- Joined
- Jun 10, 2021
- Messages
- 137
Oh my.
I dont think I understand this picture, lol?
Oh my.
I was surprised recently to see a Hyundai Santa Fe used as an unmarked police car. It was parked with red and blue emergency lights flashing in the grille and back window with other local cop cars. This SUV is made in the US.
With the Junk the big three are pumping out now, I understand. But Camry and Altima are junk too.Me, I'm a Japanese and Japanese only guy. Although I'm a Nissan fanboi, I like all the Japanese brands.
Most of those “foreign” cars were assembled in the USA.The downfall of American auto brands is evident even out in rural Virginia. While tending to our goats yesterday and mending a fence, I took a tally of the vehicles that drove by:
2 GMC
1 Buick
1 Dodge
1 Volvo
3 Mazda
8 Toyota
4 Honda
5 Subaru
3 Nissan
That’s a 1:6 ratio of American to foreign brands around my backwoods. It got me thinking, if I look back at 2005, my family had 2 Jeeps, 2 Pontiacs, 1 Buick. Fast forward to 2021 and we have 1 Ford, 1 Honda, 1 Toyota, and 3 Subarus.
While the foreign automakers understand that their brand name has value, that one bad experience can turn off a consumer for life, and that they have to serve all parts of the market well in order to have a good reputation. American automakers made the conscious decision to abandon the domestic market except for full-size trucks and large SUVs. Sure they make haphazard/half-hearted attempts to recapture other segments of the market, but at the end of they day, consumers just don’t have the same confidence in the big three that they used to.
The foreign brands all have good quality and reliable econoboxes (Corolla, Civic, Impreza, etc.) that are popular amongst college kids, young urban professionals, and newlywed couples; this gets a good brand experience with these demographics early on and creates a lasting relationship. On the domestic front, what do they offer?; Ford Focuses that need transmission work multiple times by the time the warranty is up and Chevy Cruzes that need cooling system work, expensive PCV valves, and a good chance of needing an expensive turbo. But don’t worry, I’m sure the shareholders are happy with this quarter’s profits.
I rent them often … actually quieter than several others …In the DFW area I’ve been surprised to see what appears to be an increase in the amount of current generation Chevy Malibus on the roads. It seems like I see those just as frequently as Camry, accord, fusion, sonata/optima now.
Good point. Many families were like this. For instance, I’ve only owned one Chevy in my life, but I typically bought GMC trucks or Pontiac cars if I bought a GM. I just never cared for Chevys. When GM killed Oldsmobile and Pontiac they lost a lot of customers. GM thought that owners of defunct GM branded vehicles would end up buying a Chevy, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac on their next purchase. GM predicted that Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer, and Saturn owners would stick with the GM family but they couldn’t have been more wrong If they tried.It got me thinking, if I look back at 2005, my family had 2 Jeeps, 2 Pontiacs, 1 Buick.
200K, runs perfect. Never seen the inside of a garage. Ain't for sale so don't ask.How many Tundras on the road? They are made in Texas......
Don’t know their market share … clearly better in Houston and nearer to the plant in San Antonio … but not many in my farming community … Ford’s still are the most visible, lots of Super Duty … but the 1500 Ram is pretty hot.How many Tundras on the road? They are made in Texas......