14th Feb 2009, 01:14

"For years the Dodge, Chevy, Ford guys argued (just like this) over whose vehicles were better. Then Toyota came on the scene and perhaps unwittingly butted in on the family argument."

Back before around 1980, in the good old days of the shade tree mechanics, there were so many minor repairs to do on cars. Fuel pumps, water pumps, brakes, hoses, etc. If you had a Ford, you had buddies that had Fords and you'd get together a few beers for Saturday, and your friends would come and over you would fix cars. There was always someone who had the same problem you did and could give you hints, or had a special tool to make some job easier. You would just announce at work on Friday that on Saturday, you'd be at home working on your car, and people that had Fords would just drop by at different times. Same for Chevy, same for Dodge.

Then a few strange fellows started buying Toyotas and Subarus. It was like they were leaving the whole community. And they would say things like, "these cars don't break so often, and I have other things to do on weekends than work on cars." It was like they were being all weird and unfriendly. And of course we didn't believe them when they said their cars didn't break as often. And how come they hardly ever announced on Friday, come on over on Saturday and see if you can help fix a Toyota. That was all so long ago.

14th Feb 2009, 03:49

"Unfortunately, buyers of foreign cars don't understand that companies based in the U.S. are the backbone of our economy."

We lose the backbone when the U.S.-based companies lose the faith of their consumers.

"If any ONE of the Big Three should go under, the financial repercussions for the country are too dire to imagine. "Yes, you are free to turn your back on America and buy from a foreign manufacturer, but even owners of vehicles made by foreign-owned companies will suffer the consequences of a depression right along with those of us who tried to support our country."

With this reasoning, why buy an American vehicle then, since a depression will affect us ALL? People need to quit with all this "patriotism" stuff. I work, pay taxes, and a I'm law-abiding citizen, own a home, support the U.S. economy each and everyday. I work and will spend my money as I please. I don't have to stand behind companies that have mismanaged and trailed the competition for more years than I can count if I don't choose to. You have the same right, but please don't tell people they are not patriotic because they choose to purchase a vehicle with a foreign name. I love this country and many aspects about it but the American car industry is NOT one of them.

17th Feb 2009, 14:41

The business section of today's USA Today carried a pro and con article about U.S. versus Japanese/German vehicles. It was immediately apparent from reading the comments of the pro-foreign owners that there are HUGE misconceptions about domestic vehicles. Virtually EVERY import owner cited "better gas mileage" as a reason for buying foreign, and categorized domestics as "gas hogs". NOT TRUE. For nearly a DECADE, GM alone has made MORE 30mpg+ cars than Toyota and Honda COMBINED. Apparently the public is uninformed about this point. GM's sub-compacts have the highest fuel economy rating of any non-hybrid cars sold in the U.S., and higher than many hybrids. Ford's Focus also has a higher mpg rating than most Hondas or Toyotas.

Many import owners say that "buying American" doesn't matter because foreign auto makers have plants here and employ Americans. Here are the figures (USA Today, Feb. 17, 2009) : Foreign manufacturers employ roughly 111,000 people. The Big Three employ roughly 1,300,000. That is more than 10 to 1 in favor of buying from an American car maker if you truly want to support our economy. End of argument.

18th Feb 2009, 21:20

"Virtually EVERY import owner cited "better gas mileage" as a reason for buying foreign, and categorized domestics as "gas hogs". NOT TRUE."

That article does not speak for me, sorry. My 1987 Nissan got a measly 17 mpg city and 22 hwy, so gas mileage definitely WAS NOT my reason for buying a Japanese-made vehicle. I bought foreign because they have held up better in my opinion than the domestics have and being a recent college grad at the time, the vehicle was sporty and attractive (something I could not find from American manufacturers), roomy and had everything I wanted. I do not regret that purchase to this day. I visited the service department with my foreign vehicles less than half the number of times than I did with my domestic vehicle.

"For nearly a DECADE, GM alone has made MORE 30mpg+ cars than Toyota and Honda COMBINED. Apparently the public is uninformed about this point. GM's sub-compacts have the highest fuel economy rating of any non-hybrid cars sold in the U.S., and higher than many hybrids. Ford's Focus also has a higher mpg rating than most Hondas or Toyotas."

More than a high MPG is needed for me to buy American. A car that gets 50 mpg but is in the service department for repairs every other week trumps my whole purpose in buying the vehicle. Also, not every subcompact gets that great of mileage. When I was forced to rent a crappy Chevrolet Cobalt last year after my vehicle totalled, I was appalled by the poor mileage I got from the vehicle. I did not do heavy driving (before you say that). In fact, I drove a distance of no more than five miles each day from my house to work and back and it still returned poor mileage results.

"Many import owners say that "buying American" doesn't matter because foreign auto makers have plants here and employ Americans. Here are the figures (USA Today, Feb. 17, 2009) : Foreign manufacturers employ roughly 111,000 people. The Big Three employ roughly 1,300,000. That is more than 10 to 1 in favor of buying from an American car maker if you truly want to support our economy. End of argument."

Whatever the ratio, a car manufactured in the U.S. and purchased here is supporting the American economy. A Nissan manufactured in Tennessee is an American car, A Honda made in Ohio is an American car just as much so as any Ford, GM or Chrysler that comes out of a Detroit plant. I support this economy each and everyday regardless of the name of the vehicle I drive. If I spend my hard-earned money on something I feel to be more dependable (and attractive appearance-wise) than American-name vehicles that is my business and no one's but my own.