May I ask....Why all the foreign vehicles? (Superior: rentals, buy)

[I_Want_Snow]

Originally Posted by Get out of my way

Yeah, Ford is made in the USA... oh wait, what's this say? BBC NEWS | Americas | Ford to open new plant in Mexico

Oh well, we've still got GM... whoops, never mind, I just read this INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; A 20-Year G.M. Parts Migration To Mexico - New York Times (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E5DD103CF937A15755C0A96E9582 60 - broken link)

Mopar is still All-American... sorta Chrysler to build engine plant south of the border - Autoblog

Don't worry, i won't tell your Dad that Mexican auto workers are getting rich off of your money...

But buying a Toyota is un-American, isn't it?

"At a time when the traditional Big Three are struggling, Toyota is thriving. Just this year, Ford and GM have terminated 46,000 North American employees. Together, they have announced the closing of 26 North American factories over the next five years. Toyota has never closed a North American factory; it will open a new one in Texas this fall and another in Ontario in 2008. Detroit isn't being bested by imports: 60% of the cars Toyota sells in North America are made here."

No Satisfaction at Toyota | Fast Company

Here is the list of the NEW cars I have bought: The 3 Mustangs I have bought new were was built in Dearborn MI, My Jeep was built in Toledo OH, my Tempo was built in Kansas, my Bronco II was built in Louisville KY, my Taurus was built in Chicago IL, and the 2008/09 Focus I looking to buy next month is built in Wayne, MI.

The Focus I am driving now that I bought used was unfortunately built in Mexico. So yea, the Mexican auto workers are getting rich off of the cars I am buying ....

Taken from Automotive News: Ford will be building the Focus at the company’s Wayne, Michigan and Louisville, Kentucky plants. The current Ford Focus is only built at Ford’s Wayne facility.

[formercalifornian]

My Acura TL came off an assembly line right outside Columbus, Ohio.

[I_Want_Snow]

Originally Posted by COflower

What you don't see is the resale/trade-in value. The Ford Focus may have comparable fuel economy but a Honda or Toy will have an overall better value in the end. It's one of the reasons they are the most looked up vehicles on Kelly Blue Book's website. It's one of the reasons they have stayed in the top three (Accord and Camry) for over a decade for the most stolen vehicles. They are probably the most reliable vehicles on the market.

Heck, despite I need new CV boots, my 93 Honda Accord just barely ran over 90,000 but is worth a more than a 93 Pontiac Grand Prix. People almost worship Hondas and Toyotas.

If I were to get another truck though, I would most certainly get another Chevy. Not much of a Ford person as we had a 76 Thunderbird that was the biggest POS so I have a sour taste from that. I did drive my brother's F-150 to Denver though, pretty smooth ride but I liked my Chevys much better.

I understand how having a bad experience can leave an everlasting impression. Luckily I have not had any issues personally. And there is no denying that Honda's and Toyota's are worshiped. I never said they weren't good cars, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one.

Ever drive the new Dodge trucks with the Hemi? Those are some really nice trucks!! If I was to ever buy a truck it would have to be the Dodge.

[COflower]

I_Want_Snow - Nope. Again, bad experience with a Dodge - my first car that my dad talked me into buying for $3000 and we could only get $1500 out of it six months later.

I've had really good luck with Chevys so I stick with them but in this economy I can't see me buying a truck. I miss my second Chevy though - she was quite the beast!

[mimomof2]

Originally Posted by bullfish15

The foreign companies have the right idea... Don't pay production workers $25 per hour and up with untouchable benefits. Toyota builds cars here in America for a more practical factory wage of $12ish.

I suppose the big three could afford to make an inexpensive, fuel efficient vehicles paying slave labor wages. Who can live on $12ish an hour?

I have had vehicles from all 3 and will not go foreign for anything. I love American!

[I_Want_Snow]

Originally Posted by bullfish15

The foreign companies have the right idea... Don't pay production workers $25 per hour and up with untouchable benefits. Toyota builds cars here in America for a more practical factory wage of $12ish.

Yea they pay their workers less money, about half, but yet sell their cars for the same price as the American cars?? Under that thinking their cars should be half price. Nothing like paying your workers half of what your competitors pay their workers. That just means that twice as much money gets to go over to Japan instead of to the workers here who build their product.

Smart business thinking, but it hurts the economy here because the U.S. workers that work for them have less money to spend and put back into the economy.

[I_Want_Snow]

Originally Posted by mimomof2

I suppose the big three could afford to make an inexpensive, fuel efficient vehicles paying slave labor wages. Who can live on $12ish an hour?

I have had vehicles from all 3 and will not go foreign for anything. I love American!

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by mimomof2

i suppose the big three could afford to make an inexpensive, fuel efficient vehicles paying slave labor wages. Who can live on $12ish an hour?

I have had vehicles from all 3 and will not go foreign for anything. I love american!

x2!

[Get out of my way]

Originally Posted by I_Want_Snow

Ahh... the new Ford Focus gets 35 mpg. My 2004 Focus I am driving now is averaging about 29mpg with half city half highway driving.

Yes, Ford finally got it right with the Focus, but how many Escorts and Fiestas and Festivas have we had to endure for them to get there? And the Cobalt.. well, haven't seen to many of them on the road.

Originally Posted by I_Want_Snow

As far as the Dodge goes, you can't compare a 425 hp muscle car with a 370 Cubic inch V8 motor to a 121 cubic inch 4 cylinder economy car. The 2 V6 models of the Charger gets right around the same mileage as your Explorer does.

If you need 425 hp, it better be for towing something! 150 - 250 should do fine. Sadly, the 2 V6 Charger models get better mileage, and more hp then my Explorer. But my Explorer is paid off .

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by I_Want_Snow

Yea they pay their workers less money, about half, but yet sell their cars for the same price as the American cars?? Under that thinking their cars should be half price. Nothing like paying your workers half of what your competitors pay their workers. That just means that twice as much money gets to go over to Japan instead of to the workers here who build their product.

Smart business thinking, but it hurts the economy here because the U.S. workers that work for them have less money to spend and put back into the economy.

The money saved goes into the product. The big 3 US makers are famous for grinding their suppliers so the point where they get shoddy parts out of them. The Japanese, not so much.

And don't forget that a HUGE part of the big three's labor budget is for retiree pension and medical benefits they handed out like candy to the UAW when they thought they owned the world auto market. Last I read, that added something like $1600 to the cost of every car produced.