I suspect you're correct but probably not because of the reason lots of folks think. Currently nationwide we have only a bit over 50% rate of highschool graduates. No wonder so many jobs are being sent overseas with the work force we have left in this country. A large percentage of the 50% we have to choose from only have one hand to work with because the other is busy holding up their pants (he said, only half joking)
It's sad that so many people have so little respect and loyalty for their Country to have turned their back on their fellow worker to buy enough foreign cars to put our auto industry in jeopardy. If the foreign sales were divided among the Big Three they wouldn't be in financial trouble and the tax dollars would stay in the US. I'll not comment on my opinion of those folks but I will say that I will be walking in my "Made in USA" Red Wing shoes before I'll ever buy a foreign made vehicle... IMO...
Support the Country you live in or live in the Country you support
2003 Sierra SP 26'Toy Hauler
1997 F-350, PSD, 4X4, red Crew Cab, long bed.
2007 Arctic Cat Prowler, Arctic Cat 500
Jerry, I am also dismayed to see the demise of the domestic auto industry. If we have to look at whom to blame, I would not look at the manufacturers or designers of these vehicles. North America certainly has the expertise to design & build vehicles as good or better than anywhere else in the world.
If I had to blame someone, it would have to be the customer. After all they are the ones that have been buying these vehicles, no matter how well, or badly, they were designed or built.
Unfortunately , there is still percentage of the car buying public that will only buy domestic vehicles! Of course, the manufacturers will take advantage of this, and cut this, shave a bit off that, reduce the strength of that. The imports could never do this ( they can probably do it now) as their sales would suffer.
Quality of the domestics has improved recently, but it is too little, too late.
I would love to buy a bigger truck...American made. But Detroit seems to be in cahoots with the oil company and won't go with the times...we need better gas mileages, not more power. So now I'm stuck with a half-ton truck that gets 18- thank-God-MPH and a small trailer and can't afford to upgrade. No whining, just fact. I'm not buying the notion that the customer is to blame for buying these vehicles...it's the only game in town or buy foreign. Detroit is just not listening to the public...give us more MPG, please!
I buy what's best for MY MONEY and I don't care if it's made on the dark side of the moon by purple aliens. The main reason we have wars is because of people that hate anyone not like them.
Quote: Comment: And finally: My opinion of the domestics has absolutely nothing to do with the American auto worker. All the foreign brands like Honda and Toyota have plants in the US that roll out cars built BY AMERICANS (Of course this is something the "bye American" fascists don't like to talk about.) and they do a terrific job at it.
NO. Its the idiots that run the company that are responsible for the mess that they're in. If you replaced all of GM's management with that of Toyotas, GM would be cranking out superior cars like the foreign brands.
This is a comment from the Newsweek article the OP quoted. It was interesting to read the other comments from readers. Very hostile.
I don't know if this quote is true or not, but it brings up an interesting point about management being responsible for the current state of the auto companies.
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab w/6.7 Cummins
2008 Palamino Sabre 31RKTS
Reese 15K Pro Series manual slide
Prodigy
Firestone Air Bags
Travel in peace, leave the M-I-L at home.
Can't afford a new truck as their prices are STILL over the top and wayyyyyyyyy out of my reach financially. I'm driving my '05 Dodge until the wheels fall off. JMHO
People like myself don't buy 'American-made' products primarily because they cost so much to drive. A good example is the fact that '07 Impala's are bringing $10,000 - $10,800 at auction right now (actual Manheim results), where similarly-equipped '07 Camry's with like mileage are bringing $16,000 - $17,000 at the same auctions (these cars cost pretty much the same when new). That's a no-brainer to me. Add to that the fact that the Camry is indeed American-made and it would take a fool to buy the models that nosedive in value. Even if quality were the same (which it is not), the buyer that uses his head at all will readily see the difference.
Further, many 'American' trucks are now built in Mexico, Canada, and even Brazil. Sure, still plenty built in this country, but don't assume that when you buy a Ford, Dodge, or Chevy/GMC that you're getting an American-built vehicle. Check the first digit of the VIN to be sure.
Considering I had a 1972 Ford with an engine from the U.K., transmission from Germany, rear-axle from Mexico and French tires; I'd say it has been a long time since "American car" meant anything.
Back then, if you wanted a small truck built in the USA, you had one choice: VW.
By the way, until last year, Chrysler was owned by Mercedes. American Motors was owned by Renault before it folded.
(he said, only half joking)
Offline
