21st Nov 2009, 15:06
16:10 Sorry, do not buy your theory. I can buy a Ford and GM or Chrysler is competition. Three domestic brands is sufficient, and do not need Suzuki, Hyundai and all the imports at all.
21st Nov 2009, 15:38
"21:51.
Again, I own & drive a domestic, but your argument is very flawed."
How? It seems that 90% is larger than 10% any way you look at it to me.
21st Nov 2009, 21:37
"Ford and GM or Chrysler is competition"
Yes, a competition in apathy and mediocrity, perhaps.
22nd Nov 2009, 08:17
I think many on here are today only with little past experience to track issues over a long time.
I am no doubt one of the older reviewers on here with many new imports and domestics purchased. I bought many luxury models, not strictly price or gas mileage driven.
I have noted a distinct drop in quality of Japanese based models, the more current we have been purchasing. The drop became notable for our family after 2000. I am not happy returning time after time to dealerships with major engine or drivetrain issues. I never saw such issues occurring with new models before. I drive sensibly, over maintain my cars, yet had big problems. I simply do not have the time or inclination to sit or even drop off my new cars repeatedly.
You can lament about the bad economy and I can complain on why I switched over quality issues cropping up prematurely. The weak warranty is a clear indication, and I am not paying for low mileage major repairs anymore. I thought the term import carried some cachet and maybe the higher production came at the cost of quality we once had. Or maybe corners were perhaps cut. At any rate, we noticed the last few not nearly as nice as ones we had also bought new repeatedly.
I cannot comment on Korean models lately, but we have had exceptional luck with GM. We also own simultaneously especially since 2004. You start noting which one needs to be towed in more frequently and it has not been our GMs we now are buying
22nd Nov 2009, 10:13
I went from Acura really lousy to a Corvette. I didn't need a sport sedan that ate trans up.
22nd Nov 2009, 12:50
23:59
What should not be allowed here is people who attack others based on the make of car they drive.
This is an auto review website - it is not only open to closed-minded Americans who want to close their borders so that their corporations can force the American public to buy their products.
22nd Nov 2009, 14:35
"I know import junk shouldn't even be allowed here!"
Without that "import junk", your beloved domestic would be nothing more a useless pile of scrap. It was the import companies that made the Big 3 clean up their act.
22nd Nov 2009, 16:01
"How? It seems that 90% is larger than 10% any way you look at it to me."
Well for one thing, buying any new car HELPS the economy.
By the way, you can tell your friend the Ford dealer that thanks to you, there is at least one new car buyer who was most likely going to buy a Ford, who now will never buy another Ford product.
23rd Nov 2009, 10:28
And you can remind them that the ONE car Ford is competitive with is manufactured in Mexico and benefits 0% of U.S. workers. That 10% looks pretty good now doesn't it?
23rd Nov 2009, 16:05
No, buying the Mexican-built Fusion STILL benefits 90% of the U.S. auto-related jobs simply because it benefits an AMERICAN company that provides a great portion of the 90% of U.S. auto-related jobs.
Please take the time to read some of the previous comments on this site, or order a video of the CNN special about buying American.
In addition, Ford has as many "recommended" vehicles as Toyota does (all the SUV's, Focus, Taurus, Mustang, F-150 and Fusion). The Mustang is ranked "Best in class" by J.D. Powers in a class that includes the Toyota Solara. Ford's reliability for ALL lines now matches or exceeds Toyota. And let's not forget that it was Toyota, not Ford, who just had the largest vehicle safety recall in the entire history of the automobile. Nice going Toyota!! At least you can set SOME sort of records!!
So keep trying to justify destroying American jobs all you want. The data proves you're wrong every time.
23rd Nov 2009, 19:47
Not true. It benefits 100% of the overpaid executives at Ford Motor Company. Oh you meant Americans on the assembly line? Oh well you're right then, it supports 0%.
23rd Nov 2009, 21:16
Wow I hope all of you have their homes paid off, have no dependence on American employers, and have raises every year.
I use to buy a new Benz as I cared less. It is a free country, but most things cost and require a steady paycheck. I feel buying imports now is not very wise, free country or not.
I like raises, maybe I should get a high paying import assembly line position.
24th Nov 2009, 12:12
Please read comment 16:05. Better yet, order the great CNN special on buying American.
24th Nov 2009, 12:25
"Wow I hope all of you have their homes paid off, have no dependence on American employers, and have raises every year."
This is the point no one seems to get. My job has nothing to do with the car business in any way, but as a result of people sending all their money to Japan, our firm has lost a lot of business because laid-off domestic auto workers, cargo companies (who rely on the big 3 for much of their income), and parts suppliers can't buy our services. Now our firm is shut down through December due to no business. As a result the charities we donate to at Christmas can't send toys to the kids we normally buy gifts for, the elderly disabled lady we normally donate money to for food at Christmas will have to eat beans, and the retailers we normally spend $3000 to $5000 with each Christmas will lose our money as well. It has a BIG effect, and those misled by Japanese and German ad hype never seem to get this. Merry Christmas Honda and Toyota owners. I hope it was worth it.
21st Nov 2009, 11:30
And import buyers apparently don't get the message that buying from foreign industry destroys OUR OWN economy. Just yesterday a report in a national newspaper said "The current economic problems are no longer related to the housing bust. They are a result of job layoffs at U.S. companies."
If workers are laid off due to people buying from foreign sources, they don't have the money to purchase goods and services. That hurts other sectors of the economy. I work in an area as far removed from the auto industry as you can get, yet due to massive layoffs my company (a design firm) has had to furlough all its employees through December. That means no income for us during a very bad time to be without income. Each year my wife and I sponsor 3 to 6 poor children and their families through a charity Christmas program. We spend between $1000 and $3000 each year on gifts for these children. This year those children won't get anything, and the stores we normally buy from will lose that money.
Citizens of the U.S. enjoy the freedom to do many things. The freedom to destroy our economy and our jobs is, sadly, one of those freedoms. Remember this Christmas as you are driving around in your Hondas and Toyotas that lots of others will be suffering because of your decision to turn your back on U.S. industries.
Incidentally, our 9 year old and 7 year old GM vehicles have never required a single repair. We don't regard them as a joke.