Pet Peeves:Why I hate car companies like VW and Ford (and others)

I used to like VW, I really did. My first car was a 1969 VW Fastback, and I have owned a 1991 Jetta, and 2001 Jetta, which I still own.

Recently, my wife opined that we should replace the 2001 Jetta as it has gotten a bit long in the tooth. Our other vehicle is a 2009 Suburban (don't get me started on that vehicle and company, as I'd like to throw Mary Sipes under a moving bus), so for a second vehicle, we'd want something a little better on gas, but still had some capacity. My wife wanted something a cute factor too.

We've been satisfied with VWs so far, so I looked into to buying a Jetta TDI Sport Wagon. I wanted one with a manual transmission. Not a big deal I thought, I'll contact Lithia VW to see what they have.

It seems Lithia does not order cars with manual transmissions. WTF? It's a VW, and they make cars with manual transmissions. I would know, I own one. There are only two VW dealers in Iowa that I know about. I went to the website for the one in Cedar Falls, and no go, although I have seen them carry cars with manual transmissions before. Not so with Lithia.

Anyway, to make a long story a little shorter, I contacted VW to see if they could help me as well as complain a bit. You'd think they'd want someone to buy VW #4, wouldn't you? Well, below is the response I got from them:

Dear Jim,

Thank you for your e-mail asking about the availability of the Volkswagen brand in your area.  While our Volkswagen Information Center is available to provide general information on our vehicles, our system is not able to see which vehicles are in stock at individual dealerships.  It is for this reason that we encourage you to remain in contact with your dealer directly for updates pertaining to their

particular inventory.  Volkswagen dealerships are empowered to create policies and procedures suitable for their business needs, therefore, pricing, availability, and policies may vary.  

We truly hope that you are able to locate your model of interest, Jim.

Ieshia

Volktalk

Well, I have to say I was surprised. Then I wasn't, but I will explain a little later. I guess dealers are no more than glorified franchises like a local burger king. Still, it is in the best interests of the mother ship to make it's customers and potential customers happy. Telling me to work with a dealer whose only interest to sell me a car they have which is not one I want is the height of stupidity. I guess VW isn't hard up for business. It's their loss, but to be honest, none of the Japanese or American cars in this class do anything for me and it's become more and more for American cars not to come with manual transmissions. Most American cars are crap anyway, more on that later. Anyway, VW obviously doesn't want to sell me a car, and now I am reluctant to buy one from them.

As far as Fords go, when we were looking for a full size SUV, I wanted to get a Ford Expedition EL. Ford didn't take bailout money and that means something to me. I guess not Ford. No luck finding one then, and my local dealer, Stivers Ford, wouldn't try to locate one for me. Neither would the other dealers. So I bought a Suburban. I'd like to send Mary Sipes to Antarctica for eternity. This feminazi is responsible for taking what was the largest SUV extant, the car for big people and turned it into a car for women. Look her up. She made her male engineers wear skirts and heels when they were designing the 2007 and up truck platform so as the engineers to feel women's pain.

The result is a vehicle that is smaller inside than it need be. With the center console and door panel sticking out, I feel trapped in the vehicle. In fact, It I had an accident where I had to get out quickly, I'd be fucked. I have to duck a little to get in. Not so with older suburbans. Everything was scaled for smaller people. For a 4x4, it sits too low and has running boards (bad idea on an SUV or truck, take my word for it) and ground effects that make it necessary for me to jack up the vehicle to change the oil. I didn't have to do that with my 1984 K-10. Lets move on. It's a nearly 6000lb pig. It has inadequate gearing and an inadequate engine. The 5.3 has to be revved to get anything out of it and unless you do, it can't get out it's own way. A 6.2L engine should be standard with the duramax as an option. The transmission shifts like it has honey in it. Sloppy, not firm at all. 4L is a pain to get in. Lets be clear here: Whoever designed the electronic transfer case shift should be shot. A lever works every time. Not the dial. I have to put in in neutral, stop and hope it goes into 4L.

Interior. Cheap plastic, drab grey, chincy fake wood. The vehicle rattles in the winter like a tin can. Then there are the plastic bumpers that you have to worry about hitting snow banks when parking in the winter. Didn't need to worry about that with steel. I could go on. It wasn't worth the 40K+ I paid for it.

In an effort to make things easy or convenient, GM has made things worse, in some cases much worse, and it will get even more worse now that it is Obama Motors.

So here you have it. My guess in this case is that there is not enough competition in Iowa (this is a statement that can be applied to many things) and that businesses here have the false notion that people will buy local out of some sort of loyalty to local businesses. With the advent of the internet as a purchasing tool, they will find out that such an outdated and parochial attitude will go away and their competition could be anywhere in this country. That is my best bet if I want a particular car. Screw the local guy, as he doesn't want to earn my business. It's not guaranteed, and it shouldn't be.

So that is my pet peeve for the day. Sorry for the rant, but I am tired of parochial attitudes, I am tired of big corporate isolationism from its customers, and I am tired of compromising and not getting what I want. Want the dealer wants, or the sales should always be second. If you disagree, whose hard earned money is it anyway? It's not theirs.

Thank you for reading this blog.


If you like this, please go to My Motorrad and What's Under the hood.

Government Motors Still Can't Get It Right

For the umpteenth time, GM can't seem to unload a devision it wants to get rid of, for whatever lame reason.

Let's look at history:
They made such bad deals with unions such that GM has to tag on $4000 to every car they make in order to pay benefits to people that don't produce for them anymore. They killed off the oldest car manufacturer in the United States. After the government took over, they killed off Saturn and Pontiac, and tried to sell Saab, Opel and Hummer. All failed. This company is riddled with poor performers and with Obama running it, it's gone down even faster.

Judging by the fact that the Chinese government wouldn't ok the sale, I have to wonder why? I imagine that Obama's snubbing them time after time might have something to do with it. Politics factors in here as the Chinese government runs business there.

May be this is a blessing in disguise. Where are the machers out there that can secure financing and buy the marque and keep it here? Harley Davidson employees bought their company back. It's a shame about Pontiac and Olds. Both great marques that were killed off for no good reason. I couldn't care less about Saab, Opel or Saturn as I don't care for the marques, but it is a shame in the sense that malfeasance led to the loss of jobs in these companies.

Bottom line is that as bad as GM management was, it's worse now that it is run by Obama and his minions. Don't believe me, look at Ford.

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At Least One Car Manufacturer Get It Right

Ford Gets it right.

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Should GM et al Make Cars in China (or India)?

The incomparable John Batchelor asserts that GM should make their cars in China. I have been saying this for awhile. They should file chapter 11 and relocate their manufacturing to China. The unions have outlived their usefulness and have been the downfall of the car companies. Honestly, the only reason they are getting such treatment is that the democrats owe the unions for getting Ostalin elected. At this point I don't know if they can file chapter 11, but they must do something quickly, and groveling to us, while keeping the status quo insofar as how they do business is a bad bet for us.  As they say is is throwing good money after bad. If they don't get it right, then creative destruction is in order. It is good when unprofitable ventures fail because behind them is another that will be profitable to take its place. I liken it to having a garden where we keep the rotting but still living plants because we do not want to see them die. Meanwhile the same fertile real estate could be used to grow a plant that is healthy and productive. The goal of capitalism isn't consumerism, but productivity and value. GM, Ford and Chrysler off very little of both. 

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The UAW is to Blame for Failed Bailout

Senator Coburn of Oklahoma blames the UAW for the failure of the auto bailout. The UAW would not commit to defining when they would have a competitive wage, thereby renegotiating their contracts with the Big 3. What the unions fail to realize that if the Big 3 go under, there will be no wages. The UAW has taken advantage of the car companies with the terms of their contracts, that the Big 3 did go along with, which have brought all of them to the place they are today. Look at this post from Carpe Diem to see the differences in pay and profitability between GM and Toyota. 2007 Profit/Loss GM vs. Toyota: Same # Cars . It's an eye opener. I say fuck both of them. Now is the time is for some creative destruction. 

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Nationalized Automotive Industry?

40 acres and a mule, a chicken in every pot, and now a car in every garage? The Wall Street Journal surmises the government could take a stake in all three. More like a stake in capitalism's heart. Socialism is a coming boys and girls, and it's going to suck becoming like a European country. 

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Is this Fear Mongering or Just the Facts?

My question to you is this fear mongering to get a bailout or is GM just presenting the facts (because they want a loan)? The answer is both, and of course they are resorting to fear, but they are probably presenting some salient facts. The problem is that GM and other auto manufacturers are not dealing with the drain on them: The unions. The unions are willing to drive the automakers over a cliff, even if they all lost their jobs just because they are bullies and ignoramuses. Unions are just as complicit in this fiasco as the management of automakers are. If unions are not willing to help with this with concessions, GM will have to file chapter 11 and if they survive chapter 11, they will need (read that should) to move manufacturing overseas. No matter what, there will be massive downsizing in the auto industry in the months to come. You have to wonder what could kick start the industry, as people aren't spending money on new cars? Think 1938-39. Even if GM gets bailed out, survival is going to be tough. Tough for Chrysler and Ford too. 

Thank you for reading this blog.