Domestic or Foreign vehicles your thoughts?

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
But the market trends have changed, and people have increasingly become obsessed with what I consider meaningless traits - does it have an iPod jack? Does it have a GPS system? Can I plug in my memory stick? Are bigger wheels available? Does it have a rear view camera? Does it come with parking sensors?


You could also use this as an indication of the increasing urbanization of the world. How much power something has is not relevant when you're stuck in traffic and using the interior gadgets and creature comforts. If you live in an apartment building you redecorate your interior and let the landlord keep up the external facade. Why not carry that over to your vehicle? If you don't have a driveway nobody knows that flashy car parked on-street is yours so it's not much of a status symbol.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: bmwjohn
I work for a large co. in Indiana. We beat our 3/4 ton Suburbans and they are at the dealers often.They are expensive and made in Mexico by a company partialy Chinese owned. We have trouble fitting people in back seat.Electrical connectors fail often - esp. seatbelt / airbag systems.Large on the outside, not so much on inside.We can't buy a Subaru outback made 50 miles away with mostly American parts. We often rent vehicles incl 2011 Suburban, KIA Sportage and wagon, F150, ETC. All things considered, the KIA is my choice by far. Better quality than the GM, and way cheaper in cost, service, and gas mileage. Made in Georgia (assembled).Looking on CR, etc. it appears that KIA has been improving every year, whereas GM relies on traditional buyers year after year.Remember, too. the improvements in US parts production quality since Japanese came and insisted on better quality parts.This helps US manufacturers of parts, who can now produce world class parts if they choose, even non-automotive parts.



Uh.... What? GM partially owned? Just because they sell cars in China (more than they sell in the US) doesn't make them a chinese company. Also, most suburbans are made in Wisconsin, or in Texas.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: bmwjohn
Large on the outside, not so much on inside.


This is one of the biggest issue when I rent Domestic cars. I once rented a Impala (06) and another time a Malibu (current gen), both are massive on the outside but feels cramped for a 5'10" 140lb adult. How can this happen when a Camry, Accord, Sonata all feel larger inside? They just slap a thick seat that feels like rock inside and awkwardly placed interior that bumps into you rather than contour around you.

So, why would anyone living in places hard to find parking buy these huge cars that can't be parked when something small and more spacious inside can work better? Sure these big Domestics have a big V6 but the gearing and extra weight makes it feels about the same torque wise.

Hope they can fix these minor details, there're lots of things I like about Domestics and the recent Fusion and Buick put them back into the list of brands I'd consider in the future.

 

[callbay]

Inagine thinking in the 60's and 70's that the big beautiful Cadilacs will someday be built in Mexico. Well that's were the SRX Cad crossover is built now. It has made me think twice aboout ever buying one. Just the idea of spending that much for a Mexican car is hard to swallow.

On the other hand I just traded an 07 Tahoe that was made in Texas for a 2011 Ford Fusion that is made in Mexico. I liked the Fusion the best for what I wanted and wanted to spend so I have to forget where it is made. I don't like it though. I miss the days of American cars being built in America.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: callbay
Inagine thinking in the 60's and 70's that the big beautiful Cadilacs will someday be built in Mexico....


Imagine in the '60s that tiny Japanese company that made little motorcycles that "...you met the nicest people on..." would be the automotive giant that they are.

...or that German motorcycle company that made the peculiar opposed cylinder boxer engine like half a Volkswagen engine would pretty much set the standard for performance sedans.

Or that the good folks of Kenosha, WI would no longer be making Ramblers.

What a crazy world we've made.

 

[QuadDriver]

If you buy an american car built elsewhere, you guarantee at least a corporate profit (plus final assembly does not dictate parts content), if you buy a foreign car built domestically you guarantee jobs. I think if we can have one or the other, Id like to see people working.

like to have both, but that would require some cooperation.

 

[NJC]

My '93 Accord is made in the USA, and my Volvo wagon is assembled in Halifax (Canada) but from Japanese, German, Swedish, French and British parts. Volvo was far more internationally-assembled compared with my Honda, at least from the late 80's.