Who owns an American made car?

[fett]

It's called "Legacy Costs". Again, I am too lazy to find the story but some company sold off those costs. They sold the liablity for up a billion+ to get out from under. The Big 3 have $2,000+ in each car to cover the "Legacy". I don't have an answer. But, I do know that "Those Guys" don't have that baggage.

[iced_earth]

It's called "Legacy Costs". Again, I am too lazy to find the story but some company sold off those costs. They sold the liablity for up a billion+ to get out from under. The Big 3 have $2,000+ in each car to cover the "Legacy". I don't have an answer. But, I do know that "Those Guys" don't have that baggage.

Yes, those often forgotten pensions that a lot of older companies are saddled with... I think they might just end up going bankrupt to clear those off the books.

[finnman]

Me ownes:
66-Mustang
86-F150
94-Saturn

[GWARGHOUL]

Grew up driving a 1960 Ford f-100
1970 Duster
78 Impala

Drove my dad's 81 Ford f-100 for a while.

A 302 with ovver 300K miles on it!
Its tricked.. 4 barrel.. racing springs, cams, headers etc.
On a 4 speed top loader with overdrive.

Currently driving an '02 Firebird (made in Quebec, but its an American company!) And a 85 s-10 (low rider!)

All American!

[GWARGHOUL]

Must have missed the part about "over 150k and still runs fine."

Yeah! Heh. I mentioned the 81 f-100 with over 300k on it. My dad was/is an oil change freak, and runs 2 cans of slick 50 every 20k to keep it that way.

[fett]

"Clear the books of Pensions" That works great. Look at the airlines. Go bankrupt and it's gone. I am so pissed off that all the "future benefits" that millions of people worked their whole lives to go into retirement are being cast off. I know there is a goverment body that takes those liabilities on. But, that is a fool's paradise. This whole thing just sucks and I am done.

[jgcable]

I have a 2000 Plymouth Neon LX. I bought it new. It has 80K on it and it hasn't had any problems at all. Its a great car.

[CharvelRocker]

My dads car is a 1993 Buick Century that was my grandfathers. 50 thousand miles on it, yet its been one thingn after another. AC, Alternator, interior is coming apart, and now its in the shop as it can barely run it was missing so badly. Last main car that was American was 1997 Ford Taurus wago nthat had the transmisison break after 120k miles (granted it was like 120k in 6 years due to mom working for ACNielson at the time). We ended up selling it as we didnt want to put the parts in it to pass emissions tests as we had the Buick. Was holding up fairly well otherwise. Our main car now is a 2002 Suzuki XL-7

[MBreinin]

I curently own an American car (Ford), an Italian car (Alfa), an Englsh car, owned by an American company (Jag) and a Japanese car (Scion). I have owned over 30 cars, the majority of which have been American. The Scion is my first Japanese car..and it is actually my fiance's car.

Detroit always has a decent offering, you just need to know what to look for.

Mike

[buzzsaww]

I worked for an energy and oil industry pipe valve and fitting supply company. I can tell you Chinese steel cannot pass all sorts of certifications required by those industries. I don't suspect it was intentionally failed because we had steel from Italy and India. The craftsmanship on the Italian stuff was great, the Indian stuff was crappy but it passed so it was good despite the ugly appearance.
BTW Japan pays everyone a fair wage, convenience stores and fast food places start people at $10 to $12 an hour. Average yearly wage in Japan is something like $45k-ish.

Steel manufacturing in the US has taken a dive due in large to the low labor costs in foreign countries like China. If China, Japan, Korea and all of these other countries we are loosing our industry to would pay a fare wage to there people things would be different. US steel companies would be strong as would US auto manufactures. My dad would also not have to be worried about loosing his job of 35+ years because they are outsourcing the production of brake parts to China. Oh and to answer your question I own two Plymouth and before that I had three different Fords.

[guitarsjb]

We currently have a GMC Canyon.
I used to have a 1968 Camaro that I had to sell a few years ago due money trouble. I miss that car!!
My ex husband had a Ford F150. Wonder why he's my ex??

[toejam]

113,000 miles on my '98 Cavalier. Still going strong.

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

97 F-150 140K ... never had a problem

[442w30]

Japanese auto plants in the US are in non-union states AFAIK.

Also, I buy "American" cars - Jeeps and a Ford Explorer with a German Engine, French Transmission and a mexican? chassis. Great car, 80k and only replaced wiper blades, tires and brakes, along w/vital fluids.

Never had a jeep that needed more than a water pump and regular maintenance, always go ~130k miles. Always got straight six/auto

[AdRock]

Japanese auto plants in the US are in non-union states AFAIK.

True. I hate to say it but IMO the unions helped kill the US auto industry. Unions were a great idea to start with, but just like the govt., greed took over by the people in charge.

I was working for a contractor at the new Toyota plant here in San Antonio. I know quite a few people that still work there, but under Toyota. The wages and benefits are good if you don't mind the swing shifts.

And since I'm a mechanic, I get to work on all kinds of makes and models. For the most part the mport automakers just make better cars. More solid, more reliable, and better for the same money as a comparable US makers car.


I owned a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon before trading it in for my Mustang. The Tib was solid, and much better built in every way than the Mustang I own now. The only reason I traded it in was because I wanted a V8 and RWD, otherwise I'd still have that car.