Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

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  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Yeah I know. I checked the domestic content on this site. :sick:

    http://levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/lfi-domestic-content.pdf

    Rocky

    P.S.

    Thankfully the 08' CTS gives me a tear of hope.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Automaker asks dealers to extend hours over July 4 holiday weekend to kick off new incentive drive.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060627/AUTO01/606270366/- 1148

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=115901

    My buddy Glen, has one on order. I'd rather have a RDX :P

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Mini-car, pricing could boost sales

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/BUSINESS01/606280323/10- 14

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Greensburg likely site, report says

    Honda Motor Co. could announce plans today to put a new assembly plant in Indiana to make 200,000 vehicles a year.

    Honda sent an advisory Tuesday inviting the media to a conference in Greensburg, Ind., at 10:30 a.m. today. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels cut short a trip to South Korea to attend a major announcement in Greensburg, the Indianapolis Star reported.

    A Honda spokesman declined to give details of the announcement Tuesday night.

    Honda said last month it planned to build a sixth assembly plant in North America. The plant is expected to begin production in 2008 and employ 1,500 workers.

    The plant is another sign of the increasing strength of Asian automakers in the United States. While General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are fighting sliding sales and making plans to close plants, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda have been increasing U.S. sales and searching for sites to build plants.

    Michigan officials had said they planned to make a pitch for the Honda plant, but Indiana and Ohio were the early front-runners.

    At the time of the announcement, Indiana officials already had been in talks with Honda. The heart of Honda's North America manufacturing base is in central Ohio where the company makes the Civic, Accord, Element and Acura TL.

    A new plant in Indiana would make sense, said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

    The Indiana site, about 2 1/2 hours from Honda's Ohio plants, would put the factory far enough away to tap into a new source of employees, Cole said. But the site is close enough so suppliers can easily truck parts to either the existing Ohio plants or future Indiana plant, he said.

    The selection of Indiana would be a boost for the Midwest's automotive base. While foreign automakers have expanded in the South in recent years, the pool of available workers could be drying up in Southern states, Cole said. "I think you could see a repopulation of the industrial Midwest because of the workforce."

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/BUSINESS01/606280437/10- 14

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...it seems like Honda will have plenty of candidates with all those guys leaving GM in droves. Could you imagine that GM may actually have a labor shortage?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Delphi has the major shortage. GM might have to hire eventually. If they had insurance I'd be putting my application in. I can't risk not having insurance for however long until they determine if I'm hired or not permanetally. It's really ashame for somebody like myself who has a family to worry about. It's the perfect oppertunity though for some single youngsters that want to go to college and work. They can use mommy or daddy's insurance until they acquire there own if they are hired by GM or Delphi. I wouldn't work for Delphi, but GM I would. More money and a bit more secure. The insurance is the only obstacle. :sick: :cry:

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Oh yeah Honda might take some ex-autoworkers in skilled trades. I doubt they will hire former UAW ordinary Joes because of the union fear but who knows.

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...a union as long as they treat their workers properly. However, if Honda starts to follow the bad example set by Sam Walton's heirs, I can see them overturning the plant manager's Acura 3.5 RL right now.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    LOL....Well obviously they must be treating the workforce good because nothing like that has happened yet. I've heard wages for Toyota, but not once for Honda associates as they call them. I'd probably would dislike the work enviroment at those plants because I wouldn't fit in. ;)

    Rocky
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    I would bet my dollar that Honda will not have any former UAW worker within 10 miles of the plant...they all have a welfare entitlememt attitude that cannot be broken or tamed, they have no conception of a work ethic, they all know how to drink, and they all think that Mondays and Fridays are the best days to drink on the job...

    If I ran Honda, I would make it a strong point not to hire the GM/Ford rejects...all you would get is aggravation, heartache, crappy attitude and poor workmanship, as they would be sabotaging the very products that they believe caused GM/Ford to dump them...

    Lived in Detroit 10 years, saw it myself...no way would they stand a chance if I was in charge of hiring...
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Marsh...
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well why don't you just slap most of family in there face and spit on them. :sick:

    I guess Japanese/American car workers don't have a drink after work. Whatever *roll eyes* The Germans have beer mugs on there machines at work, and seem to make fine car.

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    National club to celebrate car company almost 50 years after factory closed its doors in Detroit

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/BUSINESS01/606290311/10- 14

    Rocky
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    That's kind of a (brutal) generalized statement Marsh don't ya think?

    I have no ties to the UAW, but I can't imagine them ALL to mimick those impressions...
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    not apply to every single one of them, but after the militancy and striking of past decades, it has some credibility...

    I will, however, stand by my basic premise...I will be surprised, no, shocked, if former UAW folks get jobs at the Honda plant...the Japanese do not, eh, "appreciate" union militancy, and they know that the UAW resents them for "taking jobs" from "their union workers", so I would bet that Honda would rather have an untrained newbie who can be "assimilated properly into Honda's work ethic" than someone who waited every 3 years from contrcat negotiations to fail so they could strike...my words may be harsh, but the Japanese will not tolerate the crap we tolerate here in our auto plants, you can take that to the bank...
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Yeah your right the Japanese aren't puting up with unions in Japan, they'd rather get us "american slaves" to build em' for them. The Japanese in Japan, do tolerate more from the union in their home country. You will start seeing the UAW trickel into transplants within 20 years IMO because americans do have a little pride.

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Dodge Challenger is back

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/AUTO01/606300415

    Rocky
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    I want one of those... badly. The attitude, the power, the Hemi w/stick, rear drive balls-to-the-walls power, I will be ordering one of these. :D

    I am so psyched about this. THANK YOU DC!
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    LOL !!!! anything but gm right ? ;) My buddy works for a Dodge dealer and we have our pony car war of words already and both the camaro and Challenger aren't out yet. :)

    Rocky
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    The Camaro is a Concept car. Honestly, I don't get what the hype is all about on that thing. To me it looks like a 69 Camaro that has been through an episode of Monster Garage. The roofline is so low, I don't see anyone over 5'10" fitting in it due to the chopped roofline. Add bumpers and a few cutlines and it will lose a bit of its prescence. I just think the Challenger looks a bit more "buildable" than the Camaro

    And in the world of classic muscle, I am a big Mopar fan. Always have been. The Camaro does nothing for me but if it appeals to you, go for it. ;)
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Yeah it does "do it" for me. See ya at the stoplight sometime. ;) And wave Bye Bye to me as I'll be leaving you in my Tire Smoke :P

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    "To me it looks like a 69 Camaro that has been through an episode of Monster Garage."

    Actually, to me it looks more like a 69 Camaro after Chip Foose got ahold of it. I wish GM would bring to market sooner rather than later. Even though I'm much more of a Ford and Mustang guy, I REALLY like the new Camaro concept (though I don't think there's any possible way that the 'standard' V8 motor will be the 400hp LS2. That'll be reserved for an SS version).
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Gosh your both wrong. The standard engine will be a 3.9 H.O. V-6 straight from the G6. The Camaro Z-28 will have a 6.0 LS-2 or possibly a 5.3 LS-4 and the SS/SL-1 model will get a 500+ horsepower LS-7. :P

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    Agree on the base V6. Personally, I believe the base Z-28 would have the 5.3 LS-4 (at around 310-320hp) and the upmarket SS would have the 6.0 LS-2. Remember what killed the last F-bodies (escalating costs; not a lack of hp). For GM to be successful with a new Camaro, they can't repeat that mistake. Costs MUST be kept in line. There's no real reason for their BASE V8 to be any more than the 5.3l LS-4.

    Do you have any insider's info from GM verifying engine choices or is this just wishful thinking on your part?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    http://www.newswatch50.com/business/wire/story.aspx?content_id=C68D56E9-AB77-49C- 2-B540-B69EF862A712

    Top "American" cars identified

    CHICAGO (AP) - What's the most "American" car you can buy? It depends on how you define "American," with foreign auto manufacturers running assembly plants in the U-S and U-S nameplates using parts from abroad.

    As the Fourth of July Holiday approaches, Cars-dot-com is unveiling its American Made Index, which identifies vehicles that it says are truly the most American in terms of their parts, where they're built and that are popular with U-S buyers.

    Leading the list is the Ford F-Series. It's followed by the Chevy Silverado, Toyota Camry and Camry Solara, the Ford E-Series, Chevy Cobalt, Ford Explorer, Chevy Malibu and Malibu Maxx. Toyota Sienna, Chevy TrailBlazer and the Dodge Caravan-Grand Caravan.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    This was something Motor Trend got from a leak. I gave the magazine to a friend since I was done reading it and so going back and verifying is now impossible. I believe I'm correct on the "3" trim choices rorr. The LS-7 would be use to compete with the Shelby Mustang, and GM will refuse to be outgunned by Ford.

    You could easily see a 3.9, LS-2, LS-7. The GTO is $32K so it would make economical sense to use the LS-2 in the middle and differentiate from the Impala RWD 5.3 LS-4 engine. ;)

    Rocky

    P.S. We will see in a couple of years. :mad: :sick: :cry:
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    That article is Hawg Wash ;)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    http://levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/lfi-domestic-content.pdf

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    I wouldn't trust Motor Trend to forecast which direction the sun will rise in the morning. Just my .02....

    "You could easily see a 3.9, LS-2, LS-7."

    I think you're confusing your pronouns; that should read "I could easily see...."

    I'll bet you a case of beer that the base V8 will NOT be the 6.0l LS-2. :surprise:
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Your on. ;)

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    You do realize that what you posted was for 2004. We are currently talking about 2007 models......so that .pdf is 3 years out of date.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well it's the most accurate one I've found with all the nameplates. I'm yet to see a Camry with 80% domestic content. The Toyota Sienna has 90% according to that site which makes the Camry not as american. There also is several Fords, GM's, Chrsylers, that are more american than the Camry.

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    "Your on."

    Ahhhhhhh, life is good. :shades:

    I'll e-mail you a shipping address after GM issues an OFFICIAL announcement......
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    All I'm saying is that a lot can change between 2004 (when that list was compiled) and 2007. So you might want to hold off on your condemnations until we can find a current list.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I'm afraid after the announcement you will have a new SN and be a imposter after my easy victory. ;)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Okay fair enough.... ;)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I think GM will tarnish the car using anything but a LS-2 for the V-8. So what's going to be the base V-8 ? 5.3 would be kinda expensive to meet that $20K price. I just don't see going 4 trim levels would be smart.

    3.9 should be $20K LS-2 $30K LS-7 $40K would make common sense.

    Rocky
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    A new SN?

    Nah, in the not-so strange event that GM COMPLETELY LOOSES IT'S COLLECTIVE MIND and offers a 400+ hp BASE V8 (uh, how many first-time male buyers do you think could afford the insurance on such an animal?), there's no way I'd chunk 'rorr' just to avoid paying off a lousy case of beer.

    I've got SOME pride you know.... :blush:
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    LOL.... Well if they are going to not use a V-6 for a base engine then you will win the bet for sure. It could then go 5.3, 6.0, 7.0 which would make you a winner and would make the base Camaro to expensive. The first time male buyers don't buy these cars new anyways with a V-8 because of insurance.... This is why the 3.9 would make more sense, with a LS-2, then 7.0.

    Neways Stats say if they buy new, it's a civic type vehicle ;)

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I just HOPE they don't use the 3.8 V-6 as the Camaro's base engine. I'm not knocking the 3800. It's a good, durable, fuel-efficient engine but it does not belong in a performance car.
  • ehaaseehaase Member Posts: 328
    One rumor from the insiders is that the Camaro will have a base V6, a high output V6, and only one high performance V8 - probably a 6.2L V8. But who knows what will happen.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    My buddy Glen, has one on order. I'd rather have a RDX

    Rocky, I agree with you about the RDX. I'm glad we have people like Glen to keep some Jeep sales going... ;)
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    Please bear in mind that while I appear to hold the UAW and its workers in high contempt for their welfare entitlement attitude, and frankly I do, I do own a 2004 Crown Vic and 2004 Ram 1500 Hemi...so I did spend $60,000-plus on two cars made by the folks I hold in high contempt...and I will continue to criticize because I am speaking the truth...

    So, for all of my political ranting of my opinions of the union and its workers, at the present time my money still supports them...:):):):):)...

    Please don't be TOO hard on me, as my money IS contributing to what little they have left in whatever pension plans remain...
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Okay that's close enough of an apology for me. :P

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    The 6.2 V-8 probably would make the most sense and that was the engine some rumors have being turned up to 500 horsepower.

    Rorr, the V-8's will be a 6.0 LS-2 or 6.2 V-8 out of the Escalade

    We could esily see a 3.9 V-6, 6.2, 7.0 if minds get changed.

    3.9, 5.3, 6.2 ;)

    I still think it will go like this

    3.9, 6.0 or 6.2, 7.0 at a (later date) ;)

    I'm going to take the 6.0 as the base V-8. Rorr, what V-8 are you picking ? or did our bet allow you to take the field ?

    Rocky
  • corvettefan427corvettefan427 Member Posts: 92
    ''Of all the vehicles in this test, the stalwart 3800 V6 was the only pushrod engine in the group – and one of the punchiest. The powertrain pulls strongly and smartly with excellent low-end grunt – enough to propel the Impala from a dead stop to 60 mph in a decent 8.2 seconds. Backed by an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, the Impala exhibited crisp, precise shifting with no hesitation when downshifting. Upshifts were nearly imperceptible under normal driving conditions. Nail the throttle and the transmission responds smartly through the gears.''

    That's straight from Edmunds. That sounds like a real horrible engine, and geez, I'd hate to have to deal with that smooth and smart transmission everyday. I'd much rather have a 5 speed that doesn't know when to downshift and/or makes the shifts very noticeable
  • corvettefan427corvettefan427 Member Posts: 92
    That's precisely the reason I would never buy or consider a Big 3 vehicle. I am quite concerned about the extraoridinary costs to keep it running. Mechanic's and Auto repair shops are very expensive, particularly labor. So while American parts may be cheap (hence, the low quality and constant need for replacment), it's the labor costs that kill you.

    So that $80 rearview mirror that broke in a toyota corolla was outrageously priced because it is of such good quality? Why did it break then when I simply flipped the dimmer?
  • corvettefan427corvettefan427 Member Posts: 92
    That's precisely the reason I would never buy or consider a Big 3 vehicle. I am quite concerned about the extraoridinary costs to keep it running. Mechanic's and Auto repair shops are very expensive, particularly labor. So while American parts may be cheap (hence, the low quality and constant need for replacment), it's the labor costs that kill you.

    So that $80 rearview mirror that broke in a toyota corolla was outrageously priced because it is of such good quality? Why did it break then when I simply flipped the dimmer?
  • corvettefan427corvettefan427 Member Posts: 92
    This is a classic and typical example of why we should all just let the big 3 die out, and disappear. We'd all be better off. So much wasted time (labor) and money goes into making shoddy products continue to run. Why don't we as americans divert our attention to making products that are useful, economical, and profitable? Big 3 vehicles are very wasteful, poorly designed, and end up costing us tons more than the original purchase price. As Bush said, we need to make "relevant" products.

    We'd all be better off?!?! Have you been smoking crack? If this were to happen millions of people would be s.o.l., as they would have no jobs, and millions of retirees would lose their pensions. But I'm sure you thought of that already.
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