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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#6539 of 7263 Re: A Plan [m1miata] by motorcity6 Nov 12, 2008 (12:54 pm)
Replying to: m1miata (Nov 12, 2008 8:47 am) Maybe Japan should advance 50 Billion to level the playing field..After all they invaded this country using ex-congressional folks who turned to the field of lobbying to fill their pockets with yen....Tradefree industrial zones were established to allow the invasion..I spent two years running the sales of a Japanese plant in the Battle Creek, Mich area..early-80s, it was a giveaway program and some of the product was "junk". Slice the union pay and get the right to run the plant..Let management's pay stand for the automotive end is a tough game..for somebody has to make decisions..The union is liberal, their game is looking for the the bad side, confusion and complaining is their goal..Spent 6 yrs running a manufacturing plant near Flint and yes, we had the UAW. We had the right to run the plant, the Big3 gave away that right..I have seen paycheck stubs on janitors making !00k/yr. in the late 90s.. The Big3 have been burning money for years, and the Govt has finally screwed GM, Ford, and Chrysler with it's ecology stance and lack of domestic oil..The whole scenerio has been in play for years.. The whack jobs pushing the "Global Climate" mantra will stiffle the country for they have a good start, and no quick fix is available..Just BS by the volumes..Take a look at the mortgage mess and the history of Freddie and Fannie, DEMOCRATS IN ACTION..Can't wait until they get their hands on HEALTH CARE.. NO HEALTH CARE IS COMING.. Replies to this message: lemko (Nov 12, 2008 1:13 pm) fintail (Nov 12, 2008 1:48 pm)
#6540 of 7263 Re: A Plan [motorcity6] by lemko Nov 12, 2008 (1:13 pm)
Replying to: motorcity6 (Nov 12, 2008 12:54 pm) Maybe Japan should also pay the United States back $billions for six+ decades of military protection lest they'd have become the Nippon Soviet Socialist Republic. Replies to this message: fintail (Nov 12, 2008 1:48 pm)
#6541 of 7263 Re: A Plan [lemko] by fintail Nov 12, 2008 (1:48 pm)
Replying to: lemko (Nov 12, 2008 1:13 pm) And then Israel and Pakistan can give us back the untold billions they've conned us into giving them, Europe can retroactively pay up for 60 years of defense...of course we'd then have to give something to the other half of Europe for throwing them to the Soviet wolves and enabling the red horror...maybe it would be a wash...or maybe it could prop up the sinking economy EU = EUSSR, NAU - NAUSSR...maybe it's destiny
#6542 of 7263 Ahhhh, so now by m1miata Nov 12, 2008 (7:18 pm)
Now the US auto industry are the victims? Of course during the better years of great profit, the same three enjoyed trampling those which got in there way, killing off the competition. The unions gladly accepted wages which were very generous. The management made wrong decisions costing billions, yet more money always came along in time to make light of it. They always knew what the customer wanted, so somehow you were to adjust to latest trend they though up. Over one hundred years time to retool for next great generation of car, yet the taxpayer now needs to chip in some extra bucks to retool -- what??? Where, or where has the greatness of American engineering and industry gone? It was not so long ago in history when the USA was top in the game. Yes, a loan is not a bad thing. Yes, keep American jobs. Yes, the union needs to be in on the plan and do their part by taking some deep cuts for a few years. Save the company - save your jobs. If management doesn't perform well in the same period of time as union workers suffer wage wise, then fire them. But by all means take deep cuts now, with the promise of earing what ever a fair sum per hour is say three to five years from now. Replies to this message: oldcem (Nov 13, 2008 8:00 pm) mcdawgg (Nov 14, 2008 5:17 am) oldcem (Nov 14, 2008 11:11 pm) and 27 more... m1miata (Nov 14, 2008 6:46 pm)
#6543 of 7263 GM, Ford, Chrysler by andres3 Nov 13, 2008 (9:34 am)
appear to only have competence and profitibility in the sale of trucks and SUV's, therefore, they should scale down to be lean and mean in that segment only. I could live with them surviving as a bit player in the auto industry, but this practice of subsidizing substandard, irrelevant, undesired, and uncompetitive cars has got to stop.
#6544 of 7263 Re: Detroit Bailout!!! [motorcity6] by nvbanker Nov 13, 2008 (11:41 am)
Replying to: motorcity6 (Nov 10, 2008 12:17 pm) Look at the bright side -- no reason to consider a move to Canada anymore!
#6545 of 7263 Re: Ahhhh, so now [m1miata] by oldcem Nov 13, 2008 (8:00 pm)
Replying to: m1miata (Nov 12, 2008 7:18 pm) You forgot that the various state and local governments have subsidized the Japanese plants for years - giving them generous tax breaks and incentives to locate in their locales. The reality of the situation - close to where I live is a huge Toyota engine plant. It got huge incentives and tax breaks to locate here. In addition, it's not only non union, but, a full third of its workers are temp. employees with limited benefits. They've already gotten their Christmas present from Toyota - All the temps are scheduled to be laid off around December 6. I have no problem with the Feds helping the domestic manufacturers level the playing field. Regards: Oldengineer Replies to this message: mcdawgg (Nov 14, 2008 5:17 am) oldcem (Nov 14, 2008 11:11 pm) imidazol97 (Nov 15, 2008 5:47 am) and 25 more... m1miata (Nov 17, 2008 2:26 pm) m1miata (Nov 14, 2008 6:46 pm)
#6546 of 7263 Re: Ahhhh, so now [oldcem] by mcdawgg Nov 14, 2008 (5:17 am)
Replying to: oldcem (Nov 13, 2008 8:00 pm) If an "American" manufacturer wanted to build right next door, they would also get "huge incentives and tax breaks". I am been in manufacturing (not auto) for 15 years, and all of the 3 companies (USA based) got tax breaks and incentives (not permanent, though). Also, my American companies have used Temps. Reason - they are TEMPORARY. We don't hire until we are very sure that we won't have to lay them off again. I would be surprised if a third of the engine plants are really temp - I'd like to see some facts, because our plant it varies from 0 to 15%, but many people in the area say we are using 25-40% - not true. My plants are non-Union, and the UAW has tried to get in - our workers have voted it down Buying American is tough these days. Many of the so-called American cars' total cost is not spent in the USA. Camry/Accord vs. Fusion/Milan - Camry/Accord has more NA part content than Fulan (50% NA parts), and Camry built in USA vs. Mexico. Yes, the Camcord profits go back to Japan (5% or less of the total). So where is the other 95% of the cost spent? Well, if you have a car built in the USA with 75% NA parts (Camry), you spend locally for most of the parts, all assembly wages and costs (overheads, incl. taxes, insurance, etc). Don't forget the utility bills, factory maintenance & repair, lawn care, cost to build the plant, etc. Just trying to point out that buying American is not as easy as buying a car with a USA name plate on it - you have to look beyond that and then decide what is most important. Replies to this message: oldcem (Nov 14, 2008 11:11 pm) imidazol97 (Nov 15, 2008 5:47 am) oldcem (Nov 16, 2008 10:08 pm) and 24 more... m1miata (Nov 17, 2008 2:26 pm)
#6547 of 7263 . by anythngbutgm Nov 14, 2008 (5:37 am)
GM can level its own playing field by cutting a bunch of dead weight brands like Saab, Hummer (obviously), and especially their 20 year money pit, Saturn. Thankfully, Ford has realized this early on when they dissolved the PAG group and selling Jag and Land Rover off why they still had an inkling of value left in them. i bet if times got really tough, they would dissolve Mercury as well...
#6548 of 7263 Press Request by KarenS HOST Nov 14, 2008 (5:57 am)
A reporter from a large local newspaper would like to speak with consumers who have ruled our purchasing a GM or Chrysler vehicle due to doubt of the company’s future. If you are a consumer who is not considering a GM or Chrysler vehicle, please respond to ctalatiedmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Monday, November 17th. Replies to this message: m1miata (Nov 14, 2008 7:00 pm)