Bailout Watch 145: CarGurus: 52% to 48% Against GM, Ford Bailout

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

First things first. CarGurus.com‘s bailout poll– “Should the government bailout GM and Ford?– was an opt-in affair. Second, it’s a bit of a stretch to assume that 8112 people shopping for cars on CarGurus represent more than 8112 people shopping for cars at CarGurus. Third, the poll was worldwide. Stay with me here. Just 29 percent of the 8112 respondents allow CG to know their physical location. Of those, 29 percent were outside the U.S. These foreign respondents were in favor of a bailout by a margin of 51 to 49. The U.S. contingent (of that 29 percent) voted 59 – 41 against a federal bailout for The General and The Blue Oval Boyz. All in– everyone tallied– the vote was 52 to 48 against. Clear? Fourth, why wasn’t Chrysler in the poll. “Ford and GM seem to be in the news a lot recently,” CG editor Steve Halloran told me. “I really don’t know why we didn’t include them.” Personally speaking, Halloran would “love to see them get bailed out. I’d love to see the American carmakers continue.” That said, “I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.” If CG’s poll is even remotely accurate, it sounds like Joe Q. Public shares his ambivalence. Somebody get GM spinmeister Steve Harris on the line, STAT!

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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