gm buying dodge?

[rback33]

Yes, as a matter of fact I would say if I wasn't happy with the truck, or anything else I bought, if I was dissatisfied.

BTW, the ratings in Consumer Reports are by actual owners...just like the comments in this forum. Good thing you know everything though....I was wish I was that knowledgeable.

I think you left IF out of your sentence back there. I think the meaning is clearer with it added.... I put the word in in bold for you...I assume you do like your little JAP

 

[Northland]

I think you left IF out of your sentence back there. I think the meaning is clearer with it added.... I put the word in in bold for you...I assume you do like your little JAP

Thanks for the edit and yes, I like my little JAP truck -that's 90% American content.

I would never again buy a vehicle with a 6 speed manual though-way too much rowing. First gear is of limited use as it's very low. Fifth and sixth gears seem to be too similar.

Also, I feel the truck needs a limited slip diff

 

[gemini5362]

Based on the price of the toyota gas trucks if they come out with a diesel I probably wont buy one of them due to the cost. A gas 1/2 toyota with all the bells and whistles is only a few thousand short of a fully loaded duramax 3/4 ton pickup. I have heard that toyota will not discount their trucks that much and gm will discount the duramax so I would imagine that you could wind up giving more for the toyota than the duramax. With a diesel engine in the duramax it will be out of sight price wise probably.

If you want to talk about a big mistake by a big three company. I still cannot believe that you cant buy a hummer with a duramax diesel and allison transmission in it.


If GM does buy Dodge it will give them more market share and basically cut the competition by one manufacturer. GM is losing millions of dollars but if you look at those reports that is only in the US. They are still the biggest seller in the world market.

I loved the earlier comment about the allison being copied from a chrysler transmission. The poster that pointed out that it was used in school buses and etc could have mentioned motor homes also. You can go look at a motor home with any flavor of engine be it cummings, cat, isuzu etc. Most of them will have an allsion transmission.

 

[Builder]

I would buy the Toyota Tundra -they are going to bring out a diesel as they have to in order to effectively compete against GM, Ford and Dodge's diesel trucks. Toyota bought a share in Izsuzu - apparently to get access to their diesel technology.

I bought a Tacoma 4x4 6 spd manual in late 2005. I love my truck-fast, quiet, decent mileage,smooth ride, great quality (no rattles) but I want my next truck to be a diesel. Apparently Dodge is going to introduce a bluetec diesel in their 1500 series trucks by 2009 that will meet CA emission standards.

The new Consumer Reports April 2007 edition suggests that some Toyotas, like the Sienna and my Tacoma, have 90% US content whereas something as traditionally American as the Mustang only has 65% North American content. The new Fusion and Chevy Avalanche are made in Mexico-it's a changing world.

And Consumer Reports is full of ***, as usual:

Toyota Tundra is 60% American. Ford & GM full size are 85-86% American. I can't believe how many people are gullable enough to believe these Toyota ads. They act like they're saving our economy from ruins or something. All they're doing is paying US workers lower wages & benefits and taking the profits back to Japan (under lower tax levels than American car companies, of course).

Here's the true facts on American parts content of all the manufacturers:

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/lfi-domestic-content.pdf

 

[jacobweaver32]

And Consumer Reports is full of ***, as usual:

All they're doing is paying US workers lower wages & benefits and taking the profits back to Japan (under lower tax levels than American car companies, of course).

It's the union squeeze thats killing the american car companies.... definately not the only reason ..... but a big player....

No company can be successful against a competitor when the labor costs are so different... Can I get in line for the $30.00/hr career which involves inspecting a lugnut... give me a break? How can you blame companies for overseas outsourcing? But we (american general public) do....

Lets face it... these companies (big 3) are going broke because of overpaid employees and lack of overseas manufacturing.

Again lets face it.... if they outsource overseas someone bitches and if they reduce the employees pay someone bitches.

Popularity in america and past research and development tools in truck engineering will only last for so long.....as time goes on the big 3 will need to come up with something to compete as Honda and Toyota continue to outsmart the american economy.

For Ford, Dodge and GM.... globalization cannot come sooner.

 

[gemini5362]

It's the union squeeze thats killing the american car companies.... definately not the only reason ..... but a big player....

No company can be successful against a competitor when the labor costs are so different... Can I get in line for the $30.00/hr career which involves inspecting a lugnut... give me a break? How can you blame companies for overseas outsourcing? But we (american general public) do....

Lets face it... these companies (big 3) are going broke because of overpaid employees and lack of overseas manufacturing.

Again lets face it.... if they outsource overseas someone bitches and if they reduce the employees pay someone bitches.

Popularity in america and past research and development tools in truck engineering will only last for so long.....as time goes on the big 3 will need to come up with something to compete as Honda and Toyota continue to outsmart the american economy.

For Ford, Dodge and GM.... globalization cannot come sooner.

I know that personal attacks are not allowed and I am not trying to make this a personal attack but to be honest you really dont know what the heck you are talking about. I am curious about the 30 dollar an hour job inspecting lug nuts exactly which company and what written proof do you have of that. While on the subject of salary what does a MRI engineer make per year. I am a union official. At the moment I am on a lunch break from a Seminar on Arbitrations. Attendees are Management and labor attorneys, Union officials, and Members of the National Academy of Arbitrations. If you want to talk about people squeezing this country lets talk about the very upper levels of management. What about CEO's that are making tens of millions of dollars in bonuses while the company they are directing is millions of dollars in the hole for that year. Or what about companies like american airlines where the unions took very large pay cuts to help the company out and then found out that all the upper managers had been promised a bonus equal to a years salary if they stayed on. What unions have done in this country is to help working people get a living wage. Look at the industries that do not have unions. How many of them are paying a substandard wage and no benefits. If you want a prime example of how a union and employer can work together look at Southwestern Airlines. The are the most highly profitable airline in the US today. They are also the most heavily unionized. Their Vice President over Labor Management spoke at a dinner here last night. He said that early on their goal was to pay their employees a fair wage and work with the union. It has been a very successful policy. The problems the big three have had are more in line with not adapting to different economics conditions in their choice of product lines.

As far as your comments about globalization you might look at who owns what companies in the auto industry worldwide.

 

[RobertN]

The new Consumer Reports April 2007 edition suggests that some Toyotas, like the Sienna and my Tacoma, have 90% US content whereas something as traditionally American as the Mustang only has 65% North American content. The new Fusion and Chevy Avalanche are made in Mexico-it's a changing world.

Last I looked at a map, Mexico was North American too?

 

[patrick_g]

Dodge trucks can come equipped with good engines (Cummins) but have garbage for a tranny. The driveline is the super weak part of a Dodge pickup.

I twisted off the input shaft of my stock tranny with the little Cummins 12 valve non computer enhanced torque monster. I have replaced my aux tranny/OD twice (now running the third one) I put in an after market beefed up BD brand tranny with HD torque converter. Blew reverse out and damaged torque converter a few days ago. Now having torque converter rebuilt even more HD than BD version and replacing low/reverse gear assy.

I never had a Dodge before but wanted the Cummins engine and it came wrapped up in a Dodge pickup. I will keep this truck for a while due to the economics if it will stop breaking so much but would never do it again. Maybe the Dodge gas machines don't break so often, I don't know but am afraid to find out at todays prices.

I have been on the net checking the best data I can find on total cost of ownership over 5 years of the various trucks because just comparing out the door prices is way short sighted. The layers of BS are so very deep it is a slow and laborious process to try to make an informed decision. I think there is a de facto conspiracy to withhold information or to not present what is available in a meaningful way so as to allow a clear analysis. Lots of hype, little helpful data.

I'm sifting through all this junk trying to decide what truck to get. I think it will be a 1/2 ton gasser 4 door 4X4, probably with automatic. It doesn't have to be a super HD hauler as I will be dumping an old beater midsize PU and retaining the 1 ton Cummins which is a HD tugboat. Depending on $ it could be a 3/4 ton but not likely a 1 ton due to pricing.

Pat

 

[Egon]

Here I sit worried sick the transmission on my 96 will go any day from all the disasters I hear about.

But, so far so good and it does do a lot of towing with a camper on it.

 

[KICK]

Here I sit worried sick the transmission on my 96 will go any day from all the disasters I hear about.

But, so far so good and it does do a lot of towing with a camper on it.

lot of it has to do with the operator or not making unreasonable demands on the equipment.

you see and read about it all the time , some poor sap who bought the Joe Blow super exhaust and chip etc, intercooler , blocked off the EGR.. got 400 hp and 800 pounds feet blah blah, pulling a 40 foot whatever and the poor little tranny fails and then says the tranny isa POS. LOL.