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From: http://throttleblips.dailyradar.com/accounts/tos/

A comparison of 33 different car companies sales losses. Who needs 33 brand name cars from 7 corporations?

Basically sales are down 30-45 percent in the automotive new car market.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/01/by-the-numbers-march-2009-aint-no-joke-edition/

Compare prices before buying from a dealership... they mostly stay in business from repairs, and selling parts

I went to the Pontiac dealership and got a price quote for the brake shoes for the drum brakes on the rear of my 2000 Grand Am
Part number 19152644, shoe kit, $114.48, $123.35 after taxes

So I go to Autozone.
Part number #199277 720 , $21.99. $23.69 out the door.

It may be that the dealership brake shoes are better quality, longer lasting, and impressive materials... but when I can get 4 sets for less than one from the dealership, and those 4 sets will last twice as long as the longest lasting set the dealership will have... the choice comes down to dollars.

What really makes it all clear? http://www.oehq.com/acdelco-parts_19152644_ACD_AC%20Delco%20SHOE%20KIT%20R.htm
the same parts from an online outlet for $67.65, about half the dealerships charge. What rip off artists!

Labor costs...GM's problems

$69 an hour for GM
$48 for Toyota...

Is it all about union contracts?

Toyota invested in the research and development of its Prius.... just about that time, Gm scrapped it's EV1 program... and launched HUMMER

Why scrap the electric car program? Because dealerships make more profit on repairs and replacement parts than they do on selling cars, and electric cars don't need transmissions, clutches, oil changes, etc etc etc. Less parts, less broken parts, less repairs. Less breakdowns = less new car purchases when the old car wears out. (who killed the electric car, the movie)

Mens Journal, page 67, March 2009

Don't drive what you can't handle

Via: http://blogmulsanne.blogspot.com

Be careful out there friends, showing off can be dangerous

Via: http://blogmulsanne.blogspot.com