3.5 million new vehicles from GM, Ford and Chrysler remain unsold.

[Veggie Meathead]

What is the Bush administration doing to help people buy new cars and help the economy?How is the tax cut for the wealthy going to make it possible for middle income tax payers to buy new cars?

This situation,if anything, is going to get worse as cars made in China start hitting the market soon.There is already a glut of cars chasing fewer and fewer buyers.What is going to happen to all the workers who may lose jobs if GM, Ford and Chrysler start to lose market share?We may be starting to see the same spiral of losses and plant closings that hit the steel industry earlier.

[carrowsboy]

1. I bought used 3 months ago

Volkswagen

You couldn't pay me to drive Ford, GM or Chrysler crap.

[tridim]

4. I've never owned an American car..

but for the first time I'm looking at the Ford Focus. They're getting better (thanks to European rally design and tech), but still have a long way to go until they reach Japanese and German standards.

My current first choice is a VW Golf TDI because it gets 50mpg. If the Focus got that kind of mileage I'd have a much more difficult choice.

[ajacobson]

7. 2004 Ford Focus ZTS

I'm pretty happy with my new Focus. I've had it for a couple months now.

There's an active online community of Focus owners(www.focusfanatics.com, among other sites), it's been a good source of information.

I never thought I would EVER buy a Ford, but I think the Focus is a winner. Avoid the older models (2000, 2001)-they were still working the kinks out. 2003 or 2004, really good. 2005 - Ford made some interior changes that some like, but I don't.

Edit:
BTW, my ZTS has a PZEV-rated engine, very little badness coming out of the tailpipe. For the 2004 model year Ford made the PZEV 2.3 Duratec engine available in the ZTS nationwide (as opposed to the California emission standard states only). It's not a hybrid but for a mass production vehicle, pretty amazing. I wanted a Prius but couldn't wait for 9 months+ to get one. My next vehicle after the Focus will be a hybrid of some sort, that'll be a number of years down the line.

[3trievers]

11. great car

We own a 02 golf tdi and love it.The only downside is it takes a while to warm up in the winter.

[ender]

37. GM has 2 lines in the top 5 for reliability...

seriously - you're making a misinformed statement. The Buick, and Cadillac lines from GM are #2, and #5 in terms of long-term reliabilty, according to JD Powers & associates.

#1 - Toyota
#3 - Honda
#4 - Hyundai

[whosinpower]

2. Well-

They should of ramped up production of hybrids then instead of gas guzzling monsters......

[Deja Q]

3. History will be repeated, the next prez can't do a thing...

http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Jimmy_Carter_Budget_+_Economy.htm

1978, Carter put a lot of alternative energy research programs into action. (Please read the whole link above...)

By 1983, The Smoked Gipper killed the programs:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_5_60/ai_65133031

The Reagan administration would continue the squeeze on alternative energy as tax credits for residential investment in solar and wind power became "obsolete," as it was deemed to be "the responsibility of the private sector to develop and introduce new solar technologies." The $684 million requested by Carter for alternative energy in fiscal 1982 was slashed to $83 million in Reagan's 1983 proposal. What was transpiring in the realm of solar technology development didn't go unnoticed by the science community. In the November 1981 New Scientist article "Big Oil Reaches for the Sun," Ralph Flood reports that the "energy policy under the Reagan administration seems designed to accelerate the oil companies' control." The solar panels on the White House were discarded.

Notice how the private sector did shit zero because it wasn't fucking PROFITABLE enough.

Reagan killed us. The bastard should not be praised by anybody.

[Old and In the Way]

9. You nailed it.

We were screwed 25 years ago....and we are just starting to understand the magnitude of treason that Republican Corporate interests has visited upon this country.

[lanparty]

39. I'll say it again ...

Carter won the war against gas lines. He frightened the Arabs with the prospect that the US would no longer be dependent on their form crack.

We should have solar panels on every single American home forming a vast grid of solar power generation using grid intertie systems.

We should have vast wind-fields in our oceans and on the great lakes. The fields of the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana etc... should be overflowing with industrial hemp for fiber ply-board (stronger than cut lumber) and biomass (much higher energy derivative than corn or soy).

I don't think we'll ever be 100% energy indepdendent. But we need to stop being OVERLY dependent. Oil is simply solar energy trapped in decayed biological solar panels. The sun still provides it's resources, we simpy have to trap the solar rays and the wind. The sun can provide ALL of our energy needs.

[RoadRunner]

5. Meanwhile, Toyota has stopped taking orders for the Prius

because it can't keep up with demand. :shrug:

[LuminousX]

6. I'd buy

but I keep getting turned down for decent credit terms and I refused to take it up the ass just for a car.

[salvorhardin]

8. I found a great used car about a month ago

1995 Mercury Sable 4dr sedan. 34,000 miles and only $3,000. Of course, I wouldn't have found it if a "friend of a friend" hadn't been using this mechanic out in the middle of nowhere in the hills about 20 miles away from me. The mechanic also sells the odd used car here and there. There's no way I could get credit for a new car or even a used car from a dealer.

[Must_B_Free]

23. nice car

Isn't that the same as Ford Tarus? Is it the bigger old style body or the new one that round and bubblelike? I always wanted to drive an inexpensive Tarus, but never got one.

[redstateblues]

25. Why would anyone buy a new car anyway?

Let someone else take the big depreciation hit when it's driven off the lot.

[notadmblnd]

10. maybe they can ship them overseas and let the Indians buy them?

nt

[Protected]

12. If I had a job, i might buy a new car.

But that ain't happening

[Veggie Meathead]

15. That is exactly what I am saying.People like you who can be

helping the economy are instead sitting on the sidelines.The tax cuts Bush put in place for the wealthy are creating jobs in India and China.Because people like you are still without a job demand is slack and car dealerships are bulging with inventories.It seems as though Bush and his cronies don't understand that demand for goods is what drives our economy.

War,tax cuts for the wealthy,no jobs for the middle and lower income people.This is our glorious leader's handiwork.

[AlCzervik]

13. I'm looking for a new car

(hopefully), mine got stolen 16 days ago, 14 more to go before they declare missing for good. so i'm looking around at dealers, i live near a major auto mall and there are so many cars on the lots, the 05 model year kicks over next month and they are all stuck with tons of leftover 04's . There are more cars at the american dealers that you could get for a song, i don't want any of them but it is telling just by looking at the sheer volume of vehicles they have.

[Disturbed]

16. What happens?

I bought a new car once from a dealership but it was a year old. It had 14 miles on it. If they can't sell quite a few of those new cars in the US after a year and then send them overseas and many of them don't sell there either?

[AlCzervik]

17. I dunno, thats a good question.

maybe fleet sales to rental agencies i'd guess. Of course the cars i like have hardly any leftover 04's and the ones they do have i don't want so i'm shopping around carefully, i am determined to get a reasonable deal and i really want to like my next car as i anticipate i will be driving it for a long time.

[Veggie Meathead]

18. Will you be buying a foreign car?

[AlCzervik]

19. Aye.

I have owned 2 Merikan cars in my lifetime, never again. All foreign cars i've had-2 nissans, 1 mazda, 1 toyota and the brand new Acura Tsx that got stolen, never a problem with any of them. I'm not buying another acura, that has a bad luck stench now for me, i test drove a 5speed v6 altima yesterday and that might be the one for me.

[Veggie Meathead]

21. It seems like everyone I talk to is planning to buy a foreign car.

It is just possible that the days of GM, Ford and Chrysler may be numbered.The bulging unsold stock at car dealerships may be the very first sign of bad things to come for our auto industry.The other sign is that Toyota, Nissan,BMW,Honda are selling like hotcakes.I hope the autoworkers who lose their jobs in Michigan are able to find jobs with Toyota, Nissan and Honda and others.

[AlCzervik]

22. I hope those workers also get employed

by one of the foreign companies. I dont think all american cars i bad but we make more stinkers in one year than the foreign car companies make in 10 years. I think it call comes down to engineering.

[LWolf]

14. I'm getting ready to buy a new car.

Lots of maneuvering involved to manage the $$$ involved. It won't be gm, ford, or chrysler, though. Not that I haven't owned them in the past; I've owned 3 fords, 2 gms, and 1 chrysler.

My new car will be the third incarnation of the small toyota truck. My current truck has about 212,000 miles and is still going strong. It goes to my youngest son. His newer honda will be traded in for my new truck. I'm upgrading a little; I'd like an extra cab and cruise control. Otherwise, same little 5-speed 4-cylinder that has served me faithfully for many years and miles. My first went 350,000 before it was retired.

[AlCzervik]

27. Here is a the web site where you can check

out crash safety data, i just looked up my potential new car.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Search.cfm

[LWolf]

36. Cool, thanks! n/t

[NJCher]

20. I need a new car, too

But I won't ever buy a new one again because of all the advertising they do. The amount spent on ads is crazy. Everytime you turn around there is a vehicle ad.

Eventually I will buy a gently used car but not now. Economy is too uncertain for me.


Cher

[Berserker]

26. Wait one second

I don't understand 3.5 million cars are unsold. The pResident Say's our economy is on the rise! People are finding new job's, There have been tax cut's, WE are safer now, Do you think he has lied to us?
:puke:

[AlCzervik]

34. you could probably find a brand new left over 03 or 04

if you are looking for an american car. Remember to tell the dealer you know the model clicks over next month and you know he needs the 03 and 04 of his lot.

[IronLionZion]

24. but Toyota can't make them fast enough

The big three are getting their asses handed to them by Toyota and some of the other "foreign" American-made companies. Once Toyota builds a new American plant for the Prius, those guys are screwed!

Bush doesn't care about selling cars. He just wants to give more no-bid contracts to his buddies.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

29. It is possible that someday, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan may....

buyout the "BIG THREE" and use their facilities to make HYBRIDS and FUEL CELL cars. Hell, at this rate, Dihatzu and Isuzu could take over GM/Ford/Chrysler!

[IronLionZion]

33. The big three are so backwards

they totally didn't see the hybrid revolution coming. Now they have to license technology from Toyota. Ford is using almost the exact same hybrid system in the Escape as the Toyota Highlander. And they haven't started selling them yet. That market will take off like a rocket, especially if president Kerry re-instates Gore's tax deduction for fuel efficient vehicles.

I think the wait for a Prius is like a year now! They can't make them fast enough. That's why they cost so damn much. It's because of the shipping and tariffs and massive demand.

Although, GM claims to be shooting for efficient industrial vehicles in the long run.

[WLKjr]

28. Well you know what this means

If they can't sell them soon and fast.........the price for a 2004 or 2005 auto soon will be dirt cheap for a new vehicle. Too bad not many of us will even be able to spend the money on one since quite a few people are out of work and others struggling just trying to make ends meet.

[formernaderite]

30. Why would anyone buy a new car?

eom

[IronLionZion]

35. Republicans do it all the time

I hear you man, I've never bought a car that wasn't at least 8 years old and rusty.

[shanti]

41. for reliability

i HATE car problems and with a new car, at least i'm pretty sure i'll have a vehicle that runs well for at least 5 years.

[leftofthedial]

31. relax! the auto executives have made plenty of dough

it will trickle down to the peasantry eventually

[RebelYell]

32. I have an '01 Jeep Wrangler

I'm very happy with it. I wouldn't buy the other junk Chrysler makes. The lease was up a few weeks ago, I bought it instead of trading it in. I was laid off in April '03 and working part time until I can find something full time, so a new one was totally out of the question. The two Jeep dealerships here are loaded down with Jeeps, but the Wranglers are mostly sold. IMO, the Wrangler is the only real Jeep left.

[truthspeaker]

38. I'd seriously consider a Chrysler 300M IF THEY OFFERED A STICK!

Quality issues are what keep me shopping for Japanese cars, but in addition US car makers just don't make what I want. I want a mid-size sporty sedan or wagon with a decently-powered engine, power locks & windows, cruise control and a goddamn manual transmission.

I really like the Chrysler 300M - but it's only available in automatic.

I'm interested in their new hemi-powered little wagon - but I assume it's only available in automatic.

The Oldsmobile Alero looked like my kind of car, except the quality and reliability sucked and - wait for it - the V6 models are only available with automatic.

I currently drive a 95 Saturn SL1. It is the only reliable American-made car I have ever driven or been aquainted with. But it's too small for me and underpowered. Saturn makes mid-size sedans and wagons but --- the V6 models are only available with automatic.

So I'm buying Japanese or German.

Oh well, Chrysler's a German company now anyway.

[AlCzervik]

42. I know someone that just bought one

with the big engine, it's a cool car, reminds me of a gangster car, just needs suicide doors. Anyhow, no stick sucks but she picked hers up 2 weeks ago and has already had to bring it into the shop, the airbag light stays on and the engine is making a clicking noise. It still in the shop, she's waiting on a call from them.

[shanti]

40. i bought a 2005 caravan

in may from carmax. it had a $1000 rebate with it too. SOME people are buying them!