Comments on: Bailout Watch 249: They’re Reviewing. The Situation.

By: geeber

geeber — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:20:56 +0000

From Ford I’m hearing about a revamped Fusion with better performance AND fuel economy, and an upgraded interior.

I’m also hearing about the upcoming Fiesta, an all-new Focus based on the next-generation European model and a completely restyled Taurus.

That sounds like a plan to me…

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:08:44 +0000

Yes, I’m sure the Mustang sells well, but it just strikes me as odd that in this day and age, most of what we seem to be hearing about are these three latter-day pony/muscle cars, and it seems to be symptomatic of Detroit’s lack of vision. All they can see is The Past.

And we do need to be aware that the gearhead market is indeed tiny.

By: ferrarimanf355

ferrarimanf355 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:12:35 +0000

maniceightball,

I don’t know the Challenger’s sales numbers, or if GM is still targeting 100K Camaros per year, but I do know that the Mustang has always sold at least 100K units per year for the past decade or so. The MY2009 Stang is probably going to be a slow seller- I hear that production is being capped at 50K units or something like that- but I’m assuming that Ford wants to start producing MY2010 Mustangs ASAP. So, they sell well enough for Ford to warrant continued production…

By: maniceightball

maniceightball — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:16:07 +0000

You gotta have a little passion in your lineup, you know…

What I think Stephan meant was that those cars are more for puffing up your brand and satiating the relatively small percentage of pistonhead consumers, not for keeping a company alive. Basic Bimbo-boxes keep them afloat, trucks, sedans, minivans — that sort of thing. In that respect, GM and Chrysler have no tangible plans or concept of how to be successful.

By: dean

dean — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:24:11 +0000

TexN: who gave you a copy of the plan? That unicorn poop idea was eyes-only BOD.

Signed,
Red Ink Rick.

By: TexN

TexN — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:01:17 +0000

GM’s continued insistance of “we are viable if we can pretend our debt doesn’t exist, we don’t have to pay our VEBA obligations, and auto sales return to 17M units per year” is getting a little tiresome. I’m half expecting their “plan” to include sprinkling unicorn poop on their balance sheet…………

By: alex_rashev

alex_rashev — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:17:49 +0000

Aaa-aaaaaa, aa-aaaaaa,
All the things I could do,
If I’d have a little money
In a rich man’s world!

I know what the BOD does on Sundays. Drinking bourbon for all of us.

By: ferrarimanf355

ferrarimanf355 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:11:08 +0000

As far as I can tell, Detroit’s Return to Greatness plan so far involves the Mustang, the Challenger and the Camaro, three of the stupidest cars I can think of. Yes, I know, two percent of the potential automotive market, including a lot of 14-year-olds, think they’re more fun than tits, but is that a plan?

Please don’t tell me V8s 4 ever or anything like that, it’s just stupid.

C’mon, you don’t eat fetuses, curb-stomp puppies and give the finger to baby seals, do you? You gotta have a little passion in your lineup, you know…

By: mel23

mel23 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:32:17 +0000

If Congress doesn’t want to give the car companies the $25B, how about giving them permission to pick through the dumpsters out back of the HQ of various banks like Citi, BoA, Wells Fargo, etc.

By: Stephan Wilkinson

Stephan Wilkinson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:30:13 +0000

Please don’t tell me V8s 4 ever or anything like that, it’s just stupid.

By: allegro con moto-car

allegro con moto-car — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:02:45 +0000

But red-ink Rick said he does not have a golden chute! I saw that video. I saw his lips move when he said it.

Actually, it depends on the meaning of the phrase “golden chute.” If by “golden chute” you mean greater than $1 billion, then the answer is no, he does not have a “golden chute.”

Also, it depends on the context that the phrase is used. It is very likely people will take his comments out of context. He may even remind us that interviews with journalists do not count for anything, since interviews are not conducted under oath. The board of bystanders may even fudge the dates on the paperwork, affording Rick past deniability. There could be many reasons for people misconstruing what he said.

Just say’n.

By: esg

esg — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:22:27 +0000

I still think Red Ink Rick will continue to deny the proper channel of Chapter 11 until the bitter end. I’m guessing his golden parachute will be much more profitable if he is ousted as opposed to resigning…

By: Buickman

Buickman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:21:10 +0000

there is a way.

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