I used to feel more brand loyalty and really dislike GM vehicles. However, with the market as it is and the big three downsizing, I'm feeling a little friendlier to GM and Chrysler. Toyota is increasing capacity while Ford is trying to close plants. I don't want to see the big three American automakers surpassed by Toyota, Nissan, Honda, or Hyundai. These days, if you go out and buy a Chevy truck or a Dodge Caliber...bravo. At least it wasn't a Tundra, a Titan, a Pilot, or a Sante Fe.
You know, I'm finding myself agreeing with that more and more these days. I didn't look at Japanese cars last year when I was shopping for a replacement vehicle.
I looked at Ford Focus, but I didn't like the interior. I looked at Dodge Neon. Not bad for what it is. I settled on a Chevy Cavalier, and I am pleasantly surprised. They're a lot better than they used to be. The Malibu was second choice.
I'm not anti Japanese. I like American cars. Most of them have a lot of imported content, anyway, in a global economy.
What big three? It's the Big Two now. Chrysler is no longer an American car manufacturer. A Dodge Caliber is as American a vehicle as the Toyota Tundra that's assembled in the US.
I'm with you, Centroplex.....I might consider buying a used foreign make with 100+K on the OD for commuting and such, but I'm kinda getting the "circle the wagons" attitude reference new vehicles and American manufacturers. HOWEVER, to be fair to Toyota, Honda, etc., it ain't all about quality.....the "Big 3" have huge, outdated issues with benefits, production, that they're going through right now which is the big reason that they've been seeing multi-billion deficits in income vs cost for the last several years. It looks like they're trying to rein in the problems, but it's gonna be a long, bloody process (layoffs, buyouts, re-structuring.....possible privatization, etc......). We'll see.
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What big three? It's the Big Two now. Chrysler is no longer an American car manufacturer. A Dodge Caliber is as American a vehicle as the Toyota Tundra that's assembled in the US.
Times, they are a changin'.
This guy gets it. Just because you buy a Ford doesn't mean your precious dollars are going to stay in the US. Remember, Ford is a global company with plants and employees all over the world.
Of the eight companies listed on FoMoCo's global web site, only three are traditionally American companies.
You guys are right. Ford has operations all over the world but I still hold the company near and dear as an American firm, anyway. I suppose too that I am a little more biased toward the Europeans than Asians and I still love Chrysler.
We bought two imports this year. Shockingly, they were both made in America.
If you think your Ford or Chevy was made in America, maybe look a little closer at Mexico and Canada. If you think them being made in Mexico and Canada is OK, well, your a hypocrite.
"Still love Chrysler"
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I hate to say it, but with the way the big three have located plants outside the US and the way the foreign companies have built plants in the US I look more at where they are built than the name plate. The way I look at it I am better off buying a vehicle that is built using US citizens than a vehicle that is built in another country. By buying the one built here I am puting money back into the US economy and giving an incentive for them to build more plants here. Buying one made outside the US means more US workers are going to be out of work or lesser paying jobs and am giving an incentive to move more work outside the US. Basically I want more money to the people that build than to the boardroom. Of course this also in assumning that all other factors are fairly equal. I am still looking at quality, value and purpose for what I want to use it for.
You mean Toyota, Honda, and Ferrari My personal favorite ~
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