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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#7195 of 7263 Re: the end [lemko] by berri Mar 16, 2009 (9:54 am)
Replying to: lemko (Mar 16, 2009 7:15 am) I think this new guy, Ed Wellburn?, at GM shows good promise. Otherwise I agree with you on current auto designers both D3 and import. There certainly isn't much design flair itching consumers into visiting the showrooms.
#7196 of 7263 Re: the end [lemko] by gagrice Mar 16, 2009 (3:58 pm)
Replying to: lemko (Mar 16, 2009 7:15 am) not the talentless hacks of today that probably let a computer do most of the work. We were by the Cadillac dealer this morning. I asked my wife what she thought of the new styling with the angular emphasis. She had the same impression as I do. It looks like they hired the same person that came up with the Transformers Cartoons. Nothing aesthetic about the newer models of Cadillac. I know why Rocky likes them. He grew up with Transformer cartoons every Saturday. Replies to this message: lilengineerboy (Mar 16, 2009 4:08 pm)
#7197 of 7263 Re: the end [gagrice] by lilengineerboy Mar 16, 2009 (4:08 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Mar 16, 2009 3:58 pm) We were by the Cadillac dealer this morning. I asked my wife what she thought of the new styling with the angular emphasis. She had the same impression as I do. It looks like they hired the same person that came up with the Transformers Cartoons. Nothing aesthetic about the newer models of Cadillac. I know why Rocky likes them. He grew up with Transformer cartoons every Saturday. Actually this is one of GMs smarter moves. They stopped designing cars for old farts that are dying off and started design them for 30-somethings. This is especially true as people get married and reproduce later now, so there are a lot of late-20s early-30s folks who are either single professionals or DINKs. My guess is Rocky is in that age group, if not that socio-economic category. I don't think you would have to threaten me a lot to get me out of the Accord and into a CTS w/a 6 speed, whereas it would take considerable threatening to get me into say, a Lexus ES350. There are plenty of shapeless amoebas out there for those follks.
#7198 of 7263 CTS by m1miata Mar 16, 2009 (6:44 pm)
The CTS was a decent effort. I liked the original exterior shape. It is getting a bit too glitzy and overdone now. If they could reel in the price to say $30K, to $32K with an automatic, I would say it is a bargain. As is, I don't know. I suppose it is just me, but the Corvette C5 looked better. Could be just me. I think I would buy a C4 or C5. New cars seem to have this theme of high doors, which are flat sided. Not too exciting to me. The wheels are larger and larger, as though a return the earliest of days, when they thought cars to be an evolution of the wagon. And those fat A pillars. Blind spots in forward view? Even my 2007 Accord is sorta fat at the A pillar = not a positive, other than for good top strength. Anyway, 56 y.o.a. I liked the old CTS. It is so interesting, or perhaps even odd, it pulls you in for a second look. Next up, the Chris Bangle look and Z3 vs, Z4, I guess for another board. Looks like BMW and Mercedes are getting bolder.... and Japan? What is really interesting is how good the old Jag XJ6 still looks today. If more narrow, I would consider one. We have narrow streets, and I prefer smaller, more narrow cars than truck width ones.
#7199 of 7263 in retrospect by prlady1 Apr 01, 2009 (9:58 am)
How interesting that this discussion began in 2006 with a speculation that seemed outlandish at the time...
#7200 of 7263 Perhaps they believe me now.. by m1miata Apr 04, 2009 (6:12 pm)
Told the people here that a GM bankruptcy was likely. Perhaps they may believe me now. Guess GM plans to hold on to Cadillac, Corvette and Chevy brands... won't they, as they head into restructuring. Just keep the RWD stuff, the rest is, well the rest, as in nothing too exciting. loren
#7201 of 7263 Brands to keep by nvbanker Apr 08, 2009 (9:26 am)
I have thought for years that GM had way too many brands. They should have 3, period. Chevrolet, Cadillac and Saturn. Looks like they're keeping GMC, which is redundancy defined, and Buick - also redundant as a cheap luxury car, and dumping Saturn, which should go back to its roots as an entry level, somewhat sporty car for young people, schoolteachers and secretaries. Replies to this message: stewpidaso (Apr 09, 2009 12:33 pm)
#7202 of 7263 nvbanker by marsha7 Apr 08, 2009 (3:48 pm)
I think it should be Chevrolet, Cadillac and either Chevy Truck or GMC Truck, and maybe the top of the line Buick could be an entry Caddy under the CTS...dump Saturn, Saab, Hummer, Pontiac and anything else I forgot...too many lines, probably too much overlap in having so many cars, and no real identity for many... Ford should dump Mercury and consolidate to Ford and Lincoln...too bad they sold Jaguar, as I would have liked it to stay in the Ford stable...Aston Martin, who needs it???...Volvo, was always in the forefront of safety and orthopedic seat technology, even back in the 60s/70s...nice to keep but I think it has been sold... Replies to this message: bpizzuti (Apr 08, 2009 4:29 pm)
#7203 of 7263 Chevy and Caddy...Period. by circlew Apr 08, 2009 (4:06 pm)
It's all about what sells. SUV's under a certain price point and trucks are exclusively Chevrolet. All upscale and specialty vehicles should be Cadillac. G8?? Chevy LaCrosse? Caddy Upscale AWD CUV/SUV?? Caddy. 2 Divisions that sell brands that are desirable, meet customer's expectations and are profitable. No More Clones (almost typed Clowns!) Prius fighter?? Chevy. Tesla S fighter?? Caddy. Easy. Regards, OW
#7204 of 7263 Re: nvbanker [marsha7] by bpizzuti Apr 08, 2009 (4:29 pm)
Replying to: marsha7 (Apr 08, 2009 3:48 pm) Actually, Mercury has some potential, if they start moving it toward being the new Mazda...slightly upscale, sporty vehicles.