This'll probably get locked but it needs to be said. I've been lurking here and on other websites and blogs for a long, LONG time. I don't often post but I like to get information, read automotive news and learn about automotive issues that I can't get in the regular news. One thing I've found in common with all sites that are publically viewed and commented on is that just about every discussion degenerates into "my car is better and I'm a better consumer because my car does ______________ (insert something here)." And then from there everyone chimes in about their personal experience with such-and-such a vehicle- or better yet, their sister's husband's brother's coworker's son drives a 10 year old version of some car and it's a POS, with no more details other than it's a ___________ (insert vehicle here).
Well guess what? I DON'T CARE! (unless that is what the topic and hand is). I think of myself as a car enthusiast and really, I like a car for the car and put up with any quirks or irregularities that it has. I think that's what makes owning a car fun. All car companies these days make decent vehicles. That may or may not be the case 10 or 15 years ago, but it's all subjective. From my personal experience, with all ages of cars from all continents, they're all about the same within given years.
People I want to call "consumerists" buy a car for bragging rights or to show that they're a better consumer. Well goodie for you. Lets take a random topic; "Where is the transmission dipsick on my 2003 V6 Explorer?" (It doesn't have one). Do I really care that your base-model Toyota went 300k miles when were talking about dipstick location? Then I don't care that your base-model ____________ went just as far with no problems. Great for you too. But from here we fall into, well your 300k mile car isn't as good as my 300k mile car because ____________. And then, often times we degrade even further into American's can't even build foreign cars in domestic plants because they're too stupid. Then we get into unions, etc. Great. Is this really relevant to the topic? No.
Everyone's automotive values are different. Some want performance, some want reliability, some want a combination of several other things. I got flamed on a board one time because I was interested in a Saab 9-3. Holy cow did people go nuts! "Haven't you read consumer reports?""Don't you see JDPower?""OMG their resale is awful!""those are garbage." Yeah well, I've done that, and my automotive values tell me I want something fun to drive, comfortable and not seen everywhere every day (and these were supposed car "enthusiasts"). The cars in my price range that the consumer publications recommend don't fit what I perceive as my values. Then I read enthusiast's websites about the car and even though the car obviously has some quirks, their owners LOVE them. That says alot about the car- and it's priced in there with more common sedans. Sounds like a winner to me. Can you argue with that, considering MY automotive values?
If your values are more on the reliability side, GREAT! I'm not going to argue with you when you go buy your Acura TL. It's a nice car, it could probably run circles aroun the Saab- it just doesn't fit my "values" (I don't think it's terribly unique). If someone buys the Acura, is it worth it to call them unamerican? If you feel good about supporting american companies and you buy a Focus or a Silverado instead of a Civic or a Tundra, even though you know the "imports" are built in America, good for you- and they'll probably be good vehicles. If they're not, you'll probably just do what it takes to keep them running and still feel good about supporting your values. What's wrong with that?
So, seriously, when these topics start ask yourself, does this person really have the same values I do? Maybe the person really weights buying American heavily because they live in a town affected by the auto industry. Maybe the person's absolute bottom line is that they car never breaks down and they wanted a car with the least chance of that happening. Maybe the person just wants a fun, unique car. Whatever the reason, is it really worth cutting them down or calling them stupid? Why not open our minds or take a risk? We're just talking cars- and nobody's right until there is hard, emperical evidence of vehicles running the same routes, the same day, under the same conditions, with the same maintenence with the same drivers- and that's impossible to do without bending space and time- so its all speculation...
Kev
*Just for anyone who's wondering, I have an '03 Explorer, a '98 Neon (commuter), an '06 Focus (honey's business) and an '87 Jaguar XJ6 (toy). I ended up not getting the Saab because I had to put a roof on my house (darn priorities!). I DO get some satisfaction out of feeling like I'm supporting American companies and American workers, but since the American companies aren't offering anything I like right now, I have no qualms about looking at imports (even though, yes, I know Saab is owned by GM, but they're still built in Trollhattan- or however it's spelled
). I work for an american heavy truck manufacturer and feel like I should support american workers if possible. That's how *I* feel, whether you agree or not is up to you, but you sure as heck better not attack me and try to force your values on me, because I'm not going to try to force my values on you... Take it easy!
Well guess what? I DON'T CARE! (unless that is what the topic and hand is). I think of myself as a car enthusiast and really, I like a car for the car and put up with any quirks or irregularities that it has. I think that's what makes owning a car fun. All car companies these days make decent vehicles. That may or may not be the case 10 or 15 years ago, but it's all subjective. From my personal experience, with all ages of cars from all continents, they're all about the same within given years.
People I want to call "consumerists" buy a car for bragging rights or to show that they're a better consumer. Well goodie for you. Lets take a random topic; "Where is the transmission dipsick on my 2003 V6 Explorer?" (It doesn't have one). Do I really care that your base-model Toyota went 300k miles when were talking about dipstick location? Then I don't care that your base-model ____________ went just as far with no problems. Great for you too. But from here we fall into, well your 300k mile car isn't as good as my 300k mile car because ____________. And then, often times we degrade even further into American's can't even build foreign cars in domestic plants because they're too stupid. Then we get into unions, etc. Great. Is this really relevant to the topic? No.
Everyone's automotive values are different. Some want performance, some want reliability, some want a combination of several other things. I got flamed on a board one time because I was interested in a Saab 9-3. Holy cow did people go nuts! "Haven't you read consumer reports?""Don't you see JDPower?""OMG their resale is awful!""those are garbage." Yeah well, I've done that, and my automotive values tell me I want something fun to drive, comfortable and not seen everywhere every day (and these were supposed car "enthusiasts"). The cars in my price range that the consumer publications recommend don't fit what I perceive as my values. Then I read enthusiast's websites about the car and even though the car obviously has some quirks, their owners LOVE them. That says alot about the car- and it's priced in there with more common sedans. Sounds like a winner to me. Can you argue with that, considering MY automotive values?
If your values are more on the reliability side, GREAT! I'm not going to argue with you when you go buy your Acura TL. It's a nice car, it could probably run circles aroun the Saab- it just doesn't fit my "values" (I don't think it's terribly unique). If someone buys the Acura, is it worth it to call them unamerican? If you feel good about supporting american companies and you buy a Focus or a Silverado instead of a Civic or a Tundra, even though you know the "imports" are built in America, good for you- and they'll probably be good vehicles. If they're not, you'll probably just do what it takes to keep them running and still feel good about supporting your values. What's wrong with that?
So, seriously, when these topics start ask yourself, does this person really have the same values I do? Maybe the person really weights buying American heavily because they live in a town affected by the auto industry. Maybe the person's absolute bottom line is that they car never breaks down and they wanted a car with the least chance of that happening. Maybe the person just wants a fun, unique car. Whatever the reason, is it really worth cutting them down or calling them stupid? Why not open our minds or take a risk? We're just talking cars- and nobody's right until there is hard, emperical evidence of vehicles running the same routes, the same day, under the same conditions, with the same maintenence with the same drivers- and that's impossible to do without bending space and time- so its all speculation...
Kev
*Just for anyone who's wondering, I have an '03 Explorer, a '98 Neon (commuter), an '06 Focus (honey's business) and an '87 Jaguar XJ6 (toy). I ended up not getting the Saab because I had to put a roof on my house (darn priorities!). I DO get some satisfaction out of feeling like I'm supporting American companies and American workers, but since the American companies aren't offering anything I like right now, I have no qualms about looking at imports (even though, yes, I know Saab is owned by GM, but they're still built in Trollhattan- or however it's spelled
