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: 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.
|
|
|
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 5:59 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 7:50 am) Of course, Chrysler doesn't even make "adequate."
|
|
|
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 8:21 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: berri (Jan 26, 2009 8:47 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 11:44 am) That's the the lifetime of Chrysler, which means all of those warranties will go bust within a year. 
|
|
|
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) 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
|
|
|
Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 26, 2009 12:05 pm) 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!
|
|
|
I looked at my budget and then saw what part of it went to America and what part went to foreign built products. I was suprised that 35% of my gross income went to taxes collected by various governments. I was also suprised that 9% went to insurance so that I don't lose too big a part of what the 56% that was then left has enabled me to acquire through the years. 96.2% of my expenses went to American entities. 3.8% went to foreign entities. Part of that 3.8% was $67 a month to Best Buy for a Sharp TV bought on 18 months no interest. I think it was made in China. Gasoline was assumed to be 1/3 foreign. I was suprised at how little disposable income I have and how I am driven to spend that chunk on foreign products. Trying to steer that 3 or 4% into American products would take a lot of effort. Too bad that everyone's 3 or 4% is going to China these days. Got to stay busy getting the gov't their 35% and don't have time to search for American choices. The other 96% American? it goes to everything else: the water plant employees, ATT employees, the tellers at the bank, the guys who built my house, burn coal at the electric plant, pipe in the natural gas, the gov't employees with their awesome pensions, and the wealthy insurance company owners and employees. None of these industries are suffering much in this recession. They keep getting 96% and there is no way to reduce what I have to pay them. Maybe that's why McCain said in the late spring that the economy was fundamentally sound. I could see how buying a new foreign car could more than double the % to foreign. Of course it has to take away from buying American, doubling the impact, unless I got a big raise as I bought the foreign car. The 3.8% is harmful. 5% more on a foreign car is even worse. Turning the tables: If I were a typical Japanese person, what would be my % spent on American products? I actually can't think of anything they would buy. maybe the soybeans in their soy sauce? Maybe the raw wood in their house? Maybe the scrap steel molecules in their Toyota? The guy next to me got laid off today. How far down will we ride the foreign purchase spiral? Obama has so little dial to turn for the economy.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: dave8697 (Jan 27, 2009 6:23 pm) |
|
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
