Water-S

I was on the way to school and I go by 10-15 gas station. I'd say on average gas went up a dime over the weekend . It ranges from 2.00 to 2.15 per gallon for regular depending on where you get it. I heard it will be 3 bucks a gallon by summer. Now my question is this: will the big 3(Chevy,Dodge, and Ford) make it since so much of their sales are "banked" on truck/SUV sales. People I think start realizing when they trade in or turn in their leased SUVs that the family needs something more fuel friendly. yes Ford has the Freestar and the Dodge has the Pacifica but I don't see enough on the road to really keep them going. The reason I don't see the import car companies so worried is they are more of a car automaker. the #1 selling model is the Ford F series. Ford market share is still down from sometime around 2000(betwen 9/11 people didn't want to spend money, then the bad tires on the Explorers, then numerous recalls on the Focus) how many hits can they take before they are "K.O.ed"
Then you look at GM- They killed off Oldsmobile, they try to pump excitement into the Pontiac line with the new GTO but I think it's failing. Also rumor is if sales don't improve Saturn next to be chopped. Buick is coming a long with it's quality. Hummer was selling a lot of H2s when they were "cool" but fuel prices kind of slowed that down.
Dodge- With Benz buying them I think they might be the only American car maker to survive. They've brought out a lot of new cars in the last couple years(the 300,Magnum,Charger,and Crossfire). my only complaint is they are aiming (to me at least) toward the older market. the only car that i kind of like is the SRT-4 Neon(but yeah i know it's a Neon but it's quick as heck for a compact car).
so guys give me your thoughts. thanks

55M2G7L

i hope not, that would be ridiculous

slayer202

still got room till $3. i dont think it will get that high, but what do i know :/

55M2G7L

i dont think it would either

fsttyms1

it wont.

SpeedyV6

The Big 3 are saddled with healthcare costs and pension plan obligations that are so large they just aren't cost competitive. If they declare bankruptcy they may emerge from a successful reorganization.

Water-S

if they break the union

matter of fact : Honda has a pension plan and pays employee and family's health care premium 100%(the reason I know this is because my father has worked for them for 23 years) he's had this health care since he started there.

The union is what killing the big 3 i think. When you can't help the guy down the line with a process if he or she is behind. I worked at Honda during summers they encouraged teamwork.

Unions in car makers=bad news.

biker

I think Dodge sort of gets it, but even it has many of its eggs in the truck/SUV basket. Look at the new Caliber - a more family friendly replacement for the Neon that was developed with world wide distribution in mind.
One thing that could help delay some of the hurt would be diesel engines. It would be a good stop gap measure to improve the dismal milage in some trucks/SUV. I still can't believe the Wrangler has such horrible milage - DCX own diesel available in Europe would fix that.

1killercls

F-C

Detroit News article

Gasp, high fuel prices scare off sales of SUV's!!!

dabuda

whoa, try paragraphs

why are your threads always like this?

Professor

Nawwhh... remember the Mustang II or the Pinto or the Bronco II? Great 76 era American cars!

Shawn S

The US Government would probably subsidize and save the “Big 3” if they were ever in danger of failing.
Just like they did with Chrysler back in the 80’s.

Look what they’re doing with SEPTA right now.
412-Million of road maintenance funds being diverted to help save ONE company.
Thanks a lot my wonderful Pennsylvania Government.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05060/464390.stm

CLpower

No, because in reality, SUV's gas mileage really isn't horrible. My parents have a 00 navigator w/ the big DOHC 5.4L. They get about 15-17 mpg out of it. In reality this isn't to far off from most cars. My 3.0 CL gets about 21 mpg w/ me babying it, 18 or so if i'm pushing the car hard. On a side note, their C5 corvette gets a little over 30 if it's on the highway and mid 20's around town.


So no, I don't feel it'll have any kind of impact.


Dodge, also did a great thing w/ the new hemi, where it virtually runs only off 4 cylinders until you get on it. MBZ and BMW have done the same w/ their v12 motors.
IMO, this stuff will become more and more common