New Dodge commercial "Freedom"

[Jericho941]

And, IMHO, that has to be the worst car commercial for at least the last 10 years.

Indeed; it should've been Challengers rolling up the beach on a Pacific island, laying waste to Priuses.

[Rich]

I liked the commercial but for pity sake, couldn't they have filmed it somewhere back east instead of in the Rocky Mountains? For my money, if I were looking for a modern car and didn't care about gas cost, I'd go for either the Mustangs or Chargers; at least they're a little retro in appearance and not cookie cutter.

Stealth.

[Evyl Robot]

If I was going to buy 'domestic' I'd probably go with the company that refused the bail-out. I'm not terribly fond of the blue oval, but... Are the Dodge's even manufactured locally? Last I heard most of their production was in Mexico and Canadia, eh - just like the other big two. I like supporting domestic manufacture which is why I drive Hondas and Nissans. *Ducks to avoid thrown objects in retaliation to flames*

[Rich Jordan]

If I was going to buy 'domestic' I'd probably go with the company that refused the bail-out. I'm not terribly fond of the blue oval, but... Are the Dodge's even manufactured locally? Last I heard most of their production was in Mexico and Canadia, eh - just like the other big two. I like supporting domestic manufacture which is why I drive Hondas and Nissans. *Ducks to avoid thrown objects in retaliation to flames*

Cold day in flaming hell before I ever drive a honda. I don't have much issue with the other Japanese makers (and good experience specifically with Toyota).

I admit to seeing the new Challengers through a particularly critical eye, simply because I have my 1971 (still in process/pieces) in the garage. There's _no_ comparison in appeal (the new ones look chunky to me); the original concept was better than the production model.

That said, a triple-black SRT with the 6.4 hemi.... I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at it.

No GMs. No Camaro. I learned to drive in a 65 Mustang 289 coupe and retained a soft spot for them that even rental experience in a 2002 mousefang hasn't eliminated, and Ford's refusal to brown-nose 'Dear Leader' is a huge point in their favor (to the point that when its time to replace the current Jeep I'll be stopping at a local Ford place _first_ (since a new Challenger won't fit; I need a wagon/SUV)). Then Dodge, then Toyota in that order.

I want a Ramcharger with a Cummins, darn it...

[Netpackrat]

If I was going to buy 'domestic' I'd probably go with the company that refused the bail-out. I'm not terribly fond of the blue oval, but... Are the Dodge's even manufactured locally? Last I heard most of their production was in Mexico and Canadia, eh - just like the other big two. I like supporting domestic manufacture which is why I drive Hondas and Nissans. *Ducks to avoid thrown objects in retaliation to flames*

Because supporting a company whose chairman wants the government to raise your gas taxes so you'll have to buy his little shitboxes is sooo much better.....

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/bi ... d-gas-tax/

[Evyl Robot]

There is no domestic company that refused a bailout; all three got free taxpayer money. It's just that Ford was smarter about it and not as bad off; so they took their bailout the same way Chrysler did in '79, as interest free loans, and loan guarantees.

Fair enough.

:jacked:

But, subsidizing poor business choices with taxpayer money is about as un-American as it gets no matter how you cut it. I reject the 'too big to fail' philosophy because it is contrary to free enterprise. If I'm not good enough with my resources to stay in business, I don't deserve to be in business - whether I'm making custom leather holsters, running a laundromat, or a multi-national automobile empire. Small businesses produce over 50% of the GDP. If anybody is 'too big to fail' it's small business, NOT giant companies. And yet, there have been no government stimuli that have made it to small businesses. Is it safe to assume that when you follow the money trail you will get to the source of the corruption? I dunno.

If the big three made cars like the U.S. gun manufacturers make guns, or like U.S. manufacturers used to make sewing machines (back when they were domestically made) would they regularly function 100+ years with only general maintenance? I have a Singer Model 66 sewing machine that was built in 1926 and abused for the last 84 years. I douched it out with gunblaster and oiled it up and it runs almost as well as it did when it came out of the factory. I've got a Kenmore sewing machine made by White about ten years after that that got the same treatment with even better results. I understand that there's a lot more machinery to a car than a gun or a sewing machine - hell, I was a mechanic at one time. But, the automotive industry is the only arena that I can think of where the vast superiority of American ingenuity and unique build quality is not obviously clear.

Why are so many domestic automotive products built across the border? They are constantly shutting down domestic factories to move them elsewhere. Detroit is almost like a post-apocalyptic warzone at this point from what I've seen and read. Some people blame the unions, but I admittedly don't know enough about economics to believe that or not. I just see the U.S. economy pumping more money out to other economies. It's kind of the Wal-Mart thing all over again. Why keep the industry here and strengthen our own economy when we can strengthen other economies at a cheaper initial investment to ourselves? Buying from the big three is not buying domestic, because they don't buy domestic.

There is no domestic automotive company really. Many of the 'imports' are made here in the States and many of the 'domestics' are not. If you look at the window sticker of anything on a car lot, you will see components coming from all corners of the world and if final assembly was in the United States, some lucky auto worker got to stay employed another day. So, I don't shop at Wal-Mart, I don't use Firestone tires, and I drive a Nissan.

[Aglifter]

The UAW's ridiculousness is why more cars aren't made here. US manufacturing, w.o. union interference, could be very profitable - even more so if you could redefine wages from hourly to output. (I would LOVE to be able to tell my employees, $XYZ/PDQ - I can't really see a downside, aside from how to deal w. breakdowns, etc - still kicking it around. - of course, if I could emphasize not having breakdowns/"losing" things, that would also help.)

[Evyl Robot]

What do you do, Aglifter?

[AZMARK]

Found in comments on Tam's blog:

Everyone knows George Washington drove a 65 GTO.

Henry Light Horse Harry Lee drove the 70 Challenger.

Little Jimmie Madison drove the Hemi Cuda

Did you all sleep thru history class?

[Fill]

... If I'm not good enough with my resources to stay in business, I don't deserve to be in business...

I see you've yet to meet our Government.