Who owns an American made car?

[rjohnstone]

My 97 Mitsubishi Eclipse was made in Normal, Ill. and has a Chrysler engine in it.
It's "American Made" in a Union run factory. 80+% of the parts for it were from domestic sources.
My 2007 Honda Odyssey was made in Alabama. According to the sticker, 99% of it's parts are from a domestic (US) sources.
Made by Americans, and Americans took home the paycheck building it.
ALL Chevy and GMC trucks are made in Canada (Non-Union factories), not an American made truck.
Ford F-series trucks are made in Mexico, again not American.
The last Chevy I owned, 2001 Silverado Ext cab, was a nice truck, but it was built like shit. Engine went through (burned/leaked) 2 qts. of oil between changes, thank god for the 7 qt. pan. This was a brand new truck. GM refused to fix it. The interior fell apart... literally.
I traded it in on my Toyota Highlander.
Now that is an import... 100% made in Japan. Great car.
They will be built in the USA sometime in 2010, when the new plant opens up.

What it boils down to is most American cars are in fact, not made in America. And most imports are actualy American made... you figure it out.

I can always buy a Vette... at least I know those are still made here.

[Razor]

Bacholer years
First vehicle - 1987 Chevrolet IROC Z-28 Camaro
Second vehicle - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro RS 25th Anniversary
Enter marriage and family...
Third vehicle - 1988 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer - wife
Fourth vehicle - 1989 Oldsmobile 98 Regency - wife
Fifth vehicle - 1998 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer - mine...92 Camaro traded for it
Sixth vehicle - 1997 Honda CRV - wife
Seventh vehicle - 2002 Buick Rendesvous which wife currently drives - assembled in Mexico yikes
Eighth vehicle - 1997 GMC Sierra P/U which I currently drive

Damn, I just noticed my wife has vehicled my ass to death here.

For the past nine months I've been the service manager at a Nissan dealer, and I've been tempted to demo a vehicle home and act like I bought it. Wife has been half expecting me to scream new vehicle since I've started there. Truth is, I'm happy with my truck, but when it's put out to pasture I will have bought the last domestic vehicle that I drive.

No two ways about it, after spending over nine years managing a transmission shop, the Nissan's, Toyota's, Honda's and Subaru's have kicked Detroit's ass in not only quality and reliability, but warranty coverage also.

I think anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in the automotive repair industry will agree that domestic vehicles are not built with the same quality as some imports. Kia, Mazda and Mitsubishi's are excluded from my opinion on what is a quality vehicle. I'd own a domestic over those in a heartbeat.

[rjohnstone]

Razor, the problem with the Mitsubishi's is that the cars were made by Chrysler for a very long time. Remember the K car... talk about a POS.
I've had good luck with mine and knowing the service manager at the Mitsubishi dealership is a plus. He "catches" things BEFORE they become a problem. But I let him beat me at golf, so...

[Carbuff]

Ive got a 01 chevy malibu and an 01 Ford Windstar. 70k on both and they have been relatively problem free. Ive also got a 67 camaro and a 65 Buick. I bought my daughter a Camry. Ive owned over 100 cars so I cant list them all, but most were American made.

[Razor]

Razor, the problem with the Mitsubishi's is that the cars were made by Chrysler for a very long time. Remember the K car... talk about a POS.
I've had good luck with mine and knowing the service manager at the Mitsubishi dealership is a plus. He "catches" things BEFORE they become a problem. But I let him beat me at golf, so...

I agree 100% Rick. It's cool to hear that the service you get from the Mitsubishi dealer and the car has been top notch.

[Predator1]

I have owned 2 Saturns over the past 12 years. They have performed very well. the first was a 1995 SL2 twin cam that I used for commuting. I put 250,000 miles on it before selling it. The only repair was the trans at 130,000 miles other then that just fluid changes and tune ups. I still have the second one a 96. I bought it used with 20,000 miles for $7000.00. It now has 145000 miles and counting so far so good. Before these I only drove Toyotas and they were great. I decided back in 95 to give the saturn a try it was $4000 less then a comprably equipped Corolla.

[wulfe13]

98 Ram Air Trans Am and I'm planning on buying a 98-02 Chevy Blazer 4x4 2 door.

Oh and eventually I'll own another 70 SS Chevelle, I REALLY miss that car!!!

[wulfe13]

Japanese cars, even if they're built here, are still only made with parts from the USA about 4% to 7% of the time. American made cars, even if they're built in Canada or Mexico, are using 70% to 80% American made parts. It's not all about where they're built but more about where they're parts are made.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Every car or truck I've owned has been a product of the USA.
1st car 76 volarie
2nd car 81 cutlass supreme
3rd 89 pontiac sunbird
92 Geo storm GSI yeha i know it was a hlf venture with Isuzu but it was made in the US. and still a chevy.
88 Z24
85 Blazer
94 S10
94 grand prix se
98 blazer
2007 Pontiac G6 (the first new car since the sunbird in 89.
Gil

[rjohnstone]

Japanese cars, even if they're built here, are still only made with parts from the USA about 4% to 7% of the time. American made cars, even if they're built in Canada or Mexico, are using 70% to 80% American made parts. It's not all about where they're built but more about where they're parts are made.

Not true.
99% of the materials used to build my 2007 Odyssey were made right here in the USA.
80+% of the parts used to build my 1997 Eclipse were made in the USA.

Country of origin for the materials used to build a car is clearly stated on all Manufacturer window stickers. It's required by law.
Go browse a Nissan or Honda car lot and read a few stickers.
Almost all of it is made right here.

Hyundai/Kia (same company btw) are building plants here as well.
The cost to build major components, or even complete cars overseas is getting to be cost prohibative.
It takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months for a car made in Japan to get to the US market once it's finished.
Where it only takes 5 to 7 days for one built domesticaly to reach a car lot.
Time to market is key. Shipping large car parts (frames, body panels, etc.) around the world to build a car is not a cost effective way to build a car anymore.

The country of origin on my 2001 Silverado was listed as “Canada”.

Here's some intreresting reading regarding the topic.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode49/usc_sec_49_00032304----000-.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00001232----000-.html

[24seven]

I wish! the most i have are little models! i have always had a fascination with US cars...it's the size...no good in the U.K as the streets are too narrow...i always laugh when i see the local limo struggling to turn!

I drive small cars, nippy and cheap to run.

[TurdBurglar]

2002 ford mustang

[AfterForever]

My first car was a Ford.. not a typical US one though..
Second car was a Nissan NX..
Currenct car a Toyta Celica T20..

I stick with the Japanese cars But I do love a good corvette, camaro or firebird (etc)

[MBreinin]

This is funny though, the reason why we bought the Scion is because our commuter broke, the Crown Victoria. I found it hilarious that out of the three cars that we owned...a Crown Vic, a '95 Jag XJR and an '88 Alfa Spider, the Vic was the one at home dead. The taxicab gave up the ghost and two cars with a reputation for, ahem, "minor reliability issues", were going strong!!

I just got fed up. I am a handy home mechanic, but I broke the internal components on the column shifter on the Vic putting it in park...never fixed one of those before. I guess I will learn, since I need to sell it now.

Mike

[dd3keegs]

2006 Mustang GT.....Love It