If You've Changed From Detroit Cars To Asian Cars, Would YOu Ever Go Back? (Japanese, CRV)

[Lamplight]

I might, but it would have to be 2000 and up. Earlier than that and the Asian cars (for the most part) seem to pull out in front by a much wider margin. I've owned four Hondas and one Dodge. The Hondas were all much older and very good for their age. But so was the Dodge. As far as reliability the Dodge was just as good as those Hondas. However, the Dodge interior was so far behind the older Hondas that it's not even funny. In fact, the interior was the one thing I never could warm up to with that truck. It was counter intuitive, ugly, and mind-bogglingly cheap and flimsy. But besides that it was a darn good vehicle. My current 21 year old $11,000 (original price) Honda has more expensive feeling interior parts than my coworker's 2008 $35,000 Chevy, even though the Chevy's may look nicer. But the Chevy's interior is also worlds ahead of that Dodge I owned, which was a 1999 model, so I do think they're are getting better.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

.....

Also, buying American helps keep American jobs in America. So do your duty and buy the product NOT made by slave labor. .....

Exactly where are cars assembled in this country that are produced by slave labor? Western Europe, Japan, and South Korea are not exactly 3rd world places as the average person there enjoys a pretty high standard of living, often higher than the average American.

On the other hand I note that the big three produce engines, transmissions, and numerous other components for their vehicles outside the USA. The Chevy Camaro, which GM drapes in the American flag, is manufactured in Canada on top of an Australian platform. Chrysler, which has waved the American flag around its 'hemi' engine, builds the thing in Mexico. I would rather have a Mercedes made in Alabama or a BMW made in SC and there are a whole lot more Americans making those vehicles.

Count me in the camp that would buy American first, but the big 3 have not earned this kind of support.

[UKUKUK]

The Americans have more domestic manufacturing operations than the Asian and German brands.

Try Michigan, Kentucky, or Ohio. The cars made in Mexico by Ford are often bottom of the barrel and international models.

My Chevy was made in Ohio.

Ford assembles the largest portion of its product in the USA, I don't care about what myth you read, take a trip through Detroit to the engine/stamping/manufacturing plants. It's actually quite interesting.

Yes, the Camaro is assembled in Canada, but Saabs were manufactured in Sweden, Hyundai's manufactured in Alabama, etc.

Yeah, there are faults, especially with GM and Chrysler... ESPECIALLY Chrysler.

...but if you kill GM, Ford, or Chrysler, a lot more American jobs will be lost than if you kill Nissan, Toyota, or Honda.

Not only that, but I advise every person to take a trip to Detroit, at least once in their life. The auto industry and other manufacturing jobs that are disappearing (many sent offshore, I hate this) are the backbone of an entire region of our country that is becoming plain miserable. There are good, honest, hardworking Americans losing their jobs so a shirt can be sewn for 2 cents rather than 5.

On that note... I DO check where my products are made before buying them, and unless it comes to serve me a great loss of money or functionality by buying it, I try to buy American.

My next car? I'm thinking a Milan V6 AWD

[trlhiker]

So I should buy a vehicle that I really don't care for just because it has a Detroit background? So much for freedom of choice.

[outafocus]

>>>>>>
Try Michigan, Kentucky, or Ohio. The cars made in Mexico by Ford are often bottom of the barrel and international models.<<<<<<<

The ONLY EXCELLENT Detroit 3 car is the Ford Fusion. It is built in Mexico! This car was too important to Ford to let the UAW mess it up!

The American built Japanese makes are VERY well built. They are built by people with a good work ethic. They get paid a very good salary. They put in a good day's work for a good day's pay!

The Japanese, and now even the Korean companies are investing the profits made on their cars with new plants built in the USA. The Detroit 3 are closing plants here, and opening more in Latin America and China! Not only are MANY "Detroit" cars built in Mexico, GM is already putting Chinese engines in their vehicles!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

The Americans have more domestic manufacturing operations than the Asian and German brands.

Try Michigan, Kentucky, or Ohio. The cars made in Mexico by Ford are often bottom of the barrel and international models.

My Chevy was made in Ohio.

Ford assembles the largest portion of its product in the USA, I don't care about what myth you read, take a trip through Detroit to the engine/stamping/manufacturing plants. It's actually quite interesting.

Yes, the Camaro is assembled in Canada, but Saabs were manufactured in Sweden, Hyundai's manufactured in Alabama, etc.

Yeah, there are faults, especially with GM and Chrysler... ESPECIALLY Chrysler.

...but if you kill GM, Ford, or Chrysler, a lot more American jobs will be lost than if you kill Nissan, Toyota, or Honda.

Not only that, but I advise every person to take a trip to Detroit, at least once in their life. The auto industry and other manufacturing jobs that are disappearing (many sent offshore, I hate this) are the backbone of an entire region of our country that is becoming plain miserable. There are good, honest, hardworking Americans losing their jobs so a shirt can be sewn for 2 cents rather than 5.

On that note... I DO check where my products are made before buying them, and unless it comes to serve me a great loss of money or functionality by buying it, I try to buy American.

My next car? I'm thinking a Milan V6 AWD

So after all that "rah rah buy American" spiel, you've got your eye on a Japanese-engineered car with an American nameplate, assembled in Mexico.

Moral of the story: we're in a global economy now. Either adjust or falter.

[UKUKUK]

Originally Posted by outafocus

The ONLY EXCELLENT Detroit 3 car is the Ford Fusion. It is built in Mexico! This car was too important to Ford to let the UAW mess it up!

The American built Japanese makes are VERY well built. They are built by people with a good work ethic. They get paid a very good salary. They put in a good day's work for a good day's pay!

The Japanese, and now even the Korean companies are investing the profits made on their cars with new plants built in the USA. The Detroit 3 are closing plants here, and opening more in Latin America and China! Not only are MANY "Detroit" cars built in Mexico, GM is already putting Chinese engines in their vehicles!

The Detroit 3 are also producing new models in America. Do your research. Also, there are many excellent Detroit 3 cars. Try the new GMC Terrain, the new Taurus, Chevy Equinox (same as Terrain), the 2010 Mustang (2011 will be even better with the new engines), ALL Ford and Chevrolet trucks.

...and hell, if the Mexican built Fusion is so superior... why are you complaining about them being Mexican built? :P

On that note though, you also have to consider that the companies that get the most of the profit from the sales of a car are also the companies that are paying taxes. Ford, GM, and Chrysler pay far more in taxes than a company headquartered overseas.

If Toyota, Honda, and Nissan failed tomorrow, there'd be far less of an impact on the American economy/job market than if the Big 3 failed.

Tell me why that is.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

The Detroit 3 are also producing new models in America. Do your research. Also, there are many excellent Detroit 3 cars. Try the new GMC Terrain, the new Taurus, Chevy Equinox (same as Terrain), the 2010 Mustang (2011 will be even better with the new engines), ALL Ford and Chevrolet trucks.

...and hell, if the Mexican built Fusion is so superior... why are you complaining about them being Mexican built? :P

On that note though, you also have to consider that the companies that get the most of the profit from the sales of a car are also the companies that are paying taxes. Ford, GM, and Chrysler pay far more in taxes than a company headquartered overseas.

If Toyota, Honda, and Nissan failed tomorrow, there'd be far less of an impact on the American economy/job market than if the Big 3 failed.

Tell me why that is.

First of all, Moderator cut: Not necessary Foreign businesses pay just as much taxes on their U.S.-generated profits as domestic companies do. If both Ford and Toyota North America post a 2 billion dollar profit here, they will pay the same tax on that profit. And neither pays U.S. taxes on profits made by its overseas subsidiaries. Of course, if the Big Three aren't even profitable, they aren't paying taxes at all....

Second, it would be devastating for our economy if Toyota/Honda/Nissan OR the Big Three failed tomorrow. I'm not sure you have any conception how many Americans Toyota, Honda and Nissan employ here directly and indirectly through suppliers/supply chains, distribution networks, etc., or for that matter, how many billions of American equity is invested in those companies. Lots of pension funds would be shot to hell if the Big Three or the Japanese auto manufacturers failed. Like I said, this is a global economy now. Major industry collapses in any country is bad for us all.

[outafocus]

I don't want to see the Detroit 3 go out of business. I would just like to see them make good cars again.

GM once had more than 50% of the market share themselves. Ford and Chrysler shared around 40%, and ALL imports combined shared 10%.

Bad workmanship, indifference toward the customer from the boardrooms to the dealerships, grred and corruption have done them in.

Now GM is being run by two of the most corrupt entities yet: the government and the UAW!

[bryson662001]

I don't change cars too often, every 7 to 10 years. I have had a trouble free Nissan and Toyota, each for 9 years, before that a VW that was a lemon for 5 yearsand prior to that a Ford that was trouble free for 10 years. For the last 3 years I have a Mustang, also trouble free that I love. The Japanese cars just got too boring. (I am 60 yrs old)
I am very careful about preventive maintainace on all my cars.