How To Tell If You Should Buy an American Car

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I am an American and have lived her my whole life, but I feel no obligation to purchase an American car. It is not because of price, fuel economy, etc. I just perfer the looks of most foriegn cars and I feel that they have a longer life span then most American made cars.
I think that if I were to purchase an American made vehicle, it would be a Fod product. Right now, our household has a mixed breed of vehicles, including a Maxda, a Nissan, and a Lincoln and we have never had any issues with any of our vehicles. But, I got rid of my Chrysler because of major electrical issues. I am not saying that all Chrysler vehicles are bad, but mine was.
In regards to "Buying American to support the local economy" I think that it is ridiculous. Look at all of the plants that GM and Chrysler have closed over the past 2 years. How many people have they had to lay off? I do not call that stimulating the economy. While foriegn based car makers, like Mazda, Honda, and Toyota, have facilities all over the United States and they employ thousands of people. This is stimulating our local economy.

Theresa Martin of MI 8:32AM February 18, 2010

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archerniet of FL 4:29AM November 26, 2009

i just want to say that most of the people who have commented on this really need to do some homework. there are people saying that the only thing the foreign companies do is build their cars here, they dont design them here and none of the profits stay here. there are also people saying dont buy gm or ford because they are building cars in other countries. the truth of the matter is that no matter what company it is, some of their manufacturing process comes from other countries, some of it comes from the US. i drive an acura TL, DESIGNED in california, BUILT in ohio, FINANCED by american honda financial. oh and did i mention that 75% of its parts content is US sourced? i call that american all day, no matter if it wears a japanese badge or not. and that brings me to my point, nobody on here has done their homework. if you are going to buy a car, do the research and buy a car that is designed and built here, no matter what the badge on the car says. whether it be honda or toyota, gm or ford, do the research and buy the one that supports the most american workers.

Joe of OH 3:05PM November 17, 2009

"It's hard for me to understand the whole "Be proud and buy American" theme."
15,460 dead Marines beg to differ.

Unit91Actual of OH 1:34AM October 15, 2009

For a look at different car resale values, check out:
http://www.peterdolph.com/2009/09/should-you-buy-american-car.html

gandolph of VA 3:21PM October 02, 2009

It's hard for me to understand the whole "Be proud and buy American" theme. For instance, Nissan has 3 production plants on American soil (Decherd/Smyrna,TN & Canton, Mississippi). Nissan's Design Center is located in California. For the most part, an abundance of the production workers, managers and designers are "American" living on American soil. This is not to include the many dealerships (parts,salesmen,mechanics & sponsees) that are in the U.S. that are employed by or do business with Nissan.
Consider, the people that are hired by Nissan in America are your average Americans like you and me obtaining these jobs, not some corporate CEO. Besides, if GM used Federal Reserve borrowed money (your tax dollars) to revitalize the company, then ask for your hard earned money again to support the cause, how is the purchase justified?

Jon of GA 6:02PM September 20, 2009

I saw a lot of comments about every penny of the foriegn makers profits going back to Japan and that they dont emply US grads for design and R&D. The assembly line workers get their pay, the foreign car dealers get their profit as well. So not all money is going back to Japan.
Also, if they started hiring US grads for design and R&D, then their quality will go down the drain like the GM, CHrysler and Ford junks. I am glad they keep the deisgn control within Japan.
All these people talk about buying american cars while everyting else they buy is made in China - right from their underwears to the US flag. Go hang you face in shame for using a China made US flag.

anewUScitizen of IN 8:15AM September 04, 2009

you can't be proud to drive a japanese car, its not yours, when you buy a new american car you can drive it proudly knowing you are supporting YOUR country and not some american hating country, its your car and built by your peers, enjoy and be proud or buy japanese and drive with your head down and be ashamed as this economy is your fault!

Louis.M of FL 7:26PM August 13, 2009

People say stop supporting other countries. Really? 2010 Chevy Equinox: Car built in CANADA, Engine built in CHINA, Transmission built in MEXICO. Tell me again buying from GM supports America? Now both Toyota and Hyundai have multiple manufacturing plant in this country that put money BACK INTO OUR COUNTRY. With my Toyota being built in Californa and the drivetrain built in Kentucky, I can't see how that's not supporting America and supporting the economy. And every assembly plant has more than just assembly jobs. Do you think Toyota plants have Japanese engineers running the facility? Get real. The plants hire local Americans to do the job.

Jon of AL 11:01AM July 30, 2009

Get real we need blue collar manufactory jobs. Invest in jobs here. If I have a job to feed my family on I do not care if profits go to Japan. Are own goverment has taxed are industry to go over seas. Quit taking are jobs and making the richier rich, while were left in the States starving.

Mccracken of AR 7:25PM July 07, 2009