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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#6905 of 7263 Intersting reading by lilengineerboy Jan 26, 2009 (4:27 am)
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 Replies to this message: circlew (Jan 26, 2009 4:49 am) bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 5:59 am) lemko (Jan 26, 2009 7:50 am) bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am) and 35 more...
#6906 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [lilengineerboy] by circlew Jan 26, 2009 (4:49 am)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jan 26, 2009 4:27 am) I am Happy Mototring in my CR-V. Good Luck to the good underdog story...I'll check back in 3 years to see if I like anything. For now, the Corvette is the only thing that is desirable. 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
#6907 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [lilengineerboy] by bpizzuti Jan 26, 2009 (5:59 am)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jan 26, 2009 4:27 am) Remove the GM stuff and I agree with you. Ford is on an excellent path. 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. Replies to this message: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 7:50 am) bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am) berri (Jan 26, 2009 8:47 am) and 34 more...
#6908 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [bpizzuti] by lemko Jan 26, 2009 (7:50 am)
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 5:59 am) The Malibu can hold up against anything. Replies to this message: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am) berri (Jan 26, 2009 8:47 am) lemko (Jan 26, 2009 11:44 am) and 9 more... captain2 (Jan 28, 2009 9:19 am) and 23 more...
#6909 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [lemko] by bpizzuti Jan 26, 2009 (8:21 am)
Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 7:50 am) I disagree. it's not a bad vehicle, but Ford, Toyota and Honda have set the bar pretty high when it comes to midsize sedans. Adequate just isn't good enough in that segment. Of course, Chrysler doesn't even make "adequate." Replies to this message: berri (Jan 26, 2009 8:47 am) lemko (Jan 26, 2009 11:44 am) bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) and 8 more... captain2 (Jan 28, 2009 9:19 am) dave8697 (Jan 28, 2009 7:40 pm) and 22 more...
#6910 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [bpizzuti] by berri Jan 26, 2009 (8:47 am)
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am) I don't think people are rooting aginst Detroit. It's just that they've been burned too many times with false promises and mediocrity at best. I think a lot of people are waiting to see how these new Detroit models hold up over 3-6 years before dropping their money on one. I have to wonder that if Detroit really has vehicles that will hold up long term as well as Toyota or Honda, why don't they put a Hyundai type warranty on them? There is a lot of Detroit talk, but little action. Chrysler has the very limited powertrain thing, but that's about it. Personally, I keep cars around 6 or 7 years, so this initial quality stuff doesn't mean much to me. Replies to this message: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 11:44 am) bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) farout (Jan 27, 2009 12:18 pm) and 5 more... andre1969 (Jan 27, 2009 12:31 pm) and 1 more... captain2 (Jan 28, 2009 9:19 am) dave8697 (Jan 28, 2009 7:40 pm) captain2 (Jan 29, 2009 7:16 am) and 21 more...
#6911 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [berri] by lemko Jan 26, 2009 (11:44 am)
Replying to: berri (Jan 26, 2009 8:47 am) I don't have to wonder. My Buick Park Avenue and Cadillac Brougham have held up extremely well for 21 and 20 years respectively. I agree that it wouldn't hurt them to have a Hyundai type warranty anyway. I thought Chrysler already had a lifetime warranty? Replies to this message: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) farout (Jan 27, 2009 12:18 pm) bpizzuti (Jan 28, 2009 3:45 am) and 4 more... andre1969 (Jan 27, 2009 12:31 pm) lemko (Jan 28, 2009 9:31 am)
#6912 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [lemko] by bpizzuti Jan 26, 2009 (12:05 pm)
Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 11:44 am) I thought Chrysler already had a lifetime warranty? That's the the lifetime of Chrysler, which means all of those warranties will go bust within a year. Replies to this message: farout (Jan 27, 2009 12:18 pm) bpizzuti (Jan 28, 2009 3:45 am) gearhead1977 (Jan 28, 2009 7:07 am) and 3 more... andre1969 (Jan 27, 2009 12:31 pm) lemko (Jan 28, 2009 9:31 am)
#6913 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [bpizzuti] by farout Jan 27, 2009 (12:18 pm)
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) Do you own a Chrysler vehicle with a Lifetime Powertain Warranty? I doubt it very much. So....why the heck are you so concerned about their warranty? I have bought 17 Chrysler made vehicles and I currently own a Pacifica Touring AWD with the Lifetime warranty. I am not concerned about Chrysler being able to up hold their warranty. Personally I am rather hacked off at those who gripe about "American" made vehicles, and those who have nothing good to say about anything but Asian made vehicles. farout Replies to this message: bpizzuti (Jan 28, 2009 3:45 am) gearhead1977 (Jan 28, 2009 7:07 am) bpizzuti (Jan 28, 2009 7:08 am) and 1 more... circlew (Jan 28, 2009 7:11 am)
#6914 of 7263 Re: Intersting reading [bpizzuti] by andre1969 Jan 27, 2009 (12:31 pm)
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) That's the the lifetime of Chrysler, which means all of those warranties will go bust within a year. I know I shouldn't laugh, considering I've tended to have a preference for Chrysler products, but that was pretty funny. Gotta admit, I was thinking the same thing! Replies to this message: lemko (Jan 28, 2009 9:31 am)