Why now Honda?

[rex6666]

Some one explain to what being union or non union has to do with
doing the job you were hired to do, and said you would do if hired.
I have heard for years that unions build better goods, why should
i believe that. I worked in the G.M. plant in Arlington,TX. in 68-69
never did i have a union rep. say to me you have to do better cause
you are union. if any thing he said screw up and hurt the co. they have plenty of money.

[Questor]

It's not the employees, it's the drag that the union puts on the company. It makes the company less compeititive. That's why there are so few labor unions left today. It's bad business.

[Cabin4]

At least in the car manufacturing industry, its proven that union plants make a lessor quality product. There are many reasons that under-pin this result.

[Questor]

I think it's quite complex. Interestingly some of the luxury cars score lowest on reliability. At least according to Consumer Reports. If you look up the Mercedes-Benz cars you see a lot of black in the rating circles (Solid red is best, Solid black is worst). I think that's why Lexus sells so many cars today.

Do you happen to know if Mercedes is a union made car? Or is it a matter of corporate culture?

[Cabin4]

I think it's quite complex. Interestingly some of the luxury cars score lowest on reliability. At least according to Consumer Reports. If you look up the Mercedes-Benz cars you see a lot of black in the rating circles (Solid red is best, Solid black is worst). I think that's why Lexus sells so many cars today.

Do you happen to know if Mercedes is a union made car? Or is it a matter of corporate culture?

I think it's more a matter of expectation. You spend $80 grand on a car, you have extremlly high expectations. You are going to be picky. More then you would if you spent $25 grand. In any case, MB has had quality issues with some of its low volume production cars. The quality issues are more of componant quaility not manufacturing/assembly. They are still one the, if not the best engineered cars in the world.

[Questor]

I think Consumer reports is going by repair histories for a lot of its metrics. My metric is the George metric. George drives a tow truck. I told him I think Mercedes are really nice cars and he said "Yes, they are. I should know. I tow enough of them."

[Casull]

Well the Toyota may be made here but i bet the money goes else where
and it is owned else where.

Yeah, the money goes elsewhere.  Well, except for the salaries paid to the workers, the money spent with local suppliers, the money spent with local utilities, taxes paid on the real estate to local governments, the money made by local dealers, the salaries paid to local sales people, the . . . aw, you get the picture.   

[bearmgc]

The profits go to Japan, which helps one of our greatest allies, gives a lot of people in otherwise poor states good jobs, and it also gives Toyota the money to keep designing and developing cars that keep getting better. No problem there as far as I can tell.

Agree.
GM had big opportunities to pull itself out, but the greed of the unions, and workers, who wanted GM to be their nanny for life made it impossible for the car maker to reduce the red tape. it was obvious that fat middle age men rather take early retirement with all health benefits and bleed a dying company dry, than get off their butts and reinvent themselves, like many Americans, face with downsizing. 5 years ago, the economy was still chugging along, but GM was in trouble.  Years prior, I knew guys that worked for the beer industry in Milwaukee, who did the same thing, kept demanding more, backing the unions for outrageous wages, compared to their education level, and actual skill level. If there ever was a socialist mentality regarding what a job should provide, that was it.

[ironglow]

  Luxury cars vs basic cars..
   My last job before retiring, I worked for a "fortune 500" high tech company, making all kinds of electronics for most all brands of cars & trucks..mass air flow, ignitions, sensors, controls etc. Every part was tested before being crated & shipped. They were graded on the "bell curve", and some insisted that their parts all come out in the highest say 20% of the bell curve..others the highest 30% etc. Parts which scored lower on the curve, were not "bad" parts..they just didn't hold to the very narrow parameters demanded. likely those which scored low would last as well as any but they wouldn't hold the very fine edge for part performance. The units that were low on the curve, were  sold to "after market" suppliers.
    Some of the companies that I recall having a very high on the curve demand were Mercedes, Volvo, Honda, Porsche & Toyota..while domestically, Ford was very demanding...but that is truly "splitting hairs". These companies did not order "high on the curve" parts for their expensive models only..the same quality went into their whole line. Years ago, this same company made alternators, regulators etc.
  The shafts, windings, diodes, ball bearings etc were the same quality, whether the alternator went into top or bottom of their line.
        For my own use, I endorse the KISS idea (keep it simple stupid). I buy new cars & trucks with 4 cyl engine, 5 speed manual trans and no elec windows, electric control for transfer case or any  more "geegaws" than what I actually need. The idea being that most parts are very dependable now, but the more unnecessary devices you have on a vehicle..the more you have that can fail.
  Actually quite simple..if I don't have electric windows or locks, then my electric windows or locks can't go wrong..If I don't have electric transfer case control or a "sensor that reads road conditions 5 times every second" (as BMW brags), then neither of these units can fail.
  Yes, luxury cars may have a higher repair rate...because they are more complex with more things to go wrong. It would seem obvious then that the more you pay (for "extras"), the less dependable they are.
 

   However, Once the parts arrive at the auto factory, then workmanship also plays a part..it would seem then that if a worker is having a dispute with the company or has such a solid lock on his job that it is nearly impossible to fire him, his workmanship may suffer.

[Bullshop Junior]

I have nevr seen a ATV with a air bag, what you guys talking about??

[blind ear]

When the car maker issues a recall for the product the product failure has usually been established. The public blanket recall is the first step in removeing the manufacturers liability in case of product failure. The last step is a personal recall letter. When the customer gets a personal recall letter, prior to a failure, and ignores it the fault is the customers.

[Casull]

The public blanket recall is the first step in removeing the manufacturers liability in case of product failure.

Wow, and I thought it was the first step in taking responsibility.

[eye shot]

ironglow
Ya kinda like a teacher having tenure or a politician not having term limits.

[ironglow]

'Bout it eye shot !