Kalifornia at it again

[tdelorme]

Mel Torme


No you dodged that bullet. You bought (a) a Jeep you don't like and (b) a Denali you can't tow.

So now you have two POS vehicles instead of a POS Hummer. Must be that East Texas math working in there somewhere.

JDUB, BITE ME!! And if you decide to tow that ugly orange Scout, don't forget to slide your big butt underneath with a 1/2" combo wrench and take the driveshaft out. Is that the same truck your grandparents made the Oklahoma land rush in??
I'm Fed-Xing a Chia Obama to your office Monday so be on the lookout.

John, thanks for the assist. I was on the phone with a tech guy at Remco while we were driving home. He made the comment, "not even around the block." I knew I was screwed early on.

[garyde]

I have a great Deisel Ford 4x4 and Gas GMC 4x4, and a nice 98 side step F150 PU. Those are everyday trucks and I have had very little problem with any of them. Like Kevin, I would tow my GMC 4x4 twin cab PU. Lots of room and space in the back.
We have some foriegn cars as well, but I drive day in and day out Fords and GMC's.
As far as the Koreans, Japanese, and others, I used to buy Toyota trucks but decided to move to Ford years ago. My kids drive Honda's and Toyotas because they are pretty dependable and I don't have to be constantly paying for repairs.
When I grow up I want to be like Jon and purchase an H2 to add to the mix.
Would'nt mind a Vet as well.
I do need a larger garage.

[normancasson]

I just attended the Great Western truck show in Las Vegas and the CTA (California trucking association) put on a 2 day seminar about the new smog rules for diesel engined vehicles 16,000 lbs and over. This will also include a lot of things you don't think about- diesel generators-refer units (like on semi trailers)-lots of stuff.

You won't like the first part-If one has a engine with EGR (2003-2006) you can now convert that baby to the new specs for $25-30,000. They're doing them now.

If you're fortunate to have one thats a 2007-2009 you can get away with a $15-20,000 upgrade.

If you're older than 2003 those vehicles basically will be phased out by 2014-2015 unless you're updating your fleet with newer units that give you "credits" towards your total fleets numbers.

Those with three or less units basically get a extra three year window to upgrade.

Now the good news-RV'S are exempt for now. Sometime in the next 5 or so years you'll see many of these dirt haulers and local guys just vanish. The outcry will be so loud I wouldn't be surprised to learn of some of the rules being pushed back but you never know. Just thought you'd like to know.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

IMO I see uncle Sam doing the exact same thing in private homes and that is how they are going to shove these electric cars down our throats and still allow the suv's and PU's at the same time.

Households will also be given credits for the energy efficient wheels and you will HAVE to have one to offset the gas guzzler if you choose to keep it.

Time will tell, I hope I am wrong.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Are the states surrounding Kalifornia ready for all the new residents they are about to get?

My first reaction was we are witnesses to the death of Kalifornia.

[phorner]

The real estate agents in the states surrounding Kalifornia are surely looking forward to an influx of buyers.

And, buyers desperate to escape overbearing regulation may not haggle as much when it comes to price..... they will just want out and want it now!

The cities and counties surrounding Kalifornia should also see the population shift as a way to increase their respective tax revenues...... with the exact opposite happening in Kalifornia which will further stress their economy in an ever steepening downward spiral.

Over-regulation, at some point, will always force the thinking and productive populace to flee.

[edsaylor]

Rick: I agree with you 100% that the dealer cuts were to get rid of whoever they wanted. Dealers do not cost the manufacturers hardley any money. Dealers own or finance everything on their property , except the Brand Sign, and with the domestics, the dealer leases that sign. It was pure BS when the manufacturers said they had to cut dealers to cut expenses. They also said they were over dealered in some areas and that is true, and had they corrected that, there might have been some justification. They just cut who they wanted. Here in Mississippi Chrysler cut a dealer who had just spent 6 million on a new facility 7 months ago. The dealer is left with that note and nothing to sell. The factories have absolutely wiped out and bankrupted many successful dealers all over the country! It is an absolute shame what they have been allowed to do. Dealers have worked for many years to set up motor vehicle commissions to regulate lousy dealers and to keep factories from forcing dealers to do things that are bad for them and to
keep factories from terminating dealers without good cause. Chrysler and GM just trashed all of the protections dealers have worked so hard for.

The letters that GM required ALL GM dealers who were staying to sign says that the dealer will do whatever GM wants them to do (take all the vehicles they want them to take, build or remodel their facility however they want and whenever they want, increase their sales substantially, etc.) or they agree ahead that GM can terminate them and they cannot sue GM!!! If a dealer refused to sign the letter, they were terminated immediately! 38 dealers refused to sign and that was the 38 additional dealers GM terminated.

All of this has been done with the oversight of the Obama administration. Quite frankly, I am concerned that our country can handle all of the socialist crap coming out of Washington at present.

[truk4u]

Ed & Rick,

Thanks for some insight into the auto dealer problems from someone who is in the business and not just expressing opinions. Most of us really don't know the inner workings of the dealerships and how they're structured.

PS - I always count my fingers after shaking hands with the King!

[GDeen]

The real problem with California is AlGore/Waxman/Pelosi/Obama are using it as a model for the country with their new initiatives.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Does their use of the Kalifornia model include thinking about the economic impact or will that be blamed on other factors?