2006, 03:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 15 2006, 10:35 AM) [snapback]349596[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Agreed.
I'm sure they would have rather shown up in their custom Stretch-Hummer, Stretch-Excursion, and Stretch-Pacifica.

They were probably riding in there saying, "good God what do people see in these things?"
[/b]

They do give the impression that they drove those vehicles in kicking and screaming. Considering their legacy of the Electric Car, if they could have added a Plug-in EV or Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) concept/prototype car to replace the Chrysler Sebring, now that would have garnered some attention.

Jonnycat26 · 11-15-2006, 03:58 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 15 2006, 02:35 PM) [snapback]349596[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm sure they would have rather shown up in their custom Stretch-Hummer, Stretch-Excursion, and Stretch-Pacifica.
[/b]

Stretch Hummer... I can see. Stretch Excursion... I can see. But why pick on the Pacifica? It's a little minivan/station wagon type thing. Did the Pacifica somehow make it to the top of the hated vehicles list without the world noticing?

Alric · 11-15-2006, 04:09 PM

Fake hybrids anyway...

Pinto Girl · 11-15-2006, 04:12 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 15 2006, 01:35 PM) [snapback]349596[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Agreed.
I'm sure they would have rather shown up in their custom Stretch-Hummer, Stretch-Excursion, and Stretch-Pacifica.

They were probably riding in there saying, "good God what do people see in these things?"
[/b]

Yes, as Henry Ford II famously remarked after the first time he rode in a pre-production '65 Mustang coupe: "Who's in their right mind is going to buy one of these...it rides like a buckboard!"

I'd also agree that the odds of a bailout aren't so good as they once were. But I do wonder if the feds will find a way to manipulate the system, in an attempt to reduce the legacy costs with which the UAW saddled the big 3. It could be spun as something else besides a bailout, too.

Beryl Octet · 11-15-2006, 04:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Nov 15 2006, 03:58 PM) [snapback]349735[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Stretch Hummer... I can see. Stretch Excursion... I can see. But why pick on the Pacifica? It's a little minivan/station wagon type thing. Did the Pacifica somehow make it to the top of the hated vehicles list without the world noticing?
[/b]

They were probably thinking of the stretch 300. Compared to the stretch Excursion or Hummer, this thing is positively green.

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11-14-2006, 05:01 PM	#1
hb06 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 486 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	"OK, so maybe they are starting to get it in Detroit. When GM, Ford and Chrysler CEOs met today with President Bush, two out of three drove through the White House gates in hybrids: a Ford Escape Hybrid and a Saturn VUE Greenline ... " "With GM and Ford closing plants in many states and cutting thousands of jobs, the political influence of the Big Three is likely to wane." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../611140360/1148

11-14-2006, 05:12 PM	#2
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,349 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 6	I was reading something about a bail out and how unlikely it is. The auto industry has changed a bit since the last bail out back in the early 80's. First off, for auto mfgs employ about 100K americans and have invested billions in plants in the US. The idea that "what's good for GM is good for America" just isn't true anymore. The big 3 contribution to the American economy has shrunk considerably over the years. They're just not THAT important anymore.

11-15-2006, 05:21 AM	#4
eak354 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 433 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	bah... them driving to the White House in hybrids is just for show... and they got the attention they where hoping for. <_<

11-15-2006, 01:35 PM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 11,218 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 58 Thanked 313 Times in 196 Posts Friends: 27	Agreed. I'm sure they would have rather shown up in their custom Stretch-Hummer, Stretch-Excursion, and Stretch-Pacifica. They were probably riding in there saying, "good God what do people see in these things?"

11-15-2006, 04:09 PM	#8
Alric Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,526 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 7 Thanked 86 Times in 55 Posts Friends: 0	Fake hybrids anyway...