Buy American or Foreign cars?

Question

Why do people think that "American" car brands are more American than other brands? I used to live near Marysville, OH where Honda has one of it's American final assembly plants. It employs thousands of hard working Ohioans. Toyota has numberous assembly plants all over the country also. GM has shipped half of it's labor off to Mexico and Ford is buying tons of Mazda parts. Just because the name is foreign doesn't mean it hurts our economy any more than "domestic" brands. Do people just like the nostalgia of buying domestic brands? Does anyone realize there is no such thing as an "all American car" anymore?

But what makes an American car American if it is assembled in Mexico with Japenese parts? At least Honda and Toyota are employing Americans!!!

Answer 1

And you now see why the Japanese and Korean auto manufacturers are making huge inroads into the American market. Price and quality sell cars. The American manufactures are hindered by the fact that they have to use union labor and that puts them at a disadvantage with the foreign manufactures, hence the out sourcing to Mexico.

Answer 2

Many people think that by buying a Ford Fusion they are helping a domestic company and all the benefits go to the US. The car is made in Mexico, so yes, Ford does make a profit but it also helps the Mexican economy. Likewise, the same for foreign brands. Buying a Honda may help the parent company in Japan but you're right, it also employs thousands of Americans.

Most people are just too ingorant or stupid (I don't know which) to understand that you cannot simply support the American economy alone regardless of which manufacturer you buy from.

Answer 3

Quite honestly the outsourcing that the big American companies has done is obscene. Americans should boycott domestic brands until they bring back the jobs to America. Had I been president I would have imposed massive import taxes on domestic companies that chose to outsource jobs until the realized that outsourcing was evil and wrong. My last car was a Nissan, built in Tennessee. In fact it was more 'American' than the Pontiac that my sister in law has.

When I buy a car I want it to be reliable and hold its value because I like to trade every 2-3 years. There is no American car I can buy that does not plummet in value after purchase. Until these American companies stop outsourcing jobs and making crappy cars that depreciate like crap, I will be choosing from Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, or BMW.

Answer 4

the term american made anymore isnt what it what it was in the 60,s,,and i agree with you on how people think,,its not from ignorance,,or stupidity,,thats a poor way to describe the american people,,its the fact that they think there supporting the american worker if they buy a name like dodge,,or ford,,or even a chevrolet,without realizing that the vast majority of parts going on these cars are from out side of the country and we the american people are responsible for them having to made from other places,,we keep wanting more money,,for the hour that we work,,and it seems we provide less work in some cases,,than we did when we was paid a lower wage,,we are driving prices up,,without realizing it,,sooner or later if it doesnt taper off,,all the car makers will have to have there parts made outside the U.S,because they wont be able to afford to have them made here,,anymore,,at some point we are going to have to take responsibility for what is going on here,,and say enough is enough,,and maybe then we can once again say,,yes it was made here,,assemled here,,and sold here,,but as for now,we cant say that no more,,like now if you buy a toyota,,look where it was assembled,,same with a honda,,again without realizing it, we are still supporting the american worker,,in a certain way,,i have my opinion ,,like everyone else does,but we as americans arent stupid,,nor are we ignorant,,and anyone who portrays us as such,,should be ashamed,, i for one believe we are level minded people,,with one goal ,,to save money the best we can,,but this is just one persons opinion,,among many,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 5

I know what you mean. I live in England and buying my Jaguar means buying a ford as is Aston Martin, a bentley and a rolls royce means buying german, buying a Vauxhall means a General Motors, peugeots were made in England -until recently- and Hondas and Toyota and Nissan all have manufacturing plants here.

Answer 6

Had an Oldsmobile in the 80's and now no one in my family will buy "American" I realize they are much better made these days but it's hard to impress me now that we've gotten used to European cars.

Answer 7

Excellent points
i realize there is no such thing as American cars anymore....but i do get nostalgic when i see those old Cadillacs with the bucket seats.....lol

Answer 8

Just because a Japanese car is assembled in the US doesn't make it American. These cars are made almost entirely from JAPANESE parts.
A rice burner is always a rice burner.

Buy American

Answer 9

Profits from American Car Companies stay in the USA, even in a global economy.

Buying a foreign car increases the US trade deficit.

Buy American. The job you save may be your own.

Answer 10

Right now, buying cars that are guzzling less gas would be my first priority - and US cars do top the guzzling list.