Is it un-American to drive a Toyota or Honda even though they have factories in the U.S.?

Question

Why do people spout on about buying only Fords or Chevys when Honda and Toyota have many factories in the United States, providing jobs and feeding money into the American economy. Isn't it just as, or even more so, American to drive Honda or Toyota, because they provide jobs to Americans?

Answer 1

Not "un American" but who's economy do you think you are supporting when you buy foreign?
It is not just a matter of "where" the vehicle is built. ....
Ford, for instance has production plants all over the world, as do other manufacturers.
But American auto manufacturers do MUCH more for US economy than I can even begin to list here,
I'll give you just a small sampling, here is an article from a recent Detroit area newspaper:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070114/OPINION03/701140303/1148/rss25
But that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Think about the trade deficit.
Think of all the other affilliates.
Ford & GM offer discounts to millions of employees of other companies that supply to the.
If American auto's are so bad, why is it that 98% of all the emergency vehicles (police, fire dept, etc) are American?
Take a look at the Fleets of Taxi & Limo service vehicles.
Have you ever rented a U-Haul ?

I prefer to support the economy of THIS country!
A Fusion built in Mexico & financed @ 0% interest through Ford Credit is better than a Camery built anywhere, when the profits go to Japan.

Answer 2

That is the stupidest question I have ever seen.

You have to stop thinking about American and Un-American and think of the big picture. You should buy the car that YOU want. Your the one who has to drive it every day.

I think that people are doing more harm than good by buying American cars just because they are American. It is thinking like that that has led the "Big Three" into hard times. People are finally realizing that American cars are not the deal that they once thought. It will end up costing you more to run a Ford/Chrysler/GM than almost anything else. For a long time they had a base of customers that would buy anything they made, even if it was slower, thirstier, more poorly built, than a Lada from the 70's. The "Big Three" have been making crap that isn't worthy of your money. (Or the Road) If they made better cars, people would buy them. They don't, so, until they do you shouldn't.

Answer 3

Older Americans cry about what you drive...they do have a point though..most of the money for the cars goes back into the economy where the corporation is located..FORD and CHEVY are headquartered in the US so the money the make stay here.
If you live here it probably does help to buy American but seriously Toyota's and Hondas are just as good or better.

Answer 4

Man this is tough. According to my father in law, A UAW member of Ford it is. Great father in law though. But get this some American cars are made in other countries. I also heard at the barbershop from another Ford worker that some foreign pickups might have more American made parts than American pickups. All cars have parts made all other the world, electronics ect. But get this a I can buy many foreign cars on the Ford A plan below dealer cost. Like a Mazdaspeed 6. Because Ford owns part of Mazda its ok, or in my Father in laws eyes. The Mazdaspeed 6 is made in Hiroshima Japan.

Answer 5

No! It is NOT un American! I tried to drive the American crap and it never lasted!!! (Traded up every two years with Chevy, and just got rid of a Ford after two years of nothing but problems.) Sticking with a Toyota from now on....I've seen those cars rust to the ground before the motors and other mechanical parts crap out.
PS- I would even consider a Honda before another Chevy or Ford....

Answer 6

I don't think of it as Un-American... and I'm a veteran and grew up during the oil-crisis. Detroit has done a poor job of preparing for the current (and potential) oil crisis... they keep churning out SUV's while Japan (and soon China) will be ready to give us little gas-sippers the next time prices soar.

Yes, sadly Japan will get the profits of the sale of those cars even though they ARE providing jobs for Americans.

My family drove NOTHING but Volkswagen's from 1960's thru 1980's... Dad liked the mileage, quality, and ease of maintenance. He switched to Nissan's and Toyota's after us kids left (they didn't need to have a VW Bus any longer).

I've driven a VW Dasher, a Nissan Pulsar, and now a Ford Ranger (designed by Toyota).

Remember back in the 70's-80's when Mileage was REQUIRED BY LAW to be posted on any car for sale AND in all car ads ?? Sometime in the 1990's congress changed the law... at the behest of Detroit ??

Answer 7

I would never buy a Ford again. I've had a few and quality is definitely not job 1. Some people think that buying foreign is taking jobs away from Americans but I do not believe that is so. Yes, some of the money goes back to the country of the manufacturer, but these manufacturers also create a lot of jobs for Americans as well.

Answer 8

No, it is not un-American at all. We are afterall a melting pot and to be honest the quality of "American Made" vehicles sucks. So called "foreign" vehicles are made in the United States for the most part, they provide jobs to the American public(which pay good I might add), they are more cost effective in the long run, they get way better gas mileage, they break down less frequently than "American Made" vehicles and they actually are geared to what the consumer wants as a product. Overall...Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Hyundai are a better product and last a lot longer than the junk "we" put out.

Answer 9

No problem with Toyota and Honda (or Hyundai, made in Alabama). Not any different than buying a Jeep, Chrysler or Dodge that is owned by Daimler-Benz of Germany.

Answer 10

some people think because it is a ford or chevy it is 100% american made. Unfortunately that is no longer true. I have a acura and a hyundai because they are the ones I liked I am definately a loyal american