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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18079 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 10:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying

With parts coming from everywhere, does "Buying American" have much meaning anymore? Is quality and price the bottom line?

Messages Page 1436 of 1809

#14348 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [steve_] by ateixeira

Sep 19, 2012 (10:15 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 17, 2012 10:39 am)
Probably just political posturing, we'll see.
 
I saw a "GM Performance Parts" hydraulic jack this weekend, MADE IN CHINA. Nice.
 
Then a whole kit, with jack stands and other stuff, MADE IN CHINA.
 
Dunno about you but I'm not getting under a car held up by a widow maker made by the lowest bidder.

#14349 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [ateixeira] by andre1969

Sep 19, 2012 (10:27 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 19, 2012 10:15 am)
That just got me thinking...a few years ago I bought a Sears Craftsman hydraulic jack. I just presumed it was made in the US, but I guess I'd better double-check!
 
I've never fully trusted hydraulic jacks, so I always put jackstands under the car before I go under there, so maybe it's no big deal. And, for good measure, if I'm in a situation where I have a wheel off the car, I'll put it under one of the frame rails...so that way if it comes crashing down, I guess maybe it won't crush me as bad!
 
Oh, back in 2009 when I bought my Park Ave, the Buick/Caddy/GMC dealer had some blingy aftermarket rims on display in the showroom. And, naturally, they were made in China...

#14350 of 18079 lemko by marsha7

Sep 19, 2012 (12:06 pm)

"Really? What about my 1989 Cadillac Brougham that still looks and runs like a brand-new car or my 1988 Buick Park Avenue, or my 1968 Buick Special Deluxe that was still running in 1992. My wife's 2005 Buick LaCrosse has yet to experience an unscheduled maintenance event nor has my 2007 Cadillac DTS."
 
As previously stated, if the rest of us bought GM cars like yours, we could never even spell Honda or Toyota because they would have gotten nowhere...they grew like weeds because the vast number of Americans who bought GM (and F and C) felt they were shafted, or they never would have even LOOKED at foreign competition...
 
And the fact that imports grew to the size they are is that more of those folks were happier with their import than the Big 3 junk that cannon3 wants to force them to buy...yeah, from reading his posts, I believe, no insult intended, that cannon would force us to buy American REGARDLESS of the quality, cimply bevcause he feels it is patriotic to buy American made junk since his neighbor made it...
 
Many of us WANT to buy American stuff that ISN"T junk, but the American worker has to step up to the plate and EARN our business, whereas it seems that cannon does not believe that...I want Americans to make the best so we can buy the best, made here, and help our American neighbors keep their jobs by EARNING our business...
 
What is wrong with that???

#14351 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [ateixeira] by lemko

Sep 19, 2012 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 19, 2012 10:15 am)
A lot of times some fly-by-night company will buy the rights to a well-known name just to have a recognizable name on their product. I've seen all kinds of crazy name placement like "ABC Sports" on a pair of cheap sunglasses.

#14352 of 18079 Re: lemko [marsha7] by lemko

Sep 19, 2012 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Sep 19, 2012 12:06 pm)
Then what makes me so lucky?

#14353 of 18079 Re: lemko [lemko] by dieselone

Sep 19, 2012 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Sep 19, 2012 12:24 pm)
Then what makes me so lucky?
 
Good question. But I'm guessing a lot of it has to do with taste. The cars you love I don't like as I'm sure you don't like many of the vehicles I do, which is why it's great we have so many options. I'd be horrified if tomorrow we were only allowed to buy from Ford, GM and Chrysler. Even though my next vehicle will likely be from one of those 3.
 
I can't think of one vehicle from late 80's detroit I'd remotely want to own or drive today. My BIL has a showroom clean '88 Corvette with 40k miles on it. It's just a big of a POC today as it was the day it came of the lot. But he loves it and has spent a ton to keep it in top shape. He has a receipt folder 3" thick. Granted his daily driver is an '11 Acura MDX which he admits drives far nicer and he hasn't owned a domestic daily driver in 10 years.
 
You claim you don't see where the price difference is justified between a late model park ave and similar vintage LS430 and that an LS is just a Park Ave with a fancy interior (no the LS isn't my type of car) and I cringe. I could probably write a dissertation on hundreds areas the LS far superior to a park ave or any Cadillac. They're not even comparable to the point the comparison is comical.
 
Maybe Cadillac will one day build a true world class car. The ATS just might be, I've read very good reviews on it. But other than that, Cadillac has had nothing to be proud of in over 30 years and certainly hasn't been world class. As our top American luxury brand that's a disgrace. The US should be able to build cars that can go toe to toe with the best around the world, I just with they would.

#14354 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [lemko] by ateixeira

Sep 19, 2012 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: lemko (Sep 19, 2012 12:23 pm)
A name is a valuable thing in terms of PR value. They should be careful who they lend their name out to.
 
GM has been smart about blocking some Saab buyers. Otherwise we'll see some cheap knock offs of the SRX (Saab had a clone).

#14355 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [andre1969] by fintail

Sep 19, 2012 (2:15 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 19, 2012 10:27 am)
Would you like Chinese quality metallurgy for the wheels on your car? No thanks.
 
I see a lot of cars with blingy aftermarket wheels - the used luxo dealers seem to like to stick them on - nothing cooler than a 2003 E-class or similar year Range Rover with big ugly aftermarket wheels. All made in China no doubt. First step on a car headed to its death.

#14356 of 18079 Re: politics as usual [fintail] by lemko

Sep 19, 2012 (2:50 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 19, 2012 2:15 pm)
There are a lot of shady BHPH lots in marginal Lower NE Philly neighborhoods that sell cars like that to unsuspecting fools who think they can look rich for cheap. It's not long before their rides are broken and there's no funds for a costly out-of-warranty repair as the cars are sitting in front of run-down rowhouses or in the potholed lots of fleabag apartment complexes until the local "yutes" strip them clean like vultures and hyenas strip a carcass or they're repo'd and the owners' already shaky credit is further in the toilet.

#14357 of 18079 Re: Buying GM means AC failure expense [berri] by roadburner

Sep 19, 2012 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: berri (Sep 17, 2012 11:28 am)
I recall GM having a bi level setting some years ago which was great for winter. You could cool the top vents and heat the bottom.
 
My first -and last- GM car(a 1974 Monte Carlo) had that feature, and it worked well. Funny thing, my X3 and 328i have a thumbwheel that allows you to vary the temperature coming from the dash vents; I believe BMW first incorporated that feature in the '90s. Some people don't like that system but I find it useful.

Messages Page 1436 of 1809

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