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- Uparmoring Car
Deals - Do-It-Yourself Troop Support
Tell
Car Makers To Make Cleaner-Air Vehicles
- Tell
Ford Motors Company to Get it's Gas in Gear
Legislative
Alerts:
- Action
Alert... Stay tuned and keep your senators and representatives
updated on your concerns - One Term George (the Great Unconservative)
is at the helm.
- (January 2003
- 2005) Chrysler
Motors (Daimler-Chrysler) is reportedly working to water down air quality
standards in California. You may wish to drop the President and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this campany and tell Chrysler
what you think of auto companies working to pollute our air.
Ask Chrysler if it has studies that suggest that asthmatics pay
more for higher polluting vehjicles. People doo doo? Address
your letters to: President/CEO, Daimler-Chrysler, 1000 Chrysler Drive,
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766 USA.
-
- (October 2002)
The reactionary President Bush and the automobile industry want you and your
loved ones to breath more polluted air. They have joined in a
lawsuit to undo recently democratically enacted California standards
for automobile emmissions. You may wish to let President Bush
and the Automobile Manufacturers know how your feel about their
plan for the health of the air you breathe. Just go -- walk on
over to their websites and give them your impression of foul
air.
- (January -
February 2002) Our
federal government senators and representatives are considering requiring auto manufacturers
to tighten their controls over labeling of "totaled"
or "salvaged" vehicles which often they put back on
the market to the peril of future consumers and other users of
our highways who may become victims of faulty vehicles. It wouldn't
hurt for you to let your representatives and senators know how
you feel about the resale of lemons, salvated or totaled vehicles
that may pose a health and safety risk to their subsequent owners
and the rest of the driving public. Just do it!
Senator
Trent Lott (R-Tenn)
thinks
that the auto industry should be able to resell unsafe automobiles
without notice to prospective consumers. Legislation pending
during the latest term would have required auto dealers to repair
unsafe vehicles or remove them from sale. However, Senator Lott
thinks your safety and the safety of others on our roads are
not matters of public concern and that the auto industry should
be able to sell unsafe cars without government "interference."
What do you think? Have you let Mr. Lott know how you feel about
his position on auto consumer protection and public safety?
Action Alert:
Received
from Consumers
for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) July 8, 1998: California Consumers...
The tobacco and auto industries are trying to scuttle California
legislation which would require auto makers to disclose defects
of vehicles it buys back (buybacks) from consumers under the
CA Lemon Law. Currently several auto manufacturers require consumers
from whom they repurchase or buy back vehicles from to sign "gag
orders," which prohibit the customers from disclosing the
defects of the vehicle for which the dealer buys back the vehicle.
Apparently the tobacco industry does not want to disclose the
safety factors associated with tobacco and smoking, too... surprise,
surprise.
The California
State Assembly passed
AB-2410, which would prevent auto manufacturers and other industries
from gagging consumers about product defects... and it is on
its way to anti-consumer Governor Peter Wilson. Call him at 916-445-2841
(then dial 1) and leave your message supporting his signing of
this important free speech and consumer and public safety law.
Governor Wilson's mailing address is: Honorable Governor Wilsion,
State of California, The Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814... let
him know you care about safety and that you want to know the
truth about product safety and defects in the marketplace. Manufactuers
have resold vehicles buy backs with serious safety defects, posing
potential hazards to the new owner and other drivers on the highways.
Gag-orders are safety hazards to consumers. Don't let Pete Wilson
permit the auto industry to sell defective products without properly
disclosing those defects to prospective consumers.
Consumer
Action
(San Francisco Bay Area) is investigating Wells Fargo Bank, Bank
of the West, Imperial Bank or Mechanic's Bank of Richmond for
irregularities in repossessing automobiles. If you had your car
repossessed, sold and still owed the mank a lot of money, you
may wish to contact Consumer Actioin at (415) 777-9635. The above
banks may have omitted notifying borrowers about repossession
and public auction sales which is required by law. If so, loan
consumers may be entitled to reimbursement of charges. Contact
Consumer Action-Repro, 717 Market St., Suite 310, San Francisco,
CA 94103. (Source: Consumer Action News)
(May 14, 1997)
Consumers
for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) has issued an Urgent Auto Lemon Alert: Reporting that California
Governor Pete Wilson has received $300,000 in campaign funds
from the auto industry and has vetoed efforts to strengthen SB289,
the California Legislation to make the auto industry eat its
own lemons. CARS is recommending everyone interested in protecting
their friends and families from the auto industry's stepped up
lobbying efforts to scuttle SB 289, to write a letter to:
Governor Pete
Wilsion
(1999 - Governor Gray Davis, Dem)
California
State Capital
Sacramento,
CA 95814
... letting
him know you want unsafe vehicles repurchased by the manufacturer
and removed from the marketplace for the public's health and
safety. Also, forward copies of your letters to:
CARS
1500 West
El Camino
Suiye 333
Sacramento,
CA95833
Those who
are working against SB 289 and to weaken California's Lemon Law (already
very dilute) include: Ford, General Motors, American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (Chrysler, Ford, GM), Association of
International Automobile Manufacturers Association (BMW, Fiat,
Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan,
Porsche, Rolls Royce, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo)
-- all fine lemon producers apparently hoping to branch out into
and cash in on citrus produce futures. Make sure these manufacturers
also hear how much you appreciate them using their "record
profits" and inflated prices to fight reasonable consumer
protection and industry integrity enhancing laws.
-
- "WHATEVER auto deal TRAFFIC ALLOWS:" (Whatever the market will bear -- whatever you
will put up with / and for how long?)
General
Motors
was
recently approved by court decree to use federal racketeering
(RICO) statutes against Volkswagen for allegedly stealing trade
secrets when VW lured Jose Lopez, the auto industry purchasing
guru, away from General Motors in 1993.
Unfortunately
federal racketeering statutes are
not available to consumers when dealers and manufacturers
employ unfair, manipulative and fraudulent sales and service
practices in tricking consumers out of billions of dollars in
inflated profits every year across America. These practices,
when covered at all are usually covered by weaker civil or administrative
laws, rather than the more serious criminal and racketeering
statutes. This places motor vehicle manufacturing corporations
at greater advantage in the marketplace and assures that unfair,
manipulative and fraudulent auto sales and service practices
will continue unchecked at current or accelerated levels absent
the threat of forfeiture of assets upon conviction.
General
Motors
won
an out of court settlement (reported January 12, 1997) against
VW to settle the "Lopez" corporate espionage charges.
VW's to pay $100 million in cash, and to buy over a billion dollars
worth of VW parts over 7 years from General Motors. General Motors
parts in a German Car? Scheesh! Paying too much for VW's will
help VW pay off General Motors. CARveat Emptor. VW lemon juice
with a GM twist? Could be very bitter.
Moral
to the story:
He who has RICO statutes in his favor gets the best deals in
town. Great leverage.
- US Representative
LaFalce, D-NY is
sponsoring an auto lease rate disclosure bill to protect consumers
from auto lease rip-offs which net dealers 3% to 10% or more
than MSRP (window sticker {sucker} price). Loan agents are required
to disclose the rate of interest. Isn't it nice that several
years after consumers have been taken for the Great American
Car Lease Deal Ride that your government may now take some corrective
action. Let Rep. LaFalce know how you feel about paying too much
for auto leases. Consider telling Rep. LaFalce that a comprehensive
FAIR
CAR SALES AND SERVICE PRACTICES ACT is necessary to protect our families from the
traditions of sham in auto sales and service.
- In regards
to the above Alert:
Your
government recently granted the auto industry a one year reprieve
to continue shafting consumers on auto lease deals until October
1977, when its new rules on lease deal disclosures go into effect.
And do not expect the dealer to disclose the APR or lease interest
rate. You will have to demand this as a condition of your business
or lease without knowing how much the lease interest rate is
for auto lease deals. Good deal, eh? Again, your government works
for the industry and shafts the consumer, you're paying for this!)
And it will continue to do so until enough consumers demand
better treatment and better representation and marketplace protections.
- Consumer
protection
from
sham or rummy auto sales and service practitioners is good for
business, our economy and for individual, family and village
values.
- California
State Senator Calderon is sponsoring legislation to strengthen California's
lemon law which is basically written to favor the industry over
consumers. Let Sen. Calderon know how you feel about being ripped
off on lemon deals. Beware car dealers and manufacturers who
diversify into sour citrus produce futures.
- Check with
your local, state and national governments periodically for updates
on consumer related issues and make sure your government representatives
know how you feel about the institutionalized sham factors in
the Great American Car Deal.
Governor
Pete Wilson's Administration
in California has requested that a recommended wrist-slap of
a penalty against Chrysler be softened. After laundering hundreds
of lemons in New York, Chrysler liked the results so well it
repeated this trick in California, where it was also caught.
Now, the Governor, who claims to be tough on crime, does not
have the heart to permit Chrysler to be punished for cheating
consumers in California. Let the Governor know how you feel about
Chrysler being permitted to launder lemons in California with
impunity. Apparently the Governor believes that going soft on
the auto industry will improve its performance and treatment
of consumers. Chrysler was caught disconnecting odometers on
vehicles its "executives" used for personal use before
the vehicles were sold. Chryslers family values and customer
service apparently also includes rear deck latches on its popular
Caravans that pop open during side and rear collisions, ejecting
small occupants and objects that are not strapped down.
Update
on the Above:
Interestingly,
the California DMV reduced the profit forfeiture period for Chrysler
from 60 days to 45 days. Chrysler plans an appeal, apparently
believing that laundering lemons (which it denies) is a value-added
customer service. Chrysler dealers are worried that they will
be without cars for 45 days, but it is likely that Chrysler can
speed up shipments to dealers and saturate the marketplace since
the 45 day suspension does not go into effect for 40 days, if
ever.
- Tell Pete
how you feel about laundered lemons, some so defective that brakes and
other safety features could not be repaired even after several
attempts, yet were sold to 2nd buyers without disclosures of
the defects. Perhaps this is Chrysler's commitment to customer
service? Have you been serviced by Chrysler lately?
- Consumers
may choose to consider avoiding Chrysler
products in deference to consumer values given Chryslers apparent
anti-consumer demeanor. Had lemon laws been elevated from civil
or administrative law violations to federal and state criminal
law status, Chrysler may have been prosecuted under the RICO
(anti-racketeering) statutes, which in the case of drug dealers
permits the forfeiture and sale of assets, since Chrysler was
also charged and paid fines in New York and Pennsylvania for
similarly reselling lemon Chryslers without disclosing the prior
use and service problems of the vehicles to subsequent consumers.
- As reported
on Channel 7
(ABC) September 5, 1997 (San Francisco, CA): The California Motor
Car Dealers Association blamed Chrysler for Laundering Lemons
in California. Oops, jumping the clutch
before the California New Motor Vehicle Board reversed the DMV's
recent decision to revoke Chrysler's Drive Shaft License in California
for 45 days. The DMV has an opportunity to revisit the case and
sustain it through the Superior Court or offer another penalty,
or let Chrysler and its offending dealers off for abusing its
marketplace privilidges. This memo is rather incriminating...
even though the dealers seem to be trying to protect themselves
by blaming Chrysler for not settling the case before dealers
stood a chance to lose approximately $60,000 each for the 45
day suspension. DMV could merely permit the sale of Chrylser
vehicles while confiscating all proceeds to Chrysler and its
offending dealers as a proper punishment, while protecting those
Chrysler dealers which were not charged with laundering lemons.
(January, 1998)
-- A
judge in recently reported case gave
the Cal DMV a greenlight to proceed with its case against Chrysler
over its lemon launderings. Chrylser cried that DMV should
have to go back to the California New Motor Vehicle Board for
an alternative "proposal" before proceeding to court
to enforce its laws. So, it ain't over till its over...
- Late Breaking
News:
(October
2, 1996)
SIS
-- The Women's Consumer Foundation (Used to be at www.sis.org, now apparently
defunct or moved) reported that a Class Action suit was filed
in New York against General Motors for bad brakes on some of
its 1991- 199 [?] makes/models...check it out...plan ahead, and
test those brakes folks...OK it goes but will it STOP when you
want it too? Another good reason not to pay too much for your
next new GM or other car deal, lease, or lease/deal? Praise the
Lord and pass auto consumer protection laws...
- General
Motors was
under an employee strike in Canada and now in the US. It has
been reported that this effected US production and parts supplies.
It may be wise to consider being extra careful in purchasing
GM vehicles while the strike continues and for a reasonable period
of time after the strike is settled and potential problems with
supplies and productions have cleared the conveyor-belt, er.,
assembly line...? Caution, turn on your headlights ahead!
- Finally,
after
a year or more of reports about the safety hazards of air-bags,
the "big three" are warning car owners of the potential
hazards of air-bags and injuries to children. It took awhile,
but Detroit finally decided that it could acknowledge safety
related problems with its air-bags. Learn as much as you can
about the air-bag in your vehicle and take any necessary measures
to protect your small children from injuries from air-bags. Let
your friends, family and neighbors know about the potential hazards
of air-bags on children.
The
general rule of thumb is
to not haul young children in the front seat, especially so if
the vehicle is fitted with a passenger side air bag. If children
are secured in an approved safety seat on the rear seat there
may be little need to have the passenger side air bag disconnected.
Assess your individual circumstances, and review the situation
with your dealer or mechanic and take measures tailored to your
personal and family safety needs. Keep in mind that automobiles
are not safe products, regardless of what representations are
made by the dealer or manufacturer. Forty to fifty thousand or
more Americans are killed every year in automobiles or automobile
related accidents in the US alone. -- CARnage worldwide is far
more. Its statistically safer to fly than to drive an automobile.
Demand Merely
Fairness:
If you have
not demanded and obtained
FAIR CAR SALES AND SERVICE PRACTICES
legislation to protect consumers from sham
in auto sales and service practices, you
may be part of the car deal problem.
Put the auto industry
on your Legislative Alert list
And Don't Exit
Until Y'our Government Helps You Drive It Home!
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- AutoBuyology
 ©
AutoBuyology©
CARveat
Emptor - CAR BUYER BEWARE
Tricks of the Great American Car Deal,
© Copyright 1995-2005, R. Rand Knox. All Rights Reserved.
(AutoBuyologist)
Not for use, reuse, sale, resale, or fee , in whole or part,
w
without written release or license from R. Rand Knox.
Safe Car Deal Sex © Copyright June 1996-2004, R. Rand Knox,
CARveat Emptor, All Rights Reserved.
Happy wheeling and dealing,
-- virtually and really...
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What's
In You?
What's
In Your
Cells?
 GOT ASTHMA? Yet?
GOT WAR FOR OIL?
GOT TOXIC LOADING?
GOT GLOBAL WARMING?
GOT EXPENSIVE FOSSIL FUELS?
Have you told your auto maker, or the
auto industry to make more efficient and cleaner-air vehicles?
Recently?
(Flyer
to copy and post). Have you asked others if they have? It wouldn;t
kill you to do so! It may even help prevent or reduce asthma
and global warming.
For Healthier
Air, Planet, & People: To Save Y'our Breath, Lives, Money
& Planet...
Tell Car Makers To Make
Cleaner-Air Vehicles
1
Jump Start Ford For A Cleaner-air Future
2 Jump Start Ford
Tell
NHTSA to Improve Fuel Efficiency of SUVs
Tell
Car Makers To Get Their Gas In Gear Flyer 2-up
Save Your Breath, Life, Money
& Planet Flyer 1-up
Don't
Be A Fossil Fool - Fossil Fools Day
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