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I don't want to helplessly nitpick, but do you own any appliances? Any clothing? Toys? Televisions? Computers? Shoes?
There is absolutely no way to buy only made in America things. By saying you refuse to let your hard earned money go overseas, you're implying that you never buy anything not made in America. And that is completely impossible.
“OH YEAH? WELL MY TOYOTA/HONDA/BMW/MERCEDES IS BUILT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!”
82% parts in the average GM car or truck are domestic content
At Honda, it’s 49%
At Toyota, it’s 41%
Nissan? 38%
BMW? 11%
(by the way……go look at what the ‘transplants’ pay in taxes….real estate, school, state and federal……you might be surprised……if you’re a teacher and you’re complaining about budgets in you’re driving a Toyota or Honda)
GM/Ford/and DCX provide 23.4 jobs per 100 vehicles sold in the United States
The Japanese competitors? 13.3 jobs per 100 vehicles sold in the United States
GM’s capital investment in the United States from 1999 thru 2003 was $20Billion. Toyota’s capital investment from 1980 thru 2003 was $10.7Billion. Nissan’s? 2.8Billion from 1980 thru 2003…Honda? $5.6Billion – ’80 thru ’03.
GM’s contribution to the U.S. Gross National Product (GNP) is 4 times that of Toyota
Every Day, over 1 million North Americans earn their living by helping GM build and sell cars in North America. – Every month, 457,000 retirees and their spouses count on GM for pension checks. More than 1.1 Million people receive health care benefits from GM. A one-point drop in GM market share results in over 18,000 jobs in the United States.
And actually we have a honda plant and a kia(or is it hyundai) right in my state that makes these things, so technically the ones coming from these plants are made in the US lol!(not sure if the part are shipped here or not? I dont know exactly how a vehicle is made, but thanks to the honda plant we have a MUCH lower rate of unemployment, they will hire anyone that is trainable and they pay well).
And then there's the myth of the happy, teamwork-oriented worker who labors in a unionless paradise surrounded by
caring Japanese employers who only have his or her best interest at heart.
Fact: Toyota workers work for less money and are five times more likely than a GM worker to sustain an on-the-job
injury and 10 times more likely to be injured seriously enough to lose work days.
Yup, a lot of "foreign" brands have plants in the U.S. now, and vice versa. Some of the "foreign" vehicles built at U.S. plants have higher domestic content than "domestic" brands, depending on the model. I realize the profits still can go overseas, though. I used to be a die-hard buy American car customer but now safety ratings and overall fuzziness of what's foreign vs. domestic have made it more of a secondary consideration for me and my family. Even my WWII veteran father, who bitterly swore never to consider a Japanese car after a scary encounter with a kamikaze pilot, has conceded on globalization and has not disowned me for driving a Sienna.
Being that it is my 2nd biggest financial purchase in my life, I choose to buy something I am totally Happy, and in love with...
If US engineering was closer to foreign engineering I would love to purchase American, but I just don't "feel the love", safety, or quality in an American Engineered vehicle.
I'm glad there are people that Love American cars and still continue to purchase them. That is why there are different colors when you purchase a car. Everyone is different, and everyones likes are different...
I prefer, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, BMW, and VW. I don't however love every Foreign maker.
Just my honest opinion
I always try to buy American if all else is equal. Finding a vehicle with the features I want that has top safety ratings usually makes things unequal, though.
It's fine to buy American. It's also fine to point out the pros and cons of vehicles, especially in regards to safety since that is the point of this forum.
Personally, it amazes me that GM and Chrysler haven't been able to match the minivan crash test results and safety features that Honda and Toyota have had since 1998-1999. Kia managed top ratings with only it's second generation minivan after what, 5 years in the minivan market?
Ford has managed to produce some SUVs and minivans with very competitive safety ratings. With the possible exception of the Pacifica (more of a glorified wagon IMO), Chrysler and GM have not.
That's not to say the GM vans are unsafe. In fact, they should protect their occupants reasonably well compared to most vehicles on the road. They still don't match up with the results of the current generation Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai and Ford minivans. How important that difference is to a buyer will vary from one to another, based on other factors that may be more important.
IMO, Japan is not our worst enemy as far as jobs go. South Korea isn't a major threat, either. They have similar cost of living, environmental protections and other factors as we do. It's China, India and the other Asian nations that can do everything we can do for a fraction of the cost. Just wait until they start shipping cars here...
Personally, it amazes me that GM and Chrysler haven't been able to match the minivan crash test results and safety features that Honda and Toyota have had since 1998-1999. Kia managed top ratings with only it's second generation minivan after what, 5 years in the minivan market?
My understanding is that only the Torrent and Chevy Equinox (both Vue based models) have ESC for 2007, while the Vue itself doesn't have ESC. Next model year the Vue is going to be redesigned and be based on the GM Europe Opel Antara. Maybe the redesigned Vue will have ESC for 2008.
I hope this doesn't get taken the wrong way and who knows if there is facts to support this but IMHO American cars just don't last like the foreign competetors. At 30,000 miles my DH (then BF) 1998 Ford Mustang started having lots of problems and it was only 2 years old (the ride was bad and it started having problems. Where as my Toyota Corolla was still running great at 80,000 miles.
If I was going to lease a car and found a American car met my standards (i.e. safety, function, appearance) I wouldn't hesitate BUT since we are buying our next car there is NO WAY I would consider a Ford or GM. In my experience (friends and family) they just don't last like the foreign competetors.
I agree that we should support America and buy American but (whether it is right or wrong) when it comes to a major financial decision like buying a car, I have to take into consideration the fact of how long and how reliable the car will be.
This is JMHO and I hope that I don't offend anyone and I am sure there are people who have had postive experiences with American cars - I just personally have not!!
Also I know that some American cars have foreign engines (I think Saturn has a honda engine) so I could be persuaded to maybe look at those in the future.
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