Hey! Buy American, you jerk!!

[tacoman]

There are hardly any (if any at all) vehicles built in one country.  When I bought a Ford Ranger ten years ago my dad said "good, you bought American."  Lets see, the V6 was made in Germany, the tranny had Toyo Kogyo stamped on it, and who knows where else the other parts came from.  I've got a Superduty now and I think most of it was made in Mexico. Although there's a window sticker proudly saying "Kentucky Truck Plant".  I imagine thats where the pieces of the puzzle are put together.

[PaulVS]

It always cracks me up when people complain about not buying "American-Made" stuff.

We don't make DIDDLY-SQUAT in America anymore.  From brake rotors to coffee makers... it's S.E. Asia doin' all the makin'.  We're a 'service nation' and have been for quite awhile now.

Also... it's my opinion that Japanese cars aren't engineered a whole lot better than American cars... the big difference is the money that we have to pay our labor force compared to Japan's that requires U.S. automakers use inferior parts in order to have a competitively priced vehicle.

A story I heard a few years ago (just a rumor, could be false) is that one of the bean-counters at GM figured the max allowance to spend on the most common brake rotor for GM cars was $15 each.  What kind of rotor is GM getting for $15?  (Crap from my firsthand experience.)

[Russtang]

See what I mean?  There's no point in trying to Buy American, or Buy Australian!  It's an outdated ideology.  Something the "old folks" say, cause they don't know any better.    I'm 49 and I know better!  

Yeah, I stopped giving my friend crap about his fleet of Japanese cars years ago.  You never know where cars are made these days.

I'm still a little torn about the subject myself.  Usually my pocketbook overrides my patriotism though.  I think it's a more complex subject than a lot of people think.  You've got American companies giving foreigners jobs.  Foreign companies giving Americans jobs, etc.

One part of the equation never changes though.  Where that profit check is sent.  I don't think anyone will argue the the "buck stopping here"...as long as you are "here", is the best scenario for your country.

Here's a somewhat interesting article on the subject.  I better start learning Chinese!

Buy American

[Russtang]

Also... it's my opinion that Japanese cars aren't engineered a whole lot better than American cars.... but more importantly is the money that we have to pay our labor force compared to Japan's that requires U.S. automakers use inferior parts in order to have a competitively priced vehicle.

Absolutely!  Couldn't agree more.  I am saddened by GM's latest financial troubles (and I'm a Ford guy...they're next BTW).  But I'm glad to see the UAW in a powerless struggle for survival.  The unions are an antiquated leech  on our auto industry.  Of course, I feel the same way about medicare, welfare, social security, etc.  

[jeepskate99]

The only time I'll take that crap is when an Old WWII Veteran gives it to me. They have earned the right to give me crap about buying from Japan.  I had an old timer try to attack my Jeep one time because he thought it was a Toyota. Of course, after I restrained him, he realized that he had made a mistake.

I buy what I like. My $.02.

Of course now that same guy could attack since Jeep is owned by Daimler-Chrysler headquartered in Germany.

[Desolation Angel]

Too funny!

[jbrough7]

I always remember the guy in the States who bought a corolla and his neighbour comes out and complains he should have bought american, like his ford ltd.  turns out the ford is made in mexico and the corolla in california!

[aussiebandit]

A few years ago there was a businessman in Oz (Dick Smith I think) that basically said

"Buy Australian Made, when the Australian product is of the same or better quality and offers the same or better value for money, otherwise buy the other one".

This is the philosophy I try to follow.   At the end of the day the only thing that concerns me is how much it's going to cost, not just initial purchase, but ongoing costs as well.

[LowRyter]

Gold Wings & Honda cruisers are assembled in Ohio

Kawasaki used to build police bikes in Nebraska

[tacoman]

I wish more stuff was made in America.  In Tacoma here we have a huge port, all shipments going to/from the far east.  Its funny, there's a company that recycles train loads of old cars, a huge crusher furnace that melts em into nice little cubes.  These cubes go off to the far east.  On the other side of the canal is a huge car receiving terminal with loads of new cars coming in from the far east.  So, we're basically buying our old cars back

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Of course now that same guy could attack since Jeep is owned by Daimler-Chrysler headquartered in Germany.

I guess I just have to take crap from old farts then.

Seriously, I've owned about every brand of American car. The Fords were junk, except for the Ranger. I gave it to my Brother when he got discharged from the Army.

I bought  a full size Chevy truck next. It was junk. I'm driving Dodge/Jeep right now. I'm fairly happy so far. My next stop though is a Toyota.

My Wife always buys Subaru's because they make them in the town where we live. They are great little cars.

[jbrough7]

I used to think north american was junk too, but then i bought a caravan in 1997 and keep buying domestic.  No real problems and I couldn't be happier.  I realize it could be just th luck of the draw but I seem to be getting good stuff.  Sure couldn't say that in the 70's and '80's, even early nineties.

So I repeat :why can't we build a suzuki bandit clone for about the same money?  We'd sell a mint cuz there's a lot of guys and gals out there who want to just buy domestic, no matter what.

Maybe I'll set up a factory!

[dandit]

I wish more stuff was made in America.  In Tacoma here we have a huge port, all shipments going to/from the far east.  Its funny, there's a company that recycles train loads of old cars, a huge crusher furnace that melts em into nice little cubes.  These cubes go off to the far east.  On the other side of the canal is a huge car receiving terminal with loads of new cars coming in from the far east.  So, we're basically buying our old cars back

kind of like "Soylent Rust"

[Red01]

I wish more stuff was made in America.  In Tacoma here we have a huge port, all shipments going to/from the far east.  Its funny, there's a company that recycles train loads of old cars, a huge crusher furnace that melts em into nice little cubes.  These cubes go off to the far east.  On the other side of the canal is a huge car receiving terminal with loads of new cars coming in from the far east.  So, we're basically buying our old cars back

Remember Pearl Harbor? Got bombed by our recycled materials.  

[PaulVS]

So I repeat :why can't we build a suzuki bandit clone for about the same money?  We'd sell a mint cuz there's a lot of guys and gals out there who want to just buy domestic, no matter what.

Maybe I'll set up a factory!

I've always said that I would buy an American inline-4 "UJM" in a heartbeat.  Chevy, Ford, Jeep.... all could easily design and manufacture a motorcyle engine and use existing equipment like Mikuni/Keihin carbs, Showa shocks, Mezteler tires, etc.

The rest isn't even close to being rocket science in design - frame, gas tank, seat, wheels, electrics.  

I'd even pay a little extra just for the novelty of it.

When you figure how much American auto-makers spend each year on experimental crap that never sees the light of day... a small experimental motorcycle division would be a drop in the bucket.  And they could use their existing car dealerships for distribution.