Comments on: BMWNA & MINI USA to Reduce Staff & Sales

By: alpinamike

alpinamike — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:47:50 +0000

Hope they keep the good ones!

By: mike

mike — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:29:51 +0000

It is hard to have a discussion around the economy and the environment without it being so.

It's also hard to talk about anything automotive without the economy and/or environment.

By: GregW

GregW — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:03:31 +0000

BMW are cutting back on staff worldwide so its not just a USA thing and nothing to do with your current Wall Street crisis. Loyal employees are treated as job card numbers now and disposable resource.

By: lavardera

lavardera — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:50:45 +0000

Sales patterns of cars are influenced by the economy. The design of cars is influenced by the environment. You can't talk around these without touching on politics. Whether or not that develops into a divisive discussion is up to all of us.

But Greg, you have to accept that you raised the bar in your comment. I don't know what you consider insidious creep, but I only responded in kind to your remarks which I considered very direct.

The fact that the economy is bad right now is not disputable. The fact the auto industry is compelled to design cars to respond to environmental concerns again is not disputable. If those facts confront beliefs of your world view, then its your problem. You can't treat a discussion of them as an "insidious creep".

By: greg

greg — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:11:00 +0000

I agree with "also Greg". And have stated many times on this forum that these issues should be left off the site. Yet they continue to appear drawing posts that demand equal time. I'm all for a truce as long as economy and enviroment remains absent from MF.

It's the insidious way these topics creep in here that sets me off. There are other outlets for that. I come here to read about my car. I have never launched the initial volley and would be happy not having to respond in kind again.

By: lavardera

lavardera — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:38:44 +0000

It is hard to have a discussion around the economy and the environment without it being so.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:20:43 +0000

Thanks Gabe for nipping that one, politics really shouldn’t be point of discussion here.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:14:38 +0000

Consider this a first and last warning on the political manifestos.

By: Ontheroadagain

Ontheroadagain — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:31:23 +0000

“November will be interesting. Integrity vs slickness, heroism vs epidermis.” Wow, so is Motoringfile now a political blog, too?

By: greg

greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:09:31 +0000

Ah, I see now also Greg aka lavardera. Nice to see you connected the dots. I was expecting more outrage but then most of those responsible can't remember anything longer than a slogan on a bumper sticker.

November will be interesting. Integrity vs slickness, heroism vs epidermis.

By: greg

greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:03:18 +0000

Interesting that Mini does promote their vehicles as much and as creatively as they do when they would fly off the lot anyway without the expenditure. I'm not sure why they even need a sales staff (affectionately know as Motoring Advisors) when a order taking machine at each location may do similar to the dvd rental vending machine located outside of where my local video store used to be.

They probably could sell strickly on line without showrooms as well. I personally enjoy the human aspect and the accompaning service. But like the machines we all deal with when calling most institutions now it could be the future.

By: lavardera

lavardera — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:59:40 +0000

No greg – I’m a greg also, and C4 was addressing me. As for Nov06 congress went from Repub majority to Dem majority. And if you think thats responsible for higher gas prices, unemployment, and trouble in the market then I hope you enjoy this nov even more.

By: greg

greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:55:53 +0000

Thank you Brad. You are 100% correct. We can choose not to participate in current woe but to work harder.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:27:07 +0000

Terrible economic times folks. The worst is yet to come.

So's the best.

By: eto

eto — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:56:45 +0000

MINI’s hedge fund will be gone soon and the cost of the Euro will skyrocket the price of a MINI soon thereafter.

When is this supposed to happen? Last I heard, it was going to go into affect with the 2009 models. We saw an increase of $750 per car, but DSC became standard.

By: greg

greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:38:07 +0000

C4, are you addressing me? I haven't participated here....yet.

Times are not as bad as it would seem folks. Don't belive everything you hear on the news. They start their share of the anxiety.

Funny how unemployment went up shortly after minimum wage went up.....er, duh.

Two years ago gas was $2.19 a gallon. Unemployment was under 4%. The stock market was booming. GNP grew every quarter.

And then what happened.......do I really have to remind everyone what happened November of 2006?

Don't like it? Look in the mirror for the problem. Don't get it? Then I fear for the rest of us come November 2008.

I'm out. Whine away everyone.

By: Ross Dillon

Ross Dillon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:23:19 +0000

Don’t forget, MINI’s hedge fund will be gone soon and the cost of the Euro will skyrocket the price of a MINI soon thereafter.

By: Paul Autry

Paul Autry — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:05:48 +0000

I’m wondering about the South Carolina plant…all those X3, x5, x6…who are going to buy them? I can’t believe they will be at full production there unless Europe can use them. Of course they can be made here cheaper than Europe.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:12:52 +0000

Sad to see this, yet rather see them do this than risk their entire business. First and foremost my well wishes and best of luck to any of the employee's being let go.

Times are getting tougher no doubt, yet I have to say all the doom and gloom that the media portrays everyday is a little more dramatic than factual. Have no doubt that we better get busy working on the issues before things get ugly.

Maybe I am a oddball here but my family is actually doing pretty good these days. Not doing anything much different than I did many years ago. I know a lot of people are in nastier places but a great many of these are pretty responsible for the situation they find themselves in though.

By: lavardera

lavardera — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:58:35 +0000

Well florida where you are, more so than elsewhere. Texas is positively rosy due to oil prices. Not that there is any great news on the horizon, but most of the chips have fallen now and there’s not a single independent securities house standing. So what else may fold? What’s left.