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?

Outline

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#6309 of 7263 Re: Toyota foreign made? [farout] by circlew Sep 27, 2008 (6:29 pm)
Replying to: farout (Sep 27, 2008 5:04 pm) Far out, indeed. I see you know everything about cars! Regards, OW
#6310 of 7263 Re: The Slide continues... [obyone] by circlew Sep 27, 2008 (6:32 pm)
Replying to: obyone (Sep 27, 2008 5:56 pm) I'd seriously consider Major Guard for your next GM vehicle. I will do just that! Hope they stay in business until Hell Freezes Over! Appreciate your feed back and glad the Denali stayed in one piece. Regards, OW
#6311 of 7263 GM reliability by mbtomg Sep 27, 2008 (8:28 pm)
I was reading back on some of the posts here, and was reminded why I never wanted another GM car. My ex- bought a Pontiac that I litterally had to rebuild when it was new. The parking brake locked (incorrect installation) stopping at a store the day we bought it new! Dealer was amazed how they could mess it up. Radio didn't work at the same time, dealer discovered the harness for the various speakers was cut and randomly reconnected and shorted out! The next month we lowered the drivers window, and it fell into the door! The tale went on for over a year. I could tell the motor was a perfect one (luck?), so we kept at the dealer with our warranty book, and kept the car. It had 399,000+ the last I saw it. Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Sep 28, 2008 4:21 am) circlew (Sep 28, 2008 4:49 am) dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 6:27 am) lemko (Sep 28, 2008 8:30 am) and 3 more...
#6312 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [mbtomg] by lilengineerboy Sep 28, 2008 (4:21 am)
Replying to: mbtomg (Sep 27, 2008 8:28 pm) My ex- bought a Pontiac that I litterally had to rebuild when it was new. What Pontiac was it? Year, make and model?
#6313 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [mbtomg] by circlew Sep 28, 2008 (4:49 am)
Replying to: mbtomg (Sep 27, 2008 8:28 pm) I feel for you. My '97 GP GTP was great until 60K and then weird things kept happening. The engine was great, however. It's those annoying sub-par parts that kill the brand. I'll never understand the philosophy of the US manufacturers. Make it bulletproof and these perceptions would disappear. Still waiting................................................................. Regards, OW Replies to this message: dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 6:27 am) lemko (Sep 28, 2008 8:30 am) circlew (Sep 28, 2008 9:12 am) and 1 more... dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 11:50 am)
#6314 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [circlew] by dieselone Sep 28, 2008 (6:27 am)
Replying to: circlew (Sep 28, 2008 4:49 am) I feel for you. My '97 GP GTP was great until 60K and then weird things kept happening. The engine was great, however. It's those annoying sub-par parts that kill the brand. I'll never understand the philosophy of the US manufacturers. Make it bulletproof and these perceptions would disappear. No kidding. I never had any engine issues with my Suburban, but everything surrounding the engine was horrible. I do think GM is getting better, but it's just a tough marketplace. If your looking at a new car and are looking for the best choice in each segment regardless of make, how many are going to pick a Ford, GM, or Chrysler? GM only has two sedans I would consider, the Malibu and CTS. But on further review are those the best choices? Their are legitimate reasons why I'd probably pick an Accord or the new Mazda 6 over a Malibu and the new Acura TL or G35 over a CTS. That said, I would prefer to buy a domestic and I'd buy a car used so the fact that I could buy a used Malibu or CTS for less than the foreign competition would mean that I would forgo the best car and and go with the better deal. Replies to this message: lemko (Sep 28, 2008 8:30 am) circlew (Sep 28, 2008 9:12 am) dave8697 (Sep 29, 2008 9:04 am) dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 11:50 am)
#6315 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [dieselone] by lemko Sep 28, 2008 (8:30 am)
Replying to: dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 6:27 am) When you get a good look at the new Acura TL's styling, you might get over you're infatuation with it. It looks more like it should be fighting Godzilla rather than cruising down the turnpike. Who approved that awful nose? The Infiniti G35 isn't AS strange, but still looks like it was conceived in Bizzaro World. What's with those Asian stylists? Either their cars are as bland as styrofoam rice cakes or look like they were designed in Toho Studios. Asian cars' styling is probably the biggest turn-off for me and makes me wonder why somebody would want to be seen in such a conveyance. Reliability? Resale value? Sure, I can marry an ugly woman who's extremely loyal, a fantastic lover, a great cook, and great with the kids, but I'd still be ashamed to be seen with her. Replies to this message: circlew (Sep 28, 2008 9:12 am) dave8697 (Sep 29, 2008 9:04 am) dieselone (Sep 28, 2008 11:50 am)
#6316 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [lemko] by circlew Sep 28, 2008 (9:12 am)
Replying to: lemko (Sep 28, 2008 8:30 am) Reliability? Resale value? Sure, I can marry an ugly woman who's extremely loyal, a fantastic lover, a great cook, and great with the kids, but I'd still be ashamed to be seen with her. As Donald Trump recently said" How Vain!" Nashville, Tenn., 08.16.2008 -- When you have a vehicle line – say the Infiniti G – that has chalked up award after award, topped comparison test after comparison test, and endeared itself to a growing legion of passionate owners, what do you do for an encore? If you happen to be a world-class performance luxury brand – say like Infiniti – the answer is simple: Everything. DETROIT (Dec. 12, 2007) –Nissan’s VQ37VHR engine has been named to the 10 Best Engines list by Ward’s Automotive Group, marking the 14th straight year a VQ series engine has earned that distinction. It is the only engine that has been included every year since the award began in 1995. Ward’s evaluated the VQ37VHR, mated to a six-speed manual transmission, in the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe. The Infiniti G37 marks the first application of the new 3.7-liter V6 engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift). Rated at 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, the new engine contains approximately 35 percent new and unique parts from the Infiniti G35 sedan’s VQ35HR engine, which was included in Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2007. 2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: BY VEHICLE CATEGORY SEDAN: Honda Civic LUXURY:BMW 6 Series COUPE: Infiniti G37 PICKUP: Toyota Tundra CONVERTIBLE: MINI Cooper SPORT UTILITY: Acura MDX WAGON: Scion xB VAN / MINIVAN: Honda Odyssey HATCHBACK: Scion tC HYBRID: Honda Civic Hybrid HIGH PERFORMANCE: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2008 BEST RESALE VALUE: TOP 10 MODELS Chevrolet Corvette Scion xB Honda Civic Toyota Corolla Infiniti G37 Volkswagen Eos MINI Cooper Volkswagen Jetta Scion tC Volkswagen Rabbit The moral of this story is: Never mention resale value if you own an American car brand. NEVER.....unless you own a Corvette! Did I mention I want one of these? Regards, OW Replies to this message: dave8697 (Sep 29, 2008 9:04 am)
#6318 of 7263 Re: GM reliability [lemko] by dieselone Sep 28, 2008 (11:50 am)
Replying to: lemko (Sep 28, 2008 8:30 am) When you get a good look at the new Acura TL's styling, you might get over you're infatuation with it I'm not infatuated with the TL, if I was the CTS wouldn 't be a consideration. I really like the looks of the CTS. I haven't test drove one, but I certianly would if I was in the market for that type of car. That said, I've sampled GMs 3.6/6speed combo in fwd applications and IMO it doesn't feel like a premium engine/trans combo. Typical of GM v6's it gets coarse when reved, the 6speed auto doesn't like to downshift, another trait of GM transmissions that really bothers me. That may not be an issue for the masses, but it's something that really drives me nuts and could be a reason for me to choose another car over the CTS. I hated that my Suburban nearly had to be floored to downshift. The new 6speed trans I tested in a Denali was the same way as was a Saturn Aura XR 3.6 I drove. I've read many of the same complaints in most rags on this issue.