Comments on: Detroit Shifts Gears Against Japanese

American Automakers Have Lost Ground And Are Doing Everything To Come Back

[vancouverboo]

Let's face it.
On a level playing field, America loses.

We are what we are, and we can not win on a level playing field.

Check out the balance of payments. A deficit for the last 50 years. That doesn't just happen.

After WWII we were the only intact industrialized country, so of course we were top dog.

That's history.

C'est la vie moderne.

Get used to it. We're just another bankrupt, undeveloped country, exporting raw materials and farm products and importing finished goods. Everything else is just hype.

[rikedoid]

If I am to believe all the hype about domestic (check again exactly where the components were assembled - Mexico, China?) quality improvements, then all the issues I have experienced with my relatively new GM must be an isolated case, right? I don't think so. The newest (been driving GM since the 70's) is also by far the worst. Luckily the dealer has been very good about fixing things under warranty. Meanwhile Toyotas and Hondas that friends own seem to just purr along. Research it, they actually all have problems, it's just a matter of finding the ones with the least, and which companies stand behind their product, particularly after the warranty is over. Example: the Toyota engine sludge issue vs the GM intake manifold gasket issue. Like I said, research it, forget the advertising.

[StanJasek]

Honda is demonstrating its leadership in the auto market once again by adopting super clean diesel technology into its car line. Diesel engines will become a critical component in the "engine portfolio" of the global car business. Diesel made from coal either by CO2 sequestered Gas-to Liquids (GTL)or Coal-to-liquids (CTL) via the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, coupled with the new advanced combustion diesel engines, will be environmentally cleaner than most of today's hybrids.
Not the perfect answer, they will however allow the global automobile manufacturers to produce environmentally clean, consumer affordable, and safe autos and trucks.
US companies could be the leader in the production of both FT clean diesel fuels and clean diesel vehicles. Honda is on the right track with this "transition" technology to the hydrogen economy.
If our American manufacturers want to become leaders again, all they have to do is start making "responsible and customer focused" cars and trucks, that we can buy and drive TODAY!

Dreams don't get us back and forth to work.

Stan Jasek
Muskegon, Michigan

[wr_johns]

In September I ordered GM's fuel efficient 38 MPG Aveo, I am still awaiting delivery. Having a desired product and not being able to deliver it is also one of GM's many problems your report failed to address.

[ssacamp]

Its no wonder U.S. carmakers can't correct the perception that domestics aren't as good as Toyota---the liberal press and biased analysts like consumer reports don't cover the situations where domestics are better. CBS Sunday Morning had Bob Lutz to speak for the domestics but CBS could have covered those circumstances where the U.S. cars beat the Japanese as opposed to contributing to the perception that the imports are better. Why not celebrate U.S. successes instead of promoting imports.