Is it me or are all motor manufacturer's pulling out of the UK?<br>
Labour Government?<br>
Answers on a postcard!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
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1970's revisited?
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dollybird72
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:52 am
Re: ^
Shocking!<br>
<br>
We need more police - not less.<br>
<br>
My boss knows quite a bit about industry. He reckons that due to the skills shortage in this country and our industries packing up, we could be a third world country in 30 years' time. Whereas China (who will have all the skills/knowledge by then) will be supplying the world with most of their goods - cars included.<br>
<br>
Other European countries look after their own interests and we appear to be the only country that doesn't. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> We seem too bothered about 'cheapness' rather than quality.<br>
<br>
Just as in India you get children begging you to have your shoes cleaned etc, that will be our country soon the way things are going. As for immigrants, whilst I am of the belief that we should stop the influx of assylum seekers, to a degree it looks like we need some of them as they are the only ones who will do the really low paid jobs that our unemployed youth are not prepared to get off their backsides' and do.<br>
<br>
Maybe the government should boycott most foreign goods and encourage people to buy British? (Okay, I know British is no longer always best nowadays).<br>
<br>
Speaking of the 70's, does anyone have an original plastic beaker with the colourful spots on them? So iconic of that era - I remember them with fondness.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Susie<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
We need more police - not less.<br>
<br>
My boss knows quite a bit about industry. He reckons that due to the skills shortage in this country and our industries packing up, we could be a third world country in 30 years' time. Whereas China (who will have all the skills/knowledge by then) will be supplying the world with most of their goods - cars included.<br>
<br>
Other European countries look after their own interests and we appear to be the only country that doesn't. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> We seem too bothered about 'cheapness' rather than quality.<br>
<br>
Just as in India you get children begging you to have your shoes cleaned etc, that will be our country soon the way things are going. As for immigrants, whilst I am of the belief that we should stop the influx of assylum seekers, to a degree it looks like we need some of them as they are the only ones who will do the really low paid jobs that our unemployed youth are not prepared to get off their backsides' and do.<br>
<br>
Maybe the government should boycott most foreign goods and encourage people to buy British? (Okay, I know British is no longer always best nowadays).<br>
<br>
Speaking of the 70's, does anyone have an original plastic beaker with the colourful spots on them? So iconic of that era - I remember them with fondness.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Susie<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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SprintMWU773V
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:40 pm
manufacturing
The main reason behind the recent car factory closures is fairly simple.<br>
<br>
Peugeot: They will be stopping production of the 206 soon and Ryton did not get the contract to build the 207. Therefore no need to keep the place open. Sad but PSA do make the 206 in 5 factories around the world and demand for the 206 in Europe is nil and hence no need to make it in the UK for export to China. There is falling demand for Peugeots in Europe and hence no need to build replacement in UK. Too many factories.<br>
<br>
GM: GM is a mess simply. For years it has produced cars that were rubbish. In the US their cars are also rubbish and any yank with any sense buys a Toyota. Falling demand, huge development costs for their crap cars have meant huge losses. Not to mention their healthcare bill. Then they thought "lets buy Fiat". Big mistake, ended up paying to pull out rather than buy it all. Fiat is also hit by big losses and falling sales. They also own Saab but don't know what to do with it so rather than promote the brand to increase sales for years they have sat on their arse doing nothing with it. They now have spare capacity in Sweden so are building Cadillacs there because apparantly that's what Europeans want. When it comes to Elsmere Port simply the Astra is overproduced and has decreasing demand. It's actually one of their better cars not quite beating the MK1 Focus in any area.<br>
<br>
Ford is in similar trouble. Their mainstream product has no brand prestige even though their cars are pretty good. jaguar is also another problem. S-Type seen as too retro, X-Type seen as a Mondeo and XJ and XK have small demand. Land Rover is doing pretty well but how much longer will people want to buy 4x4's.<br>
<br>
Toyota is now the world's biggest and most profitable car firm (£9bn profit) Makes no nonsense cars that never go wrong and has increased it European sales massivly over the last 10 years. Same goes for Honda and Nissan (who buys Almera's though?) The Japanese factories are modern and efficient with excellent staff loyalty. <br>
<br>
Also lets not forget BMW. They make huge numbers of Engines here as well as 250,000 MINIS a year at Oxford, numbers which MG Rover would have only dreamt about. <br>
<br>
Just think the whole problem started in the late 60's with the BMC/BL sagas. <br>
<br>
Lets stop rustproofing cars make them unreliable after about 6 years (like anything French) and then watch as demand for new cars increases!<br>
<br>
As for Police numbers seeing as they failed to come out to me the other week when I was assaulted in a car park and the assaulting individual was still there I see no purpose in them most of the time. It was lunchtime though so perhaps they were busy.<br>
Mark
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Peugeot: They will be stopping production of the 206 soon and Ryton did not get the contract to build the 207. Therefore no need to keep the place open. Sad but PSA do make the 206 in 5 factories around the world and demand for the 206 in Europe is nil and hence no need to make it in the UK for export to China. There is falling demand for Peugeots in Europe and hence no need to build replacement in UK. Too many factories.<br>
<br>
GM: GM is a mess simply. For years it has produced cars that were rubbish. In the US their cars are also rubbish and any yank with any sense buys a Toyota. Falling demand, huge development costs for their crap cars have meant huge losses. Not to mention their healthcare bill. Then they thought "lets buy Fiat". Big mistake, ended up paying to pull out rather than buy it all. Fiat is also hit by big losses and falling sales. They also own Saab but don't know what to do with it so rather than promote the brand to increase sales for years they have sat on their arse doing nothing with it. They now have spare capacity in Sweden so are building Cadillacs there because apparantly that's what Europeans want. When it comes to Elsmere Port simply the Astra is overproduced and has decreasing demand. It's actually one of their better cars not quite beating the MK1 Focus in any area.<br>
<br>
Ford is in similar trouble. Their mainstream product has no brand prestige even though their cars are pretty good. jaguar is also another problem. S-Type seen as too retro, X-Type seen as a Mondeo and XJ and XK have small demand. Land Rover is doing pretty well but how much longer will people want to buy 4x4's.<br>
<br>
Toyota is now the world's biggest and most profitable car firm (£9bn profit) Makes no nonsense cars that never go wrong and has increased it European sales massivly over the last 10 years. Same goes for Honda and Nissan (who buys Almera's though?) The Japanese factories are modern and efficient with excellent staff loyalty. <br>
<br>
Also lets not forget BMW. They make huge numbers of Engines here as well as 250,000 MINIS a year at Oxford, numbers which MG Rover would have only dreamt about. <br>
<br>
Just think the whole problem started in the late 60's with the BMC/BL sagas. <br>
<br>
Lets stop rustproofing cars make them unreliable after about 6 years (like anything French) and then watch as demand for new cars increases!<br>
<br>
As for Police numbers seeing as they failed to come out to me the other week when I was assaulted in a car park and the assaulting individual was still there I see no purpose in them most of the time. It was lunchtime though so perhaps they were busy.<br>
Mark
<p></p><i></i>
Re: manufacturing
Not allowed to 'buy british' anymore; government says because it prevents our 'partners' in the eu operating in the 'common market'<br>
<br>
I used to specify british made building materials where ever possible, now there are two problems; firstly we don't actually make anything here anymore, most of it is imported and distributed or worse still 're-sold' so they can renege on warranty and statutory rights issues and if it is made here the manufacturers aren't allowed to tell me, just if it is of eu origin or not!<br>
<br>
I bought a hotpoint washer 5 years ago because they are (were) the only ones made in UK (Wales). Every one said don't do that, they are crap, get a Bosch instead...german quality! Except most bosch are now made in spain and china (check which side the door hinge is; RHS for genuine german). 5 years on and no warranty it is still as good as they day I bought it.<br>
<br>
You see, the thing is, I design buildings, some for industry. Over my career to date I have designed over 1.5million sq ft of industrial space. One business park was 40 acres, 9 units, 457 000 sq ft. alone. Capable of serving the employment of over 1200 people all but one (smallest) unit went to distribution (big foriegn lorries in, small vans out); total employment when full was about 200. Small manufacturer now closed, unit empty. Too late now, but unless I (we) support home industries they simply will not be able to support us!
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
I used to specify british made building materials where ever possible, now there are two problems; firstly we don't actually make anything here anymore, most of it is imported and distributed or worse still 're-sold' so they can renege on warranty and statutory rights issues and if it is made here the manufacturers aren't allowed to tell me, just if it is of eu origin or not!<br>
<br>
I bought a hotpoint washer 5 years ago because they are (were) the only ones made in UK (Wales). Every one said don't do that, they are crap, get a Bosch instead...german quality! Except most bosch are now made in spain and china (check which side the door hinge is; RHS for genuine german). 5 years on and no warranty it is still as good as they day I bought it.<br>
<br>
You see, the thing is, I design buildings, some for industry. Over my career to date I have designed over 1.5million sq ft of industrial space. One business park was 40 acres, 9 units, 457 000 sq ft. alone. Capable of serving the employment of over 1200 people all but one (smallest) unit went to distribution (big foriegn lorries in, small vans out); total employment when full was about 200. Small manufacturer now closed, unit empty. Too late now, but unless I (we) support home industries they simply will not be able to support us!
<p></p><i></i>
Re: 1970's revisited?
As for Rover, living near Longbridge I have little sympathy with the workers who despite being able to get the products they made at massive reductions they in the majority demonstrably chose to own and drive something else. <br>
<br>
I know of many who took their discounted car every three years merely to sell it on at profit.<br>
<br>
If they don't want their product why on earth should anyone else?
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
I know of many who took their discounted car every three years merely to sell it on at profit.<br>
<br>
If they don't want their product why on earth should anyone else?
<p></p><i></i>
70's
going back to the days when the slogan of the day was buy british and i was in a main dealers for rover (hadn't taken on the leyland bit then) ordered front bearings and bits for the hubs on a range rover got the bits from the stores and ........not one of them was made in g.b australia..... yes but not g.b so things have got a little bit worse since then
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Leeroy ORG 27R
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:53 pm
Re: 70's "Specify"
"Specify", now theres a blast from the past in the construction industry. Must also specify "Equal and Approved". What Is equal, what is approved, depends what the specifier is getting back handed!!!!! We have designed installations (HVAC) to architects, consulting engineers, at our time and cost, and lost orders (knowing our competitors prices and approved to the same standards, also pricing competitively). The industry went full circle. The "old days" you could specify outright, but was the client paying over the odds? (nine times out of ten, yes) Then it became design and build, the consulting engineers were working for the main contractors instead. Didn't give a shit what was installed even when we condemned it, eventuallity, failure, who gives a hoot, twelve months down the line, we're not responsible any more. So was the client, end user, getting a fair deal?? <br>
<br>
Same old story, you get what you pay for I suppose, but in the construction industry..., i think i've just about seen it all.<br>
<br>
Anyway, thats off my chest! Where is this country going, who ever is in power, they're all full of ....., if my grandad, after fighting the war, came back now...maybe i'm too old fashioned
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Same old story, you get what you pay for I suppose, but in the construction industry..., i think i've just about seen it all.<br>
<br>
Anyway, thats off my chest! Where is this country going, who ever is in power, they're all full of ....., if my grandad, after fighting the war, came back now...maybe i'm too old fashioned
<p></p><i></i>
^
That could be the problem.<br>
Maybe Iv'e fought too many wars. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
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Maybe Iv'e fought too many wars. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
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dollybird72
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:52 am
Re: ^
I'm moving to Bhutan - they are the only country where the government puts happiness as a priority when making policies - at the 'expense' of financial gain (if you'll pardon the pun!)<br>
<br>
For instance,they have people directing the traffic but tried a set of traffic lights in one area. The locals became frustrated by the traffic lights and so the government put a human being back in post! Just think if we did that with the car industry - hand finished cars and men doing the work that machines now do. So much for 'progression'.<br>
<br>
They didn't introduce tvs (televisions, not trannies!) until 1999. Maybe someone should warn them?<br>
<br>
Susie <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
For instance,they have people directing the traffic but tried a set of traffic lights in one area. The locals became frustrated by the traffic lights and so the government put a human being back in post! Just think if we did that with the car industry - hand finished cars and men doing the work that machines now do. So much for 'progression'.<br>
<br>
They didn't introduce tvs (televisions, not trannies!) until 1999. Maybe someone should warn them?<br>
<br>
Susie <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
<p></p><i></i>
Re: ^
Try Nepal...I have never seen so many folk with so little chattel or comfort so contented...until you reach the mountain villages that have satellite telly that is!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :| --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/indifferent.gif ALT=":|"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->
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<p></p><i></i>
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Jon Tilson
- Posts: 1311
- Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 8:28 pm
I remember...
a poster from the seventies...<br>
It went...Buy British, don't export your jobs...<br>
<br>
I think I'd apply that to companies...<br>
Because the city economists, who are a bunch of short termists only interested in this years bonus to buy the porsche, create a culture that makes it almost impossible to take a long term view of investment in manufacturing industry, most of our large companies have been taken over by foreigners who have no other proirity than making things as cheaply as possible. They aren't concerned about the national interest at all.<br>
Then we have our politicians, mostly failed lawyers btw who arent good enough at being barristers. Not an industrialist among them. So they make policies that are industrially abandonist and make no long term sense at all, like taking us into the EEC, which has given us nothing but trouble, cheap booze and holidays.<br>
So then we let the Nips come over here and build an assembly shop in a green field site and give them massive state handouts in the form of tax benefits to give jobs to failed miners and ship workers. They all produce reliable but uninspiring rubbish that the public love...The "car is a white good like a fridge" mentality abounds. So most of the interesting cars left are made by Germans...and they have longer memories. So long that they wouldnt sell the Triumph badge...cos they remember how good the Stag and Sprint and TR6 and Spit etc were. Shame we Brits dont...<br>
In the meantime factories that used to make ww2 aircraft that kept our "freedom" are supposed to compete with them. We pay our best designers nothing so they all work for racing car companies cos its at least interesting, or they work for foreign companies. We have very little in the form of management training and appoint incompetent idiots to run what's left. Some of them have made a passible case for being KGB moles, such is the scale of their incompetance...(Michael Edwardes springs immediatley to mind).<br>
<br>
Oh well, if the Spanish buy our airports at least we will get cheap flights to the sun...one way of course.<br>
<br>
Jonners<br>
<p></p><i></i>
It went...Buy British, don't export your jobs...<br>
<br>
I think I'd apply that to companies...<br>
Because the city economists, who are a bunch of short termists only interested in this years bonus to buy the porsche, create a culture that makes it almost impossible to take a long term view of investment in manufacturing industry, most of our large companies have been taken over by foreigners who have no other proirity than making things as cheaply as possible. They aren't concerned about the national interest at all.<br>
Then we have our politicians, mostly failed lawyers btw who arent good enough at being barristers. Not an industrialist among them. So they make policies that are industrially abandonist and make no long term sense at all, like taking us into the EEC, which has given us nothing but trouble, cheap booze and holidays.<br>
So then we let the Nips come over here and build an assembly shop in a green field site and give them massive state handouts in the form of tax benefits to give jobs to failed miners and ship workers. They all produce reliable but uninspiring rubbish that the public love...The "car is a white good like a fridge" mentality abounds. So most of the interesting cars left are made by Germans...and they have longer memories. So long that they wouldnt sell the Triumph badge...cos they remember how good the Stag and Sprint and TR6 and Spit etc were. Shame we Brits dont...<br>
In the meantime factories that used to make ww2 aircraft that kept our "freedom" are supposed to compete with them. We pay our best designers nothing so they all work for racing car companies cos its at least interesting, or they work for foreign companies. We have very little in the form of management training and appoint incompetent idiots to run what's left. Some of them have made a passible case for being KGB moles, such is the scale of their incompetance...(Michael Edwardes springs immediatley to mind).<br>
<br>
Oh well, if the Spanish buy our airports at least we will get cheap flights to the sun...one way of course.<br>
<br>
Jonners<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Re: I remember...
Ever thought about being a politician!? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Al W
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Al W
<p></p><i></i>
Re: I remember...
Unfortunately as incompetent as our politicians and management are I really don't think the blame lies there for the loss of our manufacturing industry. Look at the recent thing with the 800 job cuts (Generally Morons or Pigout, can't rem which). Der management set productivity improvement targets which the workers met and exceeded. It wasn't enough so the cuts are being made anyway, and the unions reaction? Call a strike, further f### productivity and drive an extra nail in those jobs coffin. I'm not saying there shouldn't be unions speaking up for them, they just shouldn't have a militant no nothing twat calling the shots.<br>
<br>
Look at skargill, if maggie had really wanted to kill off the mining industry (I have no opinion on whether she did or didn't) she couldn't have asked for a better ally in her cause.<br>
<br>
I blame the loss of our manufactuing industry on those that voted the idiots in and then followed their dictats. They wanted a lifestyle that just wasn't economically sustainable and believed those that told them they could have it.<br>
<br>
Just my $0.02
<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1980 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>
<br>
Look at skargill, if maggie had really wanted to kill off the mining industry (I have no opinion on whether she did or didn't) she couldn't have asked for a better ally in her cause.<br>
<br>
I blame the loss of our manufactuing industry on those that voted the idiots in and then followed their dictats. They wanted a lifestyle that just wasn't economically sustainable and believed those that told them they could have it.<br>
<br>
Just my $0.02
<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1980 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>
Re: I remember...
Such a shame it's so difficult to read the postings on this pathetic system - I mean black writing on dark blue background !<br>
<br>
I have to highlight the post to read what is written - great shame this is such a cr@p system (the club and the posters deserve better).
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
I have to highlight the post to read what is written - great shame this is such a cr@p system (the club and the posters deserve better).
<p></p><i></i>
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