An Unofficial Poll for the US Automakers
Without benefit of telephone solicitors, mailing campaigns and those irritating people who stand in malls with clipboards, I’ve conducted a poll. Maybe it’s a survey – I’m not really sure of the difference. I only asked one question: would you buy a GM, Chrysler or Ford product today?
The results of my poll are: 96% NO • 4% YES. Margin for error 97%. (I think I have to include the margin for error.)
No matter how efficiently the automakers restructure themselves, it will all come down to: can they sell cars. If they can’t sell cars, they can’t make money. If they can’t make money, they can’t pay back their new loans or retain their workforce.
The past few months have seen the US automakers at the forefront of the news. There’s a lot of talk about a lot of things, but in the end – they’re dying on the vine. This begs the question: how will loaning them billions of dollars of taxpayer money really help? Doesn’t it just mean that more people are now caught up in the industrial giants’ failures. I’m referring to all taxpayers here, of course.
Also, I don’t know how the automakers will be able to restructure efficiently. Their labor costs are outrageous, and the head of the autoworkers union has already made it clear that he doesn’t want to budge. And this is only one problem with a potential restructuring and resurrection.
Nobody I’ve spoken with believes the US automakers will survive through 2009. This is why they don’t intend to purchase a vehicle from any of them. They’re concerned, and rightfully so, with warranties, service and parts. Wouldn’t it be horrific to purchase a new $30,000 vehicle from one of the US automakers only to find there’s no longer any support. This assumes you could get a loan right now – which ain’t easy!
Maybe worst of all is that if you do buy a new car or truck from a US automaker and find out that you can’t get parts or service – you must still repay your loan. Perhaps for a vehicle you can’t use. The government bails out banks, insurance carriers and automakers – not citizens.
Of course I really do hope the US automakers do rebound – with a vengeance. I just don’t know that I would be willing to take a chance on that to the tune of $30,000 or so. Would you?
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