30th Mar 2011, 08:57

People need to get off the whole helping the U.S. worker thing. Had anyone really cared about that over the past 30 years, we wouldn't be in the sorry state we are in, and maybe we'd still produce things like TV sets and stereos. We ALL chose to outsource jobs, and in turn buy cheaper imported goods, so why suddenly are imported cars so detrimental to jobs in the U.S. The fact is import cars are better, period.

U.S. companies need to earn their keep by competing in the marketplace they themselves have created! They can't even build their cars without Japanese parts, which is why virtually all of the plants shut down after the Japan disaster, and they couldn't get vital parts. Domestic car companies themselves rely on superior import companies like Toyota and Honda for parts, and in many cases entire cars.

The whole support of American jobs argument is lame at best at this point in time. Too little too late. Most people opt for quality over blind support of incompetence, which is why imports dominate in virtually every category. Such a tired argument really. If our future is this fragile, then we are doomed anyhow.

Don't you get it? Buying a Chevy will not save this country or anyone in it. The global economy is the new way of things, especially in the auto business. If we fail to buy Toyotas and Hondas here, then foreigners will undoubtedly fail to buy Fords and GM products overseas. It is a balance, and if companies are viable, it is a healthy balance and their workers won't be in any jeopardy of losing their jobs. The fact that people keep claiming you are "hurting" 90% of auto workers by driving an import is ludicrous. Again, they themselves have set up the global auto business. If they aren't good enough to compete fairly in their own system, then good riddance and on to better companies... because they would rebuild and they would probably be better for it.

The bailout was a bad plan, and GM learned nothing from it. Ford is better overall, but they have been for a long time. GM is still too heavily invested in the same old truck based SUV's and large crossovers. Wait until gas hits $4 per gallon. Of course their die hard supporters will be out buying gas guzzlers though right? Who cares if it costs you three times the money to go everywhere you can in a Prius? You are supporting the good ole American by purchasing their big behemoths, that are dying once again on dealer lots, right? Whatever!

30th Mar 2011, 10:40

The math makes no sense. If I bought a domestically produced car, then how would that be helping MORE people than if I had bought a domestically produced import brand? Both products are produced in US factories. Both use internationally sourced components. Both are sold at US dealerships. Both will require maintenance at various US located service centers. Both will require future parts like wiper blades, oil filters, oil, and so forth produced by US manufactures and sold at US retail outlets by US workers who work in those stores.

The only argument is that less people in the US work for foreign companies? How is that an argument? Whether it's .0005% versus 99.9% doesn't matter. I am a worker too and I add to a tiny percentage of the whole workforce. Do I somehow not count? Do those that work in factories making import products out of US based labor and parts not count? They too add to the pie.

So yes - I feel perfectly happy knowing that I am doing my part to support US workers. The outcome would be EXACTLY the same if I had bought a US branded product. End of story.

30th Mar 2011, 18:14

Getting back to the Cruze, I find the exterior to be very plain and boring. The interior looks nice, but why didn't Chevrolet make the exterior look a little more exciting? It looks dowdy next to the redesigned Hyundai Elantra. Maybe they're trying the same formula with their compact that has worked so well for Toyota's boring Corolla.

31st Mar 2011, 11:42

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I personally think the exterior is one of the more attractive designs for a small compact. I really do not like any of the small car designs from either Toyota, Hyundai, or Nissan. I feel like all three of those have this weird hodge-podge design that is totally uninspiring. The Cruze and also the Honda Civic have what I consider to be more tasteful designs.

In regards to the Cruze, I test drove one of these at an event. I have also rented to Aveo on a trip. Hands-down the Cruze was about 300% better than the Aveo. For the price it's actually a pretty decent car. I drove the turbo version, and it was plenty fast. The interior was much, much better than what you used to see in GM products. I'd say it was actually better than a lot of the Japanese car interiors. Keep in mind I own nothing but Toyotas.

My one and only concern is that what would the long-term reliability of the car be. It's so new it's hard to tell at this point. If it turns out to be a reliable car, I would definitely put it on my list of maybes if I were looking for a small compact car.

31st Mar 2011, 15:19

If any car looks dowdy next to a Hyundai, it must be on its last legs!

31st Mar 2011, 17:45

Yeah, looks are subjective. I actually like the looks of the new Corolla, Elantra, and even the Sentra, but not the Cruze. I've seen the Cruze up close, and it looks very large to me. I think a small family could easily call this their car. Compact cars are getting so large, I don't why anyone bothers with mid size cars anymore.

The Nissan Sentra is supposed to be a small compact car, but it's actually classified as a midsize car due to its interior room. As for the reliability of the Cruze, I would wait a couple of years to see how it does for reliability. I would do this for any new car introduced.

1st Apr 2011, 10:19

"People need to get off the whole helping the U.S. worker thing. Had anyone really cared about that over the past 30 years, we wouldn't be in the sorry state we are in"

Yes, by all means lets not care about U.S. industry. Just send all our money to Japanese companies and insure that the only future jobs for our young people are in fast food restaurants or being domestic servants.

1st Apr 2011, 12:17

Not everyone works in the auto industry - myself included. I am also younger and I'm not flippin' burgers. I - like most people my age - work at a professional job and earned a college education. Everyone has that exact same opportunity. Economies change.

But let's look at some facts for a minute. First of all, 5 of the 10 top-selling American made cars... as in the top-selling cars that have the highest percentage of US-made parts in them - are Japanese brands. That includes the Camry and the Accord.

Thus there you have it: The best-selling car in America is Japanese, yet it uses nearly ALL American-made parts. So explain exactly how this is a terrible thing?