Ford may have survived with Focus: Carr

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Lukeyson

Wonder if Ford had of got an additional $1b over the last 10 years in govt support what kind of position FoA would be in with local production?

The same.

[Samurai_Chris]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

So Australians should work for $5 then?

Seriously, I doubt you could even raise a family, pay a mortgage and buy a new car on $25 an hour.

By the way, do you make more, or less than $25 per hour?

Eh, way to misquote a quote!

I actually make $24.40 an hour. Am raising 2 kids, house, two cars, wife is studying. Things are tight, but we are living. Go back two years when we were living in Japan (10 years, my wife is Japanese) and the cost of living was much lower, almost half of what we pay here for better amenities, and services. Fuel was expensive at about $1.50p/l but I had 5 attendants jumping all over my car to clean windscreen, inflate tires, check oil.. Why did we come back to Australia you ask? It was were I was born, and I wanted my kids to experience it..

The problem with this country is that more is never enough. People want more just because, and governments and companies charge likewise.

So in a business sense, why build a car for less, and pay someone less when their standard of living is less, than pay someone more, when they feel they are entitled to more?

It just means we pay more in the end when we purchase it!

[Samurai_Chris]

Originally Posted by XR6TCraig

I cant see how this is relevant or accurate. Its easy to say but that doesn't make it right!

Generally, big business here in recent years has made record profits. You only need to look at the banks to see this. Yet you are saying the unions are bleeding them dry? Something doesn't add up clearly!

Workers work longer and harder than they ever have in Australia for no more money in relative terms, housing and the cost of living is dearer than its ever been relative to what we get paid, yet you say its the unions that are stuffing things up?

Do you only make $5 an hour or have those pesky unions made sure you get more than that? Would you be happy trying to pay off the average Australian mortgage earning that kind of coin?

We live in a country where making $5 an hour would mean you would have to sleep under a bridge at night. You certainly couldn't afford to feed yourself, cloth yourself and provide shelter for yourself and your family.

Our cost of living in this country warrants higher wages to survive. Blame the unions all you want but its nowhere near as simplistic as that. Government and big business all have there greedy little fingers in this pie.

Now we could live on $5 an hour if houses only cost $35K to buy, rates were $250 a year and the average weekly household food bill was $50, but its not and you cant just blame unions solely for all of those things being the price that they are!

But lets say we have a big adjustment going forward. Assuming you own or are paying off a house would you be comfortable having it devalued to $35K so that aussies earning only $5 an hour could afford to purchase one like it, or is house ownership only to be enjoyed by shareholders, business owners and government officials?

As of today, QLD electricity prices have been allowed to increase 22.5% (not 2.5%)but 22.5% for the next financial year.. So before anyone talks about anything being "right". Then maybe you need to just think about that for a minute?

As for owning a house. then maybe people that have $500,000 mortgages when they cant afford them need to look at their own lifestyle. Not ask for more money because they want a bigger house? Just sayin...

I would like a million dollar house, but have to settle for something a little more modest. I live within my means. And maybe I will get one, one day. However, am I to say that that is not "right" because it is not given to me because "I" feel that I deserve it?

I spent 15 year living in the US and Japan, and I say what I say, because I can compare the difference. I have people asking me all the time how I could afford to live in Japan. And I have to laugh, because the so called experts who tell you how expensive it is are the ones that have never been there. Seen something on TV, or had a stop over, stayed in the heart of Tokyo, and experienced the pleasure of paying exorbitant prices by business's that rely on the tourist trade.. The honest truth is that the average Japanese family make a meager income and live according to it.. The smart ones like me don'y buy a house in the middle of a crowded city, but live in the country where they have open fields, mountains, large and spacious housing for a lower price. I used to have a 40 minute commute, but I always had a Television / Navigation system that kept me entertained! Try getting that in a base model vehicle made in Australia?

[Samurai_Chris]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

two uniquely Australia Cars occupying Niche markets,

So "Niche" they are about 21st on the sales list...

Lets prop up an industry and keep car prices high, because we have about 7 people who will buy one and then spend the next 5 years on message boards complaining about them...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Samurai_Chris

As for owning a house. then maybe people that have $500,000 mortgages when they cant afford them need to look at their own lifestyle. Not ask for more money because they want a bigger house? Just sayin...

I would like a million dollar house, but have to settle for something a little more modest. I live within my means. And maybe I will get one, one day. However, am I to say that that is not "right" because it is not given to me because "I" feel that I deserve it?

you make some good points and i agree. people want to have it all and live the dream and then think think its unfair they can't afford it. many young people move out of their parents home, and look to start out where their parents are at, forgetting that its taken their parents many years to get to that point.

Originally Posted by Samurai_Chris

So "Niche" they are about 21st on the sales list...

Lets prop up an industry and keep car prices high, because we have about 7 people who will buy one and then spend the next 5 years on message boards complaining about them...

you lost me on this one. the falcon and territory are both in the top 20, which might not seem great, but if you consider there are over 350 models on offer in australia, top 20 isn't as bad as it sounds.

also, have a look around the world at all the other car making nations, and you will notice every one of them gets supported by their respective govt's.

once manufacturing dies in australia, watch the price of cars rise, not fall.

[Samurai_Chris]

Originally Posted by prydey

you lost me on this one. the falcon and territory are both in the top 20, which might not seem great, but if you consider there are over 350 models on offer in australia, top 20 isn't as bad as it sounds.

Hey its all cool.. It was more of a tongue in cheek throw away line.. I just read, or heard somewhere that Falcon was 21st.. Always happy to be set strait if that is the case though, so all good..

Originally Posted by prydey

also, have a look around the world at all the other car making nations, and you will notice every one of them gets supported by their respective govt's.

once manufacturing dies in australia, watch the price of cars rise, not fall.

Actually compared to Australia, I can only comment on the US and Japan. And I have heard the argument that we don't have the population/ hence market. But the fact is, that simply because we are a smaller country. Should we pay any more for the very same product as anyone else? And the answer is no.. I look at Japan. You can buy a Merc, Lexus, BMW ect.. and many people there do. But do they pay a luxury tax, simply because that vehicle is over a certain price, and the Japanese Govt feel's it needs to protect the likes of Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi ?..... ..........Nup!!

Now don't get me started about the government..........