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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#6425 of 7263 Re: I love the old great cars. [dieselone] by imidazol97 Oct 22, 2008 (11:25 am)
Replying to: dieselone (Oct 22, 2008 10:56 am) >35 MPG highway with his 1989 Pontiac Bonneville which would essentially have the same drivetrain configuration as my Park Ave It might make a difference if they have different final drive ratios. I learned that Touring models of LeSabres had a high ratio to make them feel quicker when I was shopping for my last car. I would think that the PA would have a lower, more economical, ratio than the performance-minded Bonnevilles, but maybe not. Some forums recommend replacing oxygen sensors after 100K because they can be lazy in reaction affecting mileage. Type of fuel? Alcohol of 10% can affect mileage. Keeping speed at 55-60 greatly helps mileage. Driving 52 seems ideal with mine--two lane country highway, flat glacial leveled land. It shows up to 38 mpg for gentle driving, 35 is easy, and 33 is typical. Replies to this message: andre1969 (Oct 22, 2008 11:36 am)
#6426 of 7263 Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [nvbanker] by circlew Oct 22, 2008 (11:36 am)
Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 22, 2008 9:15 am) I am one step ahead of you. GM is dead to me as well as Chrysler. Ford is actually OK in my book except they have no cars that are appealing anymore. The LS and the older LSC were far better than any GM I've owned for both performance, quality and overall satisfaction. Lincoln died and it's too bad, really. I'll never forget that 1970 Mustang Cobra my friend let me drive with the Windsor 351. What a great performer. I'm sure the new one is OK but not for me anymore. The GM and C corp. is at the point of no return and good riddance to the old business model. I pray for all of the workers every night, however. Hopefully in the future the US Auto industry will rebuild and make the best cars in the world again without the greed this time around. We can only hope. Regards, OW Regards, OW
#6427 of 7263 Re: I love the old great cars. [imidazol97] by andre1969 Oct 22, 2008 (11:36 am)
Replying to: imidazol97 (Oct 22, 2008 11:25 am) It might make a difference if they have different final drive ratios. I learned that Touring models of LeSabres had a high ratio to make them feel quicker when I was shopping for my last car. I would think that the PA would have a lower, more economical, ratio than the performance-minded Bonnevilles, but maybe not. If Pontiac was offering a higher-performance Bonneville by that time, it might have had a quicker ratio, but I think the base models had the same ratio as Lemko's Park Ave...probably around a 2.73:1. I don't think the FWD C and H-bodies went any taller than that, but I could be wrong. Some of the RWD cars went taller than that though, especially if you only got the 3-speed instead of the overdrive automatic. My 1985 Consumer Guide has a test of a Cutlass Supreme coupe with the 307/4-speed auto, and it's mated up to a 2.14:1 axle!
#6428 of 7263 Re: I love the old great cars. [lemko] by cooterbfd Oct 22, 2008 (11:43 am)
Replying to: lemko (Oct 22, 2008 10:22 am) "Some dude was telling me he got 35 MPG highway with his 1989 Pontiac Bonneville which would essentially have the same drivetrain configuration as my Park Ave. I call shenanigans on that one! " Don't be so sure. My dad got 34 mpg in the old '88 Park Av. going to Cape Cod. Granted, he wouldn't go over 55 and the car was only 3 years old at the time, but if you baby it, it's possible. Replies to this message: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 12:14 pm) m1miata (Oct 22, 2008 1:09 pm)
#6429 of 7263 Re: I love the old great cars. [cooterbfd] by fezo Oct 22, 2008 (12:14 pm)
Replying to: cooterbfd (Oct 22, 2008 11:43 am) I kind of figure that the last American maker left standing will probably survive. I would still bet on that being GM but they could surprise me yet and have it be Ford. Doing silly things like this Chrysler merger is a wild card for me. My guess is they want to do what Daimler did which is shake all the money out and then punt. Speaking earlier of early 80s American cars I saw a Citation yesterday! Is there another car in the last three decades that did more to kill GM's reputation? This was a two door in white. looked its age but was still going. I am constantly amazed at the mpg numbers one can pull out of old Park Avenues and such. There are times when there's a lot to be said for simpler old technology and buying cars by the pound... Replies to this message: m1miata (Oct 22, 2008 1:09 pm)
#6430 of 7263 Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [fezo] by myershift Oct 22, 2008 (1:07 pm)
Replying to: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 8:27 am) And that's the rationale that is terrible flawed with the auto buying public in the United States. Even if domestic automakers assemble cars and pay workers in say, Canada or Mexico, the profits ultimately go back to the home country's companies. Those profits are what help develop new models, more factories and workers in the U.S. The kind of thinking demonstrated here is one reason why U.S. automakers are flailing so badly. Just because a Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, or BMW are put together in the U.S., this does NOT make them an American car and the profits made from those cars do ultimately go back to Japan or Germany; depending on the brand. If Americans do not care about their own industries, don't care about how the government runs the nation or anything else, then any one of those that claim to be a "patriot" is a full on flaming hypocrite. Replies to this message: m1miata (Oct 22, 2008 1:19 pm) fezo (Oct 22, 2008 1:46 pm) circlew (Oct 22, 2008 1:57 pm) and 7 more... tlong (Oct 22, 2008 8:38 pm) captain2 (Oct 23, 2008 2:06 pm) cooterbfd (Oct 23, 2008 2:26 pm) and 12 more... imidazol97 (Oct 23, 2008 4:52 pm) and 6 more... manegi (Oct 22, 2008 9:11 pm) circlew (Oct 23, 2008 3:03 am) hudsonthedog (Oct 23, 2008 7:19 am)
#6431 of 7263 Re: I love the old great cars. [fezo] by m1miata Oct 22, 2008 (1:09 pm)
Replying to: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 12:14 pm) Well, I guess the Citation, though gone in short order, was a building platform for FWD GM cars to come. So to that end, it had some value. Not that I particularly like any of the FWD cars over the RWD. Early 70's cars by GM were pretty cool still, like the Cutlass. Heck, I would like an old Camaro too! Sad to see Chrysler cut up and disassembled as a company. Alas, we saw that train wreck a coming down the rail. As I told the salesman, some months back, that, " is that lifetime warranty for the car or the life of the company?"
#6432 of 7263 Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [myershift] by m1miata Oct 22, 2008 (1:19 pm)
Replying to: myershift (Oct 22, 2008 1:07 pm) American customers did not leave GM, Ford and Chrysler, as much as, GM, Ford and Chrysler left their customers behind. You can not blame the victim for the crime. Well, I guess you can, but to this juror, it won't work. Every opportunity was given to the Big 3 & the Union Workers, by way of forward momentum, as the Big 3 was basically all cars on the road in the US of A for many year. It was there game to lose. At this late stage of the game, perhaps an emergency meeting by the Unions, and the workers taking a 1/4 to 1/3 cut in pay, and paying their own health insurance until the company is back on its feet, is in order. And those retired should take a cut in benefits too. The management should then announce similar cuts for executives. I fear there is no easy solution to GM having too many different brands, and dealerships. They need but Chevy and Caddy, but have no easy way to get there, other than bankruptcy. And that would hurt confidence in owning the cars, thus future customers may shy away. I foresee the US government owning some car company stock, along with bank stocks, within the year. But not Chrysler. -Loren Replies to this message: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 1:46 pm) circlew (Oct 22, 2008 1:57 pm) fezo (Oct 22, 2008 2:22 pm) and 6 more...
#6433 of 7263 Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [m1miata] by fezo Oct 22, 2008 (1:46 pm)
Replying to: m1miata (Oct 22, 2008 1:19 pm) The argument about where the money goes if you buy an American made foreign car has been gone over again and again but I'll take another shot. My cars were made of at least 65% American parts. Parts made in the USA. Profits from making those parts goo to the suppliers. A large piece of making these was made in paying the labor - 100% American. Once you sort it all out and get down to the actual profit in the car it gets paid to the shareholders. Whether you buy a Toyota, Honda, Chevy, Ford or whatever these people are located all over the world. The idea that Japanese buy Japanese stocks while Americans buy American stocks doesn't hold up. Replies to this message: circlew (Oct 22, 2008 1:57 pm) fezo (Oct 22, 2008 2:22 pm) andre1969 (Oct 22, 2008 4:15 pm) and 3 more... lemko (Oct 23, 2008 6:16 am) and 1 more...
#6434 of 7263 Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [fezo] by circlew Oct 22, 2008 (1:57 pm)
Replying to: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 1:46 pm) I hear you. Hopefully everyone will get it eventually. It's about making great products. Remember T.V.? Admiral, anyone? When you make it better, customers take notice. Period. You can't set a price and then give your profits away in incentives to grow sales year after year. Not with a flawed cost base. Oh, and disregard market changes. Reminds me of the British army in the Revolutionary War. Never break formation. OK, easy picken's! Too bad GM did not see their formation being picked off by the Asians. Look out below! Regards, OW Replies to this message: fezo (Oct 22, 2008 2:22 pm) andre1969 (Oct 22, 2008 4:15 pm) dieselone (Oct 22, 2008 4:39 pm) and 2 more... lemko (Oct 23, 2008 6:16 am) andre1969 (Oct 23, 2008 7:17 am)