13th Apr 2011, 12:29
Many car buyers confuse "assembled" with "built". All Japanese cars are "built" in Japan. Some may be "assembled" at plants located in the U.S. or Canada, but if you check the component source it is well over 80% Japanese. Kia is opening a U.S. plant soon, but will still be building 90% of the components in South Korea and shipping them to the U.S. to be put together. Assembly is only a very small part of a car's cost and construction. There are many companies that build components for cars. Some U.S. companies use various foreign sources for a few parts. However, the TOTAL CONTENT of a car determines where the money goes. If a car is composed of 97% South Korean parts, then 97% of each dollar spent to purchase that car goes out of the native economy.
Many people make the same mistake with the Ford Fusion. It is "built" in the U.S. but "assembled" in Mexico (at the moment. Ford is moving assembly back to the U.S. soon). The vast bulk of income from a Fusion goes to U.S.-based component manufacturers and, most importantly, to a U.S.-based manufacturer.
Living in a "global economy" does not mean that buying foreign-made products doesn't harm our economy. It definitely does. By not buying from U.S. companies, a U.S. citizen is helping to destroy jobs and futures for workers in that sector. Falling for the myth that it makes no difference hurts everyone.
29th Aug 2011, 18:29
So just to clarify, you want your money going to an American company that is owned by unknown stockholders. In this global economy, you can never really tell where your money is going. If the vehicle is assembled in the U.S., you can bet a majority of your money is going to an American Auto Worker. Even domestic cars aren't always built in the U.S., just be aware and do some research other than the percentage rating on the sticker, it only tells one story.
31st Aug 2011, 12:28
The lack of a V-6 is the reason I have bought my last Sonata. I don't want some thrashy and wheezy 4 cylinder under the hood of my mid-size car.
31st Oct 2011, 15:12
Have you driven a new 4-cylinder car lately? While certainly not as smooth as a V6, they are nothing like the 4-cylinders of the past. The 2.4L in my Camry is anything but thrashy and wheezy. Flooring it from a stop will roast the front tires for several feet, and push it up to 60 in about 9 seconds (very respectable for a car that weighs over 3000 lbs.). Not to mention, when driven conservatively, it will get 37 MPG. I didn't even bother looking at V6 models when I bought my Camry. I drove the 4-cylinder version first, and found it to have more than enough power.
My mother's Honda CR-V also has a 2.4L 4 cylinder in it. It has great low-end torque, and with the added traction of 4WD, it pulls off the line in a flash. The only time I've ever felt it was underpowered was when I traveled to New Hampshire in it. It did struggle slightly to maintain 75 MPH when going up the steep highway inclines. Otherwise, it has plenty of power, and regularly returns 28 MPG.
As for smoothness, well, I've never once felt the engines running in either of these cars. Noise? My Camry doesn't really get loud until about 4000 RPM (and even then, the sound isn't entirely unpleasant. It actually has a fairly decent growl to it.) The CR-V's engine is even quieter than my Camry's, it's always been whisper quiet. It makes hardly any noise even at very high RPMs.
Not to mention maintenance is also far cheaper on a 4-cylinder. Oil capacities are lower (actually all the fluid capacities are lower.) The big thing that gets people today is the cost of a tune-up. On almost all 4-cylinder engines today, the spark plugs are all right on top of the engine, making them extremely easy to replace. For today's V6 engines, the intake manifold plenum is usually covering one bank of spark plugs, and has to be removed in order to change them. Removing the intake plenum is time consuming and costly.
In this day and age of high gas prices and high repair bills, a 4-cylinder engine makes the most sense for most people.
Plus, the turbocharged 4-cylinder in the Sonata makes 274 HP. That beats the 268 a Camry V6 puts out, and the 271 in an Accord V6. V6 power and 4-cylinder economy? That's a win-win.
9th Mar 2012, 22:07
To 11 April comment: What your family do when buying electronics? What about clothing? Furniture?...
11th Mar 2012, 00:03
"In this day and age of high gas prices and high repair bills, a 4-cylinder engine makes the most sense for most people."
It pays to shop around when choosing a repair shop. If you don't want to pay through the nose, avoid the dealerships...
23rd May 2012, 19:57
All of this stick-your-chest out discussion about buying American. In Canada, there is a certain percentage of the automobile that MUST come from the US. So, I can take the viewpoint that it is not fair. PLUS, NA workers are not good workers compared to those from other countries. We have lost the concept of working for a living. We expect the company to delivery OUR needs, not vice versa. If you cannot agree to that, then you need to get your head out of the sand.
I know what I'm buying - something that is good quality. I really do not care where that is made as long as it is good quality and will last. I've had too many bad experiences with NA built vehicles. I'll have no trouble sleeping buying a Kia whatsoever.
25th May 2012, 17:37
If we want to support U.S. workers and U.S. companies, we buy from U.S. owned manufacturers. If you are willing to search, you can find a U.S. owned and operated manufacturer for just about everything. All our furniture, appliances, electronics, and certainly high-ticket items such as cars are all purchased from companies that are owned by Americans and based in the U.S. In these difficult economic times, sending our buying dollars to Japan, Korea or Germany is not a very good choice.
12th Apr 2011, 17:41
Well, that's your right. Personally, I think car production is global. I live in Canada, and car companies, both foreign and domestic, have been building cars here for a long time. I buy what I can afford, and what I need for the best deal. I can't afford a policy, and I don't feel guilty about it. The Civic, and Corolla are both built here, and I'd be happy to support the workers who build them here by driving one.
Also, I'm sure you know this, but GM's Daewoo division has roots in the Aveo, and the new Cruze. The upcoming Chevrolet Spark is built in South Korea. If people buy them, should they feel guilty about sending dollars to South Korea? I don't think they should.