The Big Three management is interested in their own pay and rewards. The UAW has been allowed to run unchecked. The result, today, is the American automobile…second to those produced in this country by foreign-owned companies. They both should be ashamed of themselves, they have failed our nation.

74 Nova – Paint began to flake, blister, and fall off after 2 years – rear quarter panels were rusted through within 5 years – brake lights failed so often, I kept spares in the glovebox.

82 Lincoln Town Car – At the time, it was my dream car. However, the climate control never worked right (AC would become full blast heat when going up hills or accelerating. It also began to stop at red lights and stop signs in the hottest days of summer, and would not restart for 5 – 10 minutes. (This greatly endeared me to everyone behind me at the red light). It was Vapor Lock, and the whole fuel delivery system would have to be rerouted away from the exhaust manifold (at my cost, even though Ford engineered the damn thing). Goodbye, Town Car.

I bought a used 82 Dodge Reliant K-car next. I was driving along, and the car kicked, like someone had slammed the brakes for a split second. And this happened over and over. The dealer found the problem – a MAP (mass airflow processor) sensor had gone bad. Then the new MAP sensor went bad in 2 months, and another 2 months, and another 2 months – That car ATE MAP sensors so often, I learned to change them myself. This ended when both the engine’s oil pump began to fail (intermittant oil pressure light)and the transmission began slipping so badly, forward motion was almost impossible. Both happened at 149,000 miles.

At that time, Datsuns (now they are called Nissans) were travelling 200,000, 300,000, sometimes 1,000,000 miles – with OEM equipment. I needed a cheap car, having spent much money repairing my American made cars.

1999 – I bought a Hyundai Elantra – mistake ! It was dependable, but its gas mileage for such a small car was lousy – I got 22 MPG (barely).

I’m getting older now, as my arthritis reminds me. I need something easy to get into and out of. Much research later, I narrowed my choices down to 2 minivans – Chevolet Venture, and Honda Odyssey. Due to my past experience with american cars, I bought the Honda Odyssey. No problems with over 110,000 miles on it.

So you ask, What has GM ever done to me?

GM, Ford, and Chrysler have cost me plenty of money, lost time, and heartache, while I paid and paid to fix THEIR mistakes. Now their crappy reputation has came around and bit them in the ass when they can least afford it. Karma’s a bitch, sometimes. They earned this disaster, one crappy car at a time. Ask Consumer Reports, if you don’t believe me. People remember things like this, when spending their hard earned money.

But don’t you ever, EVER, call me a GM hater, you snibbling little brat. GM earned all the hate they are receiving. I gave GM a chance – TWICE. I gave Ford a chance. I gave Chrysler a chance. THEY let ME down. I owe them NOTHING. Let GM impress me – but they won’t impress me hiding behind the American flag, behind patriotism, or behind a government bailout. Losing the UAW – THAT would impress me. Otherwise, it’s business as usual – closely followed by Chapter 7 liquidation.

GM can continue to make cars during the reorganization – and remake its image at the same time. GM can start with a clean slate, and hire new employees. Gm can bring in experts from Japan to show them how to empower their new employees to police quality control. EVERY employee would have the authority to stop the assembly line, if a quality fault was found. GM has been bested by the Japanese – it’s time for GM to adopt their management style (which cannot happen with the UAW), or die a deserved death. “If you can’t beat ‘em…”