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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18085 messages,  Last post on Jun 19, 2013 at 6:23 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 1575 of 1810

#15733 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [steve_] by busiris

Dec 12, 2012 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Dec 12, 2012 1:45 pm)
One example of how 3D printing has influenced the arms industry is that, after the technology was used to make guns, they became more easily available. So countries have to take every possible measure to ensure that criminal gangs don't get access to the technology, because they can wreak havoc in society. Though China has a strict gun-control policy, the fact is that implementing the policy would become very difficult if it is easy for people to download gun designs and forge them with the help of 3D printing technology.
 
Oops!
 
Seems like there's a downside to everything. I seem to remember an old Twilight Zone episode "Valley of the Shadow" (IIRC) where this very thing happened. The character in the story feeds a picture of a handgun into what appears to be something like a paper copier machine and out spits a handgun.
 
And, that was circa 1960. Science fiction becomes science fact...

#15734 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [busiris] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Dec 12, 2012 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Dec 12, 2012 1:59 pm)
Not to mention that you can make one out of plastic and fool most security devices. Not legal of course, but there you go.
 
You need one of these sticking out your blown funny car hood.

#15735 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [busiris] by bpizzuti

Dec 12, 2012 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Dec 12, 2012 1:59 pm)
They just did that story-line on CSI recently. Pro assassin uses 3D printer to make one-use disposable gun to kill someone. Of course, they caught him anyway.

#15736 of 18085 Re: Shopping "American" this weekend... [busiris] by bpizzuti

Dec 12, 2012 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Dec 12, 2012 1:43 pm)
It's too bad we don't see more Focuses and Cruzes exported. Subaru's actually expanding US production, Mazda (who doesn't actually HAVE money right now) is expanding North American production.
 
The only ones that can't seem to export or increase demand are the ones run by the UAW. I personally don't mind unions. Unless the unions are run by criminally negligent goofballs. Which too many of them are.

#15737 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [busiris] by andre1969

Dec 12, 2012 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Dec 12, 2012 1:59 pm)
Seems like there's a downside to everything. I seem to remember an old Twilight Zone episode "Valley of the Shadow" (IIRC) where this very thing happened.
 
As much as I've watched the Twilight Zone, that didn't sound all that familiar, but then it hit me...that was one of those ill-fated hour long episodes, wasn't it? IIRC, it involved a man and his dog in a '59 Chevy Impala convertible driving on a back road, and crashing into an invisible force field?

#15738 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [andre1969] by busiris

Dec 12, 2012 (7:31 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 12, 2012 6:06 pm)
Correct! He wandered into a community of "exceptional citizens" that had this technology. In the end, he got booted out of the community because he didn't pass the "membership" test (by scanning and creating the handgun in an attempt to escape with one of the residents). They somehow swiped his memory and restored the events to where the accident never happened.
 
At least, that's how I remember it. It's been a long time since I saw it...
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_the_Shadow

#15739 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [andre1969] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Dec 12, 2012 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 12, 2012 6:06 pm)
Valley of the Shadow (Wikipedia)

#15740 of 18085 Re: Shopping "American" this weekend... [bpizzuti] by berri

Dec 12, 2012 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Dec 12, 2012 4:07 pm)
It's too bad we don't see more Focuses and Cruzes exported
 
For Ford, I think the new Focus is already being built in plants around the globe (maybe using a different badge?). Don't know about the Cruze, but is it basically an Opel like a lot of GM's other new vehicles? If that's the case, it too may be redundant to other GM global plants.

#15741 of 18085 Re: The new US manufacturing [steve_] by berri

Dec 12, 2012 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Dec 12, 2012 7:27 pm)
If it's got a 59 Impala convertible, it's OK by me

#15742 of 18085 Re: Shopping "American" this weekend... [bpizzuti] by gagrice

Dec 12, 2012 (9:27 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Dec 12, 2012 4:07 pm)
It's too bad we don't see more Focuses and Cruzes exported.
 
I don't think it is practical with UAW labor building them in the USA.
 
The Focus is only 40% US content. The Cruze is 56% US Content.
 
In the case of the BMW X3, X5 & X6 they are only 20-25% US content. With final assembly in the USA.

Messages Page 1575 of 1810

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