has anyone ever given you crap for not buying American?

[ToolmanJohn]

Imports make the Domestics Better, someday

The biggest favor the quality Import market ever did was to FORCE the domestic manufacturing market to improve. Reliability , efficiency, even purchase price, the imports were steadily taking away domestic market share.

The Big Three can cry and lament about their bad fortune but it's entirely their own doing. Now they are playing catch-up, and although statistically they are making huge improvements in reliability, the cars they make still feel cheap when driven, and the interiors have the least attention paid to them.

Of the 4 SUV's I test drove, the 4runner blew away the others in how it looked, and the ride was superior. On top of that, the reliability of Toyota built cars is known. Sure , they have their hiccups now and then (recalls, TSB's) but nowhere near the frequency of the domestics.

The big three auto makers should ask their competitors customers ( drivers of Toyotas, Hondas, ect) what they should do to improve, but they don't. They hire kids out of design school , then trash their ideas in accounting. Until the bean counters are taken out of the creative process, the domestic cars won't improve to the level of the imports.

 

[djlandkpl]

Can't judge a car by its label. The T4R may be built in Japn but my Acura TL is built in the US. Many of the "American" cars are builit in Canada and Mexico.

 

[fastlif306]

Its a joke. I want the best product, Toyota just happens to make them, if they were from the US, some other country, I dont really care, as long as they make the best.
there are 2 remaining US manufacturers, Ford and GM. Dodge, German based. Nissan, French owned, Honda and Toy from Japan, but they have realized its much cheaper to make them in North America over Japan.

what the good ole boys dont realize, is that Honda and Toyota employ almost as much or more people in the states than their Big 3 US junkyard bound heaps in the driveway.

 

[Jimbo]

Re: Imports make the Domestics Better, someday

The biggest favor the quality Import market ever did was to FORCE the domestic manufacturing market to improve. Reliability , efficiency, even purchase price, the imports were steadily taking away domestic market share.

Great point. Competition is what drives improvement. I'll be happy to buy US-made as soon as they get their act together.

 

[Hoomiester]

2 things in reply:

1. Nobody gives me crap about anything,

2. Who cares if they do?


:goinposta

 

[Northof49]

Re: Re: Imports make the Domestics Better, someday

Great point. Competition is what drives improvement. I'll be happy to buy US-made as soon as they get their act together.

Exactly. Provided the vehicle is built well and has qualities I want/like, I don't really care where it comes from. In the end, it's all just metal anyways! Currently, in the 4Runner's class, the domestics don't make anything that's even close IMHO, so there's no use even wasting time considering them (Not that I would buy any SUV besides a Runner anyways, but others may) If you need a 1 ton diesel truck, however, the tables turn.....

Of course, there are always exceptions......German cars aren't exactly known for great reliability/dependability, but I'd still take a nice M5 or a 911 Turbo.......feel dat? :yesyes:

 

[mjweber96]

The funny thing is that everyone works together in some sorts.
If you look at some models of GM and Toyota they are the same. Corolla/Prism, S-10/Isuzu pickup. The Diesal in the Silverado's are a collaberation with Isuza as well. Also the Chevy Cavalier is the Toyota Cavalier in Japan. And if you look at the stylings of the Avalon/LS 400 you will some Mercedes design in it as well. So the domestic cars are just as foreign as the import cars and vice versa. Toyota just cares to make their cars with better designs and higher quality materials. We had a 94 Prism with over 200k miles on it and we gave it to my brother in-law in 03' that baby is still running. Geo skin with a Toyota skeleton, but it was still an American vehicle. The only reason Ford and Chevy outsell some of their vehicles is because of the cost of a business buying fleets. At my work we have over 50 Fords F-250's at our division and who knows how many more at our other divisions, but they get them so cheap.

 

[XM DUDE]

A vehicle, to many of us, is a huge financial investment. So after one makes an assessment a decision is made. Since we have different minds, we will make different choices. In the end it’s no different than trying to figure out who makes the best pizza in town. It’s extremely subjective and many times a passionate thought process. BTW my 4runner is nicer than yours

I agree, vehicles are expensive and I want to buy the best I can so it's a 4 Runner when I have the cash.

 

[EDGE]

I don't think it really matters where a vehicle is built, what it comes down to is how well they put them together, not to pick on GM but anyone I know who has a GM or Chevy truck has oil spots under them, thats suppost to be normal, I've had friends who bought Japanese and where like it's not leaking anything.

The Unions are probably a big part of the low quality Domestics, how do you pay full benefits and 50-90% of 100's maybe 1000's of people income who are retired, and then still pay all your workers

I don't get it, I have an Uncle who is retired at 45 makes 90k a year with full benefits, and with his GM Union whatever return buyer program he walks into a Caddy dealer every year and gets a new loaded Escalade, the truck cost him like 100 a month I know they have probably changed the rules or laws or whatever they call them but I know he's not the only 1 paying that much for a 70k car, I've seen the discounts they offer and if you are an employee and have a proven return buyer record, cars that should cost 700 to pay off you can walk away paying under 300 even 200:arrow: I don't get it, but they offer it.

Ontop of that the discounts they offer to military and goverment workers damn

 

[Hitman]

When I worked for Toyota, we used to get about half of our Camrys built in Japan and half built in the USA.

When they came off the truck, you could always tell where they were built right away-- the ones from Japan didn't have the side mirrors installed. They also had covers over the brake rotors (probably to protect them from the salty ocean air).

Anyway, the ones built in the USA were just as good as the Japanese built Camrys. I guess our American workers can assemble just as well as the Japanese....

 

[wm69]

Grandad ran the Pontiac, Buick, and GMC dealership for about 45 years. We always had buicks and GMC's growing up. They always ran ok, but there were always the nagging little problems like electrical, leaks, rattles, etc. Course with Grandad running the dealership we always got the stuff fixed, but who wants to keep taking thier car in? We got our first Honda in 88. My sister got an accord as her first car. My grandparents acted like we'd just told them we were Nazis. Then my mom liked sis's car so much she got one, then I wrecked the station wagon (Buick) and dad got one. We've had 9 accords since then, and we've never put any of them in the shop for one single thing other than scheduled maint. I'm still driving my 93 EX coupe (Ohio) with 200K on it and it's not using oil, still running the original clutch. I know GM/ Ford (not dodge) have gotten better, but why go back now? Even my grandad, who flew B29's over Japan in WW2 finally admitted that it's unbelievable how well the Honda's are built. Wife and I didn't like the Honda SUV so I told her the ONLY option was a toyota. We just got our 4runner and we love it so far. I don't care if someone gives me problems for buying japanese; they do it because they're too stupid to buy something of quality, or they're jealous because they "can't afford" a honda or toyota. My neighbors across the street just did the "couldn't afford" a 4runner so they bought a new trailblazer. They've already had it in for taillights that quit working and 2 different sensors that went bad. They'd have been much better of buying a good used 4runner or jap equivilant like we did. At least I know my car will still be a good solid vehicle when it's paid off, even if I bought it used.........

 

[TranceKrayz]

keep an eye out for the new GM commercial. it basically says "there's a possibility that there are other SUVs that are better and safer than ours, but you get 0% interest for 60mos. if you buy from us." haha......and another thought is that even GM and Ford owners go at each others throats. gee.....i wonder what their arguement is...which one is more american?

 

[p53mustang]

The price of cars nowadays are outrageous, not to mention labor,maintainance etc. and most of all the grief and frustration that it brings us whenever it breaks down . We live in a fast paced world where in it seems like everything is timed. And if we don't make it in time it affects not just us but a lot of things and could be a lot of people.
Having said this for a while I used to drive used cars (Honda's and Toyota's) my very first brand new car was a Honda Accord. A year later I leased my very first Suv (chevy blazer) needless to say I returned it less than 3 years and ate up the cost. Why? cause something is always wrong with it and I feel like I can't trust this thing to take me where I would wanna go ( used to drive a lot to northern Canada with camping gear and etc.) and the places where i'd wanna take it are really far away from civilization sometimes. So I made another mistake by buying a Ford explorer. I have doubt to begin with but the financing and the purchase price was really good. So needless to say if it sounds too good to be true then it is , except this time this thing was a real crap a week after I took it out of the dealership it stalled and stalled and stalled by the time it stopped stalling a ton of other things was wrong with it. So got rid of it and got my 4runner and very happy since then. By the way my Honda Accord 12 years later and 200k miles not a single stall or anyproblem. my cost ? nothing spent on repair but mostly maintainance (i'm on my second set of timing belts and water pumps going on third. and my toys are well maintained.
As for affecting other people aside from me well I work in a surgical dept and we had an emergency surgery one time in the middle of the night (of course) and this Ford decided to crap out on me the same day i got it out from the dealer for a stalling fix. I never made it in time ( the patient survived ) but my co workers really were burned out . Cause they have to do with what they've got and that could be dangerous. As for my ride , I ended up calling 911 and had to have a cop take me to the hospital to do my job. The officer was nice and understanding ( and most of all he made me sit on the front , with the sirens and everything.)
My moral of the story is i'll never buy another american car even if they give it to me (for the second time it stalls in an emergency the patient on the operating table could be somebody I know or somebody who's reading this , God forbid it doesn't happen) my conscience might kill me knowing full well what I know based on my bad experience.
Sorry this thing is too long.

 

[Northof49]

The price of cars nowadays are outrageous, not to mention labor,maintainance etc. and most of all the grief and frustration that it brings us whenever it breaks down . .

I think vehicles today are actually pretty cheap compared to 10 years ago if you compare what you pay with what you get and then bring inflation rates into the mix......

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

I had a 04 Grand Cherokee V8 till I was railed by some girl doing 60mph. I have the 04 Limited now and would never look back. Some American cars are nice but most don't hold their value.

 

[slowginjoe]

GM Recalls 155,465 Pickups, Vans and SUVs

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. is recalling 155,465 pickups and sport utility vehicles — including the Hummer H2 — because of possible brake malfunctions, the world's biggest automaker and federal safety regulators said Thursday.

All of the affected vehicles are from the 2004 and 2005 model years and have Bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies. They are the Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado and Suburban; the GMC Savana, Sierra and Yukon XL; two commercial trucks, the GMC Topkick and Chevrolet Kodiak; and the Hummer H2, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites).

NHTSA said a pressure accumulator in the braking system could crack during normal driving and fragments could injure people if the hood was open. The crack also could allow hydraulic fluid to leak, which could make it harder to brake or steer and could cause a crash.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the company did not know of any injuries related to the problem.

The automaker is expected to begin notifying consumers about the recall next month. Dealers will replace affected brake systems for free, NHTSA said.

 

[TranceKrayz]

:bash:

 

[XM DUDE]

GM Recalls 155,465 Pickups, Vans and SUVs

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. is recalling 155,465 pickups and sport utility vehicles — including the Hummer H2 — because of possible brake malfunctions, the world's biggest automaker and federal safety regulators said Thursday.

All of the affected vehicles are from the 2004 and 2005 model years and have Bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies. They are the Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado and Suburban; the GMC Savana, Sierra and Yukon XL; two commercial trucks, the GMC Topkick and Chevrolet Kodiak; and the Hummer H2, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites).

NHTSA said a pressure accumulator in the braking system could crack during normal driving and fragments could injure people if the hood was open. The crack also could allow hydraulic fluid to leak, which could make it harder to brake or steer and could cause a crash.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the company did not know of any injuries related to the problem.

The automaker is expected to begin notifying consumers about the recall next month. Dealers will replace affected brake systems for free, NHTSA said.

and people wonder why I want a 4 Runner.:happens:

 

[EDGE]

Bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, that just shows you that the big domestics don't even use American parts on the Trucks

 

[p53mustang]

The price of cars nowadays are outrageous, not to mention labor,maintainance etc. and most of all the grief and frustration that it brings us whenever it breaks down . .



sorry , I guess that's why I stayed out of business my math if exceptionally poor