Poll: American Cars

There's been alot of press recently about the plight of the Big Three and the chance that they may get a bailout because they aren't doing well.

It seems that the question comes down to: What would happen if we Bail the Big Three Out. Or what would happen if we don't?

But really it seems the question comes down to YOU, the people who buy and drive cars.

So.. a little poll.

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?

Original Post by moonikins:

Original Post by rachd:

Original Post by nomoreexcuses:

and yet Toyota, Mercedes, Honda, Saturn - all manage to build cars in the U.S.

so obviously it can be done

I think they may need to shed some useless layers of management/bureaucracy 

 Saturn is owned by GM...

But the others don't have the union contract obligations that the Big 3 does. The health care and pension obligations are really killing them. I read somewhere that the workers are costing (with all the benefits) around $73/hr.

The labor costs of the manufacturing employees are not what has caused GM's downfall. The management decisions over the past 30 years has caused GM's downfall. I worked for two automotive parts suppliers since 1998. One was union, one was not. The wages and benefits for both were comparable for the manufacturing employees. The non-union shop did not have outrageous perks and benefits for their CEO's and other top management.

You have a point...a big portion has to do with management, I don't deny that. However, I don't think that the consequences of the current union contracts should just be ignored, they are a contributing factor as well.

Edit: Oh, and I work in the automotive industry as well :)

Question 1: Do you own an American Car? Never have.

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors? N/A

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car? For the same reasons as everyone else.  The American cars just aren't made as well : (

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car? No.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now? Because they aren't made well.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American? They would have to built as well as the over seas cars.

Original Post by hkellick:

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?  YES.

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?  PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car? N/A

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car? ABSOLUTELY

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now? PERSONAL PREFERENCE

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American? N/A

I love my Mustang.

1. No
2. N/A
3. I chose a Honda (after years of buying american cars) because I could not find a reasonably priced american car that had good gas mileage, and was driveable.  The american cars that I was willing to drive because they had good handling were all over $20,000 and got around 25MPG.  My Honda civic was about $16,000 handles very well and gets ~30MPG.
4. It depends, if they had a car that handled well, was reasonably priced and got reasonable gas mileage then yes...the last time I was looking (4 years ago) neither GM/Chevy nor Ford had such a car.  By the time I got done configuring a mustang it was over $20,000.
5. They discontinued the car that I really liked (Chevy Beretta).
6. Better gas mileage, better handling, fewer luxury cars and fewer cheap POS.  A good decent car.

BTW, I'm a bit irritated with american car companies, it's not a new thing that people aren't interested in gas guzzling cars or cars that are better known for their failures and yet that's still what they continue making.

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?

No.

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?

I chose a Toyota Matrix that was built in Detroit, MI.  It's also big enough for some roadtrips and our dogs but rated for 31 mpg on the highway.  We've gotten as much as 36 mpg.

My husband drives a Honda Civic.  He chose it several years ago because the price and gas mileage was right.  It now has over 140,000 miles and runs like a dream.

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?

No.  Everyone in my family drives American made cars and usually gets them from the same dealership.  My grandfather worked for GM so they have some loyalty to the company.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?  

I just don't see much from the American car companies that impresses me.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?

Show some responsibility.  Take some iniative.   Reorganize.  Start making cars more fuel efficient with less impact on the environment.

1. Yes, always have.

2. Current car is my fiance's. Past car was my mother's. My mother only buys American. My fiance got his used for a great deal. He personally has no preference either way.

3. n/a

4. Probably not. I want a SmartCar. If the Chevy Volt was out, I'd buy it. But it's not yet.

5. I don't want a car which gets craptastic gas milage.

6. Get with the program and make some greener cars!!!

Actually, I'm pretty conflicted about this whole thing. On the one hand, I see how many jobs could be lost, on the other, they really tick me off!!! They blatantly ignore what the free market is demanding of them, when typically they're all about letting the free market take care of it (emissions requirements, seat belts, etc.), then they go running to the government for help?!

The town my family is from was greatly affected by the competition produced by foreign car sales back in the day, and therefore only buys American cars. I can understand where they are coming from, and I always kind of considered that part of my heritage. So it hurts, but I see them failing all do to their own stupid mistakes. They could've solved these problems a long time ago -- hell, they did! EV1, anybody? -- but they decided instead they'd rather go under. It's about time it actually happened. =/

heehe most people look for leg-room, or head-room, or cargo-room. PG goes for dog-room. that's awesome :p

jules, i was dogless for 4.5 years, and that's how i ended up with a sedan.  otherwise, i'd be driving this (but not in this colour; i'd have gone with the same carbon mica grey that i got for my sedan).

but for the record, it has lots of leg and head room ;)

Actually, I'd buy American if I could afford a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda.

I'm a mechanic, and I work on more American cars than anything, and I can tell you why they are "bad"....The American companies cut too many corners to save money and make their pockets bigger.  Also, their style is terrible. to get a good American car...you have to pay top dollar, and even though the badge might be American for that top dollar car...most of the parts are from other countries.

Question 1: Do you own an American Car? yes, an 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva (aka gadam piece a junk)

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?  I bought it used in 2001, for $3000 and it had only 20,000 miles on it, literally driven by a little old lady to church.  I bought it because it was cheap.  I didn't really chose it.

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car? 

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?  No.  I'd get a Honda Fit.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?  Although my car has low mileage, little pieces of it keep falling off - knobs, speaker covers, paint, the locks don't work right and it leaks when it rains. It needs repairs all the time and really shows it's age. My daughter's old Honda Accord had 150,000 miles on it, ran great and she got a good trade in on it.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?  Lower milage, better safety features, built to last. 

I understand what you mean in your question but the "American Car" thing is a misnomer. What you mean is actually a car made by a company that is chartered in the US.  Otherwise Hondas and Toyotas that are made in the US should be considered "American Cars" as they are being made by US workers.

I really don't understand the attachment folks have with companies depending on where they are chartered.  I'm far more concerned with how the workers at those companies are doing.  BTW, just so folks know, there are union plants for the "foreign chartered car companies".

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?

Nope, I own a Honda Accord.

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?

It was what I could afford.

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?

Nope.  The next one I would want is a Honda Civic or Fit.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?

I would stick with Honda.  Their cars last FOREVER.  My folks had a Ford and that piece of crap broke down all the time.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?

They would have to be made to last and have better MPG.

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?

Pontiac Sunfire

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?

My wife. we were looking at everything though.

 Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?

i would.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?

i am not stuck on buying any particular car. the ownerships of most car companies is so cross-owned it is challenging to determine who really owns what.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?

Hard to say. New car prices are, IMO, so high. That would be a starting point. But the companies can't compete on price (someone can always sell for less). so they need to improve the cars. New designs. New features. Commit to the decisions that really make sense. No cookie cutter cars please.

An aside: ever seen the Bricklin car?

Question 1: Do you own an American Car? Yes.

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors? I've always wanted a Mustang. Nobody else makes them.

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?I've owned many cars; American, foreign and foreign American-made (I.e. most Hondas, Toyotas)

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car? Yes. Just bought my Mustang last week. What a deal!

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now? N/A

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American? N/A

Question 1: Do you own an American Car? Yes I Do, 2003 Ford Expedition

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors? I have always liked big cars, they make me feel in control. And I loved the design of Ford's expedition, it is Beautiful..I have considered buying other cars, but ford is the best..I have barely had any problems with my suv...

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car? Of course I would...I love the new car Ford cameout with, the Flex..It is very appealing, nicely made..and not bad gas mileage..

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now? i would buy american, esp..since theyre in big trouble..i'll try to help out..

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American? I would buy american regardless of these changes but people seem to want more appealing cars, and better gas mileage...so those changes probably..but i would still buy american...

As a few have already mentioned, "American car" is a dubious distinction - even if the company is a US one, anywhere from 40-60% of the component content of that vehicle comes from foreign manufacturers.  Most Ford Explorer owners are completely unaware that every single wire harness in the thing is from Indonesia and the seat covers are from Mexico, the engine also from overseas.

Question 1: Do you own an American Car?  No

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?  First car was a Toyota due what my father was willing to get me based on price.  It treated me well, didn't break down, was cheap to maintain, and developed my loyalty, so I stuck with Toyota.

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car? No.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now?  Lack of trust in design, quality and reliability.  Plus, I've been inside an American auto plant.  

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?  More innovation, responding to the market instead of hoping people will buy their product as is, an actual committment to quality instead just advertising slogans, more fuel efficient cars, more corporate responsibility

Question 1: Do you own an American Car? Yes. I just bought a used Ford Taurus after I totalled my brand new Mazda.

Question 2: If you do own an American Car, what made you choose an American Car over it's competitors?

Ummm...my neighbor was selling it for cheap?  Other than that, I like larger, more comfortable cars.

Question 3: If you do NOT own an American Car, why did you choose the car you chose over an American Car?

Question 4: Would you buy an American Car right now, assuming you had the money and need for a new car?
 

Maybe.

Question 5: Why/Why Would you NOT buy American right now? It depends on the actual car.  There are so many to choose from these days.

Question 6: If you wouldn't buy American right now, what changes do you think American Cars would need to take before you WOULD buy American?

I'm on the fence.  It depends on the actual model of car rather than if it's Japanese, American, etc.