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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?
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 23, 2008 9:58 am) Every once in awhile, I'll see a used Intrepid or Concorde with the 3.2 or 3.5 pop up for sale locally, and I'll get a bit tempted. A local used car lot just up the street from me has a 2004 Intrepid copcar for sale. 41,000 miles, $7995. And the dealer I bought my 2000 from has a well-equipped '04 ES with around 46,000 miles for $8995. I'm sure they'd be willing to deal, too....could probably get 'em for a cheap price. Maybe cheap enough to throw some big tires on my '85 Silverado and play "monster truck" 
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Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 23, 2008 10:12 am) |
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Saw the press release on the Cadillac SRX. Seems that the Art & Science gives way to a new look, which is very much the same as the Toyota Matrix. Oh well. Interesting how cars such as the CTS and the 300M by Chrysler hit the mark for style, then are replaced by designs which are perhaps not ugly, but shall we say never as good. When you get it right the first time, it is hard to top later on.
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Replying to: m1miata (Jan 04, 2009 10:18 am) But the US companies are the Kings of Disappointment. Some customers are walking away from HUGE discounts at the present level of sales. The Asians could bury the D3 for good if they really were inclined. Regards, OW |
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So I am finally catching up on the messages from before vacation. Its been interesting to read all the banter about fleet sales and the assumption they are rental fleets when in reality, commercial fleet sales, like AT&T, Comcast cable, etc are big enough buyers that Ford developed the Transit and Transit Connect to meet their needs. Secondly, do you think rental fleets make a lot of money off cars that are always broken, either so they can't be rented out or so they leave customers stranded? Riiiight, so maybe the rental car companies rent out vehicles people actually like and that are reliable and safe. I am not saying other vehicles aren't but you can't rent out a broken car, and they wouldn't be in business if that was all they had. The other thing that I find amusing is the total disbelief that the Ford and GM are on a path to success. The 2005 Fusion was well received overall, and the 2010 is improved in just about every way. Class leading fuel economy, competitive drivetrains, non-floaty suspensions, oh and the coveted red circle with the white dot in CR all seem to imply things are going the right direction. The new Taurus looks promising as well. GMs new crossovers offer a lot for the $$, as does the Malibu and CTS. Ford and GM are offering innovative powertrains with up to date features like direct injection (and in the case of Ford, turbo charging as well). Also features like auto parking, blind spot detection, and things like SYNC (Honda and Toyota still don't have a real way to control an iPod in the vehicle). While certain people are cheering for the death of American manufacturing, I think others appreciate an underdog and a good success story. I am excited about the new Ford Fusion Hybrid personally, as I think they will be great in areas where the "hybrid" insignia on a vehicle is a fashion or political statement. Oh well, back to your normal ranting about vehicles you had 15 years ago that did or didn't do what you wanted or how Japanese have better cup-holders (actually this is a safety requirement, as owners must drink coffee as to not be bored to sleep by the ride of these vehicles). Happy Motoring 
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jan 26, 2009 4:27 am) The thing I find amusing is the idea other companies are restructuring under C11 and GM and C get a free ride with terrible products and management to boot. Oh well, back to Turbo Tax to see if I can find any loophole to reduce my taxes!  Regards, OW |
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jan 26, 2009 4:27 am) GM on the other hand, is not...turns out their offer to reduce their brands was nothing but smoke and mirrors, and while the Malibu is a decent vehicle, it's overshadowed by the competition (particularly said Fusion). The crossovers are icky. Auto-parking was pioneered by Audi or Lexus I believe, though Ford has the blind spot detection and Sync. I find it interesting that most of the stuff you pointed to is Ford. Ford is really doing great..they've got a plan for survival, don't anticipate needing a bailout, have some great innovative products, etc. GM...not so much. They've got too many brands, can't shrink or eliminate any of them (or don't want to), and the only true innovation they've got coming out is the Volt. The Cruze might be good, the CTS is good, the 3-row crossovers aren't bad, the Malibu can hold up against anything except Honda, Ford, Toyota, and Nissan. it's all downhill from their in their entire lineup. Chrysler's a dead man walking. GM has a chance but they're not making the right decisions right now.
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 5:59 am)
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Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 7:50 am) Of course, Chrysler doesn't even make "adequate."
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am)
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