14th Dec 2011, 11:43

Sorry, but using the location of a company's headquarters isn't really making much of an argument. Let me put it this way.

If a car is designed, engineered, assembled, and sold in the US using American parts and American labor, that in turn puts money into the pockets of company workers in all levels of that company in the US - from corporate executives, marketing teams and assembly line workers, then it's absolutely certain that ALL of those people are getting a paycheck and buying houses, buying cars and trucks, and otherwise living the SAME lives as those who work for an American company with their headquarters located in the US.

On the other hand, if a car - regardless of its brand - is engineered, designed, and built in a foreign country, using foreign parts and foreign executives, then it's also equally certain that those same people are ALSO earning a living, buying homes, and otherwise contributing to their prospective country's economies. There are both foreign and domestic branded cars that quite easily fit that description. If I buy a car that is made in Mexico or Canada, is that better than buying a car that was actually made in the USA with American workers? If so - then why?

People can argue all day long about not buying a foreign brand, and make a claim that it doesn't help the US economy. But that's a totally incorrect assessment. I will give them the benefit of agreeing that if a company's headquarters is located in the US, that in the end the upper level executive management will in turn get their money. But does that really matter? Does it really mean much that some upper-up at a given company gets their multi-million dollar salaries in the US, Japan, or Germany? As far as I'm concerned, I'd be more inclined to be for the workers on the factory floor making the actual products. The same goes for the parts suppliers, the designers, engineers and the salespeople who work hands-on with the products they make.

So again - the argument that buying foreign versus domestic for the sake of nationalism isn't much of an argument anymore, nor has it been for quite some time.

14th Dec 2011, 16:41

Sorry, but most can walk around a car and know if it's an import or domestic. The bulk of the profits go to the parent based corporation. I bought a domestic made in Bowling Green, so it's not even necessary to discuss. If you buy a BMW, is it a domestic if put together with the manufacturer's specs. in America? I am sure the buyers want it to remain an import.

14th Dec 2011, 16:45

This is the last time I am going to comment on this, so you don't have to bother to continue trying to bring your point home. I do in fact agree with you, the Japanese models produced here in the US do help our economy a lot, however GM, Ford, and Chrysler still produce a lot more automobiles here in the US with more US made components. All of the auto manufacturers are global companies now, and produce cars all over the world, and they have to in order to compete.

I also agree with you that the "Big Three" are doing a lot less for the US economy than they were say in 1980, however they still produce more cars here in the US and employ a lot more people than Toyota and Honda do here in NA.

Buy what you want, I know I do, and frankly it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to when people buy Japanese. The lines blur more and more between domestic and import cars every year. For those of us that loved traditional American cars, it is unfortunate, but it's a sad fact of life.

14th Dec 2011, 17:05

You got me confused with another commentor. I'm not the one that says you got duped by the dealership, so please don't even go there.

Also, I never said GM is "perfect". I have owned 8 GM vehicles in the past, and did have 1 with issues, and sold it at 78'000 miles. My point is I never had anything serious go on any of them, except a tranny rebuild on my 84 Grand Prix at 150,000 miles, and the car had over 210,000 when I sold it.

Domestics are my preference, because they have always had better styling in my opinion. You have had bad experiences, and I'm not doubting you, but when you go on and on about it, saying GM or Ford is junk, it tends to annoy me and others (whoever it is that says you are getting duped for example); again not me!

14th Dec 2011, 19:04

My family has long been part of a "buy American" movement. We buy only products made in the U.S. by U.S. companies. You can search on the Internet for electronics, appliances, clothing, furniture and all sorts of good that are U.S. made. I encourage everyone to do it. If we all did, we wouldn't be in such a financial mess now. All our cars and everything in our home is U.S. made. We plan to keep it that way.

15th Dec 2011, 11:21

How does the US suffer if Toyota hires US workers for their plants? Those workers can feed their family, own a home, take nice vacations, buy Christmas gifts, etc., etc. Company profits NEVER benefit our country directly unless you work for that company. GM, Ford and Chrysler take their profits and continue to build foreign plants and hire foreign workers. How exactly is that benefiting the US and its citizens? You can't look at profits as if you are personally gaining from them. A parent company in the US or Japan or anywhere else has one thing in mind when it comes to profits... themselves and their well being.

Why people continue to think the domestic auto companies are so all American is beyond me. They are no better than any other business in America that has sold out for cheaper labor in other countries, while continuing to push their products on those they don't see fit to hire for their own employees. Do you get a check from them to celebrate their profits and their support of the good old USA? Yeah, thought so.

15th Dec 2011, 17:55

Apparently people aren't aware of all the new plants GM, Ford and Chrysler have all built in the U.S. over the past two years. They have transferred many jobs back to the U.S. from other countries. Tens of thousands of U.S. jobs have been created, and billions in new tax revenue created by domestic auto companies. GM has provided ten times the amount of money in new employee pay and taxes paid than the loan they received (which has long ago been repaid).