doomster
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Big 3 Killing Off NASCAR...I can honestly say that I have never been a really big fan of Nascar...racing I love, but I tend to keep up with drag racing and boat racing and that about sums it up for me. Although, lots of research and development comes from Nascar teams on engine design, durability, and power levels.
Rumors from some of the big guys is that with sales down and the economy in the shape it is in, and the big three wih down sales, they are suspending a ton of programs that is a cost to them, Nascar was like top of the list. Imagine going to the track on Sunday and watching nissan, honda, toyota, hyundai circle the track. I can see Jeff Gordon driving the #24 hyundai right now....... 
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Roostercogburn
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Don't leave out Kia! LOL
Seriously, Hyundai just started selling Genesis with a 375 HP engine. A Nascar sponsorship can't be too far behind!
Nascar just announced that it would allow race teams to suspend on track testing next year to save money. The savings are expected to be tens of millions of dollars. Things are getting desperate because they have priced the loyal fan out of the market due to outrageous ticket prices. The stands have been empty at alot of the races this year.
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Kestrel
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Uh, Kia is OWNED by Hyundai.
Besides, they really only have "one" car. Go WRC and F1!!
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doomster
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OK yall..........what do you think is going to happen?
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Outsider
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If Nascar has to go to Honda, Toyota etc.,,one thing would be a big advantage. They wouldn't have to do as many pit stops!! One big reason the big three is having major problems is reliability. Whats with that? They have had as many years to get it right as Honda and Toyota, yet they still lag way behind.
I drove American for years, but the reliability issue finally got to me and now I am happily driving a reliable Toyota. Every time I turned around the Ford was in the shop with a big bill to boot!! And the last GM car I had they never could get the problems I had with it right. Had to get rid of that one because of reliability problems too. Sure, I would rather but American, but at what price?
I too have problems with bailing out the car manufacturers. If people won't buy the cars then why would tax payers have to pay for their incompentence. They seem to want to blame their problems on the unions etc., Looks like to me the management needs to make the right decisions, look ahead and see what is going on in the reliability area, etc and start making the cars that the public will want to buy!
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doomster
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Did you know toyota rating on dependability has dropped way-way-way down.....I read this in one of the AAA magazines. I guess when you have so many on the roads sold over the years, and a ton of them being 20+ years old still on the road, the reliability factor kinda quit....LOL!!! I think they were basing their reports on road side calls/break-downs. I guess it all depends on what you want in a vehicle, for speed.....Ford all the way, Trucks/SUVs I still think GM has the top edge here with the suburban/silverado pkgs, compact cars I'd have to say toyota or honda with no doubt.
Did you see the CEO of GM today saying....."I don't need the Government telling me how to operate, I just need some operating revenue??"........that guy has some nads bigger than baseballs I tell you!
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Outsider
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doomster wrote:
| Quote: | | Did you know toyota rating on dependability has dropped way-way-way down |
Didn't know that. Stands to reason since I now have one. I have a knak for picking the wrong cars. So far mine has been reliable. My research showed good realibility when I bought it.
I didn't see that today. Sounds like the guy has lost touch with reality too 
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doomster
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I think it is due to the fact that they have been on the road for so long and some of them are 20+ years old with a gazillion miles on them....its not that they aren't made well, it was based on road side calls.
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Kestrel
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I've sworn off Fords with automatic transmissions. It's isn't that they are unreliable. It is that I have yet to drive one that doesn't drive me CRAZY!! Lay the pedal to the metal, and the engine will hang for forever on the redline before upshifting. And they also have a tendancy to hang in neutral trying to decide which gear to go into while the engine revs up when I'm making a turn. I've noticed this with several F-150's and Tauri of different model years.
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Nighthawk
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Doomster is right, the Big 3 have uped their reliability while Toyota has actually come down dramatically. You will pretty much get the same reliability among all the car makers at this point.
That said, I have a Buck with 140k miles that is running strong (just had to replace the belt tensioner pulley) and my Ranger has 245k miles and runs good too. It is a stick though. No Ford auto's for me.
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doomster
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I can honestly say that I have never had an auto tranny in a ford go bad....one of my f-150s got to the point it would shutter and shake, but ford changed the fluid and filter right after I bought it and cured it, drove it 98,000 miles with no problems. The few stangs I have had all had manuals, the first thing to do with them is to change the crappy shifter, then they are bullet-proof, atleast I never tore one up anyhoo....LOL! I never have really spent a ton of money on auto-repairs, I don't keep one long enough for it to wear out.....LOL!! The way I figure it is simple.......drive one for years and pay for it, the way auto mechanics charge for labor and parts its easier and less of a strain on myself to keep a newer one with a full warranty, its either pay the bank, or pay the repair facility. My employer almost demands a be on time for work deal, and if I get stranded on the side of the road at 3AM, I guarantee you I will be late for work......so I try to not let that happen....LOL!!! So far the past 8 years I have been lucky, never been late.
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Kestrel
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Well, my parents and I both had to rebuild our transmissions in our Tauri. Mine around 100k and theirs around 150k. Not bad. And most wouldn't have a problem with how the Ford automatics act, but I can't stand it.
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