Consumers Top Cars

[Gary Schisler]

Re: I will never own an Asian automobile

"I don't care if the build them here; the $ don't stay here when the deal is done"

Allow me to play devil's advocate here. A car designed in Japan but built in Marion, OH, by US workers, shipped on US trucks, driven by US drivers, and sold in Honda by American salesman doesn't have the bucks staying here? I would venture a guess that many of the parts on these US built Honda/Acura cars are US produced by US companies. How many dollars are spent on US labor, parts, electricty, gas, etc, etc?

I think that much of the thinking here is old school. Until GM/Ford/Chrysler can build cars that have the reliability of these cars, is there really a debate here? Let me give you a biased example: 97 Ford Mustang convertible (wife's toy car btw) - three backup switches in the first two years, piss poor transmission, 4600 rpm engine, mediocre build, etc, etc. Three visits to the dealer under waranty in the first two years plus a recall (btw this car is now eight years old and still doesnt't have 50000 miles on it!). Next example - 93 Acura (Honda) Legend with 111,000 miles (that's 13 years for those that are math challenged ) . Dealer vists? 0, zero, nada, nil. Threee sets of tires and two batteries plus one radiator and one a/c condensor. My son has a Honda Civic with 140000 - no visits to the dealer. Daughter has a 95 Acura Integra with 137000 miles - no visits to the dealer. I owned a 86 Dodge Caravan that I sold recently with 115,000 miles on it - two starters, new carb (old one was a non-rebuildable unit) that cost almost $700. Granted, I do 99% of the work on these cars and I will tell you, give me an Acura or Honda anytime!!!!!!

Look at the archives discussing GM quality, design, etc.

As a 26 year retiree from the Air Force, I believe in keeping our money here but if I or my family have to drive a car that I constantly have to worry about, I will choose reliability over "buy American" every time. Especially if the majority of the money spent on that car is spent in the USA.

Respectfully disagreeing on the "buy US" issue.

Gary

[Dennis C.]

So, Get really happy - move to Japan *NM*

[Geoff C.]

Don't put Asian parts on my old Vettes either *NM*

[Geoff C.]

Go Yankees, USA, USA *NM*

[Jerry J.]

Re: So, Get really happy - move to Japan

DENNIS MY SENTIMENTS (SP.), EXACTLY.....

[Chris H.]

Re: I will never own an Asian automobile

Just read that the US has lost about 200,000 Automotive related jobs since January 2001. In the meantime automotive sales keep going up. This does not include the announced big 3 cuts of over 60,000 more. This does include the new transplants and their parts sourcing. More vehicles are being imported every year and the transplants keep building more plants here.

No matter what is said about where the profits are going jobs are moving overseas at an alarming rate while vehicle sales keep going up. Bottom line is that we are bringing more parts in from overseas and more vehicles. Yes more vehicles are being built in North America but once the old domestics are gone the transplants will have no reason to continue to build cars here and will close the plants down. It will be much cheaper to bring them in from China or wherever.

Is it bad? I do not know. Our leaders and economists say our economy is growing and strong and this is the way it is going to be in a free trade world.

If you have read "flat world" you will see that unless you have a job that cannot be exported you will be in the trouble in the future.

[Nicholas L.]

Geoffrey It's spelled malocchio *NM*

[Tracy C.]

How's that foot Dave? *NM*

[Dave F.]

Re: How's that foot Dave?

I would have fun replying to your post Tracy, but this thread has already degenerated beyond both humor and lively debate.

Another idea would be to try to meaningfully respond to all the various viewpoints brought by others, but we all know how far that would go.

I guess the only response I have is to point out that what one person calls loyalty, another calls bigotry.

I love and support the U.S.A., I also own a Toyota and an Audi. Think what you want.

-Dave

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: How's that foot Dave?

Dave,

Please share your thoughts. There are those who come before the group and hold one hand on their heart while soluting the flag who might more appropriately hold their nose to avoid the stench and cover their ears to cover the sound of the cash register.

Is there any correlation between the word "foreign" which appears in their catalogues and the word "Asian"? You used the words "loyalty" and "bigotry" -perhaps "hippocrat" can be added to the mix !