This is rumor mill stuff but anyone in the auto industry hear about a deal being

[RB TexLa]

pushed by the holdout GM bondholders to try to get parts of GM traded off to Ford for their concessions? Not really a deal, actually forcing GM to do it instead of bankruptcy. They give up everything in GM and partner with Ford in the new subsidiary of GM pieces.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Interesting.

[TwilightZone]

2. Haven't heard anything like that. I have a few friends at Ford...

and they've indicated that the GM/Ford rumors are (so far) just that - rumors.

Frankly, I can't see Ford doing that. They honestly believe that they're going to survive, and accepting parts of GM might jeopardize that.

[RB TexLa]

4. I think that would depend on what parts they get. If they could

make a wholly owned subsidiary do something in 5 or 6 years they could make a very good profit for themselves and the three funds spinning it off.

All depends on how much GM wants to avoid bankruptcy, they are on their hands and knees, it just seems the thought there for the last year has been, "we deserve, we deserve, we deserve. You can't let us fail or become smaller." Surely they know that is over. The three fund bondholders would really be pushing both GM and the government if they are doing this, they would pretty much be killing GM as it's known and killing any chance of it ever being anything near what it was. And Ford would have to be convinced that it could work and would have to get something good.

[SmileyRose]

3. GM's problems aren't business relationships.

Ford will be fine as long as it's suppliers can stay in business. They already did what they had to do. GM has bigger and different problems. GM's biggest problem is golden parachutes for former salary workers that GM never put a dime aside for. Even if they steal the money contracted with the union and set aside by law for the hourly union guys, it won't be enough to cover contracted obligations to former salary workers.