BS: Chinese MGs

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Stu
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 03:52 AM

The Tibetans must be laughing all the way to the forced labour camp.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: The PA
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 03:32 AM

Georgiansilver - Just to set the record straight

They have NOT bought the whole factory lock, stock and barrel and reconstructed it in China. After they took what they wanted, much as BMW did, the whole site was handled by the accountants, auditors etc who handed it on to St Modwen property developers.

They did strip out certain areas of machinery, doing major damage in the process rendering it almost useless. (They did not see the necessity to disconnect equipment rather than just rip it out of the ground!)

The workforce which went back to China with the equipment was the workforce which came over to 'take away' the equipment. As I said my husband worked there for almost 40years and we do not know anyone who's gone over to help them.

They did not need our workforce to show them how to build cars - they've been building their own and assembling others, for years.

A large part of the assembly area is still at Longbridge, and a small workforce of, I think, 600 will be assembling Rover's from kits imported from China, starting in May, this year.

The rest of the factory, including the printing works which was the original profession of 'Mr Austin' before he turned to cars 102 years ago has now been completely flattened and and is in the process of being redeveloped, offices etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Gurney
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 01:05 AM

I was working at Jaguar when Japanese engineers visited car factories to see how we made cars, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In India, they make a very old model Morris, and an old model Royal Enfield motorbike. Russian Ladas were originally Fiats.

The last of the English MGs were reputed to be very good sports cars, maybe someone here could tell us.

Japanese firms are now outsourcing like mad, my Makita tools are mostly made in China.

I just bought a Chinese outboard motor, for 4000 reasons. It is supposed to be an old-model Yamaha. I can remember when Yamahas were supposed to be ripped-off Evinrudes!

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:13 PM

"Try asking the manufactures why they produce trash."

Vance Packard wrote books about that decades ago... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 07:09 PM

I've owned non American vechiles for a while now. And why shouldn't I? My Pruis gets 50mpg on the avg, my last few Toyota's were great on gas, lasted without problems. My American vechiles got piss poor mileage, always needed repairs & couldn't hold up long enough to out last the paymens.
When the US makes a product that is better then I while buy it.

Try asking the manufactures why they produce trash.
Granted we do build some good products but motor vechiles is not one of them.

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:59 PM

Mind you, the basic cultural disjuncture may be more fundamental - maybe they thought they were buying M(i)Gs!

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:57 PM

I saw a TV news clip of the launch a few days ago. The razzamatazz included a group of Chinese ladies doing what looked like a Riverdance impression. As the (Irish) music reached its climax, they whipped off their dancing costumes - to reveal some rather stern black underwear which left most things to the imagination! I reckon the Chieftains have a lot to answer for....

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:52 PM

I predict that, in my lifetime, (I am 60 this year, )there will be a major, possibly global, conflict involving ,amongst others, the USA and China. We need not concern ourselves with the causal factors of such a catastrophe, but simply the inevitability of it. As usual, the economy of the USA will benefit greatly from this arrangement,millions of people will die, and China will reap the rewards of the totally insane program of unchecked growth upon which it has embarked with such obscene abandon.And the balance will be restored .So don"t worry ( and don"t move to China ).

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:51 PM

What's your opinion on Italian, Spanish, Korean and Japanese guitars Richard ... on second thought forget I asked.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:48 PM

Chinese guitars range from dogshit to barely tolerable. The best are English (one or two Scottish, no Welsh that I know of) and American, and Canadian high-end, there are some pretty good Australian and German and Austrian but the not-so-high end Canadian do not cut it.

IMHO

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 03:35 PM

Dew Ling Ban Jo's.
Do you want fried rice with that?

G.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 03:05 PM

5 strings.

"Chinese music always sets me free
Angular banjoes
Sound good to me"

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:50 PM

"Peking duck"

Six or twelve-string?

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:41 PM

Chinese guitars are good, in fact they are putting out some pretty damned good sounding, quality guitars ... in fact I own one, a Blueridge.

I don't hink I will ever acquire a taste for Peking duck though.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,Number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:36 PM

"US President Bill Clinton on Tuesday hailed the Senate passage of a bill on permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China, saying the "landmark" trade agreement will strengthen US prosperity and promote economic freedom.

The agreement will also increase "the prospects for openness in China and a more peaceful future for all of us," said Clinton in a statement.

The US Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill by a vote of 83-15 Tuesday afternoon."

from the People's Daily Wednesday, September 20, 2000.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:36 PM

Chinese guitars are wonderful.

In his way - so was Bill Clinton.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,Number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:32 PM

Now your talking Giok ... the Yanks have Bill Clinton to blame with their Chinese demise.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:29 PM

Well my US friends, you're having done to you by the Chinese what we in the UK have had done to us by the Common Market [EU] Only difference is we volunteered to join, queued up in fact. Even put up with insults from an ungrateful President Charles de Gaulle, whom we sheltered and succoured during world WW2. All this so we could join an economic [allegedly] union which has killed most of our heavy industries, and is at present just finishing the decimation of our fishing fleets.
They used to say what happens in America happens here within the next 2 years. Well in this instance the boot is on the other foot, so watch this space, and learn what it will be like to have a nation of people employed either in Government jobs, or in the service sector. That's because we hardly make anything in this country any more, except stupid laws to promote the anti discrimination, and equality industry, which also provides endless work for thousands of do-gooders.

Don't get me started !!

Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:11 PM

Since Americans are losing their well paying jobs lost to the Chinese and they are now finding employment that pays less (working at Wal-Mart, the hospitality industry etc.) .... well, this Chinese made Saturns provides the new class of proletariate workers in the U.S. with affordable transportation. Next it will be Chinese cheap pre-fab housing destined to the U.S. market place.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:59 PM

next year the Chinese will be able to market their Saturn like car
for $3500 US -
wonder what thats going to do for the US economy.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:56 PM

Copy an American Corvair?

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:54 PM

Greg, I'm glad you hit the salient point right in the first message: How are they going to get it to leak oil properly?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,Number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:46 PM

How are you going to stop them. The power of $profit$ has a lot more clout than us posting on forums, sending letter of protest to our local elected government representatives.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:39 PM

Try stopping American and British firms from outsourcing their manufacturing operations to low wage countries. Along with their telephone help desks, etc etc.
G

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:35 PM

I know ... the whole thing is disturbing .... but what is the solution ... what can we do to remedy all this?

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:15 PM

They bought the whole factory...lock, stock and barrel and reconstructed it in China. Many of the foremen/supervisors went over with it and are showing/have shown them exactly what to do so they are reproducing the car exactly as it was......the benefit.....the workers in China get paid £5 per day............

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:55 AM

"North Americans are being put out of work"

But the thirst for cheap products fuels the corporations to take advantage of this demand and go hell bent for fury in acheiving high profits.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:48 AM

Well PA, you may as well ask why people marry other people's ex spouses when they could go out and get an original model!
Giok ¦¬]

[It's a wee joke, for those who are thin skinned!]

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: The PA
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:42 AM

Dont get me started, my husband worked at Lonbridge for 37 years. Only the people who worked there know what it was really like and what really went on, all the rest is just speculation, rumour, and 'red top' headlines slagin off the british workforce.

As for 'making a better job of it'
If thats so, then why didnt they make their own years ago?
Why did they wait to have british machinery, designs etc.
They never had a original idea in their lives, well maybe chopsticks, and what bloody use are those.

Look, I said dont get me started !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Greg B
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:41 AM

I'll tell you what, Cyril Manly's vote for the E-Type aside,
my little MGB (with above Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, &c.) wasn't
a bad 'crumpet collector' either.

Chinese MG's.

What's next?

A royal family from Germany? What's that you say? Oh,
never mind, then.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:37 AM

North Americans are being put out of work.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:34 AM

Ahhhhhh.....

The summer of 1970 - I was living on the west coast of Florida at the time. I had a girlfriend with a convertable black MGB and an 8 track player full of Jetro Tull, Santana and Pink Floyd. Gas and everything else was cheap then. Life was good.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Greg B
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:34 AM

I forgot--- we had a Midget Mk III along the way
there, too.

The Mazda Miata seems to be the heir to the US
MG contingent. My father has one--- really it's
more like the first Lotus Elan than an MG, with
a bunch of luxury, reliability, and price thrown
in.

As an MG guy from an MG family, though, I find it
ironic that the funny sound of a 4-cylinder revving
through a glass-pack that my friends thought was so
odd back in 1977 is now what the 'fast and furious'
street racers sound like today. Now the kids think
the rumble and roar of a V8 is strange...

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:23 AM

And if they fuck up 'a la' Ford Pinto or Firestone tires, they will claim it's not their problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:21 AM

I bet they do a better job than MG.

                            Ted
                     ex MG Midget soft top owner

Subject: RE: BS: Chinese MGs
From: number 6
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:18 AM

I dunno ... they will get it down pretty good .... remember the complaints about Japanese products (especially cas).

We have to get use to the fact we all be using Chinese products for about everything we do ... in fact we almost are already.

biLL

Subject: BS: Chinese MGs
From: Greg B
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:11 AM

An 'orrible day, it is.

Today, the first Chinese MG motor car rolled off the
assembly line.

That's just wrong, on so many levels. They apparently
bought the marque, the factory, the whole kit and
caboodle from badge-bar to boot.

The first car I ever remember riding in was a TD, the
first sedan a Magnette (ZB for you afficianados). My
own first car was an MGB.

I'm sure the Chinese won't get it right. They'll probably
come out looking like Austin Marinas. On top of that, they'll
never figure out how to make them leak oil properly (not
enough to be destructive, just enough to be annoying and
to preserve the under-carriage). Nor will they ever figure
out how to make them stop going or the electrics fail any
time two drops of rain fall in the next county over.

Nor will they ever understand how to make a convertible top
that takes 20 minutes and three busted knuckles to erect, nor
whose sole leak is directly above the crotch of your best
business suit on the way to a job interview.

They may build 'em, but they'll never get 'em right.