19th Oct 2010, 12:23
You are making your assessment based on what?
The following cars are made in Canada, so they are Canadian and NOT American:
Chrysler - Town & Country, Caravan, 300, Challenger, Charger.
Ford - Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Edge, MKX, Flex.
GM - Camaro, Impala, Allure, Lacrosse, Equinox, torrent.
Your beloved domestics are actually imported from Canada.
19th Oct 2010, 18:22
"Your beloved domestics are actually imported from Canada"
No, they are MADE in Canada for an AMERICAN company. Why car buyers can't understand that an American company earns money for American business, while a Japanese company fattens the bank accounts of JAPANESE businesses is beyond me. Ford and GM have SAVED thousands of U.S. jobs by wisely cutting their overhead by out-sourcing a handful of cars. Toyota (now ranked 21st in build quality out of 33 car makers) employs a tiny handful of U.S. workers while funneling all profits back to the corporate headquarters (Japan).
As for quality, just look at the FACTS. Ford outranks ALL Japanese car companies in build quality and reliability, and virtually EVERYTHING outranks Toyota (the recall and Federal subpoena King of the world). If there is even the slightest doubt, one drive in a Ford Fusion will instantly settle the issue. There is no comparison. My boss owns a Honda Accord, and insists on us taking my 5-year-old Fusion on business trips, because it doesn't rattle like a tin can and jar our teeth out on every bump. It also gets 5 mpg better mileage.
19th Oct 2010, 19:30
And once again I have had the exact opposite experience, so it really is a moot point huh? Obviously some people have luck with domestics and others have luck with imports. I really don't see the point in arguing about which is better if you just drive what you like and let it be.
20th Oct 2010, 01:49
Original poster here : I am from Canada, so what is your point. When I mean domestic, I mean made in North America. So what if they make a few parts in other country, so does everyone these days, I don't care...
I'm just saying if domestics and imports are pretty much the same these days (Mazda/Ford, Mitsubishi/Dodge, Chevy/Suzuki), at least choose the domestic nameplate for your own car.. that's not much to ask to at least have a bit of pride in your country and its products.
North America used to have a strong manufacturing base; now it's all gone to shambles because of dollar stores, Walmart, cheap Korean cars, every single one of our products is made overseas yet, we keep buying them and stabbing ourselves in the heart... my opinion anyways.
20th Oct 2010, 12:28
Okay, I have been looking at these types of claims on here so I finally researched J.D. Powers whom everyone quotes as the source Ford ranks so high on. Yes, Ford ranks number 5. However, Lexus and Acura rank #4 and #2 respectively so your "Ford outranks all Japanese cars" quote is misinformation.
Lexus, who is the luxury brand of Toyota, not only ranks higher than Ford but it the only carmaker on J.D.'s list that scores 5 out of 5 in every category of quality... the only one. Also, if you look at their overall quality chart, imports edge out domestics still.
This is not my opinion but the facts based on the most quoted source, J.D. Powers. Guess people thought no one would actually call them on their quotes huh? It is easy to find information and use what you want to make your favorite cars look good (Ford ranks 5th and Toyota is 21st). Omitting other major factors really doesn't make a sound argument though does it?
In reality Toyota ranks so low because of the public perceptions of them and not as much on their actual reliability. Lexus isn't going to get perfect scores if Toyota is junk. They share many of the same parts and are manufactured by the same parent company. It will only be a matter of time before Toyota is back in the top 5, trust me.
I've also owned an Accord and it was far from the rattle trap you quote here. "jar or teeth out on every bump"... C'mon! Mine was the base LX-P with the base engine and it was smooth as silk even at 80 on the highway. The Fusion is also a great car and I enjoy driving them as well although I have never owned one. Let's try to stick with the facts though instead of just slamming what we don't like.
21st Oct 2010, 10:36
That's hardly an argument. If I bought a car every 2 years I'd be broke, even if it was used. Any vehicle owned for a mere 2 years by no means indicates its reliability, simply because the time its owned is barely enough time to prove long-term reliability.
I own the same truck I bought in high school - a '96 Tacoma. That was almost 15 years and 245,000 miles ago, and so far the most expensive thing that needed replacement was the original clutch that went out at 210,000. I replaced it in an afternoon. The parts were $300. Big whoop. Had I done like you, I would be on vehicle number 8.
21st Oct 2010, 12:25
"No, they are MADE in Canada for an AMERICAN company"
How does this help the average American citizen? With all these cars made in Canada, there is where the dollar gets spent, and there is where the assembly plant worker gets paid, and there is where the assembly plant worker spends his or her money. Why some people don't understand simple economics is beyond me. So what you're saying is it's alright to stab your neighbor in the back, so that corporate GM, Ford could make profits at the expense of all the jobs lost building cars in Canada and Mexico, instead of the U.S.?
21st Oct 2010, 15:31
People seem to think that supporting the big three auto companies is a good idea, even though they now help other communities in Canada and Mexico to thrive, while the city they built up decades ago, Detroit, has literally been left in ruins so they could find cheaper labor elsewhere. Way to go domestics! I guess none of the domestic fans live anywhere near Detroit.
19th Oct 2010, 09:23
Where did this misconception that imports cost more come from? Pretty much any comparable car domestic vs. import is just about the same cost these days. This may have been true 10 or 15 years ago, but not anymore. The last couple of imports I have purchased had MSRP prices within a couple hundred of their rival domestic cars. I priced both. If you are purely going on rebates and incentives, then the domestics may be at an advantage. That is the factory making decisions to unload their cars for less, and not a true price point. They also fluctuate, so you can't really go by them as an accurate gauge of price.
In reality I have done as good or better on the imports I've purchased over the past decade. I find that domestic dealers don't want to budge too easily after the rebates, and the imports drop down to invoice or less pretty readily, which usually comes close to the rebates anyhow. 6 of one, half dozen the other overall for me.
Nowadays it almost makes sense buying new cars, as used ones come with higher prices than they used to, and the financing available on a new car is much better. Many times you'll get at or close to the payment of the used car, so it just makes more sense to have a brand new one.