Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

gagrice

We fuel the murdering drug wars in Mexico and we fuel the pollution in China with our insatiable appetite for drugs and worthless trinkets.

fintail

The point being? Bending over to the Chinese juggernaut will go down as the greatest mistake in American history. Even greater than being the policeman, propping up artificial nations, etc.

The Mexican government holds at least as much blame. Maybe it should have been absorbed as a state ages ago - human development issues there don't seem much worse than in some states.

I am pretty sure China was a mess before consumerism was used to distract us from our own demise.

gagrice

With over a billion people, I would imagine China had pollution issues. But weren't they an agrarian society pretty much before we offered them our jobs?

Mexico is at least 75% our fault. Mexico was and is an Oligarchy. However they were a fairly peaceful society. 90 million people in the early 90s and way less murder than any one of our major cities. We or I should say the Clinton administration forced the cocaine up through Mexico from it's former corridor across the Gulf to Florida. Add to that the 1993 NAFTA agreement which made transport into the US a piece of cake, and the Mexican people are the victims.

fintail

China was trying to industrialize before our smarmy neocons sold the future. But they really didn't get going until the doors were open.

I don't know if I would believe old Mexican crime stats...only worth as much as those producing the numbers. Several places in Mexico had some bad reputations a long time ago. No doubt some American policies haven't helped, but social and economic justice is the responsibility of the Mexican government. Sadly, with the breakdown here, we're headed in that direction, as their "capitalism" isn't much too different from what is in the states.

War on drugs...the public sector combined with puritans being out of control and irresponsible once again.

anythngbutgm

Volkswagen has a lot to be happy about these days. The German automaker has invested $4 billion into its U.S. operations, including the Chattanooga plant that opened last year, and now an eco-friendly research and development center located in Oxnard, California.

ateixeira

They're selling cheaper cars at higher volumes. Makes sense to not build them in Germany.

marsha7

gagrice: "It went down hill from there with a 2005 GMC Sierra Hybrid PU that was very poorly assembled. I have to assume it was worthless UAW workers unhappy having to work for a living."...now, don't you go picking on my favorite people, UAW workers...:):):)

mikefm: I don't care of Ford drops the Ranger, I would like to see a competitor to the midsize Dakota...I think the Dakota was a great truck, just because many do not need a full size tank, yet the Ranger was kinda small...moving up to a midsize, yet smaller than an F150 would be a smart move, to me...new F150s and Ram Trucks just seem so HUGE to me, when sitting next to a Silverado/Sierra...just could not buy a GM since it is government motors, and I still remember the rotten experience I had with my 1998 Buick Regal...

robr2

I would like to see a competitor to the midsize Dakota...

Why? The Dakota is no longer made and Sergio has said it's not coming back as a midsize BOF truck - if at all.

moving up to a midsize, yet smaller than an F150 would be a smart move, to me...

Ahh yes - the old focus group of 1.

andre1969

Ahh yes - the old focus group of 1.

While we're on focus groups of one, I wouldn't mind seeing a return of something the size of the old Toyota T-100...a midsized truck that could pass the proverbial 4x8 test. But, the market has spoken, and the T-100 never did sell well, and we'll probably never see anything like that.

One problem is that if you make the smaller trucks too big, they'll eat into the market of the true full-sized trucks. And, it seems like the smaller pickup segment is drying up, anyway. The Tacoma and Frontier pretty much own what I'd call the "midsized" truck market these days, although GM is still trying to play, marginally, with the Colorado/Canyon, and apparently they're updating them soon.

And, with compact trucks, the demise of the Ranger pretty much makes the case that there just isn't much market for them anymore.

gagrice

Sadly, the new Ranger T6 being sold everywhere BUT the USA is a class beater. It has 3 engine options, two that are diesels. It could be serious competition for both the Tacoma and Frontier that currently dominate that market in the USA. My bet is Ford wants to shut down as many UAW factories as possible. Importing small PU trucks is still prohibitive with the Chicken tax. They have gotten around it with the Transit Connect by offering them as a passenger vehicle. They are built in Turkey with windows. When they arrive here at port they pull the windows and insert panels. Seems like Toyota did something similar with their small PU trucks at one time.

stever

Subaru stuck a "rear seat" in the bed of the Brat and got around the chicken tax that way.

No Luv for small pickups eh? :shades:

bpizzuti

Didn't they modify the Chicken Tax after that?

stever

Don't think so, per Wiki. Reagan had a Brat on his ranch - maybe he wanted to have a rare bird and didn't push on that one. The Chicken Tax is one reason why you see so few VW "flatbed" vans running around.

Oh, but yeah, they kept the tax but changed the vehicle designations to close some loopholes.

gagrice

I really liked my 1970 Datsun PU truck. About as small as we got here. It got me up Rabbit Creek Rd every winter and all winter long for several years. I would toss two 100 lb sacks of sand in the back for traction. Well balanced little truck. I would be happy with one that size with a 4 cylinder diesel engine today. Though I would rather have the T6 Ranger with its 2.2L diesel engine.

robr2

Believe it or not - the T6 Ranger is bigger than the Tacoma and Frontier. The reason for not offering it here is that it would compete to closely with the F150. It has nothing to do with shutting down US plants.

As for the Transit, Ford imports them from Turkey with windows and seats and then converts them to utilities.

ateixeira

GM has a new small pickup overseas, too. Not really small, call it mid-sized.

robr2

GM has a new small pickup overseas, too. Not really small, call it mid-sized.

Yep - the new S10/Colorado is a mid-size. The small truck market is gone forever.

Supposedly it was to launch in the US as a 2013 model but afaik, no plant in the US is outfitted to build it and some internet chatter says that GM is re-skinning it for North America to it looks like a truck and not a trucklet.

ateixeira

Tacoma and Frontier will happily take all those sales if the domestics don't offer something in that class.

robr2

I'm sure they will since the Tundra and Titan aren't setting any sales records.

gagrice

Not sure what goal Nissan set for Titan. I know Toyota hoped for 250,000 per year. They will be lucky to sell a third of that projection. The F series sells about 6 times as many full size PU trucks as Toyota sells Tundra. Through July Ford still leads Toyota in total sales for the USA. Toyota better be watching Fiat/Chrysler.

andre1969

I think the Titan's initial goal was around 100,000 per year. However, I don't think they ever came anywhere even remotely close to that.

ateixeira

True, but the F "series" is really a collection of 17 different trucks.

Probably more than that.

marsha7

"Why? The Dakota is no longer made and Sergio has said it's not coming back as a midsize BOF truck - if at all."

Uh, I guess I am out of touch with new cars and trucks...I did not know the Dakota was dead...can I still bash the UAW, or have they gone away, too?

anythngbutgm

lol!

Ironically, it sounds like we are going to be hearing a lot from our friends in the unions very soon...

CAW Authorizes Strike Against Detroilet Three Ahead of Contract Talks

gagrice

Time to close up shop in Canada. You would think the Union would remember what happened with Caterpillar last year. CAW loss is US gain, maybe. Or maybe Mexico's gain. What part of having more workers than jobs, don't the Unions understand?

gagrice

Will the Russians sell cars here again? Before the Chinese.

AvtoVAZ has recently pulled the wraps off the LAda X-Ray Concept during the 2012 Moscow Motor Show, which is a first look into a crossover that might hit the production line.

The Russian based automaker didn’t lose time and after revealing the El Lada electric vehicle, the company has also pulled the wraps off a very interesting concept, named the Lada X-Ray, which is announcing the future design philosophy of the carmaker. The Lada X-Ray has been designed by Steve Mattin, who is responsible for many Volvo and Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the designer lines are mixing the front bumper with the headlamps in order to give birth to a futuristic look which is revealing the “X” from its name.

ateixeira

That rust color will prove convenient.

bpizzuti

Actually, that's pretty sharp looking.

gagrice

I thought it was also. Kind of a nice runabout size with a hatch back. Russia is expanding their manufacturing while we send ours to China and elsewhere.

cannon3

We are our own worst enemy. We don't think long term when we make purchases or for services. Americans need think self preservation when opening thier pocket books. buy local, buy American made products and services. I don't think you can buy everything made her in the U.S. But, you can buy a majority of products and services here in the U.S. online. The large box stores don't give a damn about you, your future, or your families future. Profit is the name of the game. American do make quality products and offer quality services right here at home. Buying American, demanding American just makes common sense.

bpizzuti

American do make quality products and offer quality services right here at home.

Fine, name some.

stever

Edmunds.

lemko

Amen, brother, amen! I go out of my way to buy American products. Very few American made products can be found in big box stores nowadays. Even so-called "upscale"stores shelves are full of the same foreign-made garbage you get a Wal~Mart only at a higher price. It seems the best way to find American-made merchandise is online.

lemko

Cadillac and Buick.

benjaminh

The Honda Accord is made in a huge state-of-the-art factory in Ohio. The Accord's engine is made at another factory in Ohio. Transmission ditto.

I've gotten two of these Ohio-made Accords--a 2002 LX and a 2008 EXL. Best cars I ever owned in 32+ years of driving. I plan on getting a third.

bpizzuti

Cadillac and Buick.

You just COMPLETELY destroyed your credibility. :shades:

gagrice

Number one Buick LaCrosse 60% US/Canada content
Number one Caddy SRX 26% US/Canada content

Made in Canada is no different than made in Mexico. In fact my Mexican built GM trucks were better built than my 2005 US made one.

roadburner

I know that you don't consider it to be a priority, but I only buy products that I want. I spend a lot of time behind the wheel and I'm not about to buy a car that I don't enjoy driving- or a bike that I don't enjoy riding. And with one exception(my Jeep Wrangler), every time I've been in the market for a vehicle there has not been a Big 2.5 vehicle that came anywhere close to meeting the needs/wants of me and/or my family.
Simple as that.

gagrice

I am at that point right now. I want a mid/full size SUV with a diesel Engine. Only the Germans are offering them. I could be happy with the Jeep Cherokee Diesel due out sometime unless they use the cheap Italian diesel engine.

roadburner

When we bought the CPO 2004 X3 back in December 2005, we also cross-shopped the new Forester as well as the new Xterra(how's that for being all over the map?). Whatever we bought was going to be my wife's daily driver and she finally narrowed down the choice to either the BMW or the Nissan, primarily because she had had such good experience with both brands. At the time we had a Chevrolet/Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep less than a ten minute drive away, but their service department's level of incompetence was the stuff of legend. She finally decided that if she was going to have to 25 minutes or more to get decent service, she might as well drive to a dealer that treats her with respect and does an excellent job without overcharging. Needless to say, she chose the X3. I doubt that she will ever consider anything other than a BMW. Me, I'm a bit more open-minded; I also could see myself in a BRZ, a Miata, a 911 or a Cayman S... :P

uplanderguy

Fine, name some.

You've clearly got your mind made up and your excuses ready, so would it make any difference?

bpizzuti

That's called a cop-out. If someone is willing to claim that there are excellent American products people should buy, said person should be willing to name them.

Incidentally the Ford Focus should be on the list. But I'm sure that one doesn't fit your agenda.

andre1969

Just out of curiosity, how "American" is the new Ford Focus? It's too small for my tastes, but I do respect it for being a valiant attempt in the small car field.

I'm kinda curious to see the new Fusion when it comes out.

bpizzuti

It was designed in Europe, but it's built here, so it qualifies at "American." It would be nice if it was designed here too, but I'm thinking the actual production of the car would employ more people.

uplanderguy

The Focus turned me off, styling-wise, when I first saw it...very 'Asian'. I have to say it has grown on me. I prefer the more-conservative looks of the Cruze, and its longer powertrain warranty and the fact that it is built down the road from me, all valuable things IMHO.

mcdawgg

I had a Focus rental this past week. Was OK, some rattles, except the 6 speed auto was terrible in the lower gears. I was able to live with it by putting it in "S" and using the up/down on the side of the gear selector to manually shift it. If I did that, the tranny was fine. But if I didn't, it was horrible.

Trunk opening was EXTREMELY small, mpg was good, climate control was good.

roadburner

I drove a Cruze at Indy as a part of Chevy's 500 week promotion. They even had one with a manual. It wasn't a bad drive, actually- although if I was buying a FWD subcompact(not a "hot hatch") I'd be going with the 5 door Mazda3.

bpizzuti

As would I. The Focus and Impreza are close runners-up to the Mazda3 hatch though. I don't like the way Ford did the DCT either, and I think Subaru needs to get more power out of that 2L, DI, low pressure turbo, whatever, but it's not competitive with other 2L engines, even Subie's other one.

uplanderguy

Made in Canada is no different than made in Mexico

While neither is 'built in USA', it's hard for me to believe that someone couldn't see the difference here. It's about comparing Canada to a third-world country and paying very little for expecting the same work. I don't believe the quality is any different, but with what is going on illegally in Mexico I surely wouldn't want to do anything to send my support down that way. Good grief.

BTW, GM cars I've looked at have been coming into U.S. dealers from Ontario for at least forty years. It's nothing new.

gagrice

US automakers pay higher wages in Mexico than the going rate. They have HC and very liberal layoff compensation. Last I checked if you lay someone off in Mexico you have to give them a years pay. I owned three 3/4 ton 4X4 GM trucks and a Suburban 4X4 that were built in Mexico. All were better fit and finish than the 2005 GMC Hybrid built in the USA. I think workers in Mexico are more thankful to have a decent job than they are in the USA. If they continue to expand their middle class they may not be considered 3rd World much longer.

Aug 29, 2012
Automakers ramping up more auto imports from Mexico

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/08/automakers-ramping-- up-more-auto-imports-from-mexico/1#.UES_BCLWqh0