Auto industry types tend towards hopeless optimism. On Friday, the Detroit Free Press gave the car biz’s rose-colored eyewear wearers an RTL (reason to live). “Big drop in March auto sales could be bottom, analyst says” sings the Freep’s now-standard, pre-monthly sales results tune: sales suck, they’re about to REALLY suck, but that’s it. We’ve hit bottom. Only this time the best the Freep can do is ONE auto analyst (Edmunds’ Jesse Toprak) and this money shot: “It is unlikely to get much worse.” Citation? “There has been encouraging economic news in the last two weeks. Housing starts rose 22% from January to February. Factory orders for durable goods such as home appliances increased 3.4% in February.” Yes, well, meanwhile, Volvo CEO Steven Armstrong told Autocar (or someone) that the NFSW world economy is good news for the brand that screwed itself by going upmarket. “We have a real opportunity for Volvo with respect to premium positioning. As people cut back, it becomes a little less acceptable to flaunt your money. Buyers who still want to reward themselves but don’t want to be ostentatious give us a great opportunity.” So great Ford can’t wait to ditch the brand.
Maybe I too should take advantage of this great opportunity:
1995 Volvo 850. Base 4 door sedan. 250K mi. Runs well. New radiator, tires, and throttle cable assembly in the last 500 miles. Wait another week or two, and there will probably be more new parts as well. It may be only worth $500 to you, but it is worth more to me, so I’ll keep it.
Ford should too.
Believing that it is possible that the bottom price has been reached for older needing-repairs small shanties in this area I bit the bullet and cashed in 32 years of savings and bought a shanty.
The feds, as part of the economic “bail out,” will send me a check for $4,250.
That money will go to local plumbers and electricians and local stores (nation-wide chains and sole proprietors)for paint, tools, lumber etc.
Now THAT’S economic stimulus that WORKS!!! Money directly to the little folks without the big-wigs and elites skimming their “share” off the top.
Too bad that 10 percent of up to 80K bucks wasn’t 20 percent for I believe much of that would be pumped into local economies.
As those dollars are transferred locally sales tax is collected to assist local governments. Local firms can buy that new tool or vehicle needed or, perhaps, re-hire a laid-off worker.
If only those billions of dollars handed over to big-wigs where the skimming goes on was avoided and that money handed to commoners I am guessing the economy would actually be stimulated and the revenues collected via sales taxes, etc. would assist folks locally in many ways.
Such a shame that the USA’s elites insist upon helping each other so much and that the ongoing skimming prevents so much of that pipe-dream called the “trickle-down theory.”
As others hereabouts have mentioned before, imagine how much more effective that money handed to the greedsters atop the auto corporations hierarchies was simply given to the workers who haven’t amassed multi-million buck fortunes and the BIG 2.1 (or whatever) were simply allowed to rust in peace, entering the trash can of history.
The “little guys” departing the failed auto firms would pump money into whatever economy they entered… whether they stayed in place or relocated.
That money would assist other commoners.
But, to effectively engage in class war the elite’s politico lackeys have to ensure the majority of the passed along bucks are spread in a manner that elites of all types have their opportunity to perform their skimming tactics.
So much akin to organized crime.
Or is organized crime so much akin to the USA federal government?
That’s a nice looking Amazon in the photo. I’ve always wanted a 66 Wagon in somewhat good conditon.
I wonder if a Laycock overdrive and drive shaft fits in one of these?
”We have a real opportunity for Volvo with respect to premium positioning. As people cut back, it becomes a little less acceptable to flaunt your money. Buyers who still want to reward themselves but don’t want to be ostentatious give us a great opportunity.”
Here’s the problem with this – the “not being ostentacious” thing doesn’t work for most people, because – crazy, I know – most people do enjoy getting expensive cars on the cheap and bragging about the great deal they got on that new Merc or Audi they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. With a Volvo? Not so much. Plus, if you really believe that most people are self-conscious to the point of choosing a less flashy car for the same price, then, well, your opinion of people may be a little too high.
NFSW – What does that mean?
NFSW = Not Safe For Work. It is the presently trendy way of bleeping swear words. Don’t worry, these fads eventually pass. NSFW & Interweb are at the top of my list of things I can’t wait to never see again :).
Just a bit of dyslexia – NSFW vs NFSW
NFSW = No F#%king Swear Words
shaker :
March 29th, 2009 at 7:25 am
NFSW = No F#%king Swear Words
Nice.
”We have a real opportunity for Volvo with respect to premium positioning. As people cut back, it becomes a little less acceptable to flaunt your money. Buyers who still want to reward themselves but don’t want to be ostentatious give us a great opportunity.”
The scientific name for such hopeful thinking is “whistling past the graveyard.”
Remember the good old days when Volvos were distinct, reliable, and reasonably priced?
Then they went fwd…..