What once were vices are now habits…

October 15, 2008 | fleetvrcg | Auto Industry

Three months ago we rarely read about the threat of bankruptcy in one of the Detroit-based Big Three. But, just read the last couple of paragraphs of this article…

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/14/news/companies/gmwoes_taylor.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008101509

…and not only does this article join many others in that “bankruptcy” chorus, but, it indeed speaks of a domino effect if one goes, the other two will.

Unthinkable years ago, what about today?

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Finding Used Cars in Bulk

I watch the automotive news pretty closely every day, and this article here puts...

Buying Used Rental Cars

Just today there’s another article about Manheim scaling back their bricks and mortar footprint:...

Excellent article, but it leaves out a big, big point!

Tom Webb of Manheim Auctions is one of the most respected used car analysts...

Excellent News for the Rental Car Industry – courtesy of our manufacturers!

The renting public has been really gouged by state, county and local municipalities over...

An Outstanding Article

What lessons can we all learn, as taxpayers, from the GM bankruptcy, which was...

More “help” from Washington

Now the Federal Government wants to legislate how dealers get retail buyers financed. Lord...

I live 8 miles from Chrysler HQ, so I hope they’re right…

…when they say Chrysler’s new CEO is a “miracle worker”… Read on… http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/21/autos/chrysler_marchionne_profit.fortune/index.htm

“Something Fishy” Alright….

Good article here about the 1500 or so “orphaned” dealers who will try to...

Alright, who doesn’t like a good joke?

A very old man lay dying in his bed. In death’s doorway, he suddenly...

An interesting read on some root causes for auto business trouble- from a Libertarian perspective.

Huh…leave it to a Libertarian to dig deep into history to find some root...

Another glimmer of good news, this time from General Motors….

Paying loans back early! Or at least starting to think about it. This is...

Let’s Hope Some Sanity Prevails…

Each of us here at VRCG have had close friends, or business acquaintances, lose...

Interesting Perspective on the Rental Car Business

A few analysts have been getting “bullish” on the rental car industry. BTW, have...

Kudos to Ford!

Good news….Ford made some money for the first time in a long while: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/02/news/companies/ford_results/index.htm?postversion=2009110211...

It’s been a long time since there’s been anything “not depressing” to post…

………..but that’s NOT the case today! Please read some comments from Mike Jackson from...

More Brilliant “Management” from Washington

I have friends that have lost their dealships to defacto “nationalization” of the auto...

Not even 125 years of bankruptcy law….

……..can stand in the way of what the US Government wants for the auto...

This is a really, really good story about Ford and its CEO

In a sea of crappy news about auto manufacturers, here’s a good story. I...

Not really car related…

….but this piece from a hedge fund manager in Connecticut does address why a...

Pretty well written summary of Washington getting involved in the car biz…

This is very well put, and succinctly defines (from one view point…) how an...

Back on August 6, 2008….I first uttered the “B Word” about a manufacturer…

….and now it looks like reality is now upon us. Fabled companies like Chrysler...

It’s an odd world when losing $1.4 billion is good news….

….but, welcome to the world of manufacturing automobiles in North America. Read about the...

New, wonderful government plan for the US Auto Industry!

The US Government has done a wonderful job, long term, with Social Security, entitlement...

A new definition of a “cheap” car!

Do you think $15,000.00 or so for a used car is “cheap”? Read on...

“Right Out of the Box” Electric Car

I live in the Detroit area, and I’ve been hearing about the Chevy Volt...

Supplier Help

Little recognized in all this auto manufacturer mess is the huge underlying role, and...

Some Good GM News!

Personally, I’d rather see “GM Sales Skyrocket”, or, “GM To Announce New Hybrid Available...

Race Car Update!

It’s snowing here, but, at least we can THINK of spring coming soon! Please...

Some Good News

Looks like Ford is the first domestic auto company to really nail down a...

Supplier Relationships

An interesting read on how the downturn has negatively impacted the decades-old symbiotic relationship...

End of an era – Bob Lutz to retire

Looks like the car world is going to lose an Industry Lion… http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/09/autos/gm_lutz.reut/index.htm?postversion=2009020911

A Ten Million Unit Year?

Interesting article below about continued drop in new car sales, with some comments from...

Ripple Effects

Good article here about how deep ties into the general economy the auto manufacturing...

A Sharp New Chrysler!

Even with all the gloom in the car business, the Detroit Auto Show goes...

A Little Momentum Starting to Roll?

Encouraging article about which domestic cars to buy….a bit of good news in a...

A little levity….

Check out what an enterprising Prius owner did with his car during a snowstorm,...

It’s funny how Southern Senators seem to want to see the Detroit 3 fail more than Toyota!

Interesting spin, with good factual backup, on why it’s in NOBODY’S interest to have...

The “Blame Game” in Washington – excellent editorial

The following is put about as well as any I’ve seen as the calls...

More Spewing from Capital Hill

I took about 90 minutes today to listen the gas bag politicians grill three...

Some comments about the auto industry from Mitch Albom – please read

I’m not really good with words, but I’m getting pissed at the unequal treatment...

Idea from Roger Penske, et. al. about a “fix” for the industry

From Dealer’s Edge, by way of USAToday….an intersting idea on an auto maker industry...

GM Video

Well, this should certainly be a big week. It was unthinkable back on Sept....

The quote nobody has been waiting for ….

“will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business”… ….is about the worst...

How is the slow rental industry hurting the car making industry?

We spend a lot of time in the car rental industry, and the general...

Support for Detroit Automakers?

I’ve always been up front with our readers about my “home town slant”, as...

A GM- Chrysler LLC hookup?

There’s been a chorus of articles in the last few days about a potential...

Crazy Financial Markets

This isn’t about the car business specifically, but the below article is well-written, provides...

New Low for Production?

Being a home-town Detroit guy, it’s tough to see this headline… http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/09/autos/jdpa_sales_down/index.htm?postversion=2008100913 …but let’s...

How is the Credit Crunch affecting auto dealers in the U.S.?

The stupid situation many many people have put us in (not just “Wall Street...

Article about the Domestic Auto Industry…ironic that it’s come out on GM’s Bday!

Today here in Detroit marks the 100th anniversary of GM being in business…congratulations, there’s...

Good News on the Truck Front!

Thanks to Automotive News for the following info: STUDY: USED TRUCK PRICES REBOUND:...

Big-Three Loans Coming?

I can’t say it any better than this…..this whole subject of loans might provoke...

Truck Deja Vu All Over Again?

Interesting article from USAToday here, about truck sales popping up a little bit. Looks...

Playing the numbers out, electric vs. gas cars ~ Interesting article

This article, although the author tried to “dumb it down” for readers like me,...

A Truly “New Chrysler”?

Here’s a very interesting spin on Chrysler from Mr. Jim Press. It of course...

Another “spin” on Hybrids….

This video has two spins on it. First, if it’s just “saving money” you...

Say it ain’t so!

Could this be an end to the Viper as we know it?? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121984483240576415.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

Not exactly car related, but if the nation goes bust, who will buy cars?

There is a little move afoot to highlight the debt crisis that the United...

A “Detroit Special”…the Woodward Dream Cruise

All of us here at VRCG are car nuts. But, if you want to...

GM Story?

Wow, if this account is true, could this be a world class version of...

Domestic Bankruptcy??

Very, very disturbing. Some of the most fabled companies on the planet, reduced to...

The Next Google?

This certainly isn’t car-related, but, it’s worth knowing about for anybody who follows any...

How good can deals get on SUVs?

Here’s an interesting article on “good deals” in the used SUV world. We’ve always...

Follow the Smart Money

It’s very obvious to me (and my banker…) that I don’t hang in circles...

Gas Prices….A Challenge

As I add to this blog, I look back historically and see “….hmmm, I...

Well done WSJ article

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a very pragmatic, “on point” article about what Detroit...

Another round of articles about GM & Ford

Just a few days ago I pointed out a couple of articles on home-town...

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As I reflect back on what I’ve noticed in the advertising world recently, there’s...

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Get out your high school chemistry books

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Not really car-related, but who doesn’t like beer?

I spent my high school and college years, along with the first ten years...

USA Today article on Hybrids….

All of us in the industry have been keenly observing what’s happened to the...

Interesting Ford Story

I’ve commented on the Kerkorian “bet” on Ford before, and the story just got...

Fuel-Sipping SUVs…is that an oxymoron?

I was on a business trip to Denver last week, and was at a...

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The $15,000,000.00 Ferrari I wrote about earlier this week is a throwback to an...

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This article from the WSJ has (among other impact…) a big bearing on cars. ...

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Despite what this article says… http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/30/news/companies/gm_earnings/index.htm?postversion=2008043008 …I listened to GM CEO Rick Wagoner on...

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Here’s a very interesting article on today’s news that Kirk Kerkorian is increasing his...

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Here’s a link to an interesting article that appeared today regarding how the rental...

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Daytona 500

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Below is a link to a very interesting article about General Motors. It basically...

Chicago Auto Show Highlight – So much for a “Green SUV”

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What once were vices are now habits…

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10 reasons dealers buy from us.