Yeah, Henry Ford same the same thing about the Pinto -- small cars mean small profit. I recall reading, when the Neon was fairly new, a Net version of an automotive publication quoting some unnamed Chrysler engineer type to the effect that the Neon would not have a good suspension. It was not the cost, which would be more. Rather, they did not want to make a small car too good such that the customer might actually be satisfied with that. They wanted the customer to want to move up to a "better" car. For that company, with an intentionally bad riding and bad handling little car, it meant having to buy a larger and more expensive car.

Those small thinking bozos must not have heard of BMW, or seen some of the better Japanese and European small cars that were excellent in their own right. I would have paid good money for a Neon if they had actually wanted to build some quality in to it. Paid a lot more than they charged for a crappy commuter car.

That is a lesson that one cannot blame on the assembly workers. That is the top management telling the design and engineering team where the bear poops and just what they were expected to produce.

Kindly do not blame union workers for building what GM sells. Union workers build Saabs, BMWs, VWs, Mercs, and all of the Japanese models.

It takes two sides to make a contract. Management got what it wanted, paying themselves huge annual bonuses, flying on corporate jets, and generally being absolutely oblivious to the realities of building a good product and a good business. Heck, the magic car guy, "never," that's a quote, never had to stand in line to buy an airline ticket. Really, not even for his own personal travel? It was all a benny. Not a clue.

Give me a break.
http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/gms-bob-lutz-adjusts-to-the-new-reality

posted by 74.65.7...

http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/gms-bob-lutz-adjusts-to-the-new-reality

• GM bankruptcy = "depression"?, rob 94 aero, Fri, 29 May 2009 17:23:22
  • GM no longer employes enough people to have this effect, MI-Roger , Sat, 30 May 2009 13:33:39
  • The unions bankrupted GM..., Mike Lynch , Sat, 30 May 2009 13:30:09
    • hmm it really wasn't just the Unions, ryan , Sun, 31 May 2009 15:19:24
      • What was the point...??, PGAero , Mon, 1 Jun 2009 10:21:04
    • The unions bankrupted GM... with management help, Noel, Sun, 31 May 2009 06:36:26
      • Yep, Jim, Mon, 1 Jun 2009 11:30:03
    • Re: The unions bankrupt many places they dominate., BobS, Sat, 30 May 2009 23:01:20
      • Yes, it has gotten to that point..., UpstateNY Bill, Sun, 31 May 2009 08:12:22
    • Re: The unions bankrupted GM..., KevinM, Sat, 30 May 2009 19:03:38
    • Re: The unions bankrupted GM..., mikef, Sat, 30 May 2009 18:02:42
    • do what? (i do not intend this as a flame), repoSAAB, Sat, 30 May 2009 14:42:12
      • Consequences of Overpaying One Input Factor, Jim, Sat, 30 May 2009 15:15:28
    • It wasn't the workers or the unions who've made, No Snaab, Sat, 30 May 2009 14:12:13
      • Re: It wasn't the workers or the unions who've made, Brian Griffin, Sat, 6 Jun 2009 05:47:31
      • High Wages Means Large Cars, Jim, Sat, 30 May 2009 15:23:01
        • Re: High Wages Means Large Cars, DER, Sun, 31 May 2009 19:43:57 <-- Viewing This Message
          • Re: High Wages Means Large Cars, Jim, Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:29:32
            • Most carmakers do this but there's a difference, Noel, Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:23:58
  • Graph of Unemployment by County - USDA Stats, andym, Sat, 30 May 2009 04:11:08
  • You ought to live in Michigan, TG, Sat, 30 May 2009 03:35:03
    • I grew up in Detroit, and "The Great Lakes State" is, Lawrence, Sat, 30 May 2009 10:59:56
  • Actually, "throwing in the towel", is, for all intents, Lawrence, Fri, 29 May 2009 18:53:11
    • Huh?, PGAero , Sat, 30 May 2009 12:36:45
  • Re: GM bankruptcy = "depression"?, Simon S, Fri, 29 May 2009 18:04:19
    • Re: GM bankruptcy = "depression"?, np , Sun, 31 May 2009 10:58:42
      • Agreed. Koenigsegg would be awesome. nm, Simon S, Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:53:33
    • Re: GM bankruptcy = Chinese Cars??, Dave B 89 900s Auto, Sat, 30 May 2009 07:16:41

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