Lutz isn't shy about his take on CAFE (Corvette woes as well)

[MerF]

http://subscribers.wardsauto.com/ar/...esting_080829/
Damn fine read.

...In addition, Lutz says GM is worried about the future of its Corvette sports car as a result of tightening fuel-economy regulations.

“I’m not going to get into individuals, but I will tell you what we want from whoever it is,” Lutz says when asked which of the two major-party presidential candidates would benefit the auto industry more. “We have tremendous pressure from mandates on fuel economy and safety that are going to add weight to vehicles, and so we are victims of the federal government.

“So it’s not unreasonable to request federal loan guarantees from the government to fund the new technology needed to meet the mileage and safety mandates.”....

[Vash]

Oh well the union building vettes UAW supports the party that's trying to shut them down. That's just a fact it's not a personal opinion. But GM has overpriced the Vette with the C6 and it's been pushed a bit above the common mans salary. We can see a correction goin on already as they try to get them off clogged sales lots.

[Scotsman]

Like I've said before: The government needs to take the pressure off of automakers to develop more fuel efficient vehicles and put that pressure on big oil to come up with cleaner alternative fuels and start getting them into the hands of consumers. That's what's going to help this country more than bullying the Big 3 into building cars they don't have the finances for as well as the American people who won't have enough money to purchase (can't lease domestics anymore) these more fuel efficient vehicles with all the costly fuel saving technologies. It's not cars that are the problem, it's the stuff they run on. You'd think that's common sense, but common sense ain't so common.

[radz28]

The government can't force me into driving a car that I don't want to. Okay, if there are only hybrids out there with 100 horsepower, I'll stick to my 4Runner and slap an LS1 in it after supercharging it. Put that in your pipe and smoke it CAFE!!!

[GTAHVIT]

Oil companies make 4-6 % on a gallon of gas. The Feds make 16%

Who's ripping us off? IMO the Gov. should stay out of it. Let the consumer decide. Even if that means Radz is right and we end up with electric cars.

The market is the best regulator. Just look as what happened to trucks and SUVs. People spoke and the manufacturers listened.

[chadrcr]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Oil companies make 4-6 % on a gallon of gas. The Feds make 16%

Who's ripping us off? IMO the Gov. should stay out of it. Let the consumer decide. Even if that means Radz is right and we end up with electric cars.

The market is the best regulator. Just look as what happened to trucks and SUVs. People spoke and the manufacturers listened.

Good luck with that... After six years with the 'free market' party in control of the whole MESS.... they did not do a lot to ensure Gov would stay out of anything... some would say they stayed out of oil... some would say they are up to their necks in it...
Scotsman said something about gov. taking the pressure off automakers... as far as CAFE etc. is concerned... that would help us (Camaros) so you 2 agree on that part, right? He went on to suggest some type oversight in the oil industry... I think that they have earned a LITTLE of that... given Enron and the current price situation... I said a LITTLE oversight.. maybe a tax break if they do something to improve... production, refining, delivery, developing new tech..... instead of tax breaks ( assigned in the 90s ) because oil was too cheap, and $17 per barrel was killing them...

[GTAHVIT]

In general my political position is based on the inability of our government to effectively run any social initiative or program. So I feel that if there is a Marketplace that can more quickly and effectively keep the manufacturers in check then so be it. OIL regulation is just a few short steps from a country like Venezuela. Now if you want to Make sure oil companies aren't in collusion with each other to jack the price up then I'm all for that. But let the market dictate what the product and the price is. In my opinion CAFE is bad timing. With the market impact to the Big 3 what it is, Cafe isn't helping. IMO they should delay it. I'd rather they do that then a bail out or loans. Just relax the requirement until the companies can catch their breath.

But yes, you have correctly guessed. I'm not for big Gov, and I think President Bush failed in this area. Well done, Revenues are higher then they've ever been. But so is spending... What the...

[chadrcr]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

In general my political position is based on the inability of our government to effectively run any social initiative or program. So I feel that if there is a Marketplace that can more quickly and effectively keep the manufacturers in check then so be it. OIL regulation is just a few short steps from a country like Venezuela. Now if you want to Make sure oil companies aren't in collusion with each other to jack the price up then I'm all for that. But let the market dictate what the product and the price is. In my opinion CAFE is bad timing. With the market impact to the Big 3 what it is, Cafe isn't helping. IMO they should delay it. I'd rather they do that then a bail out or loans. Just relax the requirement until the companies can catch their breath.

But yes, you have correctly guessed. I'm not for big Gov, and I think President Bush failed in this area. Well done, Revenues are higher then they've ever been. But so is spending... What the...

Maybe I am too optomistic... that 2000 McCain and Palin can get in there turn the place upside down... learn how to provide the BASIC necessities...
OIL oversight.. not regulation, well we all have regulations, directives, instructions, laws... make sure OIL is following theirs.
CAFE, probably a good idea, but be realistic... push for the improvements do not 'regulate' the big 3 out of business
war expenses???

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by chadrcr

Maybe I am too optomistic... that 2000 McCain and Palin can get in there turn the place upside down... learn how to provide the BASIC necessities...
OIL oversight.. not regulation, well we all have regulations, directives, instructions, laws... make sure OIL is following theirs.
CAFE, probably a good idea, but be realistic... push for the improvements do not 'regulate' the big 3 out of business
war expenses???

War expenses is one of those numbers that is infuriating to me. The press keeps talking about how much is spent on the war. What they don't say is how much of that money is part of keeping the day to day military operations in place. So, when the press says 52 gazillion dollar to the war. The vast majority of that money is normal ops. Ships are at sea whether we are at war or not. Planes fly whether we are at war or not. The only real expense is weapons. We don't usually get them back.

It costs $1,000,000 a day to put an aircraft carrier to sea. Think about that. And we have, what, 10 carriers. Of which, a minimum of, two are deployed at any given time. Not to mention the battle groups and boomers on patrol.

Yes ending the war will save us money, but not the billions we are led to believe it will. Hell there's 20 Billion in hurricane relief funding attached to the "War" bill. Please.

sorry for the rant. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Damn media. GRRRRR.

[chadrcr]

It does cost a couple more $$$ to have people 'in country'.... hazard pay, combat pay etc... but I was just tryin to make an Xcuse for the 'budget'
or lack thereof...
gotta give Clinton AND the Rep congress credit... budget surpluses and all...:flag1:

[GTAHVIT]

Agreed they're all at fault.

[Mr. Wyndham]

If the government tells the automakers how to make their cars, then they should help pay to do so. My mindset is as simple as that. Trouble is; Lutz is the only guy with enough nads to say it out loud. Which is good and bad -- the idea gets out there, yeah...but then it puts GM at odds with the gov't, among others.

And the Vette: expensive?!?! I'd disagree with you there...where else can you get that kind of performance and durability for it's price? Personally, I think it's a steal!

[chadrcr]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

If the government tells the automakers how to make their cars, then they should help pay to do so. My mindset is as simple as that. Trouble is; Lutz is the only guy with enough nads to say it out loud. Which is good and bad -- the idea gets out there, yeah...but then it puts GM at odds with the gov't, among others.

And the Vette: expensive?!?! I'd disagree with you there...where else can you get that kind of performance and durability for it's price? Personally, I think it's a steal!

I would have to steal one...
but; for who the Vette runs with....

[MerF]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Oil companies make 4-6 % on a gallon of gas. The Feds make 16%

No, you are confusing the gas stations with the oil companies. The gas stations make squat off a gallon of gas...and the government does rape us with the taxes...but the end winner will always be the record-breaking profits of Exxon-Mobil and company.