Here's the article (7 myths about Detroit automakers) that Hartmann's been talking about today ...

[Bozita]

http://www.freep.com/article/20081205/COL14/812050400/1081/COL

MARK PHELAN
7 myths about Detroit automakers
BY MARK PHELAN • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • DECEMBER 5, 2008
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This column by Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan originally was published on Nov. 17 and has been updated.

The debate over aid to the Detroit-based automakers is awash with half-truths and misrepresentations that are endlessly repeated by everyone from members of Congress to journalists. Here are seven myths about the companies and their vehicles, and the reality in each case.

Myth No. 1: Nobody buys their vehicles

Reality: General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC sold 8.5 million vehicles in the United States last year and millions more around the world. GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of nearly 700,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.

Ford outsold Honda by about 850,000 and Nissan by more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States last year.

Chrysler sold more vehicles here than Nissan and Hyundai combined in 2007 and so far this year.

Myth No. 2: They build unreliable junk

Reality: The creaky, leaky vehicles of the 1980s and '90s are long gone. Consumer Reports recently found that "Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers."

The independent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study scored Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Mercury, Pontiac and Lincoln brands' overall quality as high as or higher than that of Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Scion, Volkswagen and Volvo.

J.D. Power rated the Chevrolet Malibu the highest-quality midsize sedan. Both the Malibu and Ford Fusion scored better than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

more...

[Taverner]

1. Myth #7 is the only one that's really a myth

I mean, come on? Have you ever been in an American Hybrid? They usually get no more than 1-2 MPG more than their ICE Counterpart.

Of course Toyota did the same thing with the Highlander Hybrid

[Luciferous]

8. Overpaid and lazy... heh

My dad works for Chrysler and is constantly saying that the people he works with are spoiled and lazy. They all threw a fit when the plant took away their smoking privileges- instead of smoking at their machines, they actually had to get off their fat butts and go outside. Their benefit packages are ridiculous- my dad got me a computer through work and also got internet service for $8 a month through work... I hope they did take away a lot of these benefits for new workers because they are unnecessary. My husband is part the UAW in another capacity and he doesn't get half the crap the auto workers do, and we get by just fine without it.

[Taverner]

9. What are you talking about - that's the only one that IS a myth

As in, all the other myths are true but that one

Double and triple negatives fuck me up too btw... :hi:

[amdezurik]

2. you link to freeperville

no thanks. As bad as linking to some other hate-site like Dkos.

[Sherman A1]

3. Detroit Free Press, perhaps?

[HeresyLives]

4. It's the Detroit Free Press.

[hughee99]

5. The Detroit Free press (freep) is freeperville? n/t

[Taverner]

10. Freep.com =/= FreeRepublic.Com

[Bozita]

6. The Detroit Free Press has been known locally as "the Freep" for well over 40 years.

[amdezurik]

7. ah, don't live there and the link shows freep.com

my mistake :)