US Economics and Global Cars

[Chip]

I was going to post this in the Supporting the American Auto Worker thread...but the surfacing reality is that the United States economy is now a global issue affecting global car makers.

I've already posted the news from Audi and Honda...now Subaru joins the ranks by dropping from a race circuit that they have dominated for years!

Posted by TopGear (http://www.topgear.com/us/member/profile/) - December 16, 2008|3:41 pm

Sad news: Subaru is pulling out of the World Rally Championship with immediate effect.
The withdrawal has been blamed on the "widespread economic downturn that is affecting the entire automotive industry," and comes just a day after Suzuki also announced it was quitting the sport.
It's the end of 20 years in the sport for the Prodrive-run team, an era that yielded six WRC titles and made world champions out of Top Gear legends Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
Subaru's decision may have been influenced by the new set of WRC technical regulations, announced this week and set to take effect in 2010. They specify that next year's WRC cars will be based on current Super 2000 specifications, meaning that Subaru would have had to develop an all-new road car: clearly a prohibitive cost.
Prodrive chairman David Richards acknowledged that Subaru's departure was a sad day for the sport, but insisted that his firm would now concentrate on other areas of business.
At present, only Ford and Citroen are committed to the 2009 WRC season. With Honda quitting F1 (http://www.topgear.com/us/blog/more/honda-quits-f1/), Audi pulling out of the American Le Mans Series and Seat ditching the British Touring Car Championship, the future's looking bleak for just about every form of motorsport.

[Z28 Autobot]

Well Chip as I can see everyone has heads in the sand on the real issues and not a one reply to the real truth, and its not those talking heads in Washington saying "build better cars detroit"..no..its more than that, but it is esier to blame and use misinformation and BS than to actually try and fix something..

but here is something just found out today part of the bigger report of loss for ALL car companies..yes even Toyota..omg..no way..Snt. Shelby that can not be...

evidence??
Honda's tanking as bad as the rest of the auto industry..yea its not just Detroit people open your ears. Instead of not knowing the truth..

Honda reportedly kills S2000 replacement, V8 program, RWD Acuras (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/honda-kills-s2000-replacement-v8-program-rwd-acuras/)

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/honda-kills-s2000-replacement-v8-program-rwd-acuras/


Honda's attempt to right-size its development schedule and cope with the economic downturn apparently extends beyond the cancellation of the next NSX (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/17/banzai-burned-honda-reportedly-kills-nsx/). According to Autocar, HoMoCo :wtf:lol is right-sizing its plans for the next two years, and that includes rethinking the development of a range of rear-wheel-drive Acuras, a new V8, a convertible based on the CR-Z and the S2000's successor.

Acura seems to be carrying the weight of the bad news, with its RWD 7-series rival, originally due out in 2015, cancelled indefinitely, along with development of a V8 engine that would allow the brand to compete with the best and brightest from Germany. The Euro-market Legend could also be on the block and there's a chance that Honda will stop developing two separate Accord models for sale in the U.S. and abroad, instead opting for one mid-size sedan to be sold worldwide.

Unfortunately, the development cease-fire also extends to Honda's smaller offerings. Honda planned to release a drop-top version of its CR-Z after the hybrid goes on sale next year, but that model has been nixed. Even more disturbingly, 2009 will be the last year of production for the S2000, with no heir apparent waiting in the wings.

We're hoping to get more details on the cut-backs as the week progresses, but needless to say, there's more than enough disappointment to go around.

HoMoCo...HoMo..thats to funny..sometimes these things should not be done. like FoMoCo...yet sometimes..well..you get the idea..that just not something I want to abv. my company name for..

[Trailbreaker]

HoMoCo...HoMo..thats to funny..sometimes these things should not be done. like FoMoCo...yet sometimes..well..you get the idea..that just not something I want to abv. my company name for..

Haw haw you're funny.:rolleyes: "Ford" is not something I would abbreviate my company for either. "Fix Or Repair Daily." Case in point? My dad's truck.

My other point? Stop finding every little way to bash foreign automobiles. We already know how much you hate em. Quit reminding us.

Moving along...

I think their reason for killing these cars is simple cost cutting measures. I have a relative who drives an S2000, but you don't find too much on the road. I heard something about the price of steel going up down there which is why they had to raise the prices of some vehicles.

[Z28 Autobot]

No what is funny is your total lack and disreguard to the point Chip pointed out and I brought up again on some of the same problems and I clearly state in here


"but here is something just found out today part of the bigger report of loss for ALL car companies"

So where does this state I hate foreign car companies..
In fact I was about to post up about how Pontiac has stopped the introduction of the G8ST pickup. Or the fact that I posted about the problems one of GM's supply companies is having..possibly delaying the Camaro..now why would I post something so close to the vest for TF fans here as it is the 5th gen that is Bumblebee and GM fans as it is possibly the delay of the Camaro..shock..if I was totally pro domestic ya think I would of kept that away from here wouldnt I???
No its because of these same problems they ALL are facing..In fact go back and recheck..never said I hate foreign cars..but lets put it this way..I like baseball but I am a fan of the Red Sox..going for the home team..that is what I am doing with these little tidbits that the media today love to overlook in thier unbias reporting..:deadhorse1:



The problem like what you just did in your post and the media in general are doing are picking out things that are not said..what I posted about is in reaction to what was on the news about the big three loses today. all over the news were Ford GM and mopar..over and over and over again .and yet where was Toyota or Honda or Nissans numbers?? The media makes it sound like the big 3 are the only ones in the loss department..where it is further from the truth!


December Sales:
2008 sales

Chrysler -53.1%
Toyota -36.7%
Honda -34.7%
Ford -32.3%
GM -31.2%
Nissan -30.7%


Hmm..Chrysler had the worse numbers but your telling me that GM and Ford had more sales than Toyota or Honda in December yet it goes reported as only the big 3?? Heck Nissan had better numbers than all of them..and to put another tidbit out there Mini actually reported a gain..:eek:

Look like I said before anyone want to listen to talking heads on TV about BS and people that should not even be making movies nevermind commentaries on something they have no idea or info on then be my guest and keep changing the subject to what you thought was presented..

No like in other posts anyone who is making cars is in trouble more than just the big three.but people want to derail a post about how Detroit just makes crap..well hate to say it every car company has a few clunkers here and there and they have halo and world class cars, they ALL do...and since I probably lost all of the people reading this since it is to long and most dont have the attention span to actually think..I will say this..Like Chip posted about and I responded to and in the other threads the same thing. I am rooting for the home team as it directly involves my life here in the U.S. and 1 out of every 10 people in the U.S.. That is very frightning to know that so many people are being mislead right into the slaughter house..all I can do is post the other points the ministry of propaganda choses to leave out..

[Trailbreaker]

Damn, I totally regret that post. You're right, what am I doing here anyway? I'm an ignorant teenager that doesn't know anything about the Auto Industry and am not worthy of this thread. Sorry I ruined your discussion, Z28.

[Z28 Autobot]

Damn, I totally regret that post. You're right, what am I doing here anyway? I'm an ignorant teenager that doesn't know anything about the Auto Industry and am not worthy of this thread. Sorry I ruined your discussion, Z28.


Thats not what I am getting at. you said it not me. If thats your persepctive on things then I guess thats all I can do and thats the way you want to be, teenage or not this is your world too and wherever you live its a problem for all, and you as well as I are part of the solution if we are fully informed.

Hey I wish I had TV or radio time to give the rest of the story out to people that are not hearing everything because of the lack of commercial space between BS on the news so some minor things get left out. Beleive me the media reports what they want you to hear. the day of unbias reporting is gone the way of the VHS tape..

But no I am stuck conveying my opinions and items on many messageboards for the hope that someone might see the unreported truths out there that should be mentioned.

And a discussion can be had by all. Hey I am all for a good debate and heck even was called a liar here. Sure bring them up, if I am wrong then set me right. I never said I was perfect..or a hater ;) And sure I am rooting for the home team..so ribbing the oponents is part of the game.

I just want people to open thier ears and hear the truth..thats all :cool:

[Trailbreaker]

I see what you mean. Besides, my generation is gonna be controlling this world in the future. I better open my ears more. :D