ALT-1 Why the American Automobile Industry is in Trouble
Looking at the American Auto Industry, from the outside allows the observer to look at the entire Auto Industry.
Once the US Auto Industry, produced the finest cars in the world, the Duesenberg, Auburn, Cord, Pierce Arrow, Packard all were great names in Auto building. These were some of the most advanced and luxurious cars ever built and even today can command high prices.
Will we ever see the same prices for modern cars, some rare iconic models will achieve legendary status (Cobra, Mustang), but these are few and far between.
What happened?, why did the industry fail.
Two reasons (at least as seen by foreign eyes), cars were made to a price, it was more important to churn out a new car every three years. Minor differences were incorporated, so Fred C. Dobbs could feel that his new car was the state of the art (even if art was no longer a criteria). No longer were cars made to be aspirational, now anyone could own a luxurious Barge O' Lard 2008, with power everything, GPS, cruise control and sports exhaust. Cars made with so many gizmos the driver could drive hands free (yes use you hands somewhere else, while you drove around wallowing in ersatz comfort).
Cars also became cheaper, both in the way they were manufactured and in their quality. Don't offer the best in the world, just offer what some other country offers and make it cheap (and nasty).
The other reason the industry faltered is they stopped making cars and started making Trucks (SUVs). These are not cars, they are wallowing great land yachts. These great tugs (yes and full reference to what the drivers are doing), come with TVs, stereo systems that would not be out of place in nightclub, luxurious chairs and couches. These no longer have the right to be called a car, or an SUVs. Let's call them for lack of a better work Wank Fodder.
These Wank Fodders were aimed at the lowest common denominator people who can't drive. Lets face it, these 2 tonne missiles don't handle, require huge amounts of steering lock to turn, have no way of feeling the road (not even when you drive over a bus full of Nuns). They are Yachts with wheels. You need 5 minutes warning before you turn a corner. (On the plus side they can hold 6 people and their assorted weaponry making them ideal for US Urban living, and drive bys).
The industry lost its way when it started concentrating on people movers, mini vans and SUVs. These are not cars these are tanks, with all of the Freudian (or Yungian, depending on your school) symbolism.
Just admit you can't drive, or you are lacking in the manhood department and then buy a decent car. Although there is not much these days that doesn't fall into the formula of build for a price.
Still that's the reason why Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and Aston Martin exist, to remind us of how cars should be. But to a standard of no compromise. Although I'm not sure how my family will all fit in a Ferrari.
But still imagine a car that could fit the family, drop the kids off at school, the dog at the vet, tow the horse float and still drive and handle like a sports car (to give dad the feeling of just on the edge control).
Of course it would look crap, but would be the best fit for every (wo)man.
No the American Auto Industry (and the world's Auto Industry for that matter), lost it when every company churned out cars to a price and a formula, rather than making cars that were truly individual.
