Why should I buy an American car?

[bigslim]

Originally Posted by silverknight

meh. i still think UAW is to blame on a large part. the unions were needed a long time ago to organize stuff. but now its there and taking advantage of the companies. some people are overpaid. and i know this sucks for the employees. but gettin paid full at times when the plant is closed. is kinda. um, yeah. i mean, paying them 1/2 ok. but payin them in full for time they dont go in. not my kinda stuff. and the retirement packages for people. a bit much. execs are makin like 100k a year retired. plus still gettin insurence and crap. plus. in some cases unions make people lazy. i dont see honda/toyota having issues due to not having unions, do you? and what about the fact ford is doin well in other parts of the world, but not in the US. in europe where they have lots more competition than just Gm and Chrysler they are still doin very well. but in america even the people who build them wont support them. why, cause they know that either them or thier coworker are slacking. who builds the vehicles? who buys them? if the people that build them dont trust thier work then why should anyone else? if u build a bench, and know u did a shitty job, and dont trust sittin on it, are u goin to tell others to sit on it? why are the jobs goin to other countries? cause the workers dont demand $30 american an hr, plus crazy benifits and retirement packages to do some tasks.

oh. and people suing ford for stupid reasons like this.. linky

sorry, i read reponsed on mm and im somewhat pissed at some americans.. go to some other countries and see how lucky u are u even have a damm to go to everyday.
/endrant

First off, watch what you say about the union here. There are a lot of union workers on this site. Second, we are all tired of hearing how the union has messed everything up. It is the press that tries to make us out to be bad guys. We don't make bad decisions and still get our million dollar bonuses and leased cars. We don't get the fat expense accounts when we mess up. I am sure that if you look back into your family's history someone worked for the union and you or your's benefited from it.

The reason Ford was not profitable here is because they were still selling old Taurus' and Focus'. The Taurus has been around since BC and the Focus got a new platform in Europe but not here. With the new Focus and other exciting cars like the Falcon and Ka, Ford can offer cars people want there. We got stuck with old cars and big trucks. Ford took a gamble with it's trucks instead of investing in new cars quicker. It came back to bite them in the azz.

Now I ask you, who did this? Was it the union workers that decided on what we should sell or the overpaid executives? I know no one came to me and asked what we should sell or what was needed in our car lineup.

[357windsor]

Originally Posted by bigslim

If foreign cars were made so great why do they have repair shops in their dealers? Could it be that they break down too. Go sit in a Honda or Toyota dealer on a Monday morning and you will see that they get towed in just like any other car.

I bet most of didn't know that one of the most recalled cars last year was the Toyota Pirius. You know why you didn't know that? Because it was not plastered all over the front page like the Big Three's recalls. You have to look in the small print buried in the business section to see any of the Asian automakers recalls. The press hates us.

Ford took a Fusion out to California before it's introduction and let people drive it. The car had no badges on it. People were very impressed with the car. Some even said they would consider buying it. It was then revealed that it was a Ford and people changed their tune. They then said they wouldn't buy it. This just show the ignorance in America.

I do believe there is a bias against American cars in the press. Honda/Toyota,etc use "silent" recalls when they do recalls at all. I don't think the unions are totally to blame though they do share some of it. The Big Three are mostly responsible for thier own problems. I try to buy American because aroud here it's not only the autoworkers but all the machine shops,suppliers,etc that are affected. With Ford Ford Jr is running the company into the ground. His dad can't run a football team and he can't run a car company. I think BOTH sodes (execs/unions) need concessions to help straighten things out. Also got to build cars people WANT and not worry about a "world car". Just my .02

[BigWheelinBubba]

How can Ford compete with Kia when you get a $10k car with a 100k mile warranty?? Thats gotta tell you something.. Kia doesn't expect their cars to fall apart until 100k miles, unlike the US manufacturers cars that fall apart at 36k miles as soon as the warranty expires.

BTW- I'm not taking sides here, just an honest observation...

[357windsor]

Originally Posted by BigWheelinBubba

How can Ford compete with Kia when you get a $10k car with a 100k mile warranty?? Thats gotta tell you something.. Kia doesn't expect their cars to fall apart until 100k miles, unlike the US manufacturers cars that fall apart at 36k miles as soon as the warranty expires.

BTW- I'm not taking sides here, just an honest observation...

Try buying parts for a kia. I work at an auto parts store and I've had people come in w/ a 2005 kia needing brakes. 90% of the time we can't get the parts. Do you really think Kia will be around 100 years like Ford? I doubt it. If the company goes under the warranty don't mean a thing.

[lab1702]

Originally Posted by bigslim

Ford took a Fusion out to California before it's introduction and let people drive it. The car had no badges on it. People were very impressed with the car. Some even said they would consider buying it. It was then revealed that it was a Ford and people changed their tune. They then said they wouldn't buy it. This just show the ignorance in America.

I am not sure it's ignorance. I think it's this mentality that alot of people have that is "I make too much money to be seen in a domestic car" or my favorite "I can barely afford this BMW but I look important in it!"

Quite a few of those type people at my job.

[1Quick88]

Originally Posted by BigWheelinBubba

How can Ford compete with Kia when you get a $10k car with a 100k mile warranty?? Thats gotta tell you something.. Kia doesn't expect their cars to fall apart until 100k miles, unlike the US manufacturers cars that fall apart at 36k miles as soon as the warranty expires.

BTW- I'm not taking sides here, just an honest observation...

that exactly what Kia wants you to think..dont worry..all these 100k mile warranty's these little car companies are giving out are going to turn around and bit them in the ass...just wait

[1Quick88]

for a while it used to be true that some of the foriegn company's did make a more relieble care than the big 3. but they have made some huge improvments over the last few years. people still have the perspective that the foriegn companies are more relieble which isnt really the case anymore..check out this link and you might be surprised..actually read the article scroll the the bottom for the list .. http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....tentid=4022547

[StangRacer]

Originally Posted by lab1702

I am not sure it's ignorance. I think it's this mentality that alot of people have that is "I make too much money to be seen in a domestic car" or my favorite "I can barely afford this BMW but I look important in it!"

Quite a few of those type people at my job.

Just ask bubba how many time he gets a repo order on a BMW, Mercedes, etc........it's all about "we have to look better than the Joneses". That's what is really screwing up economy. No one can be happy with what they can afford on their salary if their neighbor has something nicer.

[bigslim]

Originally Posted by BigWheelinBubba

How can Ford compete with Kia when you get a $10k car with a 100k mile warranty?? Thats gotta tell you something.. Kia doesn't expect their cars to fall apart until 100k miles, unlike the US manufacturers cars that fall apart at 36k miles as soon as the warranty expires.

BTW- I'm not taking sides here, just an honest observation...

Who really keeps a car for 100,000 miles now? Most people lease cars. So this is nothing but a marketing tool. I would think the opposite. I would think that they need a 100,000 mile warranty to lure customers because they build junk and this is the only way they can get people to have enough confidence to buy it.

[lab1702]

Originally Posted by bigslim

Who really keeps a car for 100,000 miles now?

Oh oh oh, I know the answer to this question... ME!

[celica_ownz_u]

Originally Posted by bigslim

If foreign cars were made so great why do they have repair shops in their dealers? Could it be that they break down too. Go sit in a Honda or Toyota dealer on a Monday morning and you will see that they get towed in just like any other car.

I bet most of didn't know that one of the most recalled cars last year was the Toyota Pirius. You know why you didn't know that? Because it was not plastered all over the front page like the Big Three's recalls. You have to look in the small print buried in the business section to see any of the Asian automakers recalls. The press hates us.

Ford took a Fusion out to California before it's introduction and let people drive it. The car had no badges on it. People were very impressed with the car. Some even said they would consider buying it. It was then revealed that it was a Ford and people changed their tune. They then said they wouldn't buy it. This just show the ignorance in America.

im not talking about foreign cars in general being better than domestics, there are plenty of unreliable imports out there( mitsubishi, mazda, vw the list goes on and on) i'm talking about toyota and honda being CLEARLY better than the domestics making cars. if you think this isnt correct post up some long term reliability statistics to prove otherwise

i read alot of car magazines and i dont see how they hate domestics, whenever the big 2 or DCX brings out a car worth a damn they get plenty of hype. also recalls for asian makes usually dont get as much press because most of the time they involve way fewer vehicles.

the majority of engineering that went into the fusion was done by mazda, so dont give ford too much credit with that fine automobile. why would a potential customer back away from another ford? could it be because they owned a taurus that went through 2 transmissions, 2 oilpans and a set of headgaskets? not to mention headlight switch recalls, cradle bolt recalls, front spring recalls ect

[Casper302]

Originally Posted by celica_ownz_u

im not talking about foreign cars in general being better than domestics, there are plenty of unreliable imports out there( mitsubishi, mazda, vw the list goes on and on) i'm talking about toyota and honda being CLEARLY better than the domestics making cars. if you think this isnt correct post up some long term reliability statistics to prove otherwise

i read alot of car magazines and i dont see how they hate domestics, whenever the big 2 or DCX brings out a car worth a damn they get plenty of hype. also recalls for asian makes usually dont get as much press because most of the time they involve way fewer vehicles.

the majority of engineering that went into the fusion was done by mazda, so dont give ford too much credit with that fine automobile. why would a potential customer back away from another ford? could it be because they owned a taurus that went through 2 transmissions, 2 oilpans and a set of headgaskets? not to mention headlight switch recalls, cradle bolt recalls, front spring recalls ect

Adam you know what's funny... We have a 2006 Taurus and it leaks tranny fluid every day. A 2006 with 10k miles WTF MY mustang's tran's does not even leak and it's 30 years old

[BigWheelinBubba]

If you want a good dependable car, but still want to support our economy, a Saab or Suburu would both be good choices..

[bigslim]

Originally Posted by celica_ownz_u

im not talking about foreign cars in general being better than domestics, there are plenty of unreliable imports out there( mitsubishi, mazda, vw the list goes on and on) i'm talking about toyota and honda being CLEARLY better than the domestics making cars. if you think this isnt correct post up some long term reliability statistics to prove otherwise

i read alot of car magazines and i dont see how they hate domestics, whenever the big 2 or DCX brings out a car worth a damn they get plenty of hype. also recalls for asian makes usually dont get as much press because most of the time they involve way fewer vehicles.

the majority of engineering that went into the fusion was done by mazda, so dont give ford too much credit with that fine automobile. why would a potential customer back away from another ford? could it be because they owned a taurus that went through 2 transmissions, 2 oilpans and a set of headgaskets? not to mention headlight switch recalls, cradle bolt recalls, front spring recalls ect

Guess what car was the rated most reliable last year. The Hyundai Sonata with 2 problems per car. The Ford Mustang was second with 5 problems per car. It scored higher than anything from Honda or Toyota. I guess that puts an end to that lie.

The Asian makers don't have recalls because you don't hear about them. They have as many recalls as the domestics but they are not as publizied as the imports. Why? Because the American car makers are hated by the press. Just look at how Ford took a beating over the Firestone fiasco. It was bad tires that flipped the trucks. Yet the press went after Ford. Why, because at the time Jac Nassar was the most hated man in Detroit. The press has never forgoten about that and continue to knock Ford everyday.

The engineering that went into the Fusion was Ford engineering. Who do think engineered the Mazda 6? Ford did. Ford owns the controling interest in Mazda. Mazda gets their orders from Ford. What engine was used in the Mazda 6? The old Ford Duratech. People didn't want to buy Taurus because it had lived it life span already. No one wants a new car that looks like an old car. The Taurus was a solid car. It served it's time well.

Everytime I see a camparision of cars the big three usually comes out on the bottom. I have seen the big beat their competitors in most catagories but still lose the battle. At the end the rag-mags will say something like "Although the Ford was better in most of the testing we feel that the Honda had more cupholders and one more air-bag". "We grant the Honda the winner with it's bigger floor mats".

There is too much bias in the press. Believe what you will. Just remember, if I don't make money, I won't be able to support your business.

[Boomer!]

If our government had any balls they would put a higher tax on the imported cars to level off the playing field. Honestly our own government needs to step up and take a little action, instead of raising tobacco and alcohol prices or even sales tax they need to make the imports pay. We the voters in Michigan are putting ourselves out of work, enough said I don't want to get political. I buy as much American as I can, however I won't buy from the companies that are leaving american's without jobs. We needs unions, they are trying to break them apart.. Ok I'm done ranting !!!!!!