Buying American: What does it mean to you?
Monday October 23, 2006
There are a lot of Americans who prefer to buy American cars. The thing is, not all American cars are built in America; many American-branded cars are actually built in Canada or Mexico. By the same token, foreign automakers like Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai build many of their cars here in the States. And then there are foreign automakers, such as Jaguar, Mazda and Saab, which are owned in part or in whole by American companies.
So, I put the question to you: What, exactly, constitutes "buying American" -- American brand, American built, or both? And how much does a company's country of origin or manufacturing location influence your car-buying decisions? Click the "comments" link and tell me what you think. -- Aaron Gold
Comments
Do they make anything in the U.S.A. anymore. All the big CEO want more money.They do not care about the U.S.A. or the workers
My wife and I own two Audis (an ‘05 S4 and an ‘05 A4) and one Honda (an ‘04 Element). It pains me that I feel like I have to buy foreign cars due to the pathetic quality of American vehicles. Incidentally, American vehicles are, in my opinion, vehicles with an American brand name that are actually built in the United States.
I changed from Chrysler to Toyota. I had a 2000 Corolla and now a 2004 Corolla and love it! Dependability is outstanding and the service at their garages is also. I would be afraid to go back to Chrysler or Dodge again.
Years back in the family we had Toyota trucks. Once again, we could never complain about the performance of any of those vehicles. Outstanding!
If the car is not at least assymbled in the U.S., I will not buy it. The key for me is whether or not the product supports the American economy by creating good paying jobs. Toyota, Honda, Hundai… are building plants here in the U.S. while Ford and GM design the ugliest cars ever seen (Malibu, Taurus, 500… come on) just so they can shut down operations at an American plant and ship the jobs south of the border. Of course, once they get there they remember how to build a good looking vehicle like the Fusion - made in Mexico.
Buy what you think is best. No auto is all-american anymore. Show your colors and finance and insure American.
I’m a 44 yr old male, born & raised in the USA. I’ve seen the quality of foreign products leave us in the dust. Fit, finish, durability and dependability all surpass American made vehicles. All that “made in the USA” means to me is BEWARE! When I buy my Japanese vehicle, I will do my best to make sure it was shipped from Japan & not built here. When American products are truly superior, then I’ll start believing again. Unpatriotic, I think not. We did this to ourselves through blind faith and resting on our laurels. It took people like me to finally open the eyes of our quality control and get them off their rears and do something about the problem. We still have a loooong way to go to catch up, no matter what the big shots claim. You rarely, if ever see Japanese motorcycles broken down on the side of the freeway. You all know what brand we do see & where it’s made. I think the phrase “made in America” still scares more buyers away than attracting them, toward any product. Oh, by the way Ford, GM & Chrysler, especially Ford, STOP LISTENING TO FOCUS GROUPS!!! How about some variety from model to model? Talk about boooorrrring! The new Fusion looks nice. I fully expect that within a year or two, too many Ford models will look very similar to it. UUuuuugh!!!!
I can agree with almost everything said in these post; however, I think we are still fighting a perception issue and not reality. Looking at JD Power reports and recall reports, GM is making very good, if not fantastic strides. Yes, GM screwed up. They killed the market in the 80’s and 90’s with poor quality and poor servicability. Today, I truly believe that quality is back and now GM has to invite consumers back. I would not say that GM is there, just yet, but close. I am a Chevrolet dealer (yes I am bias) and I must tell you that we have traded in more Hondas and Toyotas than ever before. We even had a Honda Hybrid traded in last month for a SS Impala. Believe it or not, the SS Impala got better gas mileage, more room and drove better than the honda!
We are not there yet, but getting there…We can aplogize the rest of our lives for the crappy cars and quality of the past, but truly invite you all back for another look.
American to me means that profits stay in America. We need manufacturing in America and it must stay. GM is doing that and doing it with good quality.
A Chevy SS impala getting better gas mileage than a honda hybrid? Either that hybrid was driving and the impala wasn’t, or the hybrid was broke.
American just means its gonna get less than 150k miles on the car max. I have my acura at 121k and it drives better than my mustang did at 20k (the mustang died at 110k).
next thing you know we will be reading auto stories from india
No car can truly be “American” in the sense that every single part was designed and built in the US and the vehicle itself assembled in the US as well. A technically Japanese car (Japanese brand) may have parts strictly from Japan, but it may be assembled in America. Or, the car’s parts may be designed in Japan, built in America, and the car also assembled in America. The possibilities are endless, but it goes to show that defining an “American” car is surely difficult.
I always felt that an American car was an American brand.
I agree with comment about nothing being fully (100%) American anymore. I am an American who tries to buy American on most things like clothes,etc but…my last American car, after owning an Audi and Toyota
was a Plymouth Reliant. It was not reliable at all, and at 85K was finished except for parts. So since I have purchased an Subaru used - not very good luck with that particular car, then I bought a Nissan Sentra - ten years and 180K I used it as a trade-in becuase of rust.Still ran like a top. I traded it in and though I was wary for a Dodge Stratus brand new good deal. I have had nothign but trouble with it (including a bad catlytic converter at 2000 miles!) and I have only had it for 6 weeks. I have tried to return it but you know how that goes - and Lemon laws only protect the dealer in my opinion.
I dont care the warranty is covering right now - eventually it wont and if the car is havign this many problems early on…I am already looking to trade it in at a loss for a toyota or honda. Should ahve listened to experience and instinct…never American again.
I think stating “American cars are low quality” is getting to be a knee-jerk statement. I’ve owned several American cars and several Japanese cars and find them to be about the same if properly maintained. My current vehicle is a Ford with over 210,000 miles on the origional engine and transmission, how can that be described as a poor quality vehicle?
I was really carzy about American cars back in the 60’s and 70’s. I brougt a 1984 NISSAN MAXMIA and drove it for 151k and was still going when I sold it. I purchase a 1989 DODGE DAYTON and it stayed in the repair shop more than on the road. It was hard to get rid of burned a hole above the muffer and the dealer told me that the warranty would not cover it and I could buy a new one but he would take off for the hole unless I had it fixed before he took it. I had a ‘95 Grand Prix that I paid over 10k for and three months worft of car repairs for and counld’t get 6k for it when I traded it.I went back to NISSAN and got a ‘96 Inifinti that is still running with over 160k and no major repairs. The American auto makers need to go back to the basic’s and stop putting out junk that is over priced and breaks down all the time. Even though NISSAN builds cars in America now the standards and quality is still set high. We need to wake up and produce products that don’t break down once you drive off the lot.
I think, as does Consumer Reports, that as a hole, American Cars are of a much worse quality than foreign cars. A Ford that has no options, no PW, PL, air conditioning, etc. with a standard transmission may well last 210,000 leaving a trail of paint and oil. I’ve owned many american cars and purchased a toyota tundra. my toyota is better at 100K than any of my american cars were to start.
one of the big issues for me is fit and finish on american cars. the trailblazer has acres of cheap looking, feeling, and designed plastic. i’m stunned everytime i look in one that someone would spend that kind of money to sit in that interior.
It is no secret Japan does a better job. The dealers are well aware of this. So aware in fact they can over charge for their new models. Also try and find the new models. I considered buying a Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris lift back. They were few and far between. This is just a game Japan plays because they know Americans will pay the extra instead of buying American.
I purchased my American assembled (Japanese designed) ‘96 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 and after 10 troublefree miles, I now have 290,000 miles on it. There is no way I would consider purchasing a GM, Ford or Chrysler car regardless of where they were made. I believe it’s the engineering, not where they’re assembled, that makes the difference. I will not reward American car makers for poor resale, poor reliability/dependability, and their arrogance of advertising how great their product is, when it’s no secret they’re not. “Professional grade”?, “Ford tough”?, “Ram tough”? Puhleeeezzzzz.
We have converted to Japanese makes, and I doubt we will go back to American brands. I drive a Toyota and formerly drove a Honda. My wife has a Honda, and she formerly had a Toyota (for 12 years). Both of our cars are trouble-free, smooth running and a pleasure to drive. When shopping for my last car, I asked my auto mechanic what he thought of Chrysler products, as I was attracted to the Chrysler 300. He asked how long I keep a car and I said 5 of 6 years. He has 5 and 6 year old Chrysler autos is what keeps him in business!
Buy a GM or Ford Car and you know you are paying $3000 for old employee pension.If they sell a car for $20,000 It means it is cost is 17,000 only. Less Employee pricing
$2,500 -It comes to $14,500. Add Delear Margin and Profit for GM and Ford $3000(aprox.) . It comes to original Manufacturing price $11,500. Thats why the cars are not in good quality.
I used to buy GM cars but after many trips to the shop and thousands of dollars wasted in stupid repairs, I decided to give Nissan a try.
Now I have had my 1997 Nissan Altima for almost 10 years and 189000 miles! Other than regular maintanance expenses this car has fabulous, this car is a true work horse! My next car is going to be… yeah a new Nissan Altima! Oh by the way my Altima was built in the good old USA.
I have to agree that made in USA does not = bad quality. We have two Ohio-built Hondas that seem to be every bit as well built as cars assembled in Japan. That said, my sis-in-law has an old Aerostar that they don’t take particularly good care of, and its closing in on a quarter-million miles. I think engineering has a lot to do with it; I also think it’s how the employees are managed — the worker at a Japanese company has a greater role in the overall process. American car companies seem to treat assembly workers as The Enemy.
*That* said, bear in mind that initial quality surveys are showing massive leaps for GM, and even for Ford… a while back I put out a request for readers’ cars over 100k and got a surprising number of domestics.
People who think that the foreign cmpanies build cars in the US are sadly mistaken they only assemble them here. The American car companies actually build some of the componets here which the Japanesedo not the ship themin and assemble the bodies here. thisis abig difference. The ones who say the Japanese build better cars havent actually driven an American car in some time they just read the magazines who are anti American and believe them. They neverseem to tell you about the problems Toyotaand the others are having but never forget to tell you about the small problems the American cars have. buy American no matter what.
Buy American?
I truly consider American made cars as ones that are made in Canada, the United States and Mexico. NAFTA brings benefits to all “Americans” (North or Central) who purchase cars made here. It really doesn’t matter to a large extent which “Name Plate” is on the car. AS long as they are manufactured here, there is the tangible benefit of employment, corporate taxes, free trade among close neighbors.
I’m a free market guy, so I really don’t care where people purchase their cars from, but “Built in America” does have some benefits.
I am proudly Canadian — American means North American to me. I would gladly drive north american, if north american would really match for fuel economy (85 to 1.30 cents a litre up here),fit, reliability and driveability. 4 toyotas bought and no mechanical defects ever!! Hondas just a couple more problems but increasing spotty, expensive dealership performance becoming evident. That spotty dealership and warranty performance is losing my loyalty as I write. Sure will miss that handling though!
My last two American cars were true expensive junkers. I now drive a Honda and a Toyota - both built in the USA. My New York Brother and my Sister both drive Canadian built Hondas and a Tracker. Seems like North American autoworkers are doing ok with my family’s purchases. Perhaps not the big Three - but that is obviously the fault of their designer and management teams and their belief in their Divine Right to our loyalty - Wake Up! It would be a tough sell for me to pursuade my wife to be seen at large in a juggernaut. Somewhat like pursuading her to wear a fur coat!
I drive a 99 Honda Civic Si. 126K on the odo and the only non-maintenance repairs have been a window regulator and an exhaust pipe. Previous car was a 1994 Saturn SL2. Before 30K miles, had to replace motor mounts, accessory fan belt pulley, 3 window regulators. Also used a qt. of oil every 1500 miles or so, which Saturn said was “normal oil usage” and wouldn’t fix under warranty. Car was totalled in a rear-ender at about 34K miles, which probably ended up saving me money on repairs. Based on my GM experience, I would NEVER buy another…
I only buy cars that are made in canada, i currently build cars at a japanease auto plant and when you compare our cars too our sister plants they cant build the same car at that level of quality any where in the world so you tell me who builds the better car american, japeanease or canadian i say canadian its a fact people.
To me an American vehicle is one of the main 3. Most of the longevity will be determined by the owners. Maintain the vehicle and more then likely it will serve you for a long time. I have a 92 Isuzu Rodeo with over 200000 miles. A ’97 Dodge Ram 2500 w/Cummins with over 193000 miles, and a ’05 Toyota Sienna with just over 33000 miles. All have been great rigs. The key, routine, proper maintenance. You get these idiots that drive the crud out of the vehicle and then claim it’s a lemon. Its mechanical, it need servicing. Ford is the only major brand I will not buy. Its not due to the vehicles though, it’s the organizations they support
Toyota recalled more cars than it built in 2005 and will do the same in 2006. Toyota and Honda do build good cars but they aren’t perfect. For all those bashing anything made by your friends and neighbors in the states have you even looked at a US built car in the last 3 years?
Buy American means buying a product that supports the American economy with jobs, tax revenue, and investment. Check the value that is added in the US or North America before you buy that car. Complain about poor fuel economy? Why not buy a Hybrid Escape or ethanol F-150 before you buy that Japan made Camry Hybrid. The job you save just might be your own.
The U.S. automakers have done this to themselves.The quality of U.S. cars is still poor compared to the imports.I was a heavy line mechanic for a Chevy dealer for 20+ years and have seen the poor quality first hand. I for one am not willing to spend 25K for a new car and be once again get screwed. Wake up U.S automakers.Give the people a well made ptoduct at a fair price.
My first car was a 92 Ford Thunderbird. The car had been babied with regular maintenance since its original purchase. It had great paint and comfortable seats. The compliments end there. The engine crapped the bed at 72k miles, because the aluminum heads on the steel block warped (from the different thermal expansion coeffs)and had to be reground! This was one reason auto manufacturers had gone away from this combo in the first place. Ford reintroduced a problem to the market with no solution. To add insult to injury. Ford would not give even a partial refund even though they were doing so on Windstars that had the same engine problems. While I was well under the mileage requirement, the car was one model year too old.
The used 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback I bought (at 52k mi) to replace it now has 125k mi trouble free miles. I fully expect to get another 5 or 6 years and 60k mi out of it.
“A Ford that has no options, no PW, PL, air conditioning, etc. with a standard transmission may well last 210,000 leaving a trail of paint and oil.”
It is actually a loaded Ford Aerostar van. Please keep in mind that I do not like Ford and feel I have to brag on this thing. I perform all the routine maintenance myself. Beyond wear and tear parts (waterpump, brakes, etc…) going out we’ve had no major issues. The paint (waxed every two months) still shines and I’ve had exactly one oil leak (valve cover gasket–$12 repair).
I am not blindly defending American vehicles, I’ve had a couple that were complete junk (Pontiac Fiero anyone?). I’ve also had a brand new Nissan pick-up that was in the shop for warranty work as often as it was on the road.
I simply get disturbed at the number of people who turn away from our own products.
In my own experience, foreign marques either offer a driving experience that is more fun (German cars) or better quality (Japanese, if made over there, i.e. subaru) or, many times both (many examples, like my 1991 BMW 318i that is still going strong with no oil leaks under continuous abuse from me). MORE IMPORTANTLY, we can count on these foreign brands having a greater environmental conscience and leading the way with new technologies that will save money and save the planet rather than, as I believe most american manufacturers do, simply giving the least for the most $$ and pretending that we oil is endless, doesn’t cause wars, and using it doesn’t damage the environment. my two cents…
I will never buy a car made in germany!
i strongly disagree w/ rene concerning his statement about HD motorcycles. while not naming them directly, any one can indentify w/ exactly who he was refering to. my question to this “tunnel visioned” individual is, how many japanese bikes built in the early 90’s are still on the road today? owning a HD Fatboy built in 1992 (still ride it to this very day), the answer is none!! there are plenty of HD’s of this era available, all one has to do is look in any want ad sction. one last thing to add, i don’t see HD making an all out effort to “copy” the look of any jap bike. that’s something that honda,suzuki and kawasaki can’t boast. remember that all monies from any foreign nameplate go to the country where the corp. is located, not where the vehicle is assembled!!!!
I look at American vehicles as being the big 3. While it’s great that foreign auto makers are assembling their cars in America & creating jobs here, I don’t consider those autos American because the Company is not based in the US.
I have had a Chevy, a Pontiac, and many Ford/Mercury vehicles (brother in-law works for Ford), their quality has come up quite a bit but I would consider it only adequate at best.
I have owned 2 Nissan Maxima’s (’96 & 99) and they were far and above any Ford/Mercury or GM vehicle I’ve owned ever. Fit and finish are superior, engine/drivetrain were superior, comfort, performance and safety were far superior. I’ll still buy a Ford, but not for the long haul. Only as long as the warranty. My next vehicle will be either another Nissan or a Toyota.
My wife and I are from Asia, and we used to drive a Pontiac Grand AM, Ford Probe, and Chevy Cavalier. Even though we didn’t keep the cars over 100k (except the Pontiac which had 130k,) they were pretty darn reliable. Unlike my wife’s new VW, which had so many warrenty repairs we’re now selling it while still under warrenty.
American cars != Bad quality. I’d buy another Ford again if not for their blend designs (Mustang being an exception of course.)
Oh…I’d consider any cars assembled in the U.S.A. American-made…It’s great that many foreign car companies are expanding in the U.S. to create jobs locally…
This is a difficult issue. The foreign manfacturers who have plants in America produce vehicles that are built by Americans in communities that are lived in by Americans. A lot of the supportiing companies are also staffed by American workers. Import plants have given tons of money to the communities to support schools, libraries, and other public works. The bottom line is still that the profits go back to the foreign companies, be it Asia or Europe.
If you buy an American product, i.e. Ford or GM, since Chrysler is part of DaimlerChrysler, your dollars are spent here and also help maintain communities.
There’s no question the domestic manufacturers screwed up by producing vehicles too little too late. But I think it’s time to give them a second chance. If you purchase a Ford or Chevy product, which by the way offer tremendous warranties and customer service, something the Toyotas, Hondas, and others do not do, you will be pleasantly surprised. Their dedication to quality and improvements has been drastic.
Will they win back everyone? Probably not the Baby Boomers who have long memories, but they may be able to entice buyers just starting in the marketplace who have no automotive loyalties.
The bigger picture here is that I don’t believe anyone wants to see Ford or GM go under. One out of every five jobs in America is directly related to the automotive industry, from dealerships to advertising, to car washes, etc. That’s something to think about.
The consumer spoke, and demanded better products. And now the domestic manufacturers are delivering those products. It’s up to you to see if they listened and did a good job; but you must at least test drive them to decide that for yourself.
Automobiles today are pretty global in manufacture. Even a Harley Davidson has a lot of foreign parts. I say you buy the car thats the best for you, regardless of stated country of origin. Whether thats the reliability and longevity of a Japanese car, or the power and glitz of a Corvette. Buy what makes you happy.
I grew up in a family that bought nothing but US built vehicles, Chrysler, Buick, Ford etc. While comparing cars two years ago, the US built cars were ugly clunkers. I bought a Hyundai and love it. Not a single member of my family now drives a US built car. We tried, compared, shopped around, but the US built products were horrendous quality, poor design and poorly priced. Hence, the shift to Hyundai, Lexus, Mercedes and Toyota for my family.
My sister owns a 2000 Mercedes with 250K miles on it. Her next door neighbor drives a 2000 Cadillac with 69K miles on it. The Cadillac is falling apart and is soon headed for the scrap yard. My sister’s Mercedes goes like a champ and has another 4 or 5 years life left in it. Go figure.
Buying American built is important to me. If I’m going to channel my resources back into the economy I want to make sure it’s supporting our own industry. In my case some of that was subverted as the American model I purchased was built by a Japanese subsidiary out of mostly Japanese content. In the end it was assembled in America, and I still feel positive that American workers benefitted from my purchase (even if my impact was somewhat diminished). At 90K the vehicle has been flawlessly reliable so perhaps I got the best of both worlds.
Of course when looking for my wife’s new cars I tried to steer her towards the same situation, with little luck. Vehicles that met my “built in America, designed wherever” criteria were rejected after the test drive, leaving me with a purely Japanese purchase. I guess harmony in the house is worth more than my economic integrity!
Once again we come to the question should I or shouldn’t I just because? Truth is You have to drive the car, You have to pay for gas, You have to make or pay for repairs. If we really care about buying American we will take back our power to tell whoever foreign or domestic that we won’t put our money down until they give US what WE want. American car companies for so long have been telling us they can’t but now they will, because they want our money. So answer your own question. Who gives YOU what you need?
American cars are SOOOO stinky. My momma has one and it is a Saturn. It is stinky. Most of them don’t start up when you try to do them.
It’s a car made by an American company. I read the comments and had to laugh. It’s the same old lame excuses people use for not buying an American car. There is nothing wrong with GM quality. And don’t give me that stuff about companies like Toyota creating jobs here in America. The jobs at Toyota plants are the jobs lost at GM and Ford plants.
Brad James just said… “And don’t give me that stuff about companies like Toyota creating jobs here in America. The jobs at Toyota plants are the jobs lost at GM and Ford plants.”
Where’d those jobs go? Oh yeah, not to other parts of America. To Mexico (most, some Canada). Mexico makes most American cars, and also VW’s (not the high end ones but like base models).
So, that being said, if GM and Ford could take the tech they put in great cars like the newer cadillacs, vettes, and gt and mustangs (respectively), they’d entice me to look at them. As it stands, the only car in America I want is either going to have a vette engine (the GTO, a vette, or a CTS-V) in it or a Ford GT engine (the GT, in my dreams, or the Shelby Cobra GT500, the detuned GT engine).
I grew up on a farm in Dinwiddie, VA and we drove only American cars. We hauled pigs to town in American trucks. I painted my momma’s nose when she tried to run away. Now I drive a Mercedes because American cars just aren’t anywhere close in terms of performance, style or comfort.
I have lived in Arkansas, U.S. most of my life (military brat). Originally from Okinawa, I grew up with only Toyota’s and Datsun’s. When I moved to the states (1980’s) I was amazed at the poor quality of the “big 3″ brands. I have noticed that since 2000, the lines have blurred tremendously between what is American and what is foreign. Here is my analysis. The Union presence in the North has severly handicapped the American brands. All the pensions/generous benefits are hitting them hard just as the competition heats up. An attitude of “if you can’t beat them, join them” has been adopted to curb this trend. Ford sells rebadged Mazdas, Isuzu sells Chevrolet trucks, Saturn=Opel, and many parts sharing goes on and on. I think this a great thing for the consumer who benefits from a streamlined system.
I love America and want to do my part. We are “capable” of producing the best cars in the world. I think with the “blurred” lines, they are finally on par with foreign makes. My system for purchasing a car is simple. If the car is either assembled in America -or- greater than 50% of the vehicle was produced in America, then I will consider it.
We have a couple of major factories (Hino) here in Arkansas that supply parts for Toyota trucks. Those plants employ thousands of Americans. The small towns where they were built are starting to blossom. And guess what. . . no unions. In fact you won’t see any auto unions below the Mason-Dixon line. That is why the south is fertile ground for foreign investors. And, because Hino and other companies don’t have to spend money relating to (and fighting) the unions, they are able to pay better salaries and make products cheaper for consumers.
So “buy American” can mean many different things depending on your perspective. That is my take. What cars do I own? A 2000 Saturn SL with over 100,000 trouble free miles, a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherkee, and my silver bullet, a 1990 Mitsubishi with 280,000 miles.
We had two minivan; 1995 Ford Winstar and a 1999 Chevy Venture.The engine blew up on my Ford at 85K miles, and a rebuild engine for the venture at 112K miles, and it doesn’t even run right after that. We end up giving it away for for 500$. We end up picking 2006 Toyota Sienna as a replacement. Oh, I forgot to mension we had a 1997 Toyota Camry with 197k miles and the engine still runs, even though something is burning inside that engine.
What we needs in American is a car that is build upon this describtion: a Japanes quality, German engineering, Italian design and a Korean values, and our problems will be solve.
I have an American Ford Freestyle. Chasis made by Volvo, transmission made in Germany, seats and stuff made by Visteon, Plastic made by General Electric. Continetal Tires made in Asia by a French manufacturer. Assembled in Chicago. Great car. Who cares about it’s origin.
Wrong priorities. thats whats going on with the american car companies. they are trying too late to catch up to the japanese and european car makers. There is way too much political influence in the states, why else are there no diesels in the states??? (i drive an Audi A6 3.0Turbo diesel here in europe and its awesome! it has the same power as the 2.7turbo gasoline but has great mileage) or even other alternative fuels? The old mighty US government is the problem,they need to observe and learn from the Europeans and Asians as we have had to deal with the same problems in the past, example; fiat was low quality, and ugly design before and now they carry five year gaurantee’s and they look damn good. It’s true that most cars are made abroad and have parts from all over the world, but what makes them american is the policies behind them. My advice? Buy japanese till the american car makers realize they need a complete overhaul.
How do I get a list of where all cars that are sold in the U.S. are built and what company owns them?
I live in Ontario Canada so we don’t say ‘buy American. we call it ‘buy domestic’. To me that means anything that’s built under the ‘Canada / US Auto Pact’.
1997 Ford F150 4×4, v8, 138000 miles. 1992 Lexus LS400, 156000 miles. No automibile is cheap to properly maintain but in my case my Lexus has cost me dearly in proper maintanence. This is because I have chosen to stick to the manufactures schedule for service and done some preventative maintanence too since I enjoy the car so much. I love the Lexus brand, they build in my opinion the best luxury cars out there(that are mass produced) and the interior of my car is as solid as the day it was new. Not a squeek or rattle, or anything broken off like in previous domestic car’s. Truely remarkable. Back to my truck, I would recommend it to anyone. I had 3 Chevy trucks previous the Ford and although I loved my 1997 Z71 Silverado(lot’s of interior rattles and squeeking), the Ford is a nice truck that has so far been very reliable and trouble free. In my opinion the domestics are coming back with some better products. The Old’s is dead and nobody born after 1960 will miss it. The same could be said for Buick too I am afraid. GM should cut it losses there too. Concentrate on Chevy, Cadillac, and Pontiac for the younger excitement folks. GM has for too long tried to build everything for everybody. That is just not realistic or economically feasable any longer. Build fewer options but better, higher quality cars and trucks
To me it’s about what’s best for the consumer - I believe in the free market. I would actually prefer to buy a car from an American company, but only if it’s a better car or value. I think the American companies have made great strides in quality and engineering, but there’s still a perception issue (with good reason because they’ve made some awful cars over the years). I’d hate to think what American cars would be like if they didn’t have such tough competition. American companies have an advantage on style, and the whole retro thing. Some examples are the Chrysler 300, Ford Mustang and Chevy HHR. They have a disadvantage on labor commitments that were made years ago in a totally different environment.
Currently we have a 2000 Honda Accord (Japanese brand built in America - bought new 78k miles) and a 1999 Mercury Villager (American/Japanese joint venture - bought used 100k miles) and have done very well with both.
I buy american when I can. The only foreign car I ever considered buying is a Honda - a large % of those sold in the U. S. are made in the U. S. and have been since nearly the begining. American companies don’t seem to listen to their customers and no longer seem to be innovative.
There is no excuse for dealerships not communicating with manufacturers on customer preferences and comments, and listings of problems and possible improvements on vehicles or studies on vehicle and parts longevity. Example - I’ve been asking about fuel efficient vehicles for the past fifteen or twenty years. No U. S. companies offer a real fuel efficient vehicle. You would think that each company would offer at-least two models over the past ten years. What a bonaza it would mean to them in recent years.
Part of the problem is the american system where the investor is king. The “head” of the companies, executives with hugely inflated salaries, are and have been, pinned to short term goals as a result. Whereas, the japanese are by choice locked into long term goals. Another factor possibly stopping innovation is the fact that the U. S. is chock full of ambulance chasers of all sorts, constantly searching in every corner, in a supreme effort to sniff out the largest raidable pocket (it seems wrong is not the issue, the size of the raidable pocket is). This certainly can stiffle innovaton and swiftness of movement.
They all have problems in one form or another. I will say this though: I do buy the big (3). Have for many years and I have had (knock on wood) excellent performance from these vehicles, usually driving them very near 200k miles and over 10 years of life. They have sharp styling and they also show my allegiance to the abilities of this country. You’re dreaming if you think the others are so “superior” in quality anymore.
I drive an American car - a Ford Escape. But my Asian friend Josh Parrett told me that Asians build better cars - even though he was adopted by American parents he still has ties to his native Korea, which is understandable I guess. Josh has trouble seeing out of one eye but he has a Honda Accord and it is pretty new and trouble free.
I buy the best car for the money, regardless of where it was build and who owns the company.
For the #1 post, car companies are not in existence to give people jobs, they are there to make money for their shareholders. Maybe if unions didn’t have a strangle-hold on American carmakers, they would be better off. Hmm.
It is incredible how people make judgements based on old and I mean old information. Cars made by American Corporations are as good as any other Foreign Company made car. I have also noted how even the media has beat on our American Corporations. Even writers are biased in favor of Foreign Company vehicles. Have they driven a Ford 500 or Chevrolet Impala? Probably not and they won’t. Those are good cars and I would put them up against any comparable car. Even if parts of the car are assembled in foreign countries, they are American Engineered and the companies are AMERICAN. Unfortunately, I believe that American workers and their Unions became spoiled and are now facing dire consequences. We need to get back to being proud of buying American. Get smart!!!!!
I had a Toyota Matrix and Mazda 3 that both had problems at the very beginning, but also had pontiacs and chevys with problems too, so it is hard to tell based on manufacturing, but I decided to stick to Toyota, (Scion) considering that I have many friends who own Toyotas and never had a problem compared to others who drive Big 3 and have had lots of problems, so it’s better to be safe than sorry
If capitalism means buying the best product for the best price, doesn’t that make “Buy American” some kind of socialist philosophy?
When I last checked, Mexico and Canada were still part of North America. Hopefully built in the USofA vehicals will continue to get better. I drive a F150 with 145000 mls.(95)
Buy American? You mean cars made in America, or cars made by “American” companies? It’s a sad truth that companies like Toyota and Honda are actually investing in American, building factories and design studios here and hiring American workers while our so-called American car companies (of which there are technically only 2, considering DaimlerChrysler a German owned and run corporation!) move production to Mexico and Canada in order to “compete.” What they’re actually doing is seeking the cheapest labor possible in order to fatten the profits of the shareholders and executives and support the few overpaid union workers still running American factories. Of the vehicles I’ve owned from the “Big 3″ only one was made here in America, and that was a 1964 Ford!! Buy American? Sure! Let me know when the “American” companies start making their cars here again and are companies run by Americans and I’ll gladly consider them too.
I classify “American” as the big three. Now I know that most manufacturers use union labor these days but here is why I don’t buy “American”. First, I enjoy individuality and avoid what the majority accepts as norm. Second, The pay that the UAW worker gets compared with their education level is unbelievable and accounts largely for the astronomical cost of cars today. Third, I have never owned or seen an American made car stay as new for more than 2-3 years or about 50k miles. I think the adversarial relationship between manufacturer and union is at least partially to blame. Bottom line, I’ll buy American when the three points I lay out above are resolved. Until then, I’ll keep buying German or Japanese maid cars.
From all the comments that have been made it appears that the American auto manufacturers have a serious perception problem. The past decade has seen a major IMPROVEMENT in the quality of american cars. Both JD Powers and Consumer Reports show that while the Japanese keep a lead the US is second in quality (ahead of Europe) and gaining. GM is rated SECOND in initial quality to Lexus and ahead of Toyota and Honda in the latest JD Powers survey. Yet after reading the above comments you’d think every car stalls and the engines fall out. I’ll bet most of those readers have not even test driven an American car in the last 10 years. A severe problem of perception, not quality.
Generally, I think styling is the big problem, not so much quality anymore. I did try an 06 Corvette, but the fly-away pained roof was just too much. Got me a Lexus now. The Vette was the only car in the Chevy lineup that had any style
I have a serious problem with a Ford (Fusion) being built in Mexico and then saying “buy american” Buying that Fusion will only help Bill Ford jr. and Mark Fields make millions of dollars. Few americans beifit from that. The Hyundia’s built in the south employ american workers! Buy any vehicle you want built in the states, as those are the communities and people you will support. Toyota employs more americans than coca-cola and Microsoft combined. Real american, middle class jobs. Ford provides jobs for mexicans at slave wages and continues to move jobs to low wage countries. Who do you wish to support? Buy a car that supports american workers, not over paid CEO’s!
1994 Ford Crown Victoria: sold with 170,000 miles still running like new (and I regret selling it, I only sold it because i got a car with 100,000 less miles for $300)
1989 Lincoln Mk VII (the $300 car) sold it after 6 months because I couldnt get used to the center console and the floor shifter (an attribute of almost every Jap car)
current: a 1981 Olds Delta 88, 122,000 miles. Runs like new, original engine and trans. Now how is that low quality??? Where is all the 1981 Toyota Coronas and Honda Civic CVCCs and Datsun 210s????
All you people make me sick to my stomach. You really do give a damn how many people loose their jobs because you made a selfish decision to buy a non
American made car that was owned from an overseas company such as Honda and
Toyota.
For you people who think that American made cars don’t last. I have a Pontiac
with more than 200,000 miles, the car is more than 10 years old and it’s running like a champ. Probably my car is doing better than most Hondas and Toyota’s. If you want to do your part to destroy the economy of the USA. Then
go ahead buy a HONDA, TOYOTA, Volkswakon or whatever other foreign car.
What I would just love to see is
someone who refuses to buy an American
made car not be able to get a good job.
Then when you can’t feed yourself why
don’t you eat your Toyota.
What’s wrong in American Branded Cars
Why not huge production like Japan did,
Did American people leave their branded car with out proud for their country,
May be because of price or design?
Did American Cars Company not learn like Japan ways.
I hope American rearragement the management and the design for satisfy consumen and how to market it like Japan did.
I buy the car that have the better quality, safety, style, performance that my money can buy, regardless were it has been build. I buy from that company that gives me what I am looking for. I do look to American cars as well, but so far none has convince me with in my budget.
All too often, people are not looking at the bigger picture. When folks buy foreign cars by using the excuse that the price of an “American” car includes the costs of pensions and health care–even for the elderly–they are only shooting themselves in the foot. While the UAW may have gone too far in some of its demands, the bottom line is this: as these union jobs are lost, tomorrow’s workers (not just automotive, not just manufacturing) are going to be paid less and receive very few, if any, benefits.
As for the quality issues, mine is a divided house. My daughter and I drive GM only, my husband insists on Honda. All vehicles are ruuning just fine. One of the GM cars and the Honda have had minor warranty issues but received excellent service at both dealerships. I’d prefer we’d only drive American, but it’s not worth the tension to argue.
Just be sure to test drive a vehicle before you buy it, make a good deal with a dealership you can trust and follow your maintenance schedule. Most vehicles will run fine for a long time.
But, if you decide on a foreign car built in the US, don’t kid yourselves. Buying American (a manufacturer HQ’d in the U.S.) does make a difference. Even vehicles made elsewhere by a US-based company add to the profitability of companies headquartered here. And, that adds to our overall economy.
It isn’t exactly “trickling down” to all of us. But, there’s no chance of it going into our economy if it’s being banked in Japan, Germany or Korea.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the Pacific so that we would not have to buy a Jap car or any other Jap product. We dishonor there sacrifice every time we purchase a a product from the murders and the families of those Japs that were allowed to live and prosper at their expense.
I am from West Virginia and my daddy is employed by TMMWV.(Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia) They put their plant in a very small town of West Va. and it employs many, many, many people. Toyota is about the most caring company you will ever see. They do things for the families for the holidays like Easter Egg Hunts, and the Family Picnic each summer. Toyota really cares about the families and they make sure EVERYTHING is safe in their vehicles unlike some of these “American” companies. I hate it because all of these Hicky JERKS in my high school all say how much they love their American Chevy’s and all that stuff and I always have to argue with them that our Lexus and Toyota is more American than their Chevy and Ford. It makes me sick. Don’t get me wrong, I love fords but toyotas ride so much better. My nanny has a ford Explorer and it rides like a jungle car and vibrates constantly. We have a Toyota Camry and a Lexus RX 330 and they feel like floating. I absolutley love Toyotas.
I love my dodge truck . i have the hemi . i love setting up high so i can see , it’s safe . and did i mention it’s a blast to drive . and yes it was built in the usa . my old man worked 2 jobs to support 5 kids retired and died a month later . i will always support american jobs and american people . and i feel much safer in a dodge truck than a tiny car . people are crazy on the road these days . yee haw
i love my hemi as well . they are a blast to drive . gas is high but i’m not coming out of my truck . i can afford it so i am driving a truck . so sorry if ya gotta drive one of those tiny tiny cars …
If your a country girl like i am you’ll drive a dodge truck . those city folk drive those tiny cars and those are just death traps . oh ya it was made in the good old usa . it matters
Have the USA manufacturers made strides? Sure. But they do not produce appealing cars. Even if a Chevrolet Cobalt were of comparable quality (read: has equivalent dependability) to a Mazda 3 (and I’m far from convinced of that) - let’s face it the Mazda is a blast to drive while the Cobalt could induce narcolepsy..
“Buy American”? I guess you could try that - but what are you trying to prove?
As Keynes once said…
“In the long run we’ll all be dead”
Well, look around, it’s evident we’re getting to the long run. The internal combusion engine is pretty much not environmentally viable given the rapid pace of development in the 3rd world.
Even excepting environmental considerations, if the USA ticks off the PRC and they flush their $800 billion in currency reserves - you won’t be able to afford feeding your family.
I say buy what you want while you can; the party’s over soon anyhow…
Buy GM, Ford, or whatever but don’t delude yourself into thinking this makes a difference to the health of the country. The big giant heads controlling the derivative markets have already seen to that…
first of all there is no thing as “americian” over 50-65% of chrysler , ford ,and gm cars and some trucks have exported parts, and know most of the are module built from places like mexico and other parts of the country,
second of all the qualty of imported vehicle compared to americian is no comparsion in my opinion,
imported vehicle out last americian vehicle, the engine and transmission which is the many heart out last americian vehicles the output produced in horsepower is more then the same 4cylindr or 6, or 8 cylinder engines then the americian engine,
first of all there is no thing as “americian” over 50-65% of chrysler , ford ,and gm cars and some trucks have exported parts, and know most of the are module built from places like mexico and other parts of the country,
second of all the qualty of imported vehicle compared to americian is no comparsion in my opinion,
imported vehicle out last americian vehicle, the engine and transmission which is the many heart out last americian vehicles the output produced in horsepower is more then the same 4cylindr or 6, or 8 cylinder engines then the americian engine,the tecnolgy is a hell more then the americian cars least of all the gas mileage is a lot more
so dollar for dollar imported vehicles are the best vaule.
as for the big three and it’s so called union forcing their belives on works is as stupied as they make these therits,when the vehicle contants imported parts , like engines, wiring, starters, alternaters,
instrument clusters, window regulaters, engine electrical componants, lights,lenses,bulbs,etc…are all made in china, korea,
germany, so whats made in americia???????.
Buy chrysler and watch out , you need to buy spare transmissions ,brakes and exhaust parts to be repalce before 20,k.
warranty, try getting work done under so called warraty, good luck.
Why don’t imports offer 100k warranty .simply they don’t need it.
The cost of paRTS replacements is the same ..because most G.M Chrysler and Ford parts are for china or other country.
Service from the Big three suck, it is a experience to buy an import vehicle, they treat you with great respect wheather buying or in for repair..it is time to wake up americia …..we are all ready 10yrs late
i have owned 3 new chrysler products, minivan, 300c, dodge dodge truck, what chrysler states for it’s kilo/100lts gas i have neaver got. the vehicle were in the shop more then i drove them.the brakes lasted 25k which is one years driving, not covered under warranty. dodge truck was a piece of shi….it was unreliable.
Now i drive a Honda Accord, it has 130k , brakes done at 95k ,thats it. been in the shop once for brakes. i like my Honda it is still like new, pant looks new, drives like new.the gas milage is 38-45mpg. so which is better. honda plants look after there communtie like famliy, give jobs to all of us, invested millions in america. the profit goes to building new plants just like the americian plants. know i save instead of spending at the repair shops…..
I SEE AND HEAR A LOT OF PEPOLE COMPLANING ABOUT OTHERS BUYING IMPORTS, THE MAIN REASON FOR THE COMPLANTS ARE REALLY THOSE WHO ARE RESTRICTED FROM BUYING “BETTER AND VALUE FOR MONEY CARS AND TRUCKS” J.D. POWERS SAYS IT ALL AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE UNBIASED COMPANYS, THE NORTH AMERICIAN ATTITUDE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH QUALITY IN THEIR CARS IN THE FACTORY. THE IMPORTS SPENDALOT MORE REASEARCH AND DELOVEPMENT INTO THEIR PRODUCTS, RATHER THEN ADVERTISEMENT , THE QUAILTY SELLS THE VEHICLE, LOOK AT THE TOP TEN CARS BY COMPASION BY DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR IN ANY REASEARCH YOU WILL FIND IMPORTS ON TOP.AMERICIANS HAND DOWN THEIR CARS(FARTHER TO SON ….) IMPORTS RELIE ON QUAILTY THIS IS WHY THEY ARE THE LEADERS..HONDA CARS ,GENRATORS, BIKES,ETC ARE THE WINNERS.
The biggest problem with this discussion is that you can’t define what an American car is, anymore. The American Corporations are opening plants abroad, while foreign companies are opening plants here. To me a car built by North Americans with a greater than 50% American content is an American car…not some faceless/souless corporation playing Bruce Springsteen, waving our flag and selling an American badged import. Read the sticker on the car before you buy. Only then can you say you drive an “American car”.
Define americian, Name one car that has over or 50% americiacn parts.? they ALL have foreign parts.
You will Onces you own One find foreing car 100% better then american junk.
the warranty claims for american car is between 10-15%….and imports are 3-5%…
check j.d power ranking , or even the top ten ….who are they and who does j.d.powers rank the best …imports , toyota, honda, audi, mercedes, ….
toyota beat g.m and chrysler.and ford …they are number one..in north america.
Buying American means purchasing union built automobiles from North America. Buying anything else ultimatly supports other nations’ economies and lessens American’s purchasing power. There’s not too many jobs available teaching, doctoring, legal counciling, building, or selling to foreiners living in America. Our economy is fragile, don’t wreck it.
It is probably tru that you almost can not distinquish an all american made car. It is a piity though that all those people whom bought an american car had bad luck. I think it is because they did not buy the correct brand. Unfourtantly it did matter what brand and style and engine you buy in an earlier american car if you wanted it to last. Yep my father had an ugly Gremlin over 250,000 miles with no trouble, yep my father had an 3/4 70′ dodge truck (we still have it) 300,000 miles no trouble, I owne two older jeeps, one with 94% american parts on it when it was built, it has 200,000 miles on it and no trouble. Again to buy an american car I believe you have to be intelligent about motors/transmissions/etc and know what to getas well as know how to drive one. Now as for the foreign car business goes, yes almost every one you pick will be good. But you are comparing apples to oranges. Now that the foreign market is building bigger automobiles, hm look at the recalls.
Okay, so this thread is several months old…I had to put my 2 cents’ worth in. It seems the name on the side of the vehicle doesn’t matter too much anymore. I’ve had both great luck with “American” products (a Dodge Neon that lasted 280k before being bent out of shape by a Suburban) and terrible luck (an Intrepid with the junk 2.7 motor - which is a Mitsubishi motor, by the way…) so that wasn’t a defining factor. I’d still rather try buying new from a company that actually pays it’s employees a living wage and pension than one that doesn’t. Better yet, buy used, from your neighbor down the street, who uses his or her profit at the grocery store 6 blocks away. You don’t make the CEOs richer, and you don’t have the thousands of dollars of depreciation as soon as you drive it away, either… Just a thought
At first I bough only Amerian made cars.I bought a used gm car with about 40,000 miles on it .At 65,000 I had to put a tranmission in it.I bought a brand new oldsmobil ,I put a transmition and a rear end.I bought a silverado pick-up truck,it was very good but someone stole it(not gm’s fault) but they were very easy to steal and parts were interchangeable from model to model and the most stolen.I knew people who didn’t have very good jobs who bought old nieson and toyotas. the paint on these old cars looked great for the time they had been on the road.I bought a used late model toyota camry and I was hooked. After the camery was much older ,at 178,000= miles on it the transmission and engine was fine.I have bought two more toyotas ,one gets 38 mpg the other is a 4runner with 160,000 miles on it ,the paint is good and it doesn’t burn oil.So for me to buy any American car,it not likely.I hope they don’t go under because of the workers but the companies must do better in everyway.If someone comes to your house in a rolls and they are begging for food it would be hard to believe they need help.If they come in company jets begging it would be impossible to beleive they were starving .The fact that American car makers did that ,says a lot about their inability to manage a company.
If you want to actually support the American people and our fragile (world) economy that we have going on here… Then you have to buy cars (that are made, put together, and sold here) in America. That does NOT mean the cars have to be from the big 3… Many wonderful cars are built here in America.
If a car is built here in North America (verses) one that isn’t, then that one that is built here (should be your choice). Because that (car facility) is actually supporting the surrounding area/economy and the people (here) thru many types of jobs. It’s actually feeding “We the people”. Many Americans are being supported when you buy foreign cars too. Because Americans have gotten smart and now own/trade in foreign stocks/bonds.
Millions of Americans have been screaming for all types of fuel efficient cars for over 20 years and the big 3 have totally ignored us… Because it wasn’t in their best interest to do so… It cut into their profits… The big 3 Auto makers have enjoyed getting FAT off the American people for over a hundred years.
Now they are asking for Billions of BAILOUT TAX dollars? I find that totally unacceptable!!! The UNFAIR work practices & pay gouging going on there should of ended many years ago. This article says it all. http://capitolhillcoffeehouse.com/more.php?id=6350_0_1_0_M “I support FAIR working practices for Fair pay”…. Those businesses need to FAIL!!! Bloated bosses and Bloated workers can fall off the face of the earth for all I care… They have physically forced other car makers like (Fiat, and Renault) out of America because (they didn’t want the competition) so I don’t feel sympathetic to them at all… I believe in capitalism and that means the more (car) companies there are competing against each other the better it is for all Americans and our economy!!! Now if we can get Washington/Congress to relax their high Corporate Taxes to let us get more companies to build here. That is why many companies go overseas. Because of such High Taxes and slave wages…
There are many more cars and car companies being made here in America that can be your new choice… Car companies that are using good working ethics and good work practices and they actually listen to their customers for future cars being designed and built. That is why the big 3 are no longer a viable option for me and my family. I currently have 3 Dodges and 1 Jeep that I will keep for my entire family to drive until the cars fall apart. But my next car will more than likely NOT be from the big 3 guys up North!
Just remember Fuel guzzling vehicles are still killing our fragile GREEN economy.
LIE LIE LIE “pathetic quality of American vehicles”
Amercian vehicles are just as reliable as any other manufacture.
Fact:Foreign car have as much or more recall then Amercan made .J.D. Power and Associates
General Motors’ Buick brand tied Lexus in the study, which measures the number of problems owners experience with their cars after three years of ownership.
Following Lexus and Buick in the rankings were GM’s Cadillac luxury brand, Ford’s Mercury brand and Honda’s Honda brand.
The Chevrolet SSR, a low-slung convertible pickup, and the Ford Mustang tied as the most dependable midsize sporty cars, and the Ford Crown Victoria ranked as the most dependable large car.
Toyota’s mass-market Toyota brand ranked sixth.
“Consumers don’t necessarily need to pay premium prices to obtain high quality and dependability,” said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power and Associates.
When you buy a Toyota large percentage of your money goes straight
back to Japan .When you buy one of the American companies vehicles the greater percentage of money comes back or stays within the USA.This helps ever American even you.
Oh! the guy slamming MAercan made for a Audi
they are full of Audi Recalls .
I drive a 1999 Dodge with 322,000 no engine work ever !!!
People facts are in Amercan cars are just as good as any other.
http://www.consumerreports.org/content/Pressroom/Presseng/PDF/eng0404rel.pdf
I AM, A HARD CORE AMERICAN, I ONLY DRIVE A FORD AND CHEVY NOT ALL, AMERICAN BUT AS CLOSE AS I CAN GET NO FOREIGN CAR FOR ME,PEOPLE PLEACE BUY USA CAR NOT, FOREIGNERS OWN US NOW,!! SORRY.
GM, Ford, Chrysler = American car company.
Toyota, Honda, Kia, Porche/ Audi = Foreign Co.
Not hard to figure, is it??? Dec 7, 1941…
American car companys were there for US freedom. I am an Engineer, designed Robotic Automation thru-out the US and world. I’ve seen the Japanese and German tools, and, very limited and “cheep” quality, not flexible. Many good jobs (Engineers/ Suppliers, etc.) are lost due to the proliferation of the foreign brands. 1 country (the US), split 50/50. I will always challenge your foreign brand buy choice, and, I will not help BHO.
I really do not get this “MYTH” about how these foreign cars are soo much better. They are tiny and crap. I have a 99 Pontiac Grand AM and it runs great. People who just love these foreign cars are the people who love Wal-Mart because its “cheaper” but quality is not there. And like wal-mart Toyota will be the only company to buy from with no competition with all the money going to the Japanese and Chinese economies. GM cars have great quality and run great on gas. So stop believing that foreign cars are so much better because there NOT!
Also it is sad that GM has to suffer for trying to give Americans a well payed job while Toyota workers earn less. Isn’t that what we all want is to make a great living? Instead we get the shaft for trying to pay our people becuase of this foreign cheap stuff!!
Its all BS that foreign cars have better quality. Contraulations for making the Japanese richer. Why don’t we all just surrender now to Japan and China. Its real sad people do not care for America just like its own government we are all doomed!! WWI and WWII was all for nothing!! WOW!!
The majority of products come from all over the globe so you cannot blame GM for trying to get a piece of the outsourcing, but at least the money is mostly coming back to the U.S. economy. And its funny that people think that Toyota is bringing money and jobs to America, I mean really are you all that gullable and blind!!
My 93 Grand AM had 250k on it before my son in law wrecked it. My ‘00 Montana had 150k on it before broadsided by a Ford pickup. I’ve had Pontiacs and Saturns and they are the best! This is BS that Japanese cars are better! Maybe 30 years ago, but not any more!