Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

7263 messages, Last post on May 27, 2009 at 4:31 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?

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#2072 of 7263 Lighter? by ubbermotor Mar 22, 2006 (9:27 am)
Cars havent' really gotten lighter. Mid-sized Chevies for example; 1965 2,870-3,355 lbs 1970 3,142-3,880 lbs 1975 3,642-4,331 lbs 1985 2,689-2,983 lbs 1995 3,330-3,372 lbs 2006 3,200-3,400 lbs Now consider the heaviest one this list was a station wagon with a 7.4 liter V-8 and seating for 8. A 65 Maulibu SS 396 wagon weighed less than a new V-6 Malibu Maxx. 3 reason, safety, emissions, electronic wizardry.
#2073 of 7263 Re: In some ways... [fwdbuilder] by andre1969 Mar 22, 2006 (9:40 am)
Replying to: fwdbuilder (Mar 21, 2006 8:11 pm) So dude, when can I get you to come over to tinker with my '76 LeMans? I figure if you got that kind of economy out of your Toro and Toro Custom Cruiser hybrid, you should be able to get my LeMans into the lower 30's!
#2074 of 7263 Re: My understanding... [andre1969] by bumpy Mar 22, 2006 (10:24 am)
Replying to: andre1969 (Mar 22, 2006 7:29 am) Okay, I can kinda see what's going on in this pic: http://www.carnut.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/photo/contrib/law/rpic015.jpg The chain drive mounts on the back of the bell housing over to the slushbox, and the ring gear is that hump beneath the head. Pretty much a regular FWD setup turned sideways. The axle shaft running through the oilpan to the right wheel must be fun to work on.
#2075 of 7263 Re: How did they... [bumpy] by fwdbuilder Mar 22, 2006 (11:34 am)
Replying to: bumpy (Mar 22, 2006 7:12 am) The TH-425 was basically a TH-400 severed aft of the torque converter. An extremely hefty chain drive (similar to timing chain) was mounted to the truncated transmission and the remainder of the transmission and differential mounted below for FWD applications. Because it is basically a TH-400, it is one of the best transmissions ever made, BUT was over-engineered for introduction in the Toronado . . . and then it was used in the FWD GMC motorhomes (73-78). There's currently a picture of one at: http://www.kitcarmagazine.com/Classifieds/Item-Details.asp?id=99 The outer axles were then bolted up to the differential If you'd like to read more about the Toronado design and introduction, one of many info sites is at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Toronado Later GM FWD transmissions are similar in design -- putting the torque converter on the back (side in transverse mounts) of the engine and then connect it to the rest via a heavy time-chain style chain, with the differential an integral part of the bottom part of the housing (hence "transaxle"), or bolted directly to the end as the older Toronados, Eldorados, and GMC motorhomes were. In this original setup, the bottom part of the tranny was nestled along the bottom left side of the engine -- see picture in above link, and you'll see the traditional bell housing that bolted to the back of the engine. The Toro and Eldo setups are excellent for building your own "anything" b/c you have "everything in one compact package -- just cut the frame behind the torsion bar cross memeber . . . and you're ready to "graft" it to what ever you want! I've thought about one day taking one and fitting it to the front of an Airsteam trailer to make up my own custom FWD motor home . . . I currently have an "extra" 78 Eldo, tho I'd rather have the 455 engine in the package . . . Oh well, I dream on . . .
#2076 of 7263 American Economy by ateixeira Mar 22, 2006 (2:31 pm)
Well, if you buy a GM car made in Canada, and GM is losing money on every sale, you're not really helping the US economy very much. It's like GM is subsidizing the Canadian economy and you're buying a car at their loss. -juice
#2077 of 7263 Re: Buying American what does it mean? [scape2] by bobad Mar 22, 2006 (3:23 pm)
Replying to: scape2 (Mar 20, 2006 7:28 pm) Looks like GM sees the writing on the wall: Employee welfare doesn't work in a world economy. They simply can't compete with prices and quality coming from leaner manufacturers any more. They are buying out a lot of employee retirement packages and trying to salvage the company. I heard a stunning statistic today: Average absenteeism among UAW shops, 12%. Absenteeism among the new Southern assembly plants, 2%. Unbelievable. Replies to this message: rockylee (Mar 24, 2006 3:20 am) bobad (Mar 24, 2006 5:04 am)
#2078 of 7263 Re: Buying American what does it mean? [bobad] by rockylee Mar 24, 2006 (3:20 am)
Replying to: bobad (Mar 22, 2006 3:23 pm) Yeah, because if you do get sick and you work for an asian implant you get fired. If you get hurt on the job, they will look for a way to fire you. You can be replaced like a piece of meat. I do question that 12% figure. I'm just curious where you coughed that one up from ? I'm sure the Nazi source also threw in vacations in that statistic to blow up that number. BTW- when your average plant age is 55 years old and you've had nearly 30 years or so on the assembly line, your going to have a bit more absentism. Toyota's workforce is in there 20's and 30's. Once you reach your 40's they start sizing your neck up for the guillotine. Rocky Replies to this message: bobad (Mar 24, 2006 5:04 am)
#2079 of 7263 Re: Buying American what does it mean? [rockylee] by bobad Mar 24, 2006 (5:04 am)
Replying to: rockylee (Mar 24, 2006 3:20 am) I got the absenteeism figure from one of the nightly business programs on TV, FWIW. I suspect that most absenteeism is among the 20-something's, not the graybeards. There's nothing wrong with benefits, but under the current system, there is way too much waste and abuse. The inmates are currently running the asylyum, and that is bound to fail sooner or later. It's amazing it lasted this long. It's a testament to American ingenuity to compete successfully for so long with so many anchors around our necks. The business climate in America is among the world's worst, and it is inevitably reflected in the products we produce. I just bought a new car, and I REALLY wanted it to be an American brand. Unfortunately, the Ford I was eyeing is now made in Mexico. Inestead, I chose a "Korean" car that's made in Alabama. More of my money stayed in the USA than if I had chosen the Ford.
#2080 of 7263 Absenteeism by ateixeira Mar 24, 2006 (7:34 am)
I bet some of the difference has to do with more modern procedures being in place in the newer plants, things to prevent CTS and other repetitive motion injuries. -juice Replies to this message: mayberryguy (Mar 24, 2006 12:16 pm) mayberryguy (Mar 24, 2006 12:19 pm) ateixeira (Mar 24, 2006 12:34 pm)
#2081 of 7263 Re: Absenteeism [ateixeira] by mayberryguy Mar 24, 2006 (12:16 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 24, 2006 7:34 am) I bet some of the difference has to do with more modern procedures being in place in the newer plants, things to prevent CTS and other repetitive motion injuries. That is part of it and most of the transplants give an attendance bonus for not missing work.