Buy an American Vehicle!

[capitalcityguy]

Capital..... Will you buy an inferior product that cost more just because it's American Made???

You seem like you won't answer that....

Do you have that kind of money to throw away at something what will bleed you to death??

I'm all about value... I have to look out after me and my family. Not the big 3....

It isn't the consumer's faults at all... Your really clinging to this American Made thing too much.

They are to blame... Not the consumer. It's people like you that make me want to go out and buy a Toyota tonight, just to **** you off..

I own a Ford Ranger (1999) and we just recently bought a 2008 Saturn Vue (we traded in my wife's Toyota Camry when we bought this) . I don't feel either is an inferior product, but I will fully admit that I'd give the benefit of the doubt to an American company since there are clearly more positive results for me (and the country) for supporting a US company. I fully realize that many don't think or operate that way. That is fine. But (again) that gets us where we are today in that we are all going to pay the price either in bailout or economics.

[DaddyMac]

Please look at my statement again. That is not what I said. I don't place blame but rather state it as cause and effect.

Here it is:
The fact remains, we bought too many foreign vehicles and now we will ALL pay for it either in the pending related economy downturn or our tax dollars being used for a bailout. Is this not a true statement?

And I'm saying I'm not necessarily convinced we wouldn't be paying for it even if they had more sales.

I don't think that the problems Detroit is facing is laid solely at the feet of consumers purchasing foreign cars.

I read your statement perfectly well the first time and to put my response simply - NO, it's not a true statement.

[Ames]

Is it actually true that 250K jobs would be lost if the big 3 went under? I don't believe this number.

And why is the big 3 considered such a priority to the American people? Could it be because of the UAW making such a stink about it. Circuit City went under and that was 9500 jobs and know one is looking to bail them out.

What would happen if we let them fail?

I assume you are joking right? GM probably has 9,500 night janitors. GM going down would not only effect a enormous amount of GM employees and retirees, but the fallout at suppliers, dealerships, IT, marketing companies, and aftermarket companies would truely be devastating for the US.

[Ames]

I would say the opposite is true at least in Iowa. A lot of guys wouldn't even look at a Toyota truck because they have short man syndrome and they wouldn't be able to put one of those Calvin pee'ing on a Dodge stickers.

I'd agree with this, but if CF is any kind of indicator everyone in Iowa drives a mini-van or a economy car. I think I'm the only one who drives a V8 on here.

[dmclone]

We just recently bought a 2008 Saturn Vue (we traded in my wife's Toyota Camry when we bought this) .

So do you feel good that you went from a Japanese car that was made in Kentucky to an American car that was made in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico?

[DaddyMac]

So do you feel good that you went from a car that was made in Kentucky to an American car that was made in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico?

Whoa! Saturn's are made in Mexico?

[bellzisu]

I own a Ford Ranger (1999) and we just recently bought a 2008 Saturn Vue (we traded in my wife's Toyota Camry when we bought this) . I don't feel either is an inferior product, but I will fully admit that I'd give the benefit of the doubt to an American company since there are clearly more positive results for me (and the country) for supporting a US company. I fully realize that many don't think or operate that way. That is fine. But (again) that gets us where we are today in that we are all going to pay the price either in bailout or economics.

I give them the benefit of the doubt too, most of the time....

Although people buy things based on value. So obviously there are alot of people that don't see domestic vehicles high quality, valued products.

We might end up paying for it, and we might not. I hope they don't give them the money. They need to re-organize and get their acts together.

They also need to dump the unions and their huge benefits that are killing them. Sorry to be a hater, but most of the money they would get will be going straight into the hands of union people.

How is that going to help them replan, re-organize, and make better quality products???

[dmclone]

capitalcityguy-I know you're searching the internet like crazy to find out it's not true but if you bought a 2008 Vue than it's made in Mexico with cheap labor.

[Ames]

So do you feel good that you went from a car that was made in Kentucky to an American car that was made in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico?

Where were the engineers that designed each car from? Where was the testing done at? Where are the parts made at? The foreign companies have gotten very good at getting people to care about where the car was made at. The actual assembly is one small part of actually putting a car on the road.

[Cyclone06]

I assume you are joking right? GM probably has 9,500 night janitors. GM going down would not only effect a enormous amount of GM employees and retirees, but the fallout at suppliers, dealerships, IT, marketing companies, and aftermarket companies would truely be devastating for the US.

The beauty is since there would still be a demand for cars, and indirectly these services, someone would have to pick up the slack GM losses or enter the market. If GM cannot hack it, time to get out of the way and let someone who can.

[Ames]

capitalcityguy-I know you're searching the internet like crazy to find out it's not true but if you bought a 2008 Vue than it's made in Mexico with cheap labor.

Made or assembled?

[Mr Janny]

It is clear than many here are blinded to the fact that there are in fact some decent quality American vehicles. I know...I know...that doesn't play well with your neighbors in Johnston orAnkeny, but it is true.

again, you are pinning this on the consumer. You are correct, automobiles and status are very much tied at the hip. A "cool car" is very much a statement about the person driving it in certain segments of society. However, whatever the reasons that a consumer has for purchasing a vehicle, however frivolous they might be, they are still very much valid in a capitalist economy, and therefore something that a car manufacturer must consider when designing their product. Automobiles are not viewed as entirely utilitarian, and some are looked upon as luxury items. If US auto companies cannot produce vehicles sufficiently desirable to the consumer's tastes, than that is very much the fault of the manufacturer and not the consumer. It's the same as the quality argument. The responsibility rests with the business.

Should the government enact a law that requires consumers to purchase from Ford? Your logic would suggest that it is my responsibility as an American to buy American products. Are you in favor of such a law?

[sunset]

Capital..... Will you buy an inferior product that cost more just because it's American Made???

You seem like you won't answer that....

Do you have that kind of money to throw away at something what will bleed you to death??

I'm all about value... I have to look out after me and my family. Not the big 3....

It isn't the consumer's faults at all... Your really clinging to this American Made thing too much.

They are to blame... Not the consumer. It's people like you that make me want to go out and buy a Toyota tonight, just to **** you off..

I will never blame somebody for doing what is best for their family. However, for some there are considerations other than what is the best product for the price. If you're career depends on consumer spending/saving/investing (which depends on American jobs) you might buy the inferior product.

[joefrog]

I drive a 2006 V8 Toyota 4runner. Absolutely love it. Runs great on highway, and when I get in rural Iowa or during winter weather the thing is a beast. It will go anywhere, is rather quick, and gets pretty good mileage. It still seems rather new. I am so sick of hearing about bailouts. You can bail out a boat for a while, eventually it is going to sink. Let it happen.

Personally I try and purchase American made products if I can. The more local, the better. I still think the US turns out some fantastic products that are worth their price. Cutco knives are absolutely wonderful, as an example. I hate buying stuff from China. I will pay more if there is an alternative American made product that is worth it.

Knowing what I know about the big 3 and the UAW, domestic car purchases are a big turnoff. No-work jobs, benefits in perpetuity, political contributions to candidates who work against what I believe in. Why would I choose to support these things by purchasing their product? Why should my tax dollars reward their failures?

Subsidizing bad behavior only results in more bad behavior.

[capitalcityguy]

And I'm saying I'm not necessarily convinced we wouldn't be paying for it even if they had more sales.

I don't think that the problems Detroit is facing is laid solely at the feet of consumers purchasing foreign cars.

I read your statement perfectly well the first time and to put my response simply - NO, it's not a true statement.

Again...getting away from fault, how can the statement not be true? Put simply (for illustration ONLY), if US consumers bought 100% of our cars from Detroit starting in say 2006 or 2007, do you think they'd need a bailout today?
I'm just trying to illustrate that those past buying decisions (right or wrong for OTHER reasons), did not happen in a vacuum and without consequences. I would argue many didn't even consider buying American MAY BE reasons that it may have made sense to do so.

We are about to live those consequence now…and it isn't going to be cheap.