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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
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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: dglozman (Apr 16, 2009 10:03 am) I used to like Hyundai and Kia when they did their own thing. The Kia Amanti is a funky car that looks like a Buick LeSabre with an E-Class front end sporting a Chrysler grille. The previous Optima had sort of a mid-60s Mopar compact look about it - not exactly - but a touch of the flavor. Today's Kia and Hyundai cars, (aside from the Amanti) look like their bland Japanese competition. The Hyundai Sonata looks too much like an Accord and the Azera resembles a Camry. The Genesis seems to me like a knock-off of an Avalon. Which Olds 88 are we talking about? If we're talking about the gasoline-powered RWD B-body 1980-85 Olds 88, it was an excellent car I'd purchase in a New York second. If your talking about the mediocre 1986 era FWD V-6 car, it's bad but not Excel bad. Some slick salesman tried to push a new 1987 Olds 88 on me, but I bought a superior 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic instead. 1980s Ford Tempos and Chevy Cavaliers were crap and such cars are not even on my radar then or now. They were as bad as Excels IMHO. I guess if I had to get a Kia or Hyundia, the Amanti would be the one I'd most likely purchase.
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Replying to: lemko (Apr 16, 2009 10:39 am) Except occasionally when I see one on the road. My first though is " I can't believe that POS is still running", and the second is "I can't believe someone is still willing to drive it". I guess it's better than walking but only barely. Disclosure: I had the luxury (cough, cough, not) of driving an '85 Tempo for a while back in the early 90's. It was umm, yeah, better than walking.....
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Replying to: dieselone (Apr 16, 2009 10:47 am)
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Replying to: dieselone (Apr 16, 2009 10:47 am) My stepdad had a 1984 Tempo GL coupe, bought brand-new. I hated that car, but I also didn't get along with my stepdad, so that probably influenced my opinion of the car. I did get to drive it once. That was more than enough. Slow piece of junk, and made my '80 Malibu with its 115 hp V-6 feel like a musclecar in comparison. They got that car to around 160,000 miles, and then traded on a '91 Stanza, which oddly, would prove to not be nearly as reliable. The Tempo was still on its original engine and tranny, but I think they did have other problems with it. Can't remember what now, though. There's a house near my mechanic's shop with a 4-car carport. It has not one, but TWO Tempos parked underneath! Also has an AMC Hornet and, occasionally, an 80's Cutlass Supreme sedan. I guess the Cutlass is the only one that runs, since it's occasionally not there. 
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Replying to: lemko (Apr 16, 2009 10:39 am)  I made the mistake of going with that one instead of the Cutlass 442, which was RWD 180HP V8 and a better car. The Hurst dual shifter was quite the novelty. I think America can do RWD better, so I may get a Stang or Vette next for the play car. Maybe the '03-'04 Stang, or a brand new one, which in its own way is has some selling points over the previous model, though the older one, to me seems trim and shall we say really simple. The New Stang is pretty nice for 2010. The 3.5V6 though is STILL MISSING, the current V6 is OK and the V8 a very good option. As for Vettes, I still prefer the C5 look. |
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Replying to: m1miata (Apr 16, 2009 10:49 pm) Did they still use that "Lightning Rod" shifter, or whatever it was called, that late on? I know some of the earlier cars used it, like around 1983-84, but I thought they dropped it because it confused too many people? I wouldn't mind having one of those RWD 80's 442's today, or even just a regular Cutlass Supreme with the 307. I always liked them better than the Monte Carlo SS. And even though the Grand National is faster, I just prefer the relative simplicity and rugged durability of the 307 to the more complex turbo V-6.
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Replying to: lemko (Apr 16, 2009 10:39 am) One thing I find amusing about the RWD Delta 88, is that my 1985 Consumer Guide actually ripped it apart! They also tested a 1985 LeSabre coupe with the 307, a Caprice sedan with the 262 V-6, and a Parisienne sedan with the 305. Those three tested out better, and they gave a "Best Buy" rating to the Chevy and Pontiac. The main area where they ripped the Delta was stuff like build quality, fit/finish, paint quality, and interior workmanship. They did say it could have just been a bad sample, but was still inexcusable considering Olds has only been building this car for eight years! I wonder if the quality of the Delta 88 might have gone downhill some in the final year, as they rushed to finish building them and get them out the door, so they could shut down and re-tool for the downsized '86 model? That was also the LeSabre's last year, but the LeSabre wasn't nearly as strong of a seller as the Delta. So maybe with the high demand of the Delta, they were just throwing them together too quickly? |
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Replying to: andre1969 (Apr 17, 2009 4:32 am) Yeah, those were very cool cars back then. |
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Replying to: lemko (Apr 16, 2009 10:50 am) |
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Replying to: m1miata (Apr 16, 2009 10:49 pm) -Rocky |
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