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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18078 messages,  Last post on May 15, 2013 at 9:27 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

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 1507 of 1808

#15058 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [tlong] by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (9:15 am)

Replying to: tlong (Nov 19, 2012 7:09 am)
Lutz did his best work while at Dodge, bringing concepts to reality without watering them down like others were doing.

#15059 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ateixeira] by cooterbfd

Nov 19, 2012 (6:01 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 19, 2012 9:15 am)
I think he did the same thing at GM too. There would be no Enclave, and he pushed the concept Solstice into reality. One has to wonder if not for him pushing for something as "impractical" as the Solstice if they would have green lighted the Camaro.

#15060 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [cooterbfd] by busiris

Nov 20, 2012 (7:44 am)

Replying to: cooterbfd (Nov 19, 2012 6:01 pm)
The main issue I always had with the Sky/Solstice was the wrinkled "wings" at the rear of the soft top when it was up.
 
To me, on a modern automobile, a wrinkled convertible top is just unacceptable.
 
Other than that, I thought the design was a good one, and you can see a fair amount of them, mostly Sky's, here in upstate SC.

#15061 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [busiris] by ateixeira

Nov 20, 2012 (8:48 am)

Replying to: busiris (Nov 20, 2012 7:44 am)
It was an attractively styled car, but I'd stop short of calling it a good design.
 
When you have to exit the car to put the top down...that's poor design, plain and simple.
 
On top of that the top took up the whole trunk.
 
Keep in mind the Miata had been around since 1990 and was the primary competitor, so they had plenty of time to learn how to design a simple folding top, that goes down without exiting the car in about 3 seconds and takes up zero trunk space.
 
Man, what were they thinking?
 
It was beautiful, yes - I saw the concept in person at NAIAS in 2005, IIRC.

#15062 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ateixeira] by uplanderguy

Nov 20, 2012 (10:01 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 20, 2012 8:48 am)
To me, they were far better-looking and less 'me, too!' than a Miata, and they seemed like good value for the buck. A Solstice was the last new Pontiac the dealer in my little sleepy hometown had.

#15063 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [uplanderguy] by ateixeira

Nov 20, 2012 (10:05 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 20, 2012 10:01 am)
They were gorgeous, no doubt.
 
The execution was lacking. The transmission came from the Colorado, a pickup, and not even a good pickup.
 
It ended up nearly 400 lbs heavier than the Miata, because the bean counters came in and told them they had to re-use existing parts off the shelf.
 
The turbo engine was powerful but GM hasn't done a good job marketing it. Every one knows what EcoBoost is, Ford has a hit on their hands. GM did DI turbos before Ford and no one knows it. Cobalt SS was a track over-achiever but they just didn't market that engine properly.

#15064 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ateixeira] by uplanderguy

Nov 20, 2012 (11:33 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 20, 2012 10:05 am)
The execution was lacking. The transmission came from the Colorado, a pickup, and not even a good pickup.
 
I hate the Colorado's styling, but good ol' CR puts it at average reliability.

#15065 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [uplanderguy] by ateixeira

Nov 20, 2012 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Nov 20, 2012 11:33 am)
I wonder how American those really are. Wiki says Isuzu partnered on the design:
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Colorado
 
If the new one really does come in a diesel, all is forgiven.

#15066 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [ateixeira] by roadburner

Nov 20, 2012 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 20, 2012 10:05 am)
GM did DI turbos before Ford and no one knows it. Cobalt SS was a track over-achiever but they just didn't market that engine properly.
 
If GM had stuffed the DI turbo four into the Astra I may well have bought it instead of my MS3. The Cobalt SS wasn't under consideration.

#15067 of 18078 Re: Since so many "foreign" cars are US made [roadburner] by ateixeira

Nov 20, 2012 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Nov 20, 2012 12:23 pm)
Here are Lightning Lap results:
 
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-2012-feature-sortable-times-c- omplete-lightning-lap-times-2006-to-2012-page-8
 
You can see it punches way, WAY above its price class.
 
I've never driven one but FWD with that much power kinda sounds scary. May feel like the front axle is trying to rip away from the rest of the car. I'd prefer AWD with that much power.

Messages Page 1507 of 1808

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