Tuesday 7 February 2012

Clint: “Keep buying our shitty cars” [update 2]

Shitycars

Americans stopped buying American cars several years ago. Mostly because they were rubbish.

That didn’t bother American car makers. They kept making the shitty cars anyway and just went cap in hand to the government for a bailout.

"We shouldn't be bailing out the banks and car companies," actor, director and Academy Award winner Eastwood told the Los Angeles Times in November 2011.

That was November 2011. Now, however, in February 2012? He’s delivered an ad for half-time at the US Superbowl over the weekend about job growth, about “the spirit of America,” and how Americans should join together again and buy American cars.

Carefully, however, they show very little of the American cars they want Americans to buy.

Because they’re still shitty.

And the only “roar” is the roar of bullshit, and the sucking sound of money disappearing down a black hole.

UPDATE 1: Speaking of shitty cars … it’s half-time in the Lincoln Tunnel.

UPDATE 2: Here’s how a halftime ad by Clint Eastwood should have sounded …

[Hat tip Small Dead Animals]

2 comments:

Kelly Valenzuela said...

As an American, I have a mixed emotional response to that ad. On the one hand, the government bail-outs and endless regulations have caused this country's mess (and the huge mess in Detroit), but on the other hand, America is still very strong and we still have the opportunity to put the past behind us and move on. (I have my doubts as to whether that will be done, but it certainly *can* be done, and I liked that hopeful message.)

I did want to comment about your saying that all American cars are shitty. That simply has not been my experience.

I currently own two Fords. One is a 6.5 year old Explorer with about 130k miles on it. It runs great, it looks great and it has never required anything other than routine maintenance. It's driven us across the country and back several times and I still love the car the same as the day I drove it off the lot.

This past summer, we purchased a Ford Edge with a new dashboard computer system. The radio, climate controls and some other interesting features are all controlled via touch screen. It has a few kinks in it (as any new technology does) and Ford is sending out computer updates via thumb drive to correct that (how cool is that?), but the car runs great and gets very high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (as did the Explorer.)

My parents have owned Ford F150s (pick up trucks) and other Ford models with no issues other than routine maintenance. (My brother works for a Ford dealership, so my extended family has taken advantage of his employee discount to purchase our vehicles the past 15 years or so.)

My brother's family also owns a Jeep Cherokee and they love it and report a wonderful ownership and driving experience.

I cannot comment on the other Chrysler brands, such as Dodge, or GM because I do not know anyone who owns them first-hand.

Admittedly, there are many wonderful car brands out there, many of which are now made here in the United States, and there are a great many things American car manufacturers can be criticized for. I just don't think quality is necessarily one of them.

Peter Cresswell said...

Hi Kelly,

Yes, but those are (mostly) Fords,who didn't take bailout cash, not the products of Government Motors.

In that context, wasn't it great to see Ford come in 1, 2 and 3 in the recent 24-hour Daytona race.

Yes, America is still very strong, but (as I know you're aware) your government is bankrupting you while strangling your industry--including your motor industry--much the same way as the British government did a few decades before you. (I'm lucky to have one of the products of the British motor industry from 1967, just before it finally succumbed to the trade unions, and government regulations, dictation and theft--a history that Detroit's various Government Motors organisations still have to recognise is becoming their own.)

Your government has given America far more than just the one punch. And it's odd seeing Clint wanting to pretend otherwise, don't you think?