Been having a little fun lately, now im poor!, the site's been cold so why not start a new tread Options

[BigEnos]

The three foreign cars I've owned were used when I got them. I definitely tend to buy American, but I'm not going to say I'll never buy a foreign car. I don't think I'd buy a foreign car new. They seem to drop in value a lot and are more expensive in the first place compared to domestics.

As far as new vs. used. I'm really happy with my truck and I bought that new. I wouldn't do that differently. Used trucks seem to be used up or too expensive. I'm sure if I hunted around I could find a good deal I guess. I won't be buying a truck for a long while, hopefully. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I'm with you guys, it doesn't help that a foreign car is assembled in the USA, Toyota takes its profits home. Although if a domestic car company shipped all of its manufacturing offshore I'd have a problem with that.

[Racing Geek]

I'm only 18 but I've owned two cars. The first car I bought was my 87 IROC, and the second one I bought was a beater 96 Ford Tempo for $650. There was some cosmetic damage to the Tempo and the interior needed some love but it ran like a champ despite the 173k+ miles. I wish I wouldn't have sold that car... at least I made $250 on it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Todd]

Rant Alert (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant2.gif)

I know there is no way to buy american all of the time. And it doesn't sit to well with me that it may be american made, yet the $$$ leaves to some other country when the product is bought(its better than notting though i guess (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ) Our country is becoming weak, and by no means will buying "American" made by an "American" company fix everything that is wrong here.... BUT IT'S A START

Don't know why im thinking like this nowdays so openly!

I agree...as much as I try not to buy crap from China...sometimes its just not possible...it is ridiculous the stuff thats no longer available "Made in USA".

I've owned a few foreign cars in my time (had a turbo Volvo 240 addiction for a while) but the most recent one I bought because I couldn't find an American option. Granted its a GM and I bought it used...but I'm not dumb enough to think even if I'd bought my Saaby new, that the profits would stay here. But I couldn't find a manual trans sedan/wagon that gets 25/30+ mpg and is comfy for long drives. I LOVE the G8, but that is way too big of a car. I used to travel a lot for work and had rental CTS, G6, and Ford Fusions, and none are as nice as the Saab. My choices were 330 or 9-5...and I didn't want to be one of those BMW guys (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) That said...I hate all the crap in the 9-5 that has failed (climate control motors, every display) but I'm looking to trade it on an 06-up 9-5 wagon that has the standard GM stuff that works in every Corvette/Tahoe/Impala.

This post has been edited by Todd: Dec 1 2009, 03:45 PM

[trackbird]

Out of the last 8 new-off-the-lot cars I/we bought, my GM's have been the most reliable and spent the least time in the shop. My 2002 Z28 never went back to the dealer nor did anything ever break. My 2007 C3500 lost a rear axle seal at 16k, give or take. Other than that, flawless (and I just towed a car through the mountains at 75 mph on cruise again yesterday). I really love that truck.

[Black_Z28]

Do you feel my pain, if not you can come hang out for a few months (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

I feel your pain, I'm away from home for about 7 months of the year. And typically it's 7 months straight. This year it will be from Jan 18-June22. Gotta do what ya gotta do. But the only positive is I'm only working 4 days a week, and I can fly to see the lady every week if I wish. But, the cost of that starts to add up over time.

[cozog]

<SERIOUS RANT ON>
I grew up on GM. Most of my family was Buick or Olds. We were Pontiac. My dad bought a 69 Bird (350/2bbl) new and then later another 69 bird (400) used. My first car was a POS 75 Regal (3.8 V6, ugghh!). First bird was a 92 Formula (305). In those times, you could decide between "foreign" and "domestic"... "Made in USA" meant just that. And the companies used USA parts and provided USA service.

Later in life, I now have a 99 BMW M Coupe, a 01 BMW 750 and an 05 Denali, plus the track car. Funny thing is, my M coupe was made in SC, employing US workers with parts supplied from all over, including the US. I do some remote programming work for Hitachi Auto Parts in KY. They supply throttle bodies for LSx engines, Toyota engines and BMW engines. But it's in KY, so 1,000's of KY people have jobs, homes and families because Hitachi put a plant there.

I also work in the furniture industry. If you want an example of what has happened to American manufacturing companies, just look at furniture. Just 10 years ago, 30%-40% of furniture was imported into the US. Today, it's like 90%. And almost all comes from Asia, mostly China. US manufacturing companies can not compete with <$1/hr labor costs. Almost no one makes furniture in the US anymore. If they do, it costs 4-5 times as much. And even some that qualify as made in US use foreign made frames, structures and materials. They just glue it all together.

And what do you call, Microsoft, IBM, Bank of America and Chase who are true US companies, but outsource almost all of their customer service to call centers in India?? For me, that's the worst abuse of all. Not only do they move jobs to another country, but their customers suffer as well.

The point of my rant is that there is no such thing as Made in USA anymore. Any company that has more than 5000 workers or $100M in sales MUST consider the global outlook to survive. They are all comingled and intermixed, especially manufacturing. I don't think it's a bad thing that Toyota, BMW and Honda build cars here. They employ US citizens who pay taxes and buy stuff, but it doesn't do much to help US-owned companies grow and survive either. But US companies are learning. Buick sells the Regal in China. The Chinese are the fastest growing car market on the planet at about 20% annual growth.

Any way you look at it, the world is moving to a true global economy. since we used to be at the top, we are being brought to a lower level by everyone else, who are all stepping up a little, or a lot.

<SERIOUS RANT OFF>

[CrashTestDummy]

<SERIOUS RANT ON>
I grew up on GM. Most of my family was Buick or Olds. We were Pontiac. My dad bought a 69 Bird (350/2bbl) new and then later another 69 bird (400) used. My first car was a POS 75 Regal (3.8 V6, ugghh!). First bird was a 92 Formula (305). In those times, you could decide between "foreign" and "domestic"... "Made in USA" meant just that. And the companies used USA parts and provided USA service.

<SNIP>

I'm amazed at how many people I know who owned Regals got them from that 'other' GM company 'POS'!! Unless it was a Buick T-Type Regal, almost all of the others friends have owned have all been POS Regals. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

And it's _never_ just a 'Regal'. They are always known as 'POS Regal'.