Why do people that buy Japanese and Korean Cars get to ***** about our economy being bad?

Question

The auto industry in this country used to be the biggest part of our GDP. Now it is on life support.

American workers are loosing their jobs at record rates, so soccer moms can drive around Taylor in the Honda Odyssey instead of that lowly Dodge Caravan.

God forbid a family be seen in an Explorer. They have to have a Highlander.

Having grown up in Detroit, there was a saying "As Detroit goes, so does the country." And look where we are, Detroit is on the ropes and so is our economy.

Don't give me the they are built here bullshit. The profit goes to Tokyo or Seoul, not Detroit. Also, don't tell me that foreign cars are better. When reviewing repair costs and cost of ownership American cars beat imports all day.

Think American, Be American, Buy American...

Ok, gang, I love the one that said why do I care if the American auto companies go out of business. That type of brain dead naracism, on your part, is why this country is falling apart.

Money does get spent over here by them, but they also use our country as a dumping ground for their crap products, I am mainly referring to the Koreans here.

I make this solemn vow, that if the American car companies do go under, that the economic effect on this country will be devastating.

Someone mentioned their car Acura being made here. So what, some executive in Japan got to enjoy the profit and not GM or Ford, so you can show how your hot little foreign job.

So some worker here got to make less many and have less benefits than a Detroit Auto Worker.

I here people dissed the autoworkers has fat, lazy and overpayed. Even with robotics, advanced in manufacturing and the like, it is still a gruelling job.

A pension and some life long medical benefits is the least we owe them.

Oh yea, the car parts issue. Heard this one a thousand times.

There is something called a domestic content label on all new cars. It list where the engine, transmission and other major components were made and assembled.

The American auto makers numbers are consistently and significantly higher than their foreign counter parts.

Cars made by the Big Three are 90%+ made with North American made components and assemblies.

It is another argument that does not hold water.

Another person mentioned their dad's 20 year old Japanese truck. Whoopee, one made it that far.

F-Series and Chevy/GMC trucks have the highest reliability ratings of any truck on the road. You don't go down the road and see a Toyota hauling a fifth wheel trailer behind it.

Argue with me to sooth your conscience all you want. But, at the end of the day, you hurt this country every time you buy a vehicle not built by Ford, GM or Chrysler.

This is an excerpt from a speech given by Mark Fields, President of Ford North America in 2006.

"But when it comes to the economic benefits to American society, all cars are not created equal.

Foreign automakers own about 40 percent of the US market today, but they employ only about 20 percent of the workers – and purchase only 20 percent of the parts built here in the US.

Domestic manufacturers, on the other hand, build our cars with, on average, about 80 percent US content. For the record, Hyundai has about ten percent domestic content. VWs at 5 percent. Mitsubishi’s at 36 percent. Toyota is about 47 percent.

If you don’t see a big difference between 47 percent and 80 percent, you should. Parts makers employ nearly 3 times more Americans than automakers.

So, despite all their claims about being “American,” most of the cars and trucks the foreign automakers sell in America aren’t actually made in America."

Answer 1

No country on this planet, not even the US, can produce every single item it consumes and be able to do it efficiently. It's called specialization. Any introductory micro econ course will show that countries are better off when they trade goods. And you know what, yes that sometimes results in the loss of jobs.

And yes, profits for my Honda which was built in Ohio does go back to Japan. But the employees that built my car, sold me my car, and service my car all live in the US. They don't go shopping for grociers in Tokoyo. Money still stays in the US economy (and I'll just ignore Japanese foreign investment into the US economy for now).

And why did I buy a Honda? Simple, better gas mileage and for a BETTER QUALITY CAR! My car runs just as good as the day I bought it and beyond the normal maintenance and oil changes I haven't spent one dime on repairs. Meanwhile my friends Chevy's and Fords are falling apart. And I'm not talking about one lemon which happens for any company of any productline.

And American cars, they get parts built overseas. Some are completely built overseas and shipped back here. But you have obviously already made up your mind on the situation. It doesn't matter how much economic theory or logic I use to back up my arguement. But if you think that the current down turn in the economy is because Detroit's auto business is not doing well, you're wrong. If you think buying American and only American would make the US economy invincible, you're wrong. It is closed-mindedness like that that got a lot of the US population to buy bigger houses than they can afford to go along with their brand new boat and SUV (regardless of who built it).

And one final comment. The majority of the people I hear ***** about the economy are almost always people that have never taken an economics course in their life and spout "buy American" all day long.

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In response to added comments.

I will agree on your comment on trucks. Trucks are the specialty of the American auto industry. If I were to ever buy a truck it would likely be American just because when it comes to trucks I would trust those to be built better than a foreign company simply because they haven't be producing them as long.

For your big three 90+% auto parts comment. I'd love to see your source. Enlighten me. If it's good accurate info I'll even take it into account the next time I respond to a question such as this.

Answer 2

People didn't buy Korean cars unless they were on a strict budget and had to had a new car because they still had the stigma of being cheap to the point that it will be useless in 3-5 years. Goes to show your lack of intelligence.

As for why Japanese cars were bought, it is because the are perceived as "reliable", which means either stuff does not break or if they do it is minor and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Most American vehicles do not have that, with some exceptions, like the Ford Panther platform, and their "workman" vehicles like trucks, vans, and SUVs, which is not what what the sedan crowd is looking for.

Answer 3

Hey Chantelle and supporters, Where the auto is constructed is irrelivent. It could honestly be bigger if all vehicles had been NOT constructed in America, however alternatively in nations in which labour is inexpensive. The truly main issue with international vehicles is who owns the manufacturer and who designs the vehicles. Those duties are played in different nations and that's what hurts our financial system. The benefit from international auto earnings is going instantly to international corporations, and the significance of the buck is going down.

Answer 4

My Acura was built in Alabama by union workers. It's not Detroit but it's still America. Same with Nissans and Toyotas, built in Tennessee and Kentucky respectively. FDI is great. Who cares if American auto companies go out of business, American workers are still working. As for the profits going to Tokyo, they reinvest it here in their factories (watch Roger & Me if you really think American companies are altruistic nationalists). I prefer knowing that Americans are more productive workers than any one else in the world.

Answer 5

I am short so Japanese cars are usually more comfortable for me to drive. Because of this I have been driving them since the 1969 and a agree with you, that they are not more reliable than US made cars. I bought one real lemon and a couple with problems.

Answer 6

Even American cars have parts that were made in other countries so if you buy an American model, you aren't buying a car that was totally made in America.

Answer 7

As a Texan, I do not care at all about Detroit. I'll buy a car from whoever best suits my needs. If in buying my next Honda everyone in Detroit is put out of work, I'll be PERFECTLY happy, because I'll have a new Honda.

That's what you need to wake up and learn, Detroit. Quit demanding charity.

Answer 8

my dad's truck is made in japan, and is 20 years old running fine. drives it everyday nuff said.
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