Big 3 vs. Foreign Vehicles?

Question

Why is it that people always insist that foreign vehicles are better. GM's 2008 lineup has more vehicles that get over 30 mpg than anyone else. Ford and GM were born in America and should be respected not critisized. And to everyone that says that there are plants opening in America all the time with the foreign vehicles, yeah that may be creating jobs but where do you think all the profits go, that's right, right over to the foreign economy. Wouldn't it be better to have new big 3 plants that not only create jobs but also contribute to the American economy. And to the people that say that while toyota builds new plants in america while the big 3 pack up and go to other countries I think its obvious that they want to stay in america and create jobs here but its kinda hard when you don't have any money with the foreign vehicles attracting so many people with their propaganda. The foreign vehicles are just taking advantage of our free trade policy and that needs stop.

Being that I live in Michigan, I've seen the impact of closing plants head on. People are leaving Michigan in record numbers because they can't find a job. Michigan has the worst unemployment rate in the country, and it's all because the foreign car companies are gaining leverage in america, where people here are struggling to hold on to their job at a Ford or GM plant and make a living. So Next time you buy that foreign car just think about who your really hurting.

I wonder if there's a made in Japan sticker on the bottom of their cars.

American car companies are releasing more fuel efficient and smaller cars which is what everyone wants, but people aren't relizing it because sometimes they have such a closed mind and make an instant stereotype of the american vehicles as all SUV's and big gas hog's and it's hard to get rid of that stereotype. American cars are trying to change their image, and you just need to let go of the stereotypes.

Answer 1

i own a shop ,and i along with a lot of other people agree with you ,but not many other people seem to care that were supporting the foreign company's,they will get mad at you on here if you say one bad thing about a Honda or anything else,from another country,basically i don't care i say what i think,and i think its time we all woke up ,and bought a few American cars again gm is looking good this year,and even better for next year,i think in time they,ll win the car market back but its going to take a lot of convincing to the American people to do this,there is one thing i do know for sure,if we bought as many American cars as we did foreign cars this country would be in real good shape,i own two American cars and they have done as good as any of the other ones have both are going good,so my next one will be a Chevy also,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 2

Actually, the Big 3 have some of the worst quality in the world - usually considered to be on par with Skoda (made in the Czech Republic.) This is all about capitalism. If other companies can come over here and do well, then the local companies could do the same. The best survive, the others go bankrupt - or get subsidies from the government. Sometimes, the American automobile industry actually costs this country money, taking government handouts instead of making profits.

Europe got its first car with disc brakes in 1959. Most cars in the USA still have drums on the rear. American cars started to be built with twin camshafts back in the 90s. This system was first invented in Europe in the 30s. Superchargers? 1920s Europe. Even independant rear suspension isn't all that common in this country, but your basic Alfa Romeo sedan had it back in the 60s, as did Datsun (which also had overhead cams.)

IIn the USA, the efficient cars are underpowered, and the reasonably-powered cars guzzle gas. Aerodynamics are a bad joke, and image is more important than substance.

I would love to buy American cars, if they would improve them. But they don't. In Europe and Australia, Ford has introduced the Focus XR5 - a 5-cylinder turbo version. It's getting rave reviews, but Ford America isn't even offering it on a limited basis this year - or for 2008. The Pontiac GTO didn't do very well here - mainly because it was a 5 year old car that they decided to import from Australia (where it is sold under the GM brand of Holden) and sell as a new model. It's not even the performance car from Holden - that's the Commodore. You can't get that out here. So even when an American-based company gets it right, it still doesn't offer it to the American public. If they showed that they actually cared about what they offered to us, I believe that more people would buy American. But until it happens, I just can't afford the cost of repairing them - I'll buy foreign.

Answer 3

My family has owned both American and Japanese cars. Our American cars have always given us problems and cost a lot to repair. Even though the Japanese cars cost more, they were more reliable. We did not take many trips because we were not sure that the car would make the trip. Peace of Mind goes a long way. Resale value is another contributor. Look at what 2000 Ford Focus goes for compared to 2000 Honda Civic. They both cost about the same coming off the dealership. The Honda may cost 1 or 2 thousand more. If you tried to sell them today, the Honda is worth $4000 to $6000 more. Even if the Focus gets better gas mileage, which it does not, it would not offset the depreciation. The Honda also would hold together better and be a better car at this age. That explains why imports are outselling the big 3. It is about who can give you the best for your money. Addressing the economy, who gets paid to build these cars in America? Americans. They get a good paying job that allows them to buy homes, feed their families, and buy products that keep the American economy going. Compare this to the towns that had the big 3 factories. The people are on unemployement or cutting back on their lifestyles. How is that helping the American economy? They certainly would not say it has helped them. If you are willing to sacrifice quality, style, resale, and reliabilty, by all means by the big 3 company cars. No one is here to say that you can't. We do live in America and it is everyone's right to pursue happiness. It seems like most Americans choose to pursue what is best for them and choosing imports.

PS. Many of the Fords are Mazdas and the parts that go in the big 3 cars come from other countries.

Answer 4

Did you know that a 2007 Toyota Camry has over twice as many American parts than a 2007 Ford Fusion?

In addition, the 'Big 3' are outsourcing the production of 13 US models being built in Mexico and 10 US models being built in Canada.
How are the big 3 helping the US economy by doing this?

On the flip side, there are 17 Japanese Models built in the US by American workers.

For 3 or 4 decades, the big 3 could care less about their product. That was a slap in the face to the American consumer. Now they have to shake that reputation, and are having a tough time earning the US consumer trust. One idea is to maybe increase the warranties. Not keeping up with most of the foreign competition adds to the buyer speculation that they are still not willing to stand behind their products.

For the average consumer, where is the motivation to buy American? My neighbor works for Toyota and he is not Japanese. I struggle to see your points around how foreign automakers are not helping our economy.

I am all about American pride and wish that it were as easy as you believe it should be. I am sure that if Americans felt like the Big 3 would stand behind their product and improve overall quality, reliability, and styling, then all Americans would buy an American car. I know I would.

UAW is another part of the problem...but that is a whole other conversation.

Answer 5

I don't understand it either,these people have thier facts all wrong.Half of all Toyota sold in US are imported,all the big 3 use a average of 78% US and Candian parts while all the Japan models average 54%.The big 3 employee about 4.5 million people indirect while all Japan models employee less than 1 million indirect.Toyota and Japan work together to keep the Yen undervalued,that way they make a average of $4500 per vehicle imported to the US.I don't believe their quality is any better than US,Honda just recalled 1 million vehicles,Toyota recalled 500000 a couple of years ago and have had lawsuits for faulty engines that they will not recall.Everyone reads the Consumer Reports,nothing more than a paid ad and believe everything they say instead of going out and comparing the vehicles.

Answer 6

So you buy an "American made car" that is made with parts from Mexico or Japan. What's the difference between a Ford or a Mitsubishi at that point. Both made in America, both made with foreign parts. Both supporting the economies of a few countries.
My thoughts are the imports (a few of them anyways) are building cars that are more intelligently engineered. A 2005 Chrysler Minivan uses 3 computers to turn on the headlights. Most imports still use.....oh wait, they don't need a computer to turn on freakin headlights. American cars are overengineered to accomidate an extremely lazy American public. We want our cars to drive for us, which means more computers, which means more to go wrong.
I own a couple of older model DSMs and Jeeps. I don't want ABS, Airbags, Tire pressure monitors, Auto down windows, Rain sensitive wipers, Steering angle sensors, Traction Control, Downhill Assist, etc. I know how to drive my cars, and I enjoy DRIVING my cars, not having my cars drive me. Try to buy an "American" car that doesn't have far to much electronic junk in it. It is impossible.
Also, I have family who have worked on the lines for Ford, GM, and Chrysler. I hear what goes on in many (not all) plants. I really don't want to pay $30,000 for a car so the manufacturer can pay a drunk pot-head $36 an hour to get high and drunk while building my car. The quality has gone down, the price up.
In closing, I just want to say "Wake up and drive!"

Answer 7

i understand your argument. But it's about choice and preference. The big 3 had it good in the early days. They were king of the hill and started to make crap by the 1980s. They practiced something called planned obsolescence, designing a product with a limited lifespan, so that replacement would occur more frequently. They felt that they had little competition, so they were complacent when it came to quality control. This happened in other industries too. Then imports became popular, mainly due to the hubris and arrogance of the Big 3 executives. The Big 3 are changing; they have to because of the competition. It's the survival of the fittest. I believe in American design and engineering because I went to a top-notch American university where the Big 3 recruit engineers from. I studied with these folks. Now as to folks preferring imports and trash talking the domestics, this happens everywhere. There are some folks in Germany who like American cars (Cadillacs). There are some folks in Japan who like American and German cars. It's all a matter of preference. You are correct in stating that it affects the American economy. Yet the Americans who help assemble Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, and BMWs are grateful that they can get skilled jobs in areas that the Big 3 won't come near. Their income gets spent on housing, cars, food, etc. The local economy is improved. People are happy. Yes, some of the profit is sent back to corporate in Japan and Germany. But because of NAFTA and Mexico's proximity, the Ford Fusion, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and Chevrolet HHR are built in Mexico. Many Big 3 and Japanese-brand cars are assembled in Canada. It's the right policy for America to have open markets and not practice neo-mercantilism. Only the pickup market is protected with a 25% tariff (due to a tiff with VW decades ago). Other imported cars have a 2.5% tariff. Unlawful trade is policed fairly by U.S. authorities - dumping and currency exchange rate manipulation is investigated properly. Consumers are voting with their pocketbooks. There's nothing for the government to stop. It's time for the Big 3 to shape up, and I believe they are and will continue to do so. The worst that could happen is that the U.S. will become like the U.K. - all the mainstream domestic manufacturers there failed and/or were bought out by foreign firms. That would be a sad day in American automotive history if that ever happened. But business is about supply and demand. And demand relates to quality and perception. Brand equity is difficult to repair. If the Big 2.5 make and sell practical high-quality cars, the word will get out, and the domestics will be popular again. But the Japanese and Germans are smart folks also.

We shouldn't buy Big 2.5 cars just because they're from American companies. The Big 2.5 got into the mess they're in through mismanagement, not through some sinister ploy. It's up to them to convince the public that they've changed; that their cars are not the hunk of junk they produced in years past. Let's look at the American television manufacturing industry of yesteryear - all sold to foreign companies. We may have lost ground in electronics, but we're tops in computer engineering, software, and aerospace. You win some, you lose some. I hope we win the car war. But if Ford and GM cannot keep up, well...too bad for them. Somebody is bound to fail in a free economy. Things change. We adjust and move on. I hope GM and Ford improves for the sake of the country's morale. But financial stability has to be a result of consumers' choice, not patriotism. Look at the UK. Ford is the number one brand there. In China, it's VW and Buick. In India it's Maruti (Suzuki) (and Hyundai is a distant second). In Russia, Japanese-branded cars and Hyundai are popular. Russians have been giving up Russian brands steadily because of quality issues. Let people choose what they like. i personally own a volvo and jaguar. Both companies are owned 100% by Ford. So am I buying American and helping the American economy? Not really. It doesn't matter to me. Foreign cars are not always better. I know this because I have owned Japanese, Korean, American, and European brands. Also buying a foreign car may hurt the American manufacturers, but not the economy. Foreign firms create jobs for the delivery folks, dealers, sales people, repair people, assembly workers, administrative employees, etc. They also make the Big 3 try harder and improve.

Answer 8

PROPOGANDA?

Here's propoganda for you. I was a DIE-HARD Ford freak for MANY years - my most recent car was a Ford Mustang which I'd customized out the ***... my baby.

In all fairness, I never had a lick of trouble with any of my Fords mechanically...

I got traumatized when I had to pay $50 for a tank of gas, so I traded her in on a Toyota Prius. I went from paying $40-50 twice a week on average to paying $25 for a full tank which I need about every 3-1/2 weeks - and my driving habits have not changed one IOTA.

So put down the flag and go talk to your "Big Three" - and tell them from ME that if they give me a car that can do that, I'll be in line TOMORROW.

In the meantime, my children have to have air to breathe, and I don't want to have to CHOOSE between buying GROCERIES and GASOLINE. Okay?

Answer 9

Historically the Japanese cars (not European ones) have had less problems and been more fuel efficient. However, they also cost a lot more, and if you figure out the cost over time, you will never really re-coup the higher cost of the Jap car. Many of the European cars are SO much more expensive, and not very fuel efficient, but they sure drive nice! Anyway, I'll stick with made in th USA.

Answer 10

Humanitarian efforts are reliable, yet all American autos my mothers and fathers have owned have had issues. those have coated a 1997 Ford Thunderbird, a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, and a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The Ford became the worst, because it became having problems with the help of 2005 and my mothers and fathers had offered it in basic terms slightly utilized in 1997 (because of actuality it became sent to the broking in 1996). i'm very patriotic, yet i'm not inspired by using the widely used of the huge 3, and you could desire to realize that the Chevrolet and Mercury that my mothers and fathers owned have been certainly made in Canada. the motor vehicle my dad has now, a 2013 Hyundai Sonata, is made in Alabama. by using the way, Chrysler isn't probable American anymore. Daimler is German and Fiat is Italian.