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Why Toyota uses so many US parts in their vehicles because they are affraid of political backlash, for being an import manufactor and taking American jobs away, so they build most of their vehicles in the US with US parts makers.
But I must also say that Hyundai is the best bang for the buck, but I think it is not the way we want the country to go.
However, it's still the best warranty offered in America...a claim that GM states, as well as Mitsubishi. It doesn't matter the % of parts in the car that are foreign or domestic, it's about claiming the BEST warranty offered in America. I'm sorry...GM's warrany simply isn't the best warranty offered.
A warranty is only as good as the company that backs it and Hyundai is famous for trying every trick in the book to keep from actually having to do major work on the cars when stuff does break. That, plus the amount of foreign parts AND the unwillingness to transfer the full remainder of the warranty for free to the next owner like every other maker just is too much to swallow.
If you want the full warranty, buy your Hyundai new.
Imagine if Craftsman had a original owner only(please present receipt!) "lifetime" warranty on its tools. It would leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth after decades of it being a true lifetime warranty. Cars are no different. GM stands by its warranty until the very last day no matter if its been sitting on the lot as a demonstrator or if you're the 6th owner in three years.
Now, with their 100K drivetrain warranty, it more than gains parity with Hyundai.
As for American content, I don't care what company it's from - where it's built is the big deal. Considering how GM and many other companies aren't even posting profits, the reality is that it just negates the part where the company is headquartered(can't pay taxes on negative profits, afterall) Where the plant is and where the raw materials come from is a big deal by comparison. It takes billions a year to run a typical plant, and that's all money going into the local economy in hundreds of ways.
I'm not . . but plenty of others are.
Good grief. It's bad enough when you call the 3.0 in the Five Hundred "underpowered" . . but at least realize that the new Taurus will have a more powerful 3.5L. Sheesh! :P
If it had the least power, but also had the highest fuel economy by some good margin, then there would be many people who would be willing take that compromise.
Hyundai only had that transferable 10 year/100k mile powertrain warranty for 5 years (1999 through 2003), not for decades like Craftsman. And Craftsman tools were/are expensive compared to many others, unlike Hyundai cars. For Hyundai, it was good marketing to get more people buying and driving Hyundais, new and used. For Sears, it was more tradition and motto, part of the brand's name and an excuse to keep charging a lot for the tools.
Hyundai has 67% more bumper to bumper coverage in months and miles than Aveo. Aveo 36/36k and Hyundai 60/60k. And it is all transferable.
Aveo has 67% more powertrain coverage in miles only than Hyundai for subsequent owners.
Aveo has a powertrain warranty of only 5 years to Hyundai's 10 years, both for the original owner.
Subsequent owners of either car are covered for the powertrain up to 5 years from original in service date, Hyundai limited to 60k miles, Aveo limited to 100k miles.
As a new car purchase the Hyundai warranty is much better.
As a used car purchase with over 60k miles, the Aveo has better coverage.
As a used car purchase with less than 40k miles the Hyundai coverage is probably more attractive to most people.
As a used car purchase with 40k to 55k miles most would probably say it's a toss-up.
Chevrolet.com will not even compare its warranty to Hyundai on its website, no doubt because Hyundai's looks SO MUCH better.
http://www.chevrolet.com/warranty/
And barely noticeable differences in acceleration times. Hmmm, are you after POWER, or acceleration?
The bad thing is that if you ever need that extra (unnoticeable) performance to get you out of trouble, and you are in the Ford, you are SOL.
Perhaps trouble you wouldn't have gotten yourself into if you weren't counting on that HP.
The more horsepower, the better!
(until the money or credit runs out)
We all have to make compromises in life, right?
It's not 5+ years old but 3 years old.
OK...I guess it just seems like it's been around a lot longer. I still stand by my statement that Daimler sucked what little life Chrysler had left out of it. :P
*******The 2008 Taurus' 3.5 gets 263HP. MPG = 20/28. 0-60, n/a yet.. msrp-$23245. (I estimate 0-60 to be 6.5 area)
*The 2007 FiveHundred' 3.0 gets 203HP. MPG = 21/29. 0-60, 8.1 sec. msrp-$23035.
That is according to the old EPA measurements.
This should set a lot of people straight.
So the big question is would you pay $3500 more for 2.5MPG better? No.
Real actual data is argued about a lot in here. Have you noticed that?
Indicates disapproval or displeasure: Feh, don't touch that dirty thing.
(Yiddish dictionary)
It's a real term. I used to have neighbors from New Yrok and picked it up from them.
***
My point is still valid. GM - what you see is what you get. And, honestly, GM's hardware and such either it breaks quickly and is fixed(initial gremlins) or it lasts a decade. I can't remember the last time I saw a window fail on me in a GM car that wasn't at least 10+ years old.
I just don't like their new warranty. It's clearly a marketing gimmick. Good if you buy new, but otherwise, forget it - buy a used Pontiac or Ford Focus.
As for Craftsman, the fact is that they are really tough to actually break. And they go on sale quite often, like GM. Now, they aren't Klein or Mack or some of the tools you can get from Japan, but like GM, they are reasonably priced and last at least a decade or two before they need to be replaced.
The simple fact is that Hyundai plays games and beats the others mostly on price. It's still not at the level of refinement and quality as the others, but it is getting better.
My main gripe, though, is that it's *Korean*. This helps us not one bit. 0% of the money that went into making it stays here. Now, they may be building some plants in the future, but right now, the best deals are what's amde in the U.S.
NUUMI Plant, Freemont, CA. 3 Billion a year in upkeep and money that goes in and ut of it. Union labor. Join venture between GM and Toyota. Buy a car made here and you're definately supporting the U.S. economy.
http://www.nummi.com/vehicles.php
Btw - you CAN get Toyota and UAW labor at the same time -
The hilux is the international name for the old Tacoma, btw - the small "Taco" truck.
I'm not sure, but I thought the Aveo is (or at least was) also a Korean car, made by Daewoo, but sold as a Chevy. Daewoo cars do not enjoy a good reputation.
Here's someone else's internet opinion on that too:
Most Kalos/Aveos are assembled in the Bupyong plant in South Korea. In Ukraine, Russia and Venezuela, local versions of the Aveo are assembled from CKD. For the Chinese market, Aveos and Lovas are manufactured by Shanghai GM Dongyue.
The Avalon was a way too mushy ride. Just did not feel "secure" in the driver's seat driving twisting and turning roads. The 300 visibility out the front just plain sucked. Power wasn't all that great and neither was the ride. The Buick -- while it had enough get up and go -- the interior styling is still GM -- and looks dated. The Sable with the 3.5 had a significantly noticeable increase in HP compared to the 2005-2007 Montegos (I own a 2005). The handling and suspension were to my taste (stiffer and more responsive) than the Toyota.
For the money -- and features -- the Sable is a Way better buy - hands down. The only thing I did not like in the 2008 (saw several) were some of the interior color combinations -- they made the interior look cheap.
Before you bash the 2008 - test drive it -- they have taken the HP / Power issue out of the mix. My only complaint is that they did away with the CVT.
My question is this, how firm of a ride are you expecting from a family touring sedan?
Then, I had a power steering hose burst. Took it in and they replaced it with no problem or hassle in any way.
I had a small issue with the manual shifting mode on the transmission with down shifts into 2nd gear. Found the problem to be a faulty sensor, they replaced the sensor...again, with no hassle.
I really think it depends on the dealership you go to. I've got two in my area that I go to that don't give any hassle or problems when you go in with problems on your vehicle. I have heard the horror stories where service departments will try and not honor the warranty by finding some loophole to get out of it. I've actually found the opposite with one of the dealerships I go to...they actually find a way to cover something under the warranty if it falls into a gray area.
Even by not transferring the remainder of the full warranty to the next owner, the next owner is still getting a good warranty what would rival the warranty of some new cars. What are you talking about? If you paid for the extended warranty and you trade the vehicle in before it actually would have kicked in, cancel it and get your money back.
- Bad alternator.
- Power steering hose burst.
- automanual had problems with the computers(big surprise anyone? Automanuals have been gremlin breeding pools since day 1)
The thing is that with most other makes, you won't have to deal with nearly as many repairs. In the end, it's close to a wash economically, but wasting my time at a dealership getting stuff fixed costs me time and money as well since most of my income comes from consulting and freelance work.
GMs tend to be bland and boring for the most part, but they are very much like a Timex watch. Cheap, reliable, and get the job done. Not much else. A perfect commuter car, especially if bought a year or two used. There's a real reason you see so many GM and Ford trucks being used by people for their work. They run, they work, and they don't generally break as often - or cost as much to fix when they do. The rest? If it has A/C and a stereo, most construction workers are happy.
May I ask where you drove the Sable? According to the website neither the Sable or Taurus is available yet.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
This is incorrect. Toyota as a whole is nowhere near 75%; neither is the Avalon, for that matter.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Read somewhere that the Avalon was 92% American parts, and, of course, 100% American assembled. The engine (from scratch)is made in Missouri, the tranny I believe in Indiana, I understand that the only parts for it that come in from overseas are some electronic components, and the AC system from Nippondenso. And furthermore those engines and trannies that are 100% US made are exported to Lexus who still assembles in Japan (except for the ES). What I believe to be true - that the Avalon is likely the most 'American' car of this group simply because it uses the most American made parts and employs more Americans during the course of its production. Toyota as a whole? - 75%, of course not, they have plants and markets all over the world - the Avalon on the other hand, designed and built in America, specifically for the American market.
As for the brand as a whole, the OP had posted 75% for Toyota, and I just wanted to make the correction.
While having to get a car fixed can be an intrusion upon your normally scheduled life, it is a part of being a automobile owner. Just like being a homeowner, things happen when you would least like them to and you have to deal with it. If you don't like it, get a bicycle.
There are a lot of "perfect" commuter cars, Toyota & Honda have been producing them for years.
American trucks have ALWAYS been great, whether they be GM, Dodge or Ford built. Their cars on the other hand...they are cheaper to fix because most backyard mechanics can work on them.
The Five Hundred always was a well designed 'space ship' but also not a whole lot 'tighter' than the Azera or for that matter the non-Touring Avalons. Something that Toyota, in particular, and now Hyundai, have always understood, the American preference for 'soft' and quiet. Now with a real engine - the 'Taurus' might be a whole lot better if and when Ford can produce something other than a few show/test cars for their now infamous sponsored comparisons. It may also be too little too late. I still question the name change, though, because I think if you look up 'rental car' in Roget's I think you will find a picture of a Taurus. Going to be a tough perception for Ford to overcome.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
There are a lot of "perfect" commuter cars, Toyota & Honda have been producing them for years.
***
I think I'll stick with a "perfect" commuter car instead of compromising.
You save $1000. I get a significantly better car. Enjoy that warranty while it lasts...
My Azera on the other hand...yeah, I can blast off into space in that and cruise the galaxy in style!
You save a $1000 and get a significantly better car than what?
The warranty...it's a lovely thing. I'm spoiled by it to be honest.
Or you can just get a Honda and ignore the whole thing. The trick, of course, is to get the basic models and save as much as you can. ie - an Accord VP makes for a perfect commuter car.
I would argue that anyone who is satisfied with the car they ultimately purchased would sing praises for it just as all of us do on here. I wouldn't belittle him as if he was somehow tricked into liking a newer/improved version of a vehicle he already owns.
But both Lucerne engines are older-style, overhead valve layouts and both Lucerne transmissions—one for each engine—are only 4 speeds. New cars, especially those in the over $25,000 bracket, tend to come with overhead-cam engines with variable valve timing and transmissions with more than only four gears.
Ann Job the "expert" car reviewer doesn't even know that the 4.6L Northstar V8 is a DOHC engine not a OHV.
What a hoot.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Just goes to show bias in the industry. If it isn't Asian-branded, it's crap.
Which must be where Hyundai's decades of overwhelming good reviews come from :confuse:
NOT
I recently read an article in a well-known car mag (Car and Driver or Motor Trend, I can't remember which). It showed the brand new Altima as having EPA mileage of 23/29 for the 4-cylinder, when in fact it has 26/34 MPG. I guess that makes them automatically biased AGAINST Japanese cars, by your logic, right, quietpro? :confuse:
They both have wrong information listed, so they both must be conspiring against the auto companies.
I wonder if the lower rating cited for the " brand new Altima " is a result of the new testing procedures versus the old procedures.
IMO the ratings are really only useful in comparing one car to another anyway, but now we won't be able to compare year to year.
This is like the situation with the horsepower ratings prior to 1972. In that year they went from gross ratings to net ratings. The 1971 Camaro Z28 was rated at 330HP and the 1972 Z28 was rated at 255HP, but was the same engine.
Read the review. She seems to think European cars and their engineering are the only way to go. Wonder if she gets out much?
She doesn't even know there are three levels of suspension, both in control and quality on the Lucerne. Doubt it would help to write her because she sounds like her mind's made up.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm fully aware of the new ratings system. The 23/29 numbers are from the old 2002-2006 Altima 4-cylinder, not the new rating system. The new ratings system still has higher estimates for the Altima than 29 MPG highway (31 or 32, depending on transmission). It was simply a misinformation in the article from not double-checking information, just like the Buick Lucerne article was.
It is good that you shared that info for those not aware of it, however. To see a full list of what the new ratings system will do to your EPA estimate, click here. The link will take you to the proper section of fueleconomy.gov to search for your car and see what the revised estimates will be.