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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18081 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 5:44 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 1506 of 1809

#15044 of 18081 Re: Who will survive? [uplanderguy] by lemko

Nov 14, 2012 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 14, 2012 1:00 pm)
The only thing the old Packard complex is good for nowadays is a set for a zombie movie. It was awful in 1987, worse in 1992, and most definitely hasn't improved in the last 20 years. There was talk of demolishing the site, but the expense would be ferocious.

#15045 of 18081 Re: Who will survive? [ateixeira] by busiris

Nov 14, 2012 (2:04 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 14, 2012 9:26 am)
When my wife and I were in Germany in October, we spent time with some friends that recently bought a MB program C250 touring (at least, I think it was a C250, without looking at the pictures he sent me right after he got it).
 
A really nice car that could easily pass for being brand new. Efficient Diesel engine, and lots of options, but slightly too small for long rides carrying 4 adults along with traveling baggage. Outstanding highway performance, though...
 
Saved thousands of Euros over buying "new", but it certainly looked new to me...

#15046 of 18081 Re: Who will survive? [busiris] by ateixeira

Nov 14, 2012 (2:25 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Nov 14, 2012 2:04 pm)
Great deal for your friend...

#15047 of 18081 Re: Who will survive? [busiris] by gagrice

Nov 14, 2012 (10:31 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Nov 14, 2012 2:04 pm)
You used to be able to do that and ship them to the states. I don't think it is possible anymore.

#15048 of 18081 Since so many "foreign" cars are US made by ceejaysquared

Nov 16, 2012 (1:46 pm)

It seems to me that the only "loss" to America of buying foreign is the executive profit -- and given the ridiculous compensation paid to auto executives (and their equally ridiculous low tax rates), I feel no pull to "buy American" in cars, anyway.
 
As long as the workers getting paid are US workers, I feel I've done my part. I don't care about the nationality of the fat cats who get rich.

#15049 of 18081 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ceejaysquared] by mcdawgg

Nov 16, 2012 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: ceejaysquared (Nov 16, 2012 1:46 pm)
I own Toyota stock, so I share in their profits!!!
 
Some engineering may be done in the "home" country by some of the "foreign" companies, but not all. I know of Ann Arbor and California engineering offices for Toyota.
 
Parts are BOTH made here and assembled here, more and more. Why? One of the big reasons is freight savings.
 
Tax credits gets brought up by the" 'murican only" crowd. I can say for certain that ANY company, foreign-based or domestic, gets tax credits for locating a plant in a State, City, etc.
 
They also point to using temp labor - true, but not unlike or more than any company I have worked for, and I have been in manufacturing management for nearly 2 decades (manufacturing NOT related to the auto industry).
 
Disclaimer: I don't hate GM, Ford, etc. and would buy one if they had something I liked that was worth it to me. I do try to buy cars with at least 70% NA parts (and definitely NOT Mexico), and assembled here.

#15050 of 18081 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [mcdawgg] by ateixeira

Nov 16, 2012 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Nov 16, 2012 2:20 pm)
Certain models are designed here and pretty much made for the USA - Sienna, Avalon, etc. The bigger cars. Even the US-spec Camry is different than what is sold elsewhere.
 
Same for the Accord. It's not unusual.

#15051 of 18081 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [mcdawgg] by uplanderguy

Nov 16, 2012 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Nov 16, 2012 2:20 pm)
I just always remember the head of Toyota North America at the hearings about the unintended acceleration claims and related recalls. He looked like a deer in the headlights and deferred most everything to Mr. Toyoda. That told me where the real decisions were made. Not that that's bad, but reiterated to me that it's not nearly as 'American' a company as is claimed.

#15052 of 18081 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [mcdawgg] by gagrice

Nov 16, 2012 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Nov 16, 2012 2:20 pm)
Several German models like the ML from Mercedes are made here for the rest of the World. The Jeep GC uses the ML chassis from what I have read. MB, BMW & Jeep all build vehicles here that are exported. That is good for American workers.
 
Many states, Counties and Cities offer incentives from free land, reduced taxes, cheap utilities etc, to get companies to relocate. That has been going on since at least the 1960s. There was a mass migration out of the Midwest to the South in the 1960s. Cheap land, lower taxes were incentive enough. I know of several Telco manufacturers that moved South. Most offered to take the employees that wanted to relocate. It was not for cheap labor as much as repressive taxes in Illinois and Ohio.

#15053 of 18081 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ceejaysquared] by tlong

Nov 16, 2012 (5:57 pm)

Replying to: ceejaysquared (Nov 16, 2012 1:46 pm)
It seems to me that the only "loss" to America of buying foreign is the executive profit -- and given the ridiculous compensation paid to auto executives (and their equally ridiculous low tax rates), I feel no pull to "buy American" in cars, anyway.
  
As long as the workers getting paid are US workers, I feel I've done my part. I don't care about the nationality of the fat cats who get rich.
 
Hi ceejay, welcome to the forum.
 
Not only what you say, but given the poor performance and decision making of many of those same executives, why support them? Why encourage mediocrity?
 
As an example, if you bought GM pre-BK, you were supporting people like Wagoner and Lutz, the same people who made some very poor decisions. I wonder how many people felt Wagoner was worth $10M/year for his performance?

Messages Page 1506 of 1809

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