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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18080 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 8:39 PM

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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 1504 of 1809

#15024 of 18080 Re: It matters [cannon3] by tlong

Nov 11, 2012 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: cannon3 (Nov 11, 2012 1:39 pm)
If Americans could think past the price of an item and see more of the real price. The price of an American out of work, the price of taxes not being paid, the price of not having health insurance to go see a doctor. We are all connected in this economy here at home. Demanding U.S. made goods and services just makes sense. I agree, to hold an American company accountable for its goods it declares as "American" should be brought to the attention of the American consumer if they are not.
 
Good points. So then it's better to buy a US Toyota or Honda than a Canadian or Mexican GM or Ford, too.
 
Yet we wouldn't have the choices to buy US Accords and Camrys and Sonatas if buyers hadn't decided not to tolerate mediocrity from Detroit. So that's a positive that somewhat counterbalances the situation.

#15025 of 18080 Re: It matters [tlong] by uplanderguy

Nov 11, 2012 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Nov 11, 2012 5:21 pm)
Believe it or not, there are U.S.-built GM's and Fords with high NA parts content, and there are foreign cars that are assembled in Europe and Asia that are sold here. By the looks of posts I see, only all Asian makes are built in the 'States and only all GM's and Fords are built in Canada or Mexico!

#15026 of 18080 Re: It matters [uplanderguy] by fezo

Nov 11, 2012 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 11, 2012 5:33 pm)
I know some people have that attitude but will tell you out of our four cars while all are Japanese makes two are American assembled with a high percentage of American parts.

#15027 of 18080 Re: It matters [uplanderguy] by gagrice

Nov 11, 2012 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 11, 2012 5:33 pm)
I am sure there are vehicles made here you don't care for and some made in Canada or Mexico you do like. My last new vehicle purchase was based somewhat on its being mostly made in the USA. I wish I had opted for the Mercedes that had less US content but far better mileage. So I opted for high US content and end up sending more out of the country for oil. I don't see where putting food on the table for someone in Alabama, Tennessee or Mississippi is any less important than someone in Michigan or Ohio. Especially after this election.

#15028 of 18080 Re: It matters [uplanderguy] by tlong

Nov 11, 2012 (6:44 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 11, 2012 5:33 pm)
Believe it or not, there are U.S.-built GM's and Fords with high NA parts content, and there are foreign cars that are assembled in Europe and Asia that are sold here.
 
You are absolutely correct. But the point that I was making (in the spirit of "what does buying American really mean?" is that it's not so simple to look at the nameplate. Many traditional US nameplates are made outside the US and many non-US nameplates are made IN the U.S. So if one is concerned about jobs and the local economy, they should dig a bit deeper to see where the actual vehicles under consideration actually are put together, as well as the NA parts content (but can we even know the US parts content, since NA is not the same as US?).

#15029 of 18080 Re: It matters [cannon3] by bpizzuti

Nov 11, 2012 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: cannon3 (Nov 11, 2012 1:39 pm)
If Americans could think past the price of an item and see more of the real price.
 
I don't care about the price. I do care that they don't make the right product for me. And until they do, they don't get my money, period.

#15030 of 18080 Re: Hey... [fezo] by ateixeira

Nov 12, 2012 (8:34 am)

Replying to: fezo (Nov 09, 2012 3:00 pm)
FWIW Miata's trunk was never that bad.
 
Ask any Solistice/Sky owner. Even that box of tissues would not squeeze in top down.

#15031 of 18080 Re: It matters [bpizzuti] by uplanderguy

Nov 12, 2012 (8:33 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Nov 11, 2012 7:28 pm)
I can honestly say you are the first person I've ever heard say flatly, "I don't care about the price".
 
Maybe it's my humble origins, and/or my occupation, but even though I am definitely wealthier than my parents, price matters to me.

#15032 of 18080 Re: It matters [uplanderguy] by bpizzuti

Nov 12, 2012 (8:47 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 12, 2012 8:33 am)
Well, I don't particularly care about the price, it's not the first priority. If one brand, which for the sake of argument we'll call Mazda, has a car with all the features I want, and another brand, which we'll call Chevrolet just to push people's buttons, has a car for a couple of grand less but missing some of the features I want (like, oh, say, a hatch), then I'm gonna buy the Mazda. And if some other brand comes along (let's call it Hyundai just for giggles) comes along, and has all the same features as Mazda for a grand or two less, I'm NOT going to automatically buy the Hyundai. I'm going to buy whichever one is more comfortable and drives better. And that'll probably be the Mazda.
 
This is completely theoretical of course.

#15033 of 18080 Suppliers to the new Accord by ateixeira

Nov 13, 2012 (12:09 pm)

I always find these interesting:
 
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121113/CUTAWAY/311139996/su- ppliers-to-the-2013-honda-accord&cciid=email-autonews-productionline
 
Suppliers from all over the globe, and the funny thing is they use the same suppliers as many competitors do, both foreign and domestic nameplates.

Messages Page 1504 of 1809

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