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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#6651 of 7263 Re: cooter [marsha7] by steve_ HOST Dec 03, 2008 (10:53 am)
Replying to: marsha7 (Dec 03, 2008 10:06 am) My understanding is that it's not the client interaction or even pulling simple boilerplate together. It's trying to find out how the court would handle a certain situation and having the Indian lawyer research past cases and write up a memo. It's up to the lawyer in the states to interpret the memo, review the work and apply the research to the case in the office. And you get the memo for lots cheaper than having an associate do it. The HP story rings true too - there's two HP engineers on my block. One deals with counterparts in India and Japan and the 12 hour time difference is a hassle. But a request gets emailed out and the next morning, there's some code in the inbox waiting to be reviewed. If it passes muster, it may go into the firmware of the printer under development. GM could have a design group sending off problems to China or India - like, how do we make the Sierra 1500's drive train fit into a compact SUV and get a magic seat to fit. Then, if gas remained cheap, parts could be manufactured offshore for final assembly somewhere. Freight and currency issues will probably limit that. But all the paper stuff like dealer warranty claims could be processed offshore. Not to mention lots of engineering. There must be CAD stuff going on now involving engineers on different continents.
#6652 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by gagrice Dec 03, 2008 (12:59 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 9:27 am) Hybrid buses not all that was expected. What they don't tell you is they cost about $300,000 more than a conventional bus. Most cities that have bought them are finding they Never pay back the higher cost. They would be better off with a CNG bus. Replies to this message: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 1:09 pm) gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 2:18 pm)
#6653 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [gagrice] by 62vetteefp Dec 03, 2008 (1:09 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 12:59 pm) What they don't tell you is they cost about $300,000 more than a conventional bus. Most cities that have bought them are finding they Never pay back the higher cost. Little closer to $100,000. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-21-masstransithybrids_N.htm Mass-transit systems across the USA are accelerating orders for diesel-electric hybrid buses, despite an extra cost of more than $100,000 per bus. Four U.S. cities recently ordered more than 1,700 hybrid buses, General Motors, one of two major manufacturers of hybrid bus systems, plans to announce today. The orders include 950 for Washington, D.C., 480 for Philadelphia and 300 for Minneapolis and St. Paul. Last month, New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority — which began experimenting with the buses in 1998 — ordered 850 with systems from GM competitor BAE Systems, MTA spokesman Charles Seaton said. Hybrids are becoming the buses of choice for public transit systems trying to improve efficiency and reduce environmental damage, despite the fact that better fuel mileage won't necessarily recoup the extra costs, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). "Hybrids would appear to be what's coming into favor," APTA President William Millar said. This was the analysis when gas was at $3. So perhaps at $5 it may break even or better? (not sure what diesel cost was but I assume the delta was comparable to gas) Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 2:18 pm)
#6654 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by anythngbutgm Dec 03, 2008 (1:13 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 9:27 am) And this one too Replies to this message: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 1:20 pm) circlew (Dec 03, 2008 1:34 pm) joshuag (Dec 04, 2008 1:11 am) and 37 more... m1miata (Dec 03, 2008 6:04 pm) anythngbutgm (Dec 04, 2008 9:14 am) andre1969 (Dec 04, 2008 9:17 am) 62vetteefp (Dec 04, 2008 10:53 am) and 1 more...
#6655 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [anythngbutgm] by 62vetteefp Dec 03, 2008 (1:20 pm)
Replying to: anythngbutgm (Dec 03, 2008 1:13 pm) 20 mpg city and highway. Pretty amazing vehicle. Too bad gas is going below $1 again. Paid $1.50 today. Hey thats a good question. When do we think gas will go below $1? Many here said it would be up to $5 by now. Replies to this message: circlew (Dec 03, 2008 1:34 pm) joshuag (Dec 04, 2008 1:11 am) gagrice (Dec 04, 2008 5:57 am) and 36 more... m1miata (Dec 03, 2008 6:04 pm) anythngbutgm (Dec 04, 2008 9:14 am) andre1969 (Dec 04, 2008 9:17 am) 62vetteefp (Dec 04, 2008 10:53 am) gagrice (Dec 05, 2008 7:42 am)
#6656 of 7263 Re: Prius Owners, "The caring crowd" [motorcity6] by circlew Dec 03, 2008 (1:30 pm)
Replying to: motorcity6 (Dec 03, 2008 10:05 am) Now with petrol under $2.00, your local Toy dealer will kiss your backside and throw in the store to get them off the lot. Considering GM sales in November during the Red Tag Event, I'll bet we will see a lot of smooching with the customers in December for those trucks and SUV's hanging around the lots! There are thousands of 'em just rotting!! Regardless of the vehicles produced by the D3(or 2 or 1), if they are crap going forward, people will never buy them. If they are class leaders in build quality and dependability and are super efficient, they will sell. Hybrid or ICE. Regards, OW
#6657 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by circlew Dec 03, 2008 (1:34 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 1:20 pm) $12-15K premium for the Hybrid Escalade. Like I said, very bad value proposition. The thing will be rusting before break even is reached at $5.00/gallon. Nice attempt but it's still an overblown Tahoe. Regards, OW Replies to this message: joshuag (Dec 04, 2008 1:11 am) gagrice (Dec 04, 2008 5:57 am) andre1969 (Dec 04, 2008 6:09 am) anythngbutgm (Dec 04, 2008 6:14 am) and 2 more... bumpy (Dec 04, 2008 8:38 am) and 31 more...
#6658 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by gagrice Dec 03, 2008 (2:18 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 1:09 pm) Last month, New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority — which began experimenting with the buses in 1998 — ordered 850 with systems from GM competitor BAE Systems, MTA spokesman Charles Seaton said. That's buying American for you. Isn't BAE a large British company? And Bloomberg is wanting to raise taxes as the city is going broke. This whole country is run by lunatics.
#6659 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by m1miata Dec 03, 2008 (5:46 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 9:27 am) That bus is pretty cool, but won't fit in my driveway... Ya know there should be a new and improved bus system in America. I recall, all so many years ago, when Greyhound bus had many buses coming and going out of a really neat and clean looking building in our little city. Buses came in through one side of the block and drove on leaving out the front of the other side of the block. Today it is but a small building, not open all night, and is in rather beat up shape.
#6660 of 7263 Re: Big Day Coming Up!!!!!!!! [62vetteefp] by m1miata Dec 03, 2008 (6:04 pm)
Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 03, 2008 1:20 pm) But gas did hit $5 in California. While it is surely fine to have the cheap gas for say a nice RWD V8 sports car, I would not buy today based on current $2 gas, if you know that you would not feel you could afford up to $5 per gallon gas. Well, that is unless you have some crystal ball telling you all is well going ahead. Love the price we are in, but don't bet on it staying for a long - long time. My guess, as guessing goes, is that the range in California will be as low as $1.75 and as high as $3.50 or better by next year. Within a couple to three years, depression not figured in, gas prices could top the $3.50 and go into $4+ again. Isn't the real value adjusted for inflation for gas between $2.75 and $3.50 per gallon? Personally, while I would love to have the ol' V8 powered car again, it would more likely be the pleasure machine, while keeping my V6 or even going back to i4 for a travel car. I can see know reason to drive a car, even if a V8, which can not achieve at least say 22-24MPG on the freeway. Once the economy recovers, gas should be around $2.75 to $3.50, with ease. If we slip into a depression, I guess a V8 which gets 14MPG may be OK for a second car, as gas may remain low, or should I say go as low as you indicated into the $1.50 per gal.