[DeTomaso] My solution to the automaker problems-Automotive News articla inside

[asajay at asajay.com]

And to me, this is a real question.  I've known people in big cities,  
who don't own a garage, and don't have a driveway.  They park in the  
street, and sometimes, not their street.  Sometimes in fact, they have  
to park upwards of 10 blocks away and walk back to their home or  
apartment.  Just where are they supposed to get the electricity?   
There's the whole infrastructure thing that's missing.  (a perfect  
opportunity for a small business, kinds like how gas stations got  
started).

I like the idea of an electric car, but I have a driveway and a garage  
and a place to plug it in.  I drive 30 miles one way to work, I'd lose  
charge before I got home.  No big deal really, but I've got a killer  
hill to climb before I get there.  My point is I'd be a good candidate  
for the most part, but most apartment dwellers who don't have the same  
amenities I do, aren't a good market.

And what about traffic jams?  Is that 40 miles really 40 miles, or  
does it start to get shorter if you're in stop and go traffic?

One thing that really pisses me off, is that I'm driving a 10 year old  
car (by Ford) that gets nearly 37 miles per gallon, and the big three  
are crowing about how they have xx models that get 30 mpg or better.   
Oh yea?  What's the "better?"  40?  50?, I'd like to see that.  The 30  
mpg car of 10 years ago, should be getting nearly 40 now, if not 50.   
The first time this last summer I heard an add that -boasted- 30 mpg,  
I nearly fell over laughing.  I had fully expected with Gas at $4 a  
gallon, to hear about the economy models that got 40 or better.

I guess we just aren't making those.


Hmm, which get's me thinking, maybe we -should- let the big three  
fail, opening up an opportunity for new thinkers (bad example... like)  
the DeLoreans of 20 years ago.  Allow GM to actually break into  
several smaller car companies, each with a dedicated focus; each one  
with a target market.  I mean.... come on... it's obvious by the  
banter on this subject alone that we don't all think alike, we don't  
all like the same things, and it just seems to me that the big three  
have diluted their products lines trying to be ALL things, to ALL  
people that they've lost sight of the individual.  It's back to the  
mom & pop idea; they make a product that a select group of people  
really like.  That group likes it, they buy it, they tell their  
friends.  But the mom & pop shop don't go out of their way to  
constantly come up with new ideas to take the competition away; they  
are living well on what they do, their customer are loyal, they  
integrate new ideas from their customers into their product, they know  
their market.

I'm rambling again...  sorry...   just noticed.....


Asa Jay
Asa Jay

Quoting Kerry Maguire <kmaguire at landrovermiramar.com>:

>
> If you can't plug in your vehicle at night, that high-tech battery   
> pack will be as useful as an anchor for your bass boat. Given a   
> choice, I'd pick the Cruze.
>