U.S. Automakers Victims Of Their Own Ignorance

THIS Associated Press story about how Generous Motors is scrambling to pick up the pieces of their shattered American market.

I saw this coming more than 35 years ago after putting asleep one of their small-car disasters.

In late 1972- I bought a Chevy Vega. By late 1974- the decrepit aluminum block engine on the piece of crap locked up.

People I knew that owned Ford's like-built car- the Pinto- expressed similar dissatifaction.

So there we stood by the mid-1970's- American car manufacturers built crappy small cars.

Worse- every time the Feds wanted to raise gasoline mileage standards- American car makers would fight the new standards tooth & nail. Same thing for new safety standards.

It didn't take a masters degree in rocket science to discover that American car makers didn't really care about the American consumer.

So the American consumer who wanted a QUALITY small car bought foreign.

Now- with petro at the $4 mark and rising- the American car makers JUST realized the error of their ways.

About 25 years too damn late I'd say.

Americans' love affair with their vehicles has come to a crossroads.

So too has arrived there the very existence of the American auto maker.

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