Commentary: Should the US be like France & Germany?

[chinamonty]

In the last twelve months I have had removal of three skin cancers by day surgery. Three pre-op appointments. Three post op appointments -two for removal of stitches. two GP consultations for check ups (mainly blood pressure) Cost on the day -zero - Medicare levy 1% of wages. I wish our dental worked the same way but at least you can get X-rays done on Medicare. There are advantages and disadvantages but I find Australia's system OK. I know others don't but we all form our opinions from our own experiences.
Ed Arcuri is quite correct - study the systems and pick what suits you but remember one thing. Doctors may want to cure you but drug companies just want you to keep coming back.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by schmallz

RETARD ALERT!

Okay, this is five months late but as this thread became active again, I just saw that this person called me a "retard" (witty devil, is he even old enough to drive?) because someone asked me what I saw as competition to the CTS and I said a Mercedes C Class. (I don't remember how this thread branched off into a CTS discussion.)

CTS and C Class: Entry luxury, similar dimensions, similar price, similar performance. If you do a simple search, you can find quite a few comparisons (such as at Edmunds) between the CTS and C Class, including an article (Autospies) with a title referring to the CTS as possibly a "C Class killer."

I certainly went out on a limb suggesting the CTS/C Class comparison.

Yet to this person, I'm "retarded" for suggesting such a thing.

Yeah, I should just let it go, but it's hard not to respond to something like that, even 5 months later.

[70W30]

Originally Posted by 377Z

Within the context of the auto industry, I think US manufacturers need to raise the perception of American exports first--chronicly misaligned & underfeatured products need not apply. Sorry guys, the CTS is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Then (and only then) all the other stuff above could follow. Its frustrating because I know my countrymen are capable of competing--we do in many other industries but it seems like the folks that have the reigns to the auto industry are beyond clueless.

CTS is just as good as a 5 series. If you don't think it is you have obviously never driven both.

Thing is, Germans will buy the home product while Americans think the import is better.

THAT is the issue.

[377Z]

Originally Posted by 70W30

CTS is just as good as a 5 series. If you don't think it is you have obviously never driven both.

Thing is, Germans will buy the home product while Americans think the import is better.

THAT is the issue.

Sorry, but that's just absurd. There's more to the luxury market than a Nurburgring time. Dealer experience, available features, percieved image, etc etc etc its all been covered ad nauseum here.

My point was there is a perception issue. There are reasons for the perception issue, & the correct way to address it isn't for Cadillac to take its ball & go home (or more accurately, take its ball, move over a bit & start playing a different game).