Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Automotive News & Views Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?
7263 messages, Last post on May 27, 2009 at 4:31 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
With parts coming from everywhere, does "Buying American" have much meaning anymore? Is quality and price the bottom line?
|
Replying to: fezo (Oct 24, 2008 10:54 am) I think that's the kind of car where, if I needed a car and the price was right, I'd be willing to put up with it. A few years back, when my Dad was looking for a car, and we found this used '03 Regal LS for something like $10,995, I told him that if he didn't buy it, I would! I mean, I still prefer my Intrepid to it, but at the time the Trep was pushing about 86,000 miles, while this thing only had 19,500 on it. I think Buick firmed up the suspension a bit on the Regal though. I've never driven a Century from the '97-05 generation, but I heard they're really sloppy and vague. Dad doesn't drive a whole lot, and after 5 years, I think he FINALLY hit the 50,000 mile mark. The last time I saw him, for some reason he was complaining about the sloppy build quality of the car, like how the panels fit together and such. I didn't say anything but here I'm thinking wait...you've had this car for HOW long now, and you're just noticing that?! I was tempted to ask him if he's started hanging out with Honda and Toyota owners, because that was the first time I ever heard him mentioning build quality/fit and finish on a car! Still, he's happy with it, and doesn't regret buying it. I think it was actually a pretty decent car that was "almost there". If GM had just paid a bit more attention to build quality, and maybe threw an extra 50 bucks per car at the interior, they could've had a really nice car.
|
|
|
Replying to: andre1969 (Oct 24, 2008 11:23 am) He probably would have liked the LaCrosse which was just coming out. |
|
|
Replying to: captain2 (Oct 24, 2008 5:55 am) I agree with the issue of Mexican built cars, but not Canada, for the simple reason that while neither country has their own auto mfr., at least Canadians BUY our cars, while the old Beetle was for years Mexico's most popular car. As far as the money the Big 3 spend on benefits, the new contract signed makes the difference in costs under $700 per car, so close that Toyota is looking at ways of cutting costs in this country to keep their advantage. Imagine that; the union negotiates AWAY something, and automatically non-union companies look to take things away.
|
|
|
The article linked in this post talks about more than just the affect of unions on American cars but it's a good way to air out the UAW discussion for a while. tlong, "United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)" #4595, 25 Oct 2008 3:21 pm |
|
|
Replying to: cooterbfd (Oct 24, 2008 1:02 pm) you mean other than they already are building and selling them (apparently succesfullly) over there where the Buick name is quite well received? I'll generally agree with your comment about sending our money to Canada is likely preferable to sending it south - however, why should we be having to send it anywhere over any border. Maybe a nice little consumer boycott of any and all cars not assembled with US labor - with parts also not at least 75% made in this country might just make a point. http://autoreview.belproject.com/item/371 for the 'Chinese Buick' info.
|
|
|
Replying to: captain2 (Oct 27, 2008 1:36 pm) The 2010 Lacrosse will be built HERE, as will any Lucerne replacement. There is also Buick talk at "The Rebirth of Buick" as well.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: lemko (Oct 24, 2008 5:51 am) |
|
|
Replying to: lemko (Oct 24, 2008 5:56 am) No car company will build a brand-new plant in a Northeastern city in this day and age. The cost of land is too high, and there is too much congestion (which makes delivering necessary parts and materials to the facility more difficult, and thus expensive). Taxes are too high as well. |
|
| How could you leave out the most important factor of all...UNIONS ???????????? | |
You are here:
Forums
Automotive News & Views Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
