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Automotive News & Views Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?
7263 messages, Last post on May 27, 2009 at 4:31 AM
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With parts coming from everywhere, does "Buying American" have much meaning anymore? Is quality and price the bottom line?
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Imagine if GM, Chrysler, or Ford were to go out of business, imagine how many Americans would lose their jobs, and think of the large hit our economy would take. It would ruin America. In these times there are no reasons not to buy American. Between the big 3 and their respective divisions, anyone can find a product to satisfy their needs/wants. And if quality/reliability is a concern, you need to update your thinking. For instance a 2005 Chevy Impala garners the same overall quality and reliability ratings from JD Power and Associates as a 2005 Toyota Camry, while actually garnering higher ratings in terms of body and interior dependability and mechanical quality, and the Suburban/Tahoe are the most reliable large SUV's. Also, in a recent report by Forbes, the least reliable vehicle was made by a Japanese company, Infiniti.Finally, in a recent graph of consumer's problems per 100 cars, Buick and Cadillac were rated with less problems than Toyota,. So to all of you who haven't looked at an American product lately, it's time to look again.
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Replying to: corvettefan427 (Jan 03, 2006 5:12 pm) I will tell you I won't buy anything except a Big 3 car again. I am afraid too. Our trade deficit is too high. The ones that will suffer will be our children and grandchildren. I however will say this: I do believe the Asian car manufactors should have a place in america as long as they keep building plants here and the cars have "X" percentage amount of American content in them. If it someday comes to the point where The Big 3 can compete fairly with the Asians and Koreans using the American labor pool to build parts for their cars and assemble them, you won't hear any complaining from me. That said however, doesn't mean the money doesn't still go back to Japan or Korea. I however would rather see the money go to Japan, Europe, Korea, rather than to China where the people don't have "human rights"  Rocky
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I think many people out there wouldn't mind driving a Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge if those vehicles were actually up to par with the stuff Japan is putting out. I don't think I would consider an Uplander or Freestar as a replacement for my Odyssey unless the rebates and deals got really big and good because the Sienna and Odyssey are just far better minivans. (albeit at a severe premium) Even though I am Chinese, I don't think I would consider purchasing a Chinese car, unless it was really good and really cheap.
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Replying to: corvettefan427 (Jan 03, 2006 5:12 pm) I'm sure many people look at them all the time... It's BUYING them that is the problem with some of the domestics. GM, FMC and DMC are NOT going out of business... I'd say Chrysler and maybe even FMC are pretty healthy with sins of recovery actually... "In these times there are no reasons not to buy American." I'll buy whatever the hell I want bud. Not your money or your decision what I buy... It's called FREEDOM. Welcome to AMERICA, enjoy your stay. |
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Didn't this baby get the axe like a week ago? Deja vu I'll say what I said before...an 05 Impala may be perfectly reliable, but it exudes quality in no way whatsoever. There's GMs problem, and a big problem for domestics as a hole. |
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Replying to: jchan2 (Jan 03, 2006 6:59 pm)  I just wished we could do something for them. The fact remains they will bring a car over to the states eventually. The "GIANT" that our government uses at some facilities is a piece of dog doo doo  Rocky
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Replying to: rockylee (Jan 03, 2006 7:38 pm) Me, I choose to reward workers, engineers, and yes, even the managers involved in the creation of cars that I like. Except I haven't ever bought a new car, so... |
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maybe a G6 on sale: http://cartalk.com/content/testdrives/ check out their review of the G6. Good car, but like they said, one totally loaded, their most expensive model at 28K(vs 22K), they would not buy it, but on sale, could be an excellent deal, indeed. They actually rank the Sonata ahead of G6, a little. I just do not care for their new looks of it, inside or outside, where as the G6 sedan looks decent, adn the coupe is like something between a Mitsubishi Eclipse meets a Scion tC, which is a good thing. Just too bad that the Coupe costs soo much more than the sedan! Also, if you check out the Detroit Autoshow, soudns like ford may make one great compact car, perhaps.... The Reflex. http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Daily_Edition/Daily_Edition_Jan_4_2006- .S173.A9813.html It may not be as high tech as this(probably would cost 35K?), but even a "regular" sporty car would be cool, say that 4 cylinder they have in the Fusion, 167HP,(to save cost) in a 3000 lb car? may not be too bad, with 5 speed atuomatic, or shiftronic offering.What was that Ford 2 door a few years back, for under 20K, sporty car? Stuff like this would be cool. Pontiac designs are nice, and so are the cars, the whole package, except MSRP's(unless there's a sale of 2-3K going on). Then, it's a great buy. Not knocking the G6 coupe, but I read for the 240HP version is like 26-28K? I think Mitsu, you can get the Eclipse V6, with the 1,200 or so sunroof/etc...deal, for around 25K, give or take. Or just buy a turbo and put it on the tC, and get 200HP, for about 20-21K. I dunno. My main gripe for GM is for HHR: Like the idea, a lot great styling. Quiet ride,,decent handling. If you get a sunroof, though, forget it... thismuchheadroom, to me, unless I put the seat to the bottom setting, which is not why you have a height adjustable seat, to have it on lowest setting only. And shoulder width is thisclose, and the back seats, if the 2 front passengers are comfortable....well, unless they are 2 year olds or pets... No leg room If they increase say headroom by 2 inches, width about 3, and legroom about 3 or 4....for the rear seat, then we would be talking about possibly a purchase. I think the new xB has 46 inches of headroom....and it is tiny. |
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-Chrysler is owned by German company Mercedes -Many an "American" car is built in Canada -Many Hondas/Acuras, Nissans, Toyotas, and Mitsubishis are "Japanese cars" built in the US. -Likewise, BMW and Mercedes build "German cars" in the US -Jaguar, Volvo, Saab and Range Rover, among other boutique brands, are owned by either Ford or GM -Many "domestic cars" include foreign content -GM and Ford build substantial quantities outside of the US, rather than building everything here and exporting it In this era, the relationship between automakers is so globalized and convoluted that "buying American" is not necessarily easy or obvious. What's more American to you -- an Acura TL built in Marysville, Ohio, or a Chrysler Crossfire that was built partially with Mercedes components and is owned by a German company? |
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Honda Accord - built in Ohio, USA
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