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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 1646 of 1809

#16444 of 18081 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by dieselone

Jan 17, 2013 (10:58 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:50 am)
Ford's was safe, though. Their real problem was rust.
 
Yeah, I know someone that had a Windstar under the rear axle/frame rust recall. His was so bad Ford bought the van from him instead of trying to fix it.

#16445 of 18081 Re: American cars [uplanderguy] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:08 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 17, 2013 8:59 am)
As if total number of posts about the model in general has anything to do with anything. You know that.
 
Yet you (or somebody here) is always citing "how many" posts there are about Hondas.
 
So are we all agreeing once and for all that the number of complaint posts on any vehicle is not really evidence of much?

#16446 of 18081 Re: American cars [keystonecarfan] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:10 am)

Replying to: keystonecarfan (Jan 17, 2013 10:14 am)
There was a serious problem with complete transmission failure in all V-6 equipped Hondas and Acuras built between 1999 and 2004. Honda Odysseys and Acura TLs were the worst, probably because they put the most strain on the transmission.
 
Well my Acura TL was built in 2004 and is at 130K with no transmission problems. But it is an '05 model.

#16447 of 18081 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:13 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:50 am)
GM built the Lambdas instead, a strong effort. Not a van, but at least a good vehicle resulted.
 
I've driven a Traverse as a rental. I'm sure it wasn't a very high line model, but I was unimpressed. It was large yet seemed not to have a ton of storage for its size (perhaps I'm used to our older Odyssey). The dash and door plastics were chintzy.

#16448 of 18081 Re: American cars [tlong] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (11:24 am)

Replying to: tlong (Jan 17, 2013 11:13 am)
That's the cheapest model, and rental grade at that. I wouldn't read too much in to that experience.
 
My buddy just got an Enclave and it's a real nice ride for its class.

#16449 of 18081 Re: American cars [dieselone] by steve_ HOST

Jan 17, 2013 (11:33 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Jan 17, 2013 10:58 am)
The "Windstalls" had a poor reliability overall back in the day when I was shopping. (link)
 
Can't believe that Chrysler is trying to redefine a signature feature of the minivan.
 
"Chrysler Group LLC says it will continue to produce "people carriers" for the Dodge and Chrysler brands at its minivan factory in Windsor, but CEO Sergio Marchionne said only one will have sliding doors.
 
"We're going to be present with both brands in the people-carrier business. (But) we're only going to have one with a set of sliding doors," he told reporters at the North American International Auto Show. "Both of them will come out of Windsor."
 
 Chrysler to tweak minivan design (Detroit News)
 
I don't care how stunning gull-wings doors are. They won't work in my garage.

#16450 of 18081 Re: American cars [steve_] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (11:32 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 17, 2013 11:33 am)
I can't believe the people who invented it are moving away from the winning formula. There are really only 3 major competitors and each does pretty good volume.
 
Power sliding doors are a gift from above. They're my favorite feature by far, and you'd have to give that up.

#16451 of 18081 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (11:44 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 11:32 am)
I can't believe the people who invented it are moving away from the winning formula. There are really only 3 major competitors and each does pretty good volume.
 
SUVs have really marginalized minivans. GM and Ford completely exited the segment, Hyundai and Kia are half out now. Toyota and Honda still build them but I don't see them marketed much. And Nissan...well, they're Nissan.
 
There's actually 4 major competitors, even though the Mazda5 is smaller...and they don't market it much either, sales of that here are just gravy.

#16452 of 18081 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by gagrice

Jan 17, 2013 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 11:32 am)
Power sliding doors are a gift from above. They're my favorite feature by far, and you'd have to give that up.
 
I agree, cannot imagine anyone buying a mini-van without them. I did not realize they still built mini-vans that do not have sliding doors.

#16453 of 18081 Re: American cars [bpizzuti] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 11:44 am)
FWIW the Caravan outsells the Durango about 3.5 to 1.
 
It's actually Dodge's best selling car by a long shot (excluding pickups, which are now Rams anyway).
 
Town & Country is #2 for Chrysler.
 
They'd be crazy to mess with them too much.

Messages Page 1646 of 1809

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