It doesn't have to be a compact, I was referring to sedans as well, Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry have dominated the market for well over a decade, why? there must be some reason, are all of those consumers just stupid? I doubt it, they are finding good overall build quality, resale value, etc. for their $. The Accord has been on Car and Driver magazine's 10 Best list more than any other vehicle—a remarkable 21 times in the last 25 years. Meanwhile, here is GM
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/07/shrinking_gm_pa.html nearly bankrupt and Ford and Chrysler are just as guilty, continuing to place too much emphasis on trucks, SUV's etc. instead of being more competitive at the car level AND in developing alternative methods to ME oil. It is unacceptable and inexcuseable for the "Big 3" to have gone from being top dogs to bottom feeders in such a relatively short span of time. Not all of it, but certainly alot of it is due to poor build quality, too expensive, paying their CEO's and unions too much $ etc. I can't speak for anyone else on this forum but for me, my Mopar is a hobby, not a daily driver. I drive a 1995 Ford Escort as a grocery getter, I get darn near 40 MPG/gal, take mass transit, walk and bike everywhere I need to go. I love this country but alot of the problem with our current situation is of our own doing, that's the truth, no one likes to hear that, there are certainly alot of other factors involved but for the years of gluttony, we are now paying the price, we didn't get into this overnight, and we aren't getting out of it overnight. It will interesting to watch going forward just how many of the SRT's sell, and once purchased, have to be resold because the insurance, fuel costs etc are just too high. I doubt if Chysler will sell enough to make positive earnings, if their goal is to design and sell muscle cars to us baby boomers then fine, that small segment of the public will eat it up, but that's not a long term plan for success, they are already way down the food chain, they have to do more than jut make a few thousand muscle cars to become a true player again, just my .02 worth.......to be continued for sure
