YOUR COMMENTS

Mark,
GM's legacy costs are their own fault. They could have said 'No' to the unions, but they didn't. It also didn't help that the government gave tax breaks to businesses that purchased vehicles weighing over 6000 lbs and artificially drove up large vehicle sales. Sure, it's Obama's problem now, but it didn't start with him. Personally, I would have let Chrysler and GM go right into chapter 7 and get it over with. The US based foreign auto makers would, and will, pick up the slack.
- Texter, Newfields

Dear Texter in Newfields: I don't know if you heard but GM's legacy costs (due to its highly overpaid workforce) were what drove GM into bankruptcy. I own a 10-year old Chevy Blazer and it's a great vehicle. Don't blame Obama? Why not? It's now his recession and it's getting worse, not better. If the Democrats ignore this problem, they do so at their own political peril.
- Mark, Manchester

Mark,
How can you blame Obama for the state of the auto industry? Years of making vehicles which don't last as long as foreign (which are usually made in the US) vehicles, not having designs that are exciting (witness GM models available in Europe that you can't get here) and a lack of credit for people who shouldn't really get it have all come together with the result being today's situation. Have you seen the Autofair ads that tout no credit, bad credit, upside down on your vehicle. It's people with these credentials that artificially kept vehicle sales high over the last few years, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

I've owned four foreign vehicles and one American car in my lifetime. Hands down, every one of the foreign vehicles was a better value, lasted longer, and had better crash safety ratings than comparable American vehicles. All had well over 200K on them when I got rid of them, and they were driven even further. Not one major problem. The Ford Taurus I had just made 140K, but I wasn't willing to put thousands into it to keep it running.

If I could go back a minute, the real beginning of the problem was the oil crisis of 1972. I remember that Chevy came out with the Vega, Ford had the Maverick and Pinto, and don't ask me what Chrysler had. The foreign manufacturers listened to what the consumer wanted, and gave it to them. The American manufacturer designed something, and then marketed it so that the consumer would want it. The GM diesel debacle, where they used a gasoline engine block with a diesel head, has soured a good portion of the American public to diesel. I've been to Europe, almost every vehicle there is diesel.

My Subaru, which was made in Indiana (except for the very important bits, the engine and drivetrain), will last me at least ten years, and that is how long I am going to drive it. I don't, and the average American doesn't, need a new car every three or four years.

Perhaps the auto makers should have been allowed to go into Chapter 7, and see where the cards would fall. Who, then, would provide the spare engine computers, update software, etc? I'm sure that the buyer of an American car would want to know that they could maintain it for the foreseeable future before they shelled out the greenbacks.
- Texter, Newfields

As a Ford Engineer who grew up in NH, I just want to say that Leno's comment disgusts me. Ford is the only company to NOT take gov't $$ and to be standing on our own feet with our own products, and you wish US and our suppliers ill because of your 'investments'? Sad.
- Travis, Dearborn, MI

I am sorry for the companies that supply Ford but I am a tax payer and I own Chrysler and General Motors. You are the competition, I gotta hope for the success of my investments.

Leno, Raymond
- Leno Hebert, Raymond

We by cars from other countries do to better quality, and most are still made state side to offset the terrifs. Odd thing is notice the none union makes are doing better Better quality car and lower overhead. They still pay good I have a friend that works for Toyota and makes great money at one plant but don't pay union dues. The unions and greedy workers killed the Cryslers and GM's of the world. Now the GOV is running the show they cant even run a country bugget without defacite do you trust them to run a Buisness? I don't and I will never own a car that is owned any persentage by our Goverment. They could not make profit on a hore House in Navada but will make quality product at profit I don't think so.
- Tim, Manchester

I think a large part of the problem is not only that people are not purchasing new cars but a high pecentage that do buy new cars are choosing forign made vehicles.
- Pete, Somersworth

So I guess that hope and change our Dear Leader Obama brought isn't working out too well for those in NH's auto industry. Never fear though - Democrat Party leadership feels your pain very much and stands ready to help. Just ask the people of Berlin NH.......
- Mark, Manchester