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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#3839 of 7263 Re: Road to Industrial Has-Been [pahefner01] by rockylee Apr 23, 2007 (3:30 am)
Replying to: pahefner01 (Apr 22, 2007 8:59 pm) I like I said before am glad a few americans are left that think the way you do pal. I feel our way of thinking can save american jobs like the ones we are losing in the automobile industry. Look at the quality of parts we are getting in our cars, or the shabby worksmanship some have gotten in their new vehicles. Rocky
#3840 of 7263 What buying American by scape2 Apr 27, 2007 (8:03 pm)
means to me: My childrens future, the economic stability of our country, paying taxes, paying for my next meal, paying for my mortgage.. shall I go on? We are a debtor nation now. China owns millions or should I say billions in U.S. treasury bills to help our debt in this country. All these years of sending our wealth overseas has caught up to us and our childrens, children will be paying the bill with a minimum wage job! We need college and High School classes educating our children about what it really means to buy a foreign product and the short term gains and long term losses mean to our nation. This is no joke.. Get out on the net and educate yourself now! Replies to this message: bpizzuti (Apr 27, 2007 8:11 pm) rockylee (Apr 27, 2007 8:33 pm) daysailer (Apr 30, 2007 9:23 am) wheels_r_super (May 03, 2007 1:55 pm) and 2 more...
#3841 of 7263 Re: What buying American [scape2] by bpizzuti Apr 27, 2007 (8:11 pm)
Replying to: scape2 (Apr 27, 2007 8:03 pm) I'll buy an American car as soon as they start focusing on making a product that appeals to the customer better than the competition. Business isn't a charity: companies have to EARN money from those they sell to. American car companies forgot that for a long time and figured profits were simply their "due" instead. American companies are capable of being competitive and operating at a profit. The ones that do succeed. The ones that don't, fail. The CEOs of these companies are the ones that need to be educated, so they realize why they SHOULD be succeeding, and so they can start succeeding. We have some of the most talented people in the WORLD when it comes to design, marketing, manufacturing, service, et cetra. If companies don't know how to use these resources properly, maybe outfits like GM SHOULD fail. Someone else will rise to take their place (Where's Preston Tucker when you need him?).
#3842 of 7263 Re: What buying American [scape2] by rockylee Apr 27, 2007 (8:33 pm)
Replying to: scape2 (Apr 27, 2007 8:03 pm) I agree pal, and just maybe this Congress, will have the courage to level the playing field. A few bills exist yet to be voted on so we shall see. Rocky Replies to this message: daysailer (Apr 30, 2007 9:23 am) wheels_r_super (May 03, 2007 1:55 pm) lilengineerboy (May 03, 2007 2:43 pm) and 1 more...
#3843 of 7263 Re: What buying American [rockylee] by daysailer Apr 30, 2007 (9:23 am)
Replying to: rockylee (Apr 27, 2007 8:33 pm) I agree that is in our best interests for domestic producers to succeed, but what IS a domestic producer? The once "big 3" are so entangled in third world sources and offshore ownership that "domestic" is a questionable label. Similarly, "offshore" auto companies are heavily invoved in domestic production, sourcing and/or ownership that many of their products are more "domestic" than many products offered by the once "big 3". It is a global economy and any company must recognize that to compete. Will Congress "level the playing field" by mandating that all products produced outside the USA have higher defect rates or be less desirable to consumers? That would really put the once "big 3" in deep stuff! Replies to this message: wheels_r_super (May 03, 2007 1:55 pm) lilengineerboy (May 03, 2007 2:43 pm) wheels_r_super (May 04, 2007 3:00 am)
#3844 of 7263 Re: What buying American [daysailer] by wheels_r_super May 03, 2007 (1:55 pm)
Replying to: daysailer (Apr 30, 2007 9:23 am) A Pontiac Vibe is a Toyota Matrix built in Fremont Ca. The GMC 1500 was built in Canada. Might still be. The Camry is built in America with more American parts than any other car according to a previous survey. The ole folks look at you real funny when you don't buy a Ford, Chevy, whatever. So what's a guy to do. I'm going to get ripped on this one but here goes. American Company cars are great if you are going to keep it for 10 years. To ask the trade in value can be a shocking experience. Trade in value as we know it is tied to how many of them are out there unsold when you are ready to do the same thing – sell one. And that number is related to 1. The actual or anticipated reliability of the vehicle at the time of sale. 2. Number sold to rental companies. Reasons: More problems means more people trying to get rid of them. Also: People sell vehicles anticipating problems before they happen. Also: Rental cars dumped on the market after the first year – Supply vs. Demand. Honda limits production and maximizes durability. I got a Honda civic a while back. They didn’t budge on the price. But when it came time to sell, the buyers were waiting in line and the sale price stayed high. Even the buyer’s bank didn’t seem to care the price was high. GM is planning to limit production now. But, can they get by dragging that big millstone they are stuck with called Legacy Overhead? It is not going away. I hope so but I don’t see how? The Impala was a super car but at 20,000 dollars (after 3000 in rebates, the trade-in value in two years was 10,500. And that was extra low miles in showroom condition. No thanks - Time to try something else. Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (May 03, 2007 2:43 pm) wheels_r_super (May 04, 2007 3:00 am)
#3845 of 7263 Re: What buying American [wheels_r_super] by lilengineerboy May 03, 2007 (2:43 pm)
Replying to: wheels_r_super (May 03, 2007 1:55 pm) The Impala was a super car but at 20,000 dollars (after 3000 in rebates, the trade-in value in two years was 10,500. And that was extra low miles in showroom condition. No thanks - Time to try something else. Yeah my last two "domestic" cars were puchased at 2 years old with under 25k for about half the cost of new. Both were very reliable on all accounts and 10 years later were pretty much worthless. Since the original purchase price was about half of new car cost, I wasn't too concerned. I guess the resale thing depends on which side of it you are on. I am suprised CamCords do so well used, 1-2 years old they are only ~1500-2k less then a new one. Replies to this message: wheels_r_super (May 04, 2007 3:00 am)
#3846 of 7263 Re: What buying American [lilengineerboy] by wheels_r_super May 04, 2007 (3:00 am)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (May 03, 2007 2:43 pm) "It depends on which side you are on". Exactly! You done well. Take a look at the Pontiac Vibe. It now costs about the same as a Toyota Matrix. The Matrix still has a better trade-in value. It's the same car - a hatchback made on a Corolla chassis. Only difference is the skin and some instruments. One is made in CA and the other somewhere else. Both have identical drive trains, specs and CR survey rates them the same. The Vibe is seen as American. The Matrix is viewed as Japanese. But get this. Because of the runaway GM re-bate program in 04, I got a Vibe for 14,600. I drove it for 3+ years and still got a Toyota dealer to give me 10,400 for the Vibe. Not bad! Was that because the dealer believes they can sell the car quicker knowing the buyer knows it’s basically a Toyota? That's a possibility because many people do buy on “perceived reputation" vs. Price. How you drive, how long you intend to keep the vehicle, how many were for sale when you were looking, all seem to make a difference in the final cost-out.
#3847 of 7263 How do you tell which car is more American? by rockylee May 04, 2007 (4:03 am)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-03-22-american-usat_N.htm -Rocky Replies to this message: wheels_r_super (May 04, 2007 9:35 am)
#3848 of 7263 Re: How do you tell which car is more American? [rockylee] by wheels_r_super May 04, 2007 (9:35 am)
Replying to: rockylee (May 04, 2007 4:03 am) Excellent article. I can definitely relate. I wanted a Toyota but did not want to be seen in one, so got the Pontiac Vibe - Everything said Toyota including the oil filter, but except for the badge which said Pontiac. Dad was happy because it's American. Now he's upset because I finally replaced it with a Camry. Now he blames me for putting Toyota ahead of GM in sales. Something about Pearl Harbor I think. Wasn't the Japanese Zero fighter made by Mitsubishi? I know it wasn't a Toyota-Zero? Maybe the next time we attack Japan, we'll use Toyota Fighter planes built in Lordstown, Ohio??? It's your call!