General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why is there a crusade against Apple products but not foreign cars? [View all]Savannahmann
(3,891 posts)In 2005 I was in the market for a mini-van. I looked at several makes including the so called domestics. The Ford was going to cost roughly twice as much as a Kia. Now I understand getting two for the price of one, but I'm a little fuzzy on the wisdom of getting one for the price of two. Additionally the Kia had a much better warranty.
If it had been close, I might have gotten the Ford. But when we are taking about years of payments for a car that cost nearly $40k then we have to seriously consider value for the money. The Ford was no safer, no more reliable, and no more economical to operate.
Now the next question. Why are the only union jobs we care about centered around the Big 3? For my Kia, the Pilot that gided the ship to the dock, the tugboat crew, the dockworkers, the truckers, and the railroad workers were all Union. But according to you we should slash those union jobs in favor of a product that is significantly more expensive without any superiority.
GM pick up trucks have shown an increase in reliability, but then again they are now being made in Mexico. Ford shut down a plant in Atlanta, and Kia opened one in Georgia. They manufacture many of the parts on site as well.
For every American Car you find a superior foreign product for roughly the same money or less in many cases. If you want a cheap runabout there are dozens. Ford regularly talks about ending the Ranger pick up line. But that is one of their more reliable and higher rated vehicles. Of course it's built by Mazda so it should be reliable.
I bought a Toyota built in Indiana which is domestic providing that we haven't broken off diplomatic relations.
The most American built car is the Toyota Avalon at 85% Domestic parts. http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=top&subject=ami&story=amMade0712
Honda Crosstour: 80 percent DPC, built in East Liberty, Ohio
Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator: 80 percent DPC, built in Louisville, Ky.
Buick Enclave/Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia: 76 percent DPC, built in Lansing, Mich.
Jeep Liberty: 76 percent DPC, built in Toledo, Ohio
Chevrolet Corvette: 75 percent DPC, built in Bowling Green, Ky.
Toyota Sequoia: 75 percent DPC, built in Princeton, Ind.
Honda Pilot: 75 percent DPC, built in Lincoln, Ala.