OPINION: Obama Does A Great Thing With New Fuel Economy Standards. But USA Car Companies And Workers Will Become The Sacrificial Lambs.

I think 001 is spot on here. This will be another death blow to GM and Chrysler. I can see Ford importing more of their small Euro offerings to the States to meet this ruling, but even then they will struggle since Americans have historically wanted F-150's and not Fiestas.

I think it is sad that the government is deciding what types of cars the public will be driving instead of the consumer voting with their checkbooks.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 2:23:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Two points:
[1] Sacrificial lambs? I think not. Years of mismanagement and unwillingness to broaden their portfolios to include desirable, fuel efficient vehicles in their lineups has been slow suicide for the US automakers. They've been slowly sacrificing themselves for years.

[2] HSCenterconsole says "it is sad that the government is deciding what types of cars the public will be driving". The role of (competent) government is, in part, to assure national economic security for the long term. Our entire corporate mantra has been promoting maximum quarterly profits at the expense of long-term sustained growth. (This is true for not just the auto industry, the financial industries as well). Sometimes, the role of the government is to step in and create regulations that will be beneficial in the long-run.

Leaving all decisions in the hands of the free market is simply not the solution to every problem. Can you imagine what the state of our air and water would be if we left concern for the environment completely in the hands of corporate America?

— Argelius (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 2:44:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

A one day tick does not make a company.

When I was at MP3.com we were over $100 per share and a year later at 3.

And are they up because sales are growing or are these quick speculators day trading?

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 2:52:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

whatever dumbass agent 001. listen, America has been doing things your way for the last 30 years. and guess what? that has gotten us nowhere fast.

so sit back and watch smart people fix this thing. you and detroit and american workers will be thanking Obama a decade from now when the world will have hit peak oil and the prices will go crazy.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 6:15:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Didn't know smart people resorted to name calling.

— 993Turbo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 8:02:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

IMO, the hypocrisy and shortsightedness of the pure "free market" ideology is to blame for much of the woes befalling our US car corporations. The "Free market" often does a great job at satisfying many consumer demands and maintain reasonable prices, but all too often does tremendous damage to the environment, our national security, and long-term business prospects. because most of corporate America (notable our banks and auto industry) only looks to short-term profits and resulting huge executive salaries and bonuses, there is little incentive to look ahead and plan for rainy days because management can always just run away from the disaster to their mansions in the Caymans.

Rules, standards, and laws must be enforced, and business WILL adapt. Or- they will die. We already see American ingenuity adapting as we speak- just look at Tesla and Fisker. The "Free market" and government must both exist in careful balance and not necessarily be fixed in cement a to their percentages. Some times call for more freedom, some times call for more government. GM and Chrysler will have to change and become smaller- but I agree with the government in keeping them in business right now- their are national security concerns why we need them, as there are reasons for many people and cities who depend on this industry. All in my own opinion, of course.

— rockreid (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 2:57:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

In my opinion they are dancing in the aisles at Honda, Toyota and Hyundai thanks to this initiative.

THEY will reap ALL the benefits, not the 3 (We have deleted the word BIG because now in our eyes they are just the 3).

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 2:59:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Well I just can't golly gosh darn wait to drive a soccer mommy Toyota Prius shitbox or a Honda Insight bibically awfuller P.O.S. Got to love progress...I am glad I just bought a new 2009 Jeep wrangler Rubicon with Navi to Drive over top of all the future Prius's then hide away in the woods in shame for all of mankind is now ruined with slow awefull cars no one wants!

— pennfootball (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 3:00:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

If people want/can afford to drive gas guzzlers, they should be allowed to. Wha's next from the nanny state, make Ferraris illegal?

— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 3:17:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Frankly, Obama has just brought the US into the same line as what has been enacted in China / Europe. Does it mean teh end of big muscle, hell no ! but do expect companies that make fast cars to be either very small (like Ferrari / Lotus etc.) as they are too small to come under the rules or big corporate giants like VW / Toyota / GM etc.

Incase every body was moaning about GM, Ford etc this will really help them as in the US they can make the same models they export and will compete with them imports on a fairer standing.

As the market growth of cars shifts more to Asia, (China has been the biggest market for the last two months) , rules for car manufacturers has to be to make good world wide cars if they need long term survival.

Does that stop you from buying a V8 .. hell no. it probably stops a company from sellign v8 that has 1970's tech and sloppy engineering that makes it dog compared to a lighter more nimble v8.
case to point : the Challenger Hemi v8 vs BMW v8 vs IS-F v8

— izfuney (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 3:43:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

001, missed the point a bit with the 10 ten selling cars. The reason there are not many fuel effecient cars on the list is that not that many people want to drive them. All auto manufacturers make small fuel effecient cars. Every person in America has the opportunity to buy one if they wish. Some people do, that's great more power to them. But at some point people are going to have to stand up and say "I don't want to drive a crappy little tin can!!!". We are standing by while tree-huggers and the government are taking away any choice we have in purchasing a vehicle. If this passes there will be no more Corvettes, Mustangs, F150's, and Malibu's there will only be tiny micro-cars. That is great if you wish to drive one of those, but I don't and won't. I guess I will be buying used cars for the rest of my life.

— Abox5 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 3:52:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

A couple things.

1. The american car companies have plenty of fuel efficient vehicles, look at any of the numerous hybrid vehicles they have brought to the market. Most of them are at or almost at or surpass the 2016 goals.

2. The average for trucks is doable, and large progresses have already been made to whip those vehicles into shape. Heck with the new legislation the trucks in 2016 will have an open playing field since Toyota trucks have abysmal fuel economies. (assuming Toyota doesn't fix this)

If anything, I would say that the German companies are in a greater danger. Since have invested so heavily into "clean" diesel. But with this latest bunch of legislation the emissions standards have become even stricter. The cleaner you make your diesel engine the more power it takes to clean/finish combustion, the worse fuel economy it will get. That and most German cars are notoriously heavy due to their luxury appeal. If they can't shed the pounds and focus on micro cars (which don't sell well so far) they will lose the entire North American market.

Yes Ford, GM and probably Chrysler will be around for a long time, yes they will have to drastically downsize, but one has to realize, everyone is in danger in today's market place.

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 3:53:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

How exactly does a 6 year plan impact the inevitable of today?

— 100tnega (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 4:03:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

There will be another election before 2016 and a Republican will be nominated and then this will be reversed.

— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 4:10:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Yay for our next republican President/Savior

— pennfootball (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 4:16:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The Aveo is actually a good small car. Look at recall reports and reliability histories. The Aveo will be a winner when it gets re-designed. The Koreans have been playing hardball with quality in the last 10 years, now they want to play hardball with design.

Daewoo, though 10 years behind Hyundai/KIA is no exception.

The Problem will be the Cruze I think. It looks ok, the interior looks like a winner, and has a lot of good ingredients, but there is a design element missing.

It looks too much like a Colbalt Replacement and not a brand new car, as GM execs have been looking for, but thats just my opinion.

GMs problem like most American companies, as well as government is that it is filled to the brim with 50-70 year old baby boomers who should be home watching Jerry Springer and Judge Judy, but instead are hogging up opportunities for fresh young talent with new ideas to get to work, or they hold back fresh young new ideas.

They dont do that in Japan, Germany, or Korea hummmm......

Maybe its their socialist pensioning system, which stimulates early retirement as opposed to our system which punishes retirement.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:06:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Change regulations every two years and force Americans to buy cars they don't want.

That's what we're doing here!

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:09:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Then they cry Ageism when people say that, however we are economically competing with countries where people after a certain age bow out gracefully, as opposed to worrying about the things people my age should be worried about.

As Bill Maher says, "they have their Cancer claws continuing to hold on to the keys to the kingdom, when the time is now to hand the key over, to the next generation."

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:10:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

By the way, Obama is a Baby Boomer. He is just the Youngest a Baby Boomer can be though.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:12:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I think its all a set-up so that our generation can have an ever lasting dependency on baby-boomers.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:17:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Two unrelated additional thoughts:
The whole bail-out thing smells of propping up buggy whip manufacturers, not to mention the steady march to socialism here, now that it seems GM assets will be sold to a government owned entity. Neither of these is good for the economy long-term.
Second, how will these mpg numbers be achieved? with cleverly engineered, lighter weight vehicles utilizing costly alloys to achieve the paradoxical attributes of lighter weight while retaining strength and crashworthiness...or will we all be forced into cars that are merely smaller and lighter (tinnier) and inherently less safe? -- a reasonable question in light of the recent headlines rediscovering basic physics about how sadly such vehicles fare in head on collisions with larger vehicles.

— TechRightGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:34:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I love Obama. It feels so good to have a progressive, smart president.

Finally things will change, really change. If we had done this 30 years ago Detroit would not be in the shit hole it is now in.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 5:59:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

My Ford stock went up 2.4% this morning. And GM was up 7.7%. Yeah, these news are really "cripling" for the U.S. autocompanies.

People like dick cheney and agent 009 need to go away. The 1950's are over. The sooner you learn that, the better we'll all be off.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 6:05:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Ford Motor Company supports Obama and what he is doing. Henry Ford loves this. Ford will have an electric Focus that gets 100 miles on a charge and probably costs under $30 k on the market by 2012.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 6:10:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Are Euro 5 diesels allowed under the new rules?
If so, Chrysler is now positioned to sell the 2008 Best European Small Diesel and its brothers here.
They can also build them here in the states, too.
GM built the Geo Metro in North America (Canada).

— 63mopar (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 6:45:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Oh you mean the Fiat Grande Punto which has been rated the worst quality small car in Europe. Even the Chinese, Indians, and Malaysians have better rated small cars in Europe. Not to mention that FIAT is pretty much near the bottom of the quality rankings in Europe in every segment.

That was a bad deal for Chrysler and they are going to pay for it, by not being in Business. Hyundai should have just bought Chrysler, kept the trucks, sports cars, and the Luxury designers. Then throw out the slush cars.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 6:55:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

....and ah...do these new rules also apply to the presidential ride? If this administration has it's way we'll all be driving little crap box cars that your either have to plug-in, hand-crank or pedal down the road!!

— doctorproctor (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:03:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Yeah ill get de boosted hard, but its the truth.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:30:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

GM beats Toyota growth in China with what? smaller more fuel efficient cars. Lets not confuse the odd mix of regulation, safety standards, and the American buyer with the inability of US automakers to have success. Could GM and Ford bring cars in from overseas that meet this program, sure. But after reengineering to meet our byzantine laws and incurring those costs, we don't buy them. BTW - how much bigger does a Camary need to get before its not considered small and fuel efficient?

"Toyota's China sales in the first quarter of 2009 fell 17% from a year earlier to 125,743 vehicles, even as the total Chinese market, fueled by rising demand for small cars, grew 4% to 2.7 million vehicles. GM's sales gained 17% to 363,317 vehicles, including commercial microminivans made by SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., in which GM holds a minority stake."

"GM on Tuesday said its China sales rose an even-faster 50% in April. Toyota is expected to report April sales for China early next week.

The root of Toyota's China problem is a slow response to increasing demand outside China's biggest cities for small, affordable cars -- an unexpected lapse by a company known for its fuel-efficient vehicles and generally seen as adept at grasping changes in customer desires.

Chinese consumers have been snapping up such cars, especially after the government in January announced stimulus measures that cut sales taxes on cars with engines of 1.6 liters or smaller and offered rebates for rural residents buying new cars."

— islamorada (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:33:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I created an article today about the psychology of Americans and small cars, but the socilally irresponsible cretons that run Autospies wont allow it I guess.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:34:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Americans want to be decadent guys, a lot of us do not want to make sacrifices to take take of the poor even in good times, much less give up the Fuel Tankers they drive.

"Well, we can help the poor with new Legislation, We'll just give the Negroes some of our gently used clothes we cant fit anymore hunnie."

-Average Jane American


"We can help stop our socially irresponsible companies from making poluting products, but we can plant a tree darling."

-Average Joe Six Pack

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:48:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

cant

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 8:49:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

"We cant do anything to help those people, I know darling, lets get some Negroe or a Latino, and make them Lt. Governor. You know a good gesture towards their communties."

"We cant get the neighbor to stop beating his wife, I know lets just ignore it."

"Son, you cant change the system. Hate the Game, not the Player. Son, just play the game until you pay some dues, then you can make you changes."

"Honey I know I only make $12 an hour, but I have to get that Escalade on our credit card."

"Honey if we act responsibly, we'll all be driving little crap box cars that your either have to plug-in, hand-crank or pedal down the road!! "

"Hey, you actually want to help your fellow have a better life. If you do that, a drone is all you will ever be! Visit - themarklevineshow.com and get educated! Marxist lover!"

My point is,these are typical American responses. I didnt realize how phucking: lazy, ignorant, and hateful we are as a nation.

We have all of this techonology, yet we grow more ignorant. Thats right, it probably has to do with the fact that we work 92 billion hours a week including taking work home, and all of the time we have for ourselves is dedicated to: watching crap TV, taking prescription drugs the Tv tells us to take, and buy what the TV tells us to buy.

Yeah!!!! Red, White, and Screwed!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 9:04:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Not stuck.

They shouldn't have spent a DIME and let them sink or swim on their own.

The bailout was the dumbest idea on the planet and you know it so why isn't ANYONE taking the new administration to take on this?

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:42:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

On that best seller list, Im shocked not to see the cop car impala on the list. Guess local agencies are having to drive older vehicles longer to save money in this economy. Good thing the malibu sales well. I bet if it wasnt for GM's tarnished image, it would be much higher on the list. Its a nice ride.

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 10:22:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

100tnega - You don't want to be a drone your whole life do you? You need to get educated! Do yourself a favor and go buy the book "Liberty and Tyranny". This will give you the education that you long for grasshopper! This is the number one book in America for a good reason! Author - Mark Levin www.marklevinshow.com

— vintagereplicar (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 10:29:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

2009 Aveo mpg = 30.5 mpg combined
1989 Geo Metro XFi = 46 mpg combined, 51 hwy



— 63mopar
---------------

That's disgusting. These rethuglicans and the oil companies that own them have been robbing us blind for decades. plus a trillion dollars for a shady war in a country that happens to have a lot of oil?

small government my ass.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 10:47:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

I come to auto-car blogs to get away from petty political agendas, clearly 001 has been drinking Limbaughs fruit juice. I'm not an Obama apologist thinking the guy is perfect, but c'mon!

AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF HUBRIS, GREED AND PLAIN LAZINESS!

i'm only 36, but remember the 70's gas shortage, well? what was Detroits answer? the Cimmaron?
please they made the same mistakes again 25 years later.
what is the definition of insanity? doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.

Detroit fought against efficiency and this is what they get,

p.s. i have never owned a foreign auto, if i had the money a CTS-V would be mine!

1997 STS
1964 Olds Jetstar 1
1964 Buick LeSabre

— kiyos (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 10:53:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Tell me how this HELPS American car companies how many high paying jobs in the USA will be created by this initiative and I will shut my mouth.

Fox News nothin', it's common sense from a person who KNOWS the auto business.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:40:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Gm has more cars that get over 30mpg than any other automaker they also have the upcoming Volt the Malibu is more fuel efficent than the accord or camry also they have the volt and Fords fusion already is the hybrid leader in mpg and fun to drive not to mention the best looking by far. Where is the trouble for the US?

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:44:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Oott60, thats wild that the Cop (Oppressor) Car is selling like that, considering that it is 7 years old on a 13 year old platform. I wonder what the MPG on the new Interceptor is going to be.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:53:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Propaganda, 1UAW!!! Just mere propaganda. Sure its like that becuase they split 19 billion cars and rebadge them. but overall their CAFE if I remember is in 8th place the top 3 are Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai/KIA.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:56:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

And don't get me wrong AutoSpies.com faithful...I think 35 MPG is GREAT and all those who fight for the free market system should remember its made the sheiks in the middle east the richest people in the world and I HATE that.

Just don't promise the poor people in Detroit making cars that things will be better for them and that you will be creating high paying jobs for them. THAT'S A BALD FACE LIE.

Tell them the truth.

You're all gonna take it in the butt and we'll never lead in the auto biz again because we gotta get off the oil NOW!

Find a job in another state in another biz or you're going to starve, it's NEVER coming back.

That's the reality.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2009 11:57:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

GM could have been #1 but they are #8th becuase of the TRUCKS!!!

GM has a poor image becuase of the TRUCKS!!!!!

Humm, maybe GM needs to do something about the TRUCKS!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 12:00:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

We at Hyundai wanted to be first by 5 years and have CAFE up by 2015. Obama is now trying to out fox us. Maybe we should change strategy and have a 35 MPG fleet out within 24 months.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 12:05:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundai in Europe has a 41 MPG CAFE rating. Its time to bring those powertrains here. The 3 Trucks get over 30 MPG easy in Europe. The i20 gets an astonishing 54 MPG out of a 130 HP motor.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 12:08:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

ok ok, so keep buying Benz's, Bimmers, Porsches and everything will aok 001?

— kiyos (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 12:09:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Never said Obama was to blame just that this initiative won't help them.

If you've read my opinions I have been very consistent.

The reason for their dilemma is 30 years of bad executive decision, employee apathy and too many people surrounding the biz that drank the kool-aid.

But the only way for them to get up off their knees are less regulations and erasure of taxes, not the reverse.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:01:26 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I don't mean regulations to prevent money being stolen, I mean EPA regulations, employment taxes, investment taxes, etc.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:24:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

And tax incentives to sell their existing inventory for people who buy them

Like the ones described in this article

http://www.autospies.com/news/Will-Joe-The-Plumber-Lose-His-SUV-Deduction-Under-McCain-Or-Obama-36643/

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:28:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Like I said, they should have let nature take its course.

The bailout was a lot of money wasted and they KNEW it was going to fail but Obama OWED organized labor.

What a waste of your money and my money.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:35:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Only for a period of time until all the inventory has been sold, cash is in their coffers and then enact the plan b for more efficient vehicles.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:40:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Not saying I'm against the vision, but this is not the time.

When they're back on their feet, THEN go forward.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:41:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

I guess you just don't get it and you are living in the dream world President Obama is in right now.

There is not enough time or money in the world for the American car companies to accomplish this and be profitable and healthy.

IT TAKES YEARS AND HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS...And the the cars you build HAVE to be GREAT!

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 1:57:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The end of the UAW is near and I can't wait!

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:04:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I said for a SHORT period of time to get out of crisis.

Delete the current inventory FAST with incentives, cash comes in to keep them alive, crisis averted, begin plan b of building more fuel efficient cars people want.

Is that hard to understand?

You have to put out the fire FIRST, then you re-build.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:09:54 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

They can't survive through it.

So what good is even starting it.

The reason you DO something is to ACCOMPLISH the goal.

This just deep sixes them.

So you'll have your new standards and no American auto industry.

Nice!

Start learn Mandarin Chinese...you're gonna NEED it!

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:36:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Well I remember, when I first stumbled upon this site about 3-4 years ago, and the Buzz then surrounded the Ford Edge, Dodge Nitro, Pontiac G8, and VW R32 cars. No one cared about Fuel Economy then. At the same time everybody was laughing so much at Hyundai/KIA Products it made me sick. As a matter of fact, this and The Truth About Cars were the most anti-Hyundai Racist sites on the web.

Who is laughing now to the bank, and who's sales are not dropping like a stone, guys? Who was right in the beginning about the superior value propositons I advocate for? Who predicted that this Supersize Me, I have 92 Billion credit cards, and 94 million timeshares economy was going to collaspe?

Give me my props, please?

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:36:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The Advertisment on the Chevy Malibu banner on your site 001 says that the Malibu gets 33 MPG highway already, and that is the better than Accord, Camry, and Sonata currently. I fail to understand how the American auto industry we be damaged in the next 7 years when they have a vehical platform that currently is near the planned goal of 35 mpg today, not to mention how much further the Volt technology will be improved in the same amount of time.

— upwards (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 2:47:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I have so much to say about this, there is not enough time or space here to do it. Anyway, no one is getting the real point here: Who is going to buy these magic new super efficient tiny econo-box's? Remember, at $4 a gal, Prius and Civic Hybrids were flying off the lots. As soon as prices dropped below $3 a gallon, Hybird sales fell apart. The number one selling vehicle is STILL the ford F-150 truck! Would a small Chevy Aveo based truck that gets 35 wonderful mpg on the road be able to carry the load of working ranch, much less a large family? And do it as reliably as a true full size truck? NO WAY. Also, OBAMAthink says: “consumers will save approx $2800 over 3 years" due to this wonderful efficiency. Bull dung. The truth is, since urbanized Americans MAY actually buy some of these small wonders, and as actual oil/ gas usage continues to decline here in the US (as it is right now) The Oil Companies will simply continue to cut back capacity, as well as close refineries, in order to maintain the needed reserves-to-demand ratio that will allow them to keep raising the price of fuel higher and higher. Then add the much higher insurance premiums these little wonder cars will incur because, as we were shown just this year by the IIHS in the wonderful You Tube videos where small cars were crashed head on into their larger siblings and were basically decimated, smaller vehicles are less safe than larger ones. Millions of which will still be on the road. (My daughter pays almost $400 every 6 months more for her new 09 Fit than she would have if she had purchased an Accord because of this "safety gap" and higher repair costs). Combine these and what you have is that cars will simply be a lot more expensive. Wiping out any of the potential consumer savings. The only benefit of these new rulings will be a small reduction in how much oil we use and reduced amount of pollutants going into the air. Maybe. As I see it, many more people will simply opt to keep what they are driving now or opt for a used, larger car/SUV as there next purchase. It is, without a doubt the fault of the car companies that they are in the positions they are now. BUT, we are a BIG Country. Although the auto companies could have done a better job at steering our tastes towards more efficient vehicles. (As I believe they should have) The other side of that coin is, we the consumers are at fault as well for every time they built a bigger, badder SUV or Truck, we forked over whatever they charged and jumped in with both feet. Look at the early success of Hummer and vehicles like the Expedition. If we had not bought them as fast as they could be built, the companies would have stopped building them. If the Govt had forced gas costs higher (in small, graduated climbs over a long, but steady period of time) then our 'tastes' would have slowly changed with the higher cost to fuel the monsters and the companies would have responded to this and built what we were willing to buy. Look at Europe.

— Autoknologist (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 5:52:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Cafe standards have never worked and they will not work now.

— 993Turbo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 7:33:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Holy crap all you Obama is the savior of mankind types you get back to me when bread is 10 bucks a loaf and gas is 10 bucks a gallon(7 being tax).Some of you guys are in for a massive reality check.If you live in the state of IL.you know just what kind of politico comes out of Chicago.God will raise taxes on fuel to finish off any cars that may be fun.

— vwrules (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 9:43:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I PHUCKING HOPE OBAMA JUST GETS IT OVER WITH THE BLACK SOCIALIST DICTATORSHIP ALREADY!!! Phuck Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Free the Drug Felons!!!! Give entitlement payments to the poor!!!!! Give Blacks reparations for racism!!!! Legalize Drugs!!!!! Makes 100 MPG standard by 2025!!!! Ends Term Limits!!!! Crack down on First Amendment rights to say racial slurs!!!! Doesnt touch the issues of Gay marriage and Abortion, just ignore it!!!! Gives the Entire nation of Mexico AMNESTY!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/20/2009 10:57:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

"2009 Aveo mpg = 30.5 mpg combined
1989 Geo Metro XFi = 46 mpg combined, 51 hwy"

Humm, 63 Mopar, mayge thats because: THE AVEO HAS ALMOST 50 MORE HORSEPOWER than a laughable Geo crap box!!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 4:22:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

maybe'

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 4:23:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

> But in my opinion there is a HUGE flaw in this plan that will having [sic] devastating results on the American car business and American jobs.

Help me understand something: Are American car manufacturers indifferent to fuel economy, or are they just not as good as foreign makers?

Each car maker creates a product they *believe* will sell. Some makers are better than others in anticipating consumer's desires and needs. It seems the US has had decades to make a "better" car, and they've had their collective asses kicked by foreigners. Even foreign companies like Honda, making cars on US soil, with US labor, in US factories. They still seem to be doing something "better".

US makers have had literally decades to pull their socks up. The 1970's cheap Asian cars and "Energy Crisis" appears not to have awoken them.

Fat, Lazy, and Complacent are the faces of US car makers. "Made In Japan" used to be the label of crappiness. Now, Sony and Toyota are leaders. Even the Koreans have come an incredibly long way since the Hyndai Pony's debut.

C'mon guys. Show the world what "Yankee Ingenuity" is all about!!!

— Steve (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 5:23:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Ford may get me back at some point we will see.

— vwrules (View Profile)

Posted on 5/21/2009 8:40:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1