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Is it really better off to buy American cars?

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partisan to truth Donating Member (158 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 04:59 PM
Original message
Is it really better off to buy American cars?
My dad's a staunch GM-lover (worked as an engineer for them his whole life) and is adamantly against foreign cars, esp. Japanese (for both functional reasons and economical). I've seen contradicting views on this topic, but I haven't seen hardcore evidence to discuss with my dad... who I love to argue with, even if it goes nowhere. I've cited Consumer Reports, to which I'm responded with "pshhh (or 64-yr-old equivalent slang)- consumer reports. bought and paid for by the japanese!"
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pk_du Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
1. Your first 15 words say it all....aint way you'll convince him any
other way I'm afraid.
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partisan to truth Donating Member (158 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. it's too bad... i respect him so much in every way,
but it seems that even the most liberal thinking people become increasingly set in their ways as they age- even when things around them change.

i was impressed however, with his decision to not get a new corvette when he retired. when asked why, he said he wouldn't get one b/c they're no longer the fastest car in the world and he's not interested (with a pang of sadness in his voice). This man raced corvettes as a youth and bought and sold them (owning about 15 over his life).
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mikeytherat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
2. You're asking the wrong question...
The real question is:

What IS an "American" car. Honda's Civics and Accords, by "American" car standards, are about as "American" as it gets. All the Big 3 are multinationals (remember Chrysler is now Daimler-Chrysler -- or, as the joke goes, "How do you pronounce 'Daimler-Chrysler'? The 'Chrrysler' is silent.") and you have to ask where the money goes, and where it stays.

Just start Googling on the the Big 3 and who they own and control (or who controls them). You might really be surprised!

mikey_the_rat
Michigan born, family worked at GM and everything.
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partisan to truth Donating Member (158 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. yes- that's actually a point i'm aware of, but i'm looking for
a concise document that outlines it all. I know that many Americans are supported by working for foreign car companies (mainly in assembly of) but then I get "only 3% of a car company's dollars go to assembly"
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phylny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:07 PM
Response to Original message
3. Eh, who knows?
Our last two GM cars were built in Canada, as were our last two Chrysler cars (not that there's anything wrong with that).

For the record, they all lasted well past 100,000 miles, with the "kids' car," the 1994 Plymouth Voyager, running well with 157,000 miles.

YMMV ;)
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Kolesar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:11 PM
Response to Original message
4. The Big 3 reinvest in the US and do R&D in the US
The "value added" (profit) for those Hondas made in Marysville goes back to the company where they reinvest in their business. And that company is in Japan. There is a substantial electronics business in Michigan that is based on the US auto industry.
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MNBiker Donating Member (107 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
7. Japanese cars are made in America...American cars made in Mexico...
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raggedcompany Donating Member (399 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. exactly. there is no such thing as an "American" car n/t
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LSK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #8
11. Corvette built in Kentucky
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raggedcompany Donating Member (399 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #11
20. built in Kentucky with parts from everywhere.
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Astrochimp Donating Member (212 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #7
12. my Pontiac was made in (almost) my home state, so was my ...
harley. My Grand Prix was made in Fairfax Kansas, part of Kansas City Mo- and bike was made in KC. I have toured the plants, met the guys who built them. Made me very happy after I bought them and found out where they were made.


David
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Toucano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #12
21. Does "made" mean "assembled"
with parts manufactured in Mexico and Canada?
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damntexdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 06:08 PM
Response to Original message
9. We have both a Dodge and a Toyota.
The Toyota, like all Toyotas, is high quality (we test drove a similarly-priced Ford, which was just no competition) and will last forever. Chances are it may have been made, or at least partially assembled, in California.

The Dodge Caravan, like our last Caravan, is a good car (with poor gas mileage), and should last maybe ten years. I like Caravans, and put up with the recalls to fix their problems. Chances are that our Caravan was made, or at least partially assembled, in Canada. And of course the Chrysler-Daimler company is owned by Germans.

Now, do I buy American cars? Hell if I know.
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LSK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
10. my dad is old fashioned on this too
I am not sure anymore who gets what from a sold car. The only angle I can think of is the small part manufacturers in America might get screwed if people dont buy domestic cars.
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Book Lover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 06:36 PM
Response to Original message
13. It's nice that he thinks this way
in sentimental terms, and I also love Vettes (I mean, I *really* love Vettes, and I understand why he is sad over their current market position), but automaking is a global industry and has been for many decades. Who owns Volvo? Ford. Where was the Miata designed? California. Where are US-sold Camerys made? The US. Who owns Chrysler? Benz. A British band is used to sell Cadillacs.


The guys at the top feel no pressure to stay loyal to the US; there is no reason why the consumer should.
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natrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:24 PM
Response to Original message
14. i used to be pro american cars
now-who fucking cares
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Booster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:34 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. I, too, used to be pro-American on cars until I bought an Acura.
There is really no comparison. After owning 2 Acuras, I decided to buy a Ford Explorer. The damn thing was recalled 3 times in the first year and I literally hated it. On the first recall, I took it back to the dealer I bought it from and they said "we don't make any money on fixing recall items so why don't you take it to another dealer". That did it. I traded that damn thing in after only 2 years for a Toyota and will never own another American car. American dealers should take lessons from the Japanese when it comes to service; they really do bend over backwards to make you happy and I appreciate that.
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Ardee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:37 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Happy Toyota Tundra owner
Made in America and the best truck Ive ever owned.....
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partisan to truth Donating Member (158 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #15
28. found on road dead, fix or repair daily... lol so yeah, replies from dad
indicate some anti-ford sentiment too :)
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Blue Gardener Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:37 PM
Response to Original message
17. Yes
My Saturn was made in America, and it has been a great car. We need to keep as many manufacturing jobs here as we possibly can. I work in the automotive industry, and I know there is a tremendous focus on quality. We provide interiors to not only GM, Ford and Chrysler, but many other automakers as well. If we send them a bad part, we definitely hear about it.
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rinsd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:38 PM
Response to Original message
18. Well alot of Hondas are built right here in the US.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0411/10/C01-1289.htm
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Toucano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:07 PM
Response to Reply #18
22. And almost all of the ones built in the US are sold in the US.
Which is important.

BMW makes a lot of cars in South Carolina, but most are sold overseas.
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catzies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:27 PM
Response to Reply #22
24. Are we their "cheap labor?" Just asking.
And my Honda Accord was built in Ohio, so I say I DO drive an American car. So there. :P
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Toucano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:54 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. Exactly. n/t
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Mountainman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-02-04 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
19. I hear that most parts of a car are made outside of the US.
Sometimes the assembly is done here and also assembly of foreign cars. So it is practically impossible to buy a car completely made here.
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ProfessorGAC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:24 PM
Response to Original message
23. In Terms Of Quality. . .
. . .almost every mfr. uses the same metrics, so there's no longer much difference between any two makes.

I would say that my preference is to buy a car MADE in the United States. The make isn't important to me, nor is the parent company's point of origin. I just would prefer to buy a car that got somebody in the United States a good paying mfg. job.
The Professor
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JNelson6563 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
26. My dad was a GM guy too
but he was in financial. He told me long ago that within mylifetime there would likely be only three car manufacturers in the world. He said that was the way all industries would go. He did not view this favorably.

Julie
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HootieMcBoob Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-03-04 01:04 PM
Response to Original message
27. Toyota contributes mainly to the Democratic party
every other auto manufacturer seems to give overwhelmingly to Republicans. I know this has nothing to do with you or your dad but it's reason enough for me to support Toyota. Buy Blue!
http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002Automotive&prodcat=Auto+Makers
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