Why is Chrysler sitting at the free money trough with Ford and GM?

Question 1
Why is Chrysler sitting at the free money trough with Ford and GM?...  Ford and GM are publicly traded companies and their stock is subject to impact average Americans and their retirement plans. I don't agree with a bail out, but I see why they are at the table begging. I can't believe no Senator or Representative in either of these trips to Washington asked Chrysler why they were there also. They are a private firm held by a private company that has plenty of money. If they need money shouldn't they just ask the parent company for it? Are we really going to give a few billion dollars to a hand full of guys that already have a few billion dollars in the bank?

Answers
1)   the bailout was to try to strengthen the auto industry and save or create jobs. and by the way Ford never took 1 cent in bailout money - rkbtoo

2)   This question is too little too late, Chrysler got thier money over a year ago, and Yes, Chrysler is owned by the Germans.
Ditto on Ford. - jeff rager

3)   You have alot of misinformation in here. First Ford was NEVER at the table begging. Only GM and Chrysler. No there was no money availalbe as every maker in the world was hurting last year. A few billion is a few days worth in the automotive world. - Doug W

4)   Yeah, the big 3 have the govt buffaloed.

All 3 are cash strapped. Chrysler is a fairly new company that is privately held and does not have the backing of a huge number of stockholders. Daimler still holds 20% of Chrysler, but Daimler is not interested in putting any more money into the company. Chrysler's intent is to eventually buy out Daimler.

But Ford and GM need Chrysler to keep out of monopolistic charges. For example, if there were only 2, and one of them did not offer a specific product, the other company could claim monopolistic practices and the lawyers would get rich at our expense. Back in the '60s, GM financed Chrysler's greater warranty program in order to keep Chrysler afloat.

If the car makers were smart, they would crank out a high quality model and private lable it to the other car makers. Like Toyota Matrix does for the Pontiac Vibe. Why should each company produce very similar models? All cars are going to look virtually alike because fuel economy dictates a shape that moves through air efficiently. - gladiolus

5)   Nelle, Chrysler was having a hard time like GM when everything crashed in late 2008. Ford never asked for government bailout. None of the 3 major care makers have a parent company to go to. They are the parent company. Chrysler went through this in the late 1970s' and borrowed around 4 and a half billion to try to get back on it's feet. Chrysler did just that within a few years and even paid the money back with interest to Uncle Sam before it was due. I'll bet they do the same this time. GM has already paid theirs back with interest.This is good business for the government and all involved because people can keep their jobs and the trickle down effect from the big auto makers is tremendous. It keeps thousands of people who don't even work for the big 3 employed. The government loans billions of dollars to foreign countries and make lots of money back in interest every year. The government is like a bank, it loans out money and takes it back in payments and interest to other countries. What is wrong in it loaning money to companies here in the states that helps people here? - Jackolantern

6)   The way they ended up with money was to sit around in nice suits and convince other people to let them use their money. It’s called using other People’s Money, or OPM. In that business you never leave any cash on the table. Other People’s Cash. If legislators are dumb enough to stack the thousand dollar bills to the ceiling, no Wall Street type is going to leave a dollar on the table.

And they don’t have that much money either. You see money is *all* they have. Once that is gone the show is over. No more yachts and cigars. And if you publicly blow all your money on a bad investment, the OP are somewhat reluctant to let you manage any more of their M. - unbelied

7)   management of these companies without restrictions who screwed up and, in the case of Bank of America, won't give a loan to that company where the employees are picketing. And all of those bonuses and golden parachutes that are being paid to those executives with our money. Who is protesting against that? Not enough people that I can see. But I do believe this feeling against the Big 3 is a backlash.

The loan (not bailout) is being given to the Big 3 so that our last manufacturing base in this country (thanks to the Bush administration) does not go under. Manufacturing cars has always been a tremendous industry in our country, and in WWII the assembly lines converted to war production and helped us win the war. This is a gift to main street, the hourly guy who breaks his back everyday for maybe $28 per hour (not the $72 talked about). If we allow them to go belly up, there are about 3 millions jobs across the U.S. that will go under because they are small businesses that get their income from the auto industry. You are talking of crippling Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. This will tip us over into a real Depression. This is a lot like locking the barn after the horse has run away. You think things are bad now, just let the Big 3 go under.

I admit that the public is disgusted with the previous bailouts, but the emphasis on punsihing the Big 3 for the others, is unfair. The automobile companies are guilty in the past of riding the gravy train, but so was everyone else, the American public for instance. How much have you charged to credit cards? Can you pay your mortgage? Let's get real.

I come from Michigan and know how much the Big 3 supports the Mid-west. My family is still there and things are so bad now with layoffs that there are a rash of home robberies going on now. People are afraid that if the Big 3 goes down, the state will become a welfare state and crime will become rampant.

But, as I said, this loan affects main street, not corporate executives, and we have enough people floudering because of the home failures, let alone adding a 3 million job loss to the burden that Obama will take over in January.

To put things in perspective, Bush just bought a $2 million house in Dallas where he will reside after his presidency. He gets us in two wars, bankrupts the surplus, in debt to China, and leaves us with a near disaster of an economy. Why isn't anyone angry about that?

It's smart business to save the Big 3, and it's a loan people not a bailout. - counterexample

8)   The automobile industry in America is absolutely huge. I can't tell you why the CEOs decided to ask for a bailout, but I can tell you that we've got to do it. There are way too many possible seriously negative outcomes if we don't bail them out. I understand that we're going to have some hefty governmental oversight of their businesses after the money is received. I'm furious at all the wealth some of the car manufacturer CEOs and higher management have socked away. If they had been saving some of that excess money they wouldn't need a bailout. Mis-management for sure, among other things.

Not to mention disgusting that they showed up for their first go-round at asking for a bailout in private company jets. What nerve! - materiel

9)   From the Wall Street Journal:

Lawmakers last week questioned Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli on Cerberus's commitment to the company. In one exchange with Mr. Nardelli, Sen. Robert Corker (R., Tenn.) criticized the firm. "Cerberus has cash, lots of cash, that it is unwilling to put into this company," Sen. Corker said.

I'm not sure if Senator Corker was the only one to actually ask the question (I was at work, and am relying on media reports), but plenty of others are objecting to Chrysler getting money. In fact, it's bipartisan opposition:

If the Senate fails to pass a measure to aid the industry, the House will not act.

That would be fine with Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton. He opposes providing money to Chrysler, which is owned by Cerberus Capital Management LP.

Admittedly, Rep. Kagen's opposition sounds personal: Another of Cerberus' companies closed paper mills in his district, but refuses to sell the facilities to investors who want to have a go at running them. But he's urged other Members of Congress not to give Chrysler any money at all.

It looks like there are Congresscritters who support giving GM and Ford help that object to giving Chrysler help. Whether they're enough to change the outcome remains to be seen. - since Xiong


____________ powerd by Yahoo!Answers______________

Question 2
Should I buy an '07 Chrysler 300 that has 107,000 miles?...  I can get it for about 10K, but I wonder how Chryslers are after they hit 100,000 miles, are they still reliable?

Answers
1)   I wouldn't buy any three year old car with 100,000 miles. You're just asking for trouble!


.. - cyclone1164

2)   Yea 100k in 3 years is a lot of driving, the engine could experience problems soon - Marc

3)   No, it's asking for trouble. - Van Bo

4)   Never buy a Chrysler. and in this case. No way. - identity

5)   Chryslers are awesome cars but if they've put over 100,000 miles on it in 3 years then you're bound to experience some problems soon. Most likely they've just been running it into the ground. Don't do it, especially for 10k. you can get something a lot nicer - Amburrrrr

6)   It may need some normal maintanance soon, but I'll bet the engine is just fine. If a 3.5, I'd put a timing belt and water pump in it and go. All my mopars have 100k when I get them, but I get them for way less than 10 grand. - done wrenching


____________ powerd by Yahoo!Answers______________

Question 3
I have a 1997 chrysler van and it keeps running after I turn it off?...  Like, it sounds like the fan is still running. My husband and I are both not car savvy.. any ideas? Thanks!
Yes, but it was running for like 30+ minutes. We drove home, and it was making the same noise.
We removed the relay, the fan shut off and then replaced it.. turned the van on/off and it stayed off. Whew!

Answers
1)   it the starter, the place you put the ket i messed up, you need to go get it fixed.


answer mine please

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100904000220AApZSvI - Me

2)   i believe the car the hunted. there is no fix. you could try to perform a exorcism on the car. that's all i can think of - Bill

3)   Thats probably normal for a few minutes for the fan to keep running. If it stays on, somethings wrong. - John

4)   ignition broken - Tech-Guy_81

5)   Likely the fan is supposed to run after the car has been shut off. - TardisAndTheHare


____________ powerd by Yahoo!Answers______________

Question 4
Chrysler 300 wont switch gears?...  I drove my 2005 Chrysler 300 to a friends house and when I was trying to leave I couldnt get it off of parking, I've tried everything and I cant find the problem. It wont go into Drive, Reverse, Neutral, anything, it'll only stay in park. Any ideas as to how I could get it to work? I've never had any previous problems with it

Answers
1)   Make sure your foot is on the brake.

Also make sure the battery isn't dead. - This Guys Sez

2)   Your shifter has broken. You can override the safety lock by removing the small square plastic button on the shifter, place a screwdriver (or pencil or pen) into the hole to press down on the release lever. Turn the key to the on position, place your foot on the brake, and move the shifter to neutral. Start the engine and drive away. Good luck. - C-Tech

3)   your tranny could be out, take it to a mechanic professional for friend if you have one who u can trust. - winchelleldonut

4)   Is the stick gear sticking.
is your e-brake on?
if its nothing of them then take it to a machinc - Jacob B


____________ powerd by Yahoo!Answers______________

Question 5
Names for a PT Cruiser?...  My friends have suggested i give my car a name. Any ideas?

Answers
1)   the PT loser? - corwin

2)   Frank beard or maybe Legs. Depends on the colour and whether or not you think it is the best. - Michael Collins

3)   PT Crusher - Brian and Nellanna


____________ powerd by Yahoo!Answers______________