"Selling consumers more vehicle than they need has been the mainstream auto industry's business model for most of the past century," Joseph P. White writes in today's Wall Street Journal. "The wreckage created in Detroit by the bust of the bubble market in large sport-utility vehicles is just the latest example of how dependent auto makers are on the strategy." Whenever I hear pundits talking about other people's needs, and the greedy businessmen that convince consumers to buy against their own self-interest, I get nervous. One of the real joys of living in a democratic capitalistic society: within limits, citizens get to determine for themselves what's in their own best interests. If I want to drive an SUV, I am not denied that opportunity because someone else says "Sorry Comrade Bub, you don't need it." Sure, there are plenty of arguments against SUVs. (I've made more than a few myself.) But it's simply not true that Detroit's in trouble because they suckered dumb ass Americans into SUVs. They're in trouble because they suckered themselves into complacency. When America's automotive "needs" changed– a change that was entirely predictable– they weren't ready. Period.
[I apologize for the fact that Justin seems genetically incapable of speaking up. I reckon he may just disappear some day. However, if you all clap, he may just come back. C'mon now boys and girls…]
I must say that in nearly every blog post, TTAC somehow comes up with the perfect photo for the story emphasising the core of the blog story while adding the perfect amount of wit. How do you folks do it?
That, Mr. Farago, sums up the wretched 2.8’s current situation neatly and concisely.
I couldn’t agree more. While I may think that you are wasting your money on that SUV, Truck, or sports car; it’s your money to waste. The US auto makers problems were caused by their inability to see what was coming and prepare for it. Heck, their problems have been ongoing for decades and have nothing to do with the recent increases in the cost of gasoline. The big SUV and truck market just helped to hide those problems for several years.
I would never advocate denying anyone the right to drive whatever they want.
But I’ll say it again. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should do it.
Or, to put a finer point on it, just because you can buy a gas-guzzling, road-hogging, resource-wasting, ego-massaging, ill-handling, safety equipment and fuel consumption standards-exempt, truck-based, excessively-depreciating piece of s**t, doesn’t mean you should buy it.
Unless, of course, you really need it.
Here’s what irks me: people are free to buy said gas-guzzling cars.
But when payback time arrives in the form of expensive fuel, they shouldn’t be complaining, nor blaming everybody else (the government, the Chinese, the car companies, the oil companies, the Saudis…) but themselves.
As far as I’m concerned, there’s one limit to individual freedom: other peoples’ freedom and well-being.
Which is why taxes on pollution and carbon emissions should be implemented. Otherwise, pollution is nothing else than an externality. If you’re free to fart all over other people without having to pay for it, that is a problem.
“The US auto makers problems were caused by their inability to see what was coming and prepare for it. Heck, their problems have been ongoing for decades and have nothing to do with the recent increases in the cost of gasoline. The big SUV and truck market just helped to hide those problems for several years.”
You stole the words out of my mouth. This applys mainly to GM, however IMO.
GM has been a deeply troubled company since Roger Smith screwed them up really good in the 1980s. All throughout the 90s GM still faced the problems that were their inability to keep all of their brands at the forefront to the industry due to there being too many mouths to feed, rampant costcutting, the fact that all of their brands were diluted and competed with each other, and the rampant badge engineering. These are problems that still face The General today, and they all stemmed from Smith.
GM simply used the SUVs and their massive profits to cover up the serious issues that were plaguing the company. They had us all fooled, and we thought that GM was again a profitable and prosperous company, despite the fact that it was all a fluke. The massive profits just covered up the company’s problems, and they didn’t really sell any of these SUVs, they just leased them. That is the main reason why now, GM is losing money, is in a straightjacket that is its Smith era commitments, and is taking hits of all the used SUVs being turned in off of leases. GM’s crash is like the Great Depression: All of the prosperity was just a fluke, and there was never any REAL money there in the first place. And Rick Wagoner was left holding the bag.
Justin has the right plan for Hummer. Maybe if the folks at Hummer hear him, they will clap enought to keep him around.
Still, here is my counter to the whole “it’s too wide for real off road use” argument. Isn’t that true because most of the trails have been forged by Jeeps? Wouldn’t the trails be wider had the guys who forged it been forced to find/make a path wide enough for a Hummer instead? Trust me, if this argument was really a good one, the US Army would not have bought the Hummer in the first place.
Also, if the Hummer is too wide, then why isn’t the jeep? Isn’t it wider than a quad trac, which is wider than a motorcycle or horse, which can’t go down a goat path like a guy on boots anyway?
While I prefer my ‘crusher, I can tell you that the trade offs in the H2 over the Hummer aren’t all that bad. It is a worthwhile offroader.
I’m with AKM. Those that bought SUVs should shut the hell up and quit bitching about the price of gas. You made your bed, now take a nap in it, buddy.
And yes, gas needs to be taxed so that the pollution is not externalized.
Is it me or does Justin seem chronically disinteresed and somewhat miffed about doing these podcasts.
jckirlan11 :
Is it me or does Justin seem chronically disinteresed and somewhat miffed about doing these podcasts.
If THAT doesn’t kick his ass, NOTHING will.
I must agree with jckirlan11: Justin, wake up!
Sounds a bit like it’s boring you with going over the news. Maybe the podcasts should take a different routine, going over things not already covered?
I do like the take you guys have on most subjects, but maybe I’m missing something – RF, you’re having fun with it, and it really comes across in the audio (by the way, how’s it being recorded – Justin’s audio is usually distant/faint/too quiet). Justin, I think I like it more when you’re riled up over a particular subject (i.e. pissed off at stupid decisions by the 2.8 or somewhat).
(I totally did not envision this as being a widespread commentary/criticism on all podcasts so far when I first started writing it.)
I appreciate the feedback, fellas! Will take it to heart (not too much to heart).
Leave Britney Justin alone! Leave him alone! You don’t know what he’s been through!
Apologies. The next time Justin drives around with an infant on his lap, I will be sure to take it easy on him.
Shaved head and attacking an SUV? Well… I’m sorry, but I can’t promise I won’t laugh.
There is a reason I want to disconnect our daily drivers from the price of gasoline or diesel…
Drive whatever you want but the sooner I can do it on battery power and do it with the sunlight reaching my roof, the happier I’ll be. There are current tech EVs that meet the needs of both of our vehicles.
I have nothing against your right to drive whatever you want but don’t like seeing the spikes in prices that I pay due to the demand caused by high consumption here or there or in China.
Once upon a time when prices were stable I did not worry about the price of gas too much but things are far too sensitive now. Now it is easier to see how what we share the road with influences the prices I pay.