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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Chevrolet Malibu Lease Questions
112 messages, Last post on Apr 19, 2009 at 2:50 PM
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Replying to: 40yearfan (Apr 08, 2008 7:43 am)
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Replying to: 40yearfan (Apr 08, 2008 7:43 am) However, I ultimately purchased an Altima, for 2 reasons...1- the Malibu simply didn't offer the options I wanted (ie., on-screen NAV system, Bluetooth, etc.), and 2- I also have tried to buy American when possible, but I have been "snake-bit" so many times by GM products and dealer services in the past that I decided to look elsewhere. This time my decision was made easy, simply due to the "options" availability. You bring up an excellent point, however...Just what is American nowadays? I traded an 05 Aveo (Korean made) for a Nissan Altima (made in Mississippi, I think). Hondas are made in Ohio, BMW's in South Carolina, and many traditional US cars are substantially, if not entirely made in Canada, Australia (Holden) and Mexico. Not to mention that all dealers and service employees are American, regardless of brand... Very confusing, don't you think???
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Replying to: jaxs1 (Apr 08, 2008 11:45 am) You are entitled to your opinion. I disagree with you. |
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Replying to: busiris (Apr 08, 2008 12:27 pm) American companies pay taxes on their profits in America. Foreign companies pay a small import fee for their vehicles. America has a huge imbalance of imports compared to exports and it is a serious drain on our economy. Now one guy buying an American made car instead of a foreign car isn't going to solve this problem, but it's a start.
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Replying to: 40yearfan (Apr 08, 2008 2:20 pm) If I understand your posting correctly (and I appologize up-front if I am mistaken), are you saying that the USA would benefit if all of GM's, Ford's and Chrysler's cars were made in China and sold here? How does the American worker benefit if profits are kept here in the USA or sent over-seas? Does it affect him/her if Nissan/BMW/Honda/etc. records the profit here or in their home country? Bob Lutz may get an addition to his bonus each time an Aveo is sold, but I fail to see how that helps the American worker, UAW, or anyone else except the dealership that sold it, and its specific employees. While it may help America GDP figures to record profits here, its really a non-issue in the trade deficit picture. Its where the jobs are...ask anyone familiar with Wal-Mart... For example, BMW has just announced a huge expansion in its South Carolina plant, so it can take advantage of the huge disparity between the dollar and the euro. They are not alone...all the car companies, including Ford, GM and Chrysler take advantage of the currency evaluations. To be honest, I can't understand why VW hasn't started manufacturing in the USA. Maybe they feel that their Brazil/Mexico plants are able to take sufficient advantage of the dollar's devaluation .vs. the euro. Again, if I misunderstood your posting, then please excuse me, but buying a GM product that is manufactured somewhere else and thinking I am buying American and helping our economy is simply wishful thinking...All I am doing is adding a few pennies to some corporate manager's bonus check.
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Replying to: busiris (Apr 08, 2008 4:49 pm) It's really hard now days to find American made goods even in places like Walmart (who sold mostly American goods when Sam Walton was still alive). I am not an isolationist or someone who is against a global economic outlook. I just think we owe it to ourselves to keep some good paying jobs available for our neighbors rather than watching them all disappear overseas.
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Replying to: 40yearfan (Apr 08, 2008 5:07 pm) The problem is, we don't really have that as an available option in most cases. GM, Ford and Chrysler all push the "buy American" theme, but feel no obligation to manufacture here...for example, I see GM is importing the new Pontiac G8GT from its Australian Holden subsidiary. Since this appears to be the case, I see no difference between buying a Nissan made in Mississippi or a Malibu made in Detroit (or wherever its made). Both provide American jobs. What I fail to understand is how foreign companies can make a profit making and selling autos here, but the "domestic" manufacturers can't. Yes, some of it is due to the unions, but they have become the whipping boy for all that is wrong with American industry...right or wrong. I find it confusing when I turn the TV on the Discovery Channel and they have a program on high-tech manufacturing, but the factories are all either foreign owned or in other countries. Even the American Passports are now being made in Thailand. What's up with that??? In my opinion, American auto manufacturers sowed the seeds of their own destruction. For years, they were happy to increase wages and benefits with no ties to increased productivity because it gave them a reason to raise car prices (and increase profits). At the same time, quality fell through the floor. The sole reason that GM is making a car the caliber of the new Malibu is because of the Japanese, German and more recently Korean competition. And, the most amazing thing to me is that they still don't seem to "get it". Malibu competes with the Accord, Altima, Camry, etc., but ranks last in option availibility (no NAV, bluetooth, etc). Personally, I think its a complete failure of management and leadership. You can never get ahead by just trying to catch up. Unfortunately, I think America's automobile manufacturing industry is on the wane and will continue the decline. Believe me, nothing would make me happier than to re-read these comments in 20 years and realize how utterly wrong I was when I made them, but I don't see that happening. America didn't lose its automotive leadership...it threw it away.
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Replying to: busiris (Apr 08, 2008 5:57 pm) Yes we did have the lead in auto manufacturing once upon a time and squandered it away and the Asian countries have since shown us the meaning of intense competition. Americans have always been able to rise up and take over whenever a situation has threatened their existance or livelihood. I wonder if we still have it in us to answer this challenge. I hope so and I plan to do my small part to try and make that happen.
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Replying to: 40yearfan (Apr 09, 2008 6:20 am) The good news... Cobolt 80% US/Canadian Malibu 85% US/Canadian Impala 82% US/Canadian The bad news.... Equinox 55% US/Canadian HHR 40% US/Canadian Aveo 5% US/Canadian The US lost dominance in semi-conductor manufacturing when it decided that memory chips were not profitable and moved manufacturing to Asia. Last week, I read an article that stated GM is exploring the possibility of "outsourcing"its body panel manufacturing needs, as that function is not profitable and can be done cheaper by a 3rd party (read China). Is there a common thread here? I hope not! OK, I'll shut up about this issue now. One last thought, however...I spent a few minutes in and around the Malibu, and I must admit it is a fine looking automobile. If someone was looking for a functional mid-size auto made primarily in North America, this would probably be the car of choice. |
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Replying to: packer3 (Apr 06, 2008 11:19 am) |
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