I think all US Automakers have Asian partners in many models they produce
(even the new Damlier-Chrysler has Mitsubishi).
Its just a matter of time until the Executives with the Golden Parachutes
bail with their chutes open collecting their gold and selling the American
Heritage for pennies on the dollar just like Chrysler did.
One rule of economics is pretty well understood by everyone: Purchasing a
new car helps the economy because it provides jobs and consumes a lot of
manufactured goods. Buying used does mot help the economy because it just
produces relative small purchases of parts over an extended time frame.
In effect if you buy used you're not helping the economy of the foreign
nation producing the car.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: Diamler chrysler vw...

> >When that merger was going on I was watching a lot of the european
accounts
> >because  the US papers were not being told much.  It was interesting to
> >watch.  It was going to be a merger of equals with chrysler actually
being
> >up about 1 percent.  However as the 2 year discussions and paperwork
between
> >government agencies in about 6 countries went on, chrysler went down in
> >value again as mercedes went up in value.  When it was finally signed
final
> >daimler was at about 60 percent of the value and chrysler was down to
about
> >40 percent (chrysler had to sign away all military contracts).  Now it is
no
> >longer a merger but a coup.
>
> it was NEVER intended to be a merger. It was an outright buyout by
> Mercedes. It was cynically called a "merger" in the US to try to
> forestall "patriotic" backlash.
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin
> New Zealand
> Fossil preparator
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>
> HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE
>
> DEMOCRACY: RULE BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR