Even after President George Bush finally stepped forward and gave General Motors and Chrysler the loan assistance that the Congress wouldn’t give them, people continue to assault the domestic auto industry and continue to say that it brought on the problems it faces itself.
Wait a minute. Is the domestic auto industry to blame for the credit meltdown which now makes it next to impossible for anyone to get a loan to buy a car? Did the domestic auto industry cause the foreclosure crisis? Did the domestic auto industry cause the rise in the price of gasoline which caused a C-change in the demand of the kind of vehicles consumers now cry out for? Is the domestic auto industry to blame for the ups and downs of foreign currency exchange? Is the domestic auto industry to blame for an unstable Middle East which causes the dramatic changes in the cost of oil? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding no!
Look, critics of the Detroit Three complain that the auto giants depended too much on trucks and Ford continues to believe in its F-150 pickup. It just rolled out the next generation F-150. Bad move on the part of Ford? Well, the F-150 is the best selling car or truck in the U.S. Why shouldn’t Ford continue with it as long as it has that kind of track record.
It doesn’t just fall on the domestic automakers. Carmakers worldwide have been criticized to some extent within their own region for whatever woes beset them.
The point is, many say that the cars coming from today’s automakers are actually good and the problem the worldwide auto industry faces now is not necessarily because of the products being offered or the decisions being made in the ivory towers of the automakers office buildings.
As 2008 comes to a close, people like to make lists. Auto pundits are making their lists and they include what they say are the best vehicles to come out this year. Here is what some are saying are the best of the year.
1. BMW 1 Series coupe or convertible. People like the fact that it performs better than the 3 Series and costs $4,000 less.
2. Honda Fit. Those who favor it like its roominess, its handling and its fuel economy — 35 mpg on the highway.
3. General Motors models Corvette ZR1, Cadillac CTS and Pontiac G8. People who like these cars point to the horsepower and the comparison with comparable European models with higher price tags.
4. Mercedes-Benz GL320 Bluetec. People like the clean diesel engine which provides this model with 23 mpg on the highway.
5. Dodge Challenger. People like the retro aspect — it reminds them of the muscle cars of the 1970s — and they like the Hemi V-8 engine that generates 425 horsepower.
6. Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. People like this because the manufacturer refined the brakes and transmission that was on the previous model. They also like the styling, the all-wheel-drive performance and, of course, the 560 horsepower generated by a V-10 engine.
7. Toyota Venza. People like this because it is the ultimate family car — a large interior, easy driveability and its good on sipping gas.
8. BMW X6. While others may not like this car because of its design, many more like it because of its … ah, design. They also say that it is the “Ferrari of SUVs” and surpasses the Porsche Cayenne in performance.
9. Nissan 370Z. It’s half the cost of the Nissan GT-R and has an engine that generates 332 horsepower proving that it is “stronger” than the GT-R. And, finally, they like the cost — starting at $30,000.
10. Dodge Ram. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who like this truck like it because of its styling, ride and handling. Oh, and they like the 390 horsepower generating Hemi V-8.
via New York Times
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