A time to be American - GM Trucks

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GM is having tough times these days. Their ads support this forum and I was asked to run this message. I am glad to do so.

Len
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A time to be American

I am a guy that grew up in a household w nothing but American vehicles in my garage, mostly GM cars to be specific. I was taught as a kid that driving foreign vehicles were not even an option. Watching these last 4 months in the Automotive sector has made my stomach turn. I shed a tear the minute I heard John Rich sing that awesome song that captivated my heart. He really brought his life and deepest feelings into that song "Shutting Detroit Down".

About 4 years ago I bought a foreign car, and it just never felt right. I made that mistake one time and took our American automotive heritage for granted. I repeat, 1 time. The best part about making a mistake is learning from it. It doesn't matter if its hunting season, fishing season, or just heading to work, I drive American. In today's climate, I can only imagine the discomfort and embarrassment in someone that loves this country and its heritage must feel when they pull up at a traffic light, or go to park and they are driving a foreign car. That is one type of shame that I will NEVER FEEL again, I drive American!

Nobody can build trucks like the Big 3. Personally, I roll around in a Silverado and my wife drives a Tahoe, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Whether you are driving a Ford, Dodge, or a Chevy you should be proud to be driving American. I like feeling good about the truck I drive, and I like knowing that no matter if its 20 degrees and snowing, pouring rain, or a bright sunny day, my American truck gets me where I want to go every time.

The last thing we can afford is anymore long term damage to our economy. A healthier Auto industry equates to a healthier country. A healthier country is a safer country, a happier country, and a stronger country. It is okay to make mistakes from time to time, heck I owned one of those "other" vehicles like I admitted, however admitting your mistake and accepting it is the start to a better day! Outdoorsmen, non outdoorsmen, it is time to be patriots of this great country, it is time to be American baby!

- A Concerned Sportsman

 

[gbp]

just bought a new 2500HD crew cab with the duramax and love it. GMC does em right

 

[geargrinder]

I'm sorry but I disagree. I'm a concerned sportsman too!

The Big 3 were given $25 billion with the stipulation that they would formulate a new business plan that would allow them to survive the economic turndown.

The deadline for the new plan came and guess what the new plan was? Now the Big 3 wanted another $50 billion to stay solvent long enough to survive.

How much will they ask for next?

This is welfare at it's lowest. Remember folks, the taxes that come out of each and every one of our paychecks just went to a UAW member that makes $70 an hour turning a screwdriver.

A company so large that they think that they are essential to the economy deserves to fail.

Let them fail. Let them re-structure. Let them get rid of the UAW. Let them operate without government intervention. Let them be successful on their own.

 

[royinidaho]

Hmmmmmmmm,

Three of my brothers worked in the steel industry. In 1984 I needed a new vehicle. To keep my brothers working I went with the latest and greatest.......Chevy Caprice Station Wagon (large family) with a 3.x Diesel.

Paid $13000.00 for it, cash. Over the next year I had another $13K in it due to injector pumps, oil seals etc.

Ran the thing till I was tired of it. Used it to haul my Catahoula Hounds around.

Fuel leaked from the fuel pump to the crankcase at about the same rate as oil leaked out of the seals. I knew it was time to put new oil in when I make a left hand turn and the oil light came on. Turns out diesel ain't a bad lubricant.

Went to the BBB for arbitration. Got screwed there too.

From then on it was Mazda (1), Honda(1) and Suzuki(2 simultaneously)

When I buy a real truck it most probably will be a Chev. Silverado, 4 Door, 4x4, short bed, 3/4 ton.

But no cars.

PS: If it wouldn't have been for some dummy a lap back, a Toyota wooda won the Daytona.

 

[benlow]

Geargrinder I agree about the bailout not only for auto manufacturers but I do not want to bailout any Company. Let them all fail and restructure. The Government would not bail me or any small Company out. So why should the working tax paying citizens have to bailout any company. The government is putting a burden on our backs that it will be hard to carry. With that said I Drive a 06 Dodge 5.9 Diesel pickup 19mpg on highway. My truck that I hunt out of is a 77 Chevy that I have had since high school. It is on its third rebuilt motor. I will always DRIVE AMERICAN.

 

[geargrinder]

If we put our government in charge of the Sahara desert, it would only be a matter of time before they ran out of sand.

I'm not against buying American. I'm just against government subsidized business.

I also drive American. My commuter car is a Ford Powerstroke crew cab. CFO drives the Chrysler minivan. Hunting rig is a '89 jeep cherokee with 300,000 miles.

 

[AJ Peacock]

I read this post early this morning and decided not to post, but after thinking about it all morning I've changed my mind.

First of all, every car I've ever owned has been from one of the big 3 (I've owned cars/trucks from each of them).

I worked at GM/EDS in the mid-80's. I've had the big 3 as clients off and on for several years.

I lived in Michigan for nearly 10 years, until being laid off (non auto) last summer. I still own an upside-down mortgage on a house in Michigan.

For the last 20 years, I've watched the UAW hold the big 3 hostage. I've watched them play them against each other. I've seen them bankrupt small non-union shops. I've watched the big 3 bow down and cower to the threats. I've said at least 100 times, that until they completely restructure, renegotiate the contracts and/or do it through bankruptcy, it will just get worse.

Now, the auto companies are attempting to hold us (the US taxpayers) hostage, using the same stale arguments and tactics that the UAW has used against them for so long.

My next car will not be from any auto company that accepts 'bail-out' money from the government until it is paid back with interest. If this forces me to buy from other auto companies, so be it.

I mean no disrespect to any of my friends in the unions. I assure you, they already know (and have known for a long time) exactly how I feel.

AJ

 

[mo]

Who to support? If I'm buying a Nissian I help out my fellow Mississippian. I know some people think yeah but the Japanese owns Nissian. Doesn't a German company on Dodge? I like Dodge trucks, but the last one I bought came from Mexico. I think the last Chevy truck my dad bought came from Canada. Nothing seems to be made in America anymore. I hate it, but you will see me standing in line at the local Wal-mart. I use to always look for the made in America stickers in Wal-mart . I haven't seen them lately on items. Maybe I don't look! Shame on me for that, but you wouldn't get much if that's all you looked for.

Leupold scopes aren't even made here anymore. I've been considering buying a Sightron SIII is that a bad thing? I am a proud member of the Teamsters Local 891. When I buy a new full sized truck it will be one of the big 3. I could keep talking about this for hours, but time doesn't permit.

 

[3toes]

i might be wrong but i dont think will ford is asking for any money, so please dont include ford in this. proud member local 139, my truck, 08 chev 4x4.

 

[whitely]

i might be wrong but i dont think will ford is asking for any money, so please dont include ford in this. proud member local 139, my truck, 08 chev 4x4.

I agree, I think Ford could be the real winner in this, but only if the other two guys don't keep dipping their hands in the till. This is one reason the market is in such bad shape these days. Why invest in Ford (F), if their competitors are getting help from the Gov't? It really puts Ford at a huge disadvantage.

 

[Coyboy]

AJ said it all.

If the auto makers failed to change with the times, they will become extinct.

As it should be.

Let a more progressive and profitable company take their place.

The writing was on the wall 5 years ago, and management failed to change direction, Just another example of CEO's who fail at their jobs but get a 50 mil bonus. In the meantime the auto worker ant suffers.

Thanks to our politicians we can all suffer as they spread the burden of failure to all tax payers, via stimulus.

The SOBs

 

[joecool]

Just curious as to where does one buy all these American made vehicles? My Dodge 3500 pickup was built in mexico, my last chevy pickup was built in Canada so how do I find a truck built in America unless they are referring to North and South America…. I do believe my two Jeep Wranglers where built in Ohio. My Pontiac was built here in the USA but had a motor that was built in mexico don't know on all the running gear.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Unless the proud union members are willing to negotiate a fare wage for what they do, they can be proud of their membership all the way to the bread line. The only way the big 3 will prosper is in the free market. If it continues in the direction that it is currently going you can thank the unions, and the socialist Government officials equally for the down fall of our great country. The Government and the unions are perfect examples of inefficiency and waste. They hold back talent and reward mediocrity. Government employees and union employees are both the biggest bunch of malcontent cry babies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Hope I didn't sugar coat that too much.

Steve

 

[elkguys]

I too only drive chevy or ford I strongly am aginst the bail out they got,we are a small company owner and yes time are tuff the goverment has and will not give me money we have had to float money for some of are jobs until paid.as for the unions they have out lived there good! we pay our guys good wages give them med and dental and vacation with out the union all they do is take the workers money!!! and when I say small shop we have 30 empoyees look back at history there has always been good and bad times the guys at the top just got to gready this time and we have to much goverment = wasted money