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Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18082 messages,  Last post on May 28, 2013 at 4:50 AM

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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 1749 of 1809

#17474 of 18082 Re: Challenger Recall [ateixeira] by dieselone

Mar 21, 2013 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 21, 2013 1:03 pm)
Yeah, the Mustang sounds sweet, and that goes for all of the v8 versions.
 
Last year at the Chicago autoshow, Ford had a 2011 Mustang GT500 strapped to a dyno. Wow, it made the hairs on my neck stand up it sounded so good. For whatever reason, Ford has done a great job on the Mustang's sound track going all the way back to '85 or so.
 
My buddy with the Tundra has a dealer installed TRD dual exhaust and it sounds pretty good. But honestly it's almost to loud.

#17475 of 18082 Re: Challenger Recall [ateixeira] by busiris

Mar 21, 2013 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 21, 2013 11:58 am)
I dunno....
 
Seems like marrying the prettiest girl in town, then sleeping in separate beds at night...
 
It just doesn't seem natural to me, but I guess if you really want that model, and that's what's in your price range, its a logical choice...
 
But, I do agree that the 6-cylinder of today is a far cry from the 6-cylinder I had in my 1969 4-door Chevy Nova... By just about any standard...

#17476 of 18082 Re: Challenger Recall [busiris] by toomanyfumes

Mar 23, 2013 (6:30 am)

Replying to: busiris (Mar 21, 2013 3:02 pm)
I bought a new Mustang last year, and originally was going to get tha GT. I ende with the six, though. It was around eight grand cheaper, I get 23 MPG in daily driving, and it's still plenty quick with 305 HP and six-speed manual.
 
I do miss the sound and low end torque of a V-8, though. A co-worker got an aftermarket exhaust on his GT, sounds great at idle, but he said the sound gets tiring on the freeway.

#17477 of 18082 I fail to see by marsha7

Mar 23, 2013 (7:27 am)

a problem with a V6...if the V6 now has 300-plus HP, more than many V8's of the last few decades, why not get the better gas mileage???
 
If I bought a new 300, I would get the V6...who wants a 14 mpg Hemi with gas at this price???
 
I already have one in my 2004 Ram pickup...one Hemi sucking gas is enough, thank you...

#17478 of 18082 Re: I fail to see [marsha7] by andre1969

Mar 24, 2013 (6:18 am)

Replying to: marsha7 (Mar 23, 2013 7:27 am)
I already have one in my 2004 Ram pickup...one Hemi sucking gas is enough, thank you...
 
I didn't realize you still had a Ram, Bob...I thought you were Chrysler-free by now. Other than being a bit piggy with the fuel bill, has it been okay otherwise?
 
I bought a 2012 Ram Hemi about 6 months ago. It's rated at 14/20, which doesn't sound too bad for something that big. And, I actually did hit 20 mpg once, on a trip. But, in local driving, I've seen as bad as 12-13 mpg.

#17479 of 18082 andre1969 by marsha7

Mar 24, 2013 (6:34 pm)

Yes, I have my 2004 Crown Vic (just passed 200K miles) and my wife has her 2004 Ram 1500 (83K miles)...it has had its issues, luckily covered under the 7 year/85K mile extended warranty...
 
It has needed a new radiator, right front and rear calipers along with bearings and rotors, radio/CD player, drivers seatbelt, to name a few...
 
When we bought it, we expected my wife to put on about 8K miles yearly, and she is close to that...so, expecting the truck to last at least 120K miles, that would be about 15 years...this was a truck she would drive until the wheels fell off, so, if it lasts 150K miles, we are talking about keeping the truck forever...still in great shape (she had a wreck 6 months ago, about $2500 worth of body damage, no frame damage, fixed perfectly)...
 
Gets 12-13 in city, if she drives to Mississippi, gets about 19 mpg on highway...considering they are advertising 22 mpg now with a Hemi, it certainly is not worth 30 grand to get another 3 mpg, when this truck has something magical about it...IT IS PAID FOR!!!!!!!
 
Interior is perfect, bed has a few scratches from carrying a rototiller...the HORROR!!!...
 
Goodyear tires only went about 30K miles, highly dissatisfied...Edmund's "tires, tires, tires" topic recommended Michelin tires with 70K expected, some folks writing they got over 80K miles on theirs, so I bought those...smoother riding than the Goodyears (I am a fan of Goodyear whenever possible) and we will see how long they last...
 
Despite being made by the UAW (I had to fit that in, don't you know?) my two Big 3 vehicles have done well, both still humming after 9 years (2004-2013) and expected to go further...
 
Oh, my fuel pump just died in my Crown Vic...electric, mounted on TOP of the gas tank, so tank must be dropped to replace it...$692.00 later, I have a sparkling new fuel pump...I thought fuel pumps mounted to to block, had a lever to engage the camshaft, and cost $25 to buy and 3 minutes of labor to install... ...seems like technology has changed...
 
Next thing you know, they will try and tell me that spark plugs have platinum in them and last 100K miles...HA!!!...

#17480 of 18082 Re: andre1969 [marsha7] by andre1969

Mar 24, 2013 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Mar 24, 2013 6:34 pm)
Despite being made by the UAW (I had to fit that in, don't you know?) my two Big 3 vehicles have done well, both still humming after 9 years (2004-2013) and expected to go further...
 
Well, my Ram was made in Mexico, so maybe there's hope for it yet!
 
Goodyear tires only went about 30K miles, highly dissatisfied
 
Now that I think back on it, my old 2000 Intrepid had Goodyear tires. Eagle GA's, I think. I had 'em worn down to practically racing slicks by around 30,000 miles. I'm not sure what's on my new Ram. I'll have to check.
 
At the rate I've been going though, it could very well be 6-7 years before I even hit 30,000 miles. It was 6 months ago on Saturday that I bought it, and it only has something like 2070 miles on it. I've thought about trading it, right around the 5 year mark, because that's when the powertrain warranty is up. And, it should have enough value that it would make a nice down payment on a new vehicle, so I could get back into something with a full warranty for a monthly payment that's not too hideous.
 
But, we'll see when we get there. As you said, "paid off" is a very nice thing!

#17481 of 18082 Re: andre1969 [andre1969] by berri

Mar 25, 2013 (9:07 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Mar 24, 2013 9:12 pm)
...and there is a good chance the Crown Vic was made in Canada by the CAW.

#17482 of 18082 Re: andre1969 [marsha7] by fezo

Mar 25, 2013 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: marsha7 (Mar 24, 2013 6:34 pm)
I know Bob will appreciate that I bought my first UAW car in quite some time - a 2004 Mazda 6 wagon. Has the UAW sticker on a side window.

#17483 of 18082 fezo by marsha7

Mar 25, 2013 (7:20 pm)

Yes, I am sitting here right now, as we speak, in deep appreciation...

Messages Page 1749 of 1809

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