sb427f-car

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...tos-181214.htm


Seems Toyota, though who is surging and appears to be on its way to the #1 world auto maker without challenge, is concerened with possible "buy American" and the litteral "import bashing" of the 80s by UAW protestors. I doubt we'll see that, but interesting read.

30th droptop

iTrader: (-1)

It sure would be nice if we could get anti-import sentiment going, but, living here in Southern California, I just don't think that's possible. Mostly I'm considered stupid for driving an American car. It's really a shame, since GM has some great products.

There was a time (in my lifetime) when the inverse was true - you were considered a little quirky if you drove an import. It didn't matter how good the car was. That's the way people are - they don't really look at the product, they just want to make sure they're doing what their neighbors are doing. Unfortunately right now, everyone's buying import.

camaro98z28

The problem is that GM uses the same platform for every car. When will they design new cars and not update old crap.Another reason I hope they never make another camaro.

sb427f-car

Pretty much. You see that GM has no RWD platform in their portfolio while both Ford and Dodge are both taking chances and exploring it (sans the Caddy stuff, mind you). One is making it work well and selling it (Dodge) and Ford, well, they are hurting but it's out there. Gross miss management.

Shinkaze

Personally I would preffer for people to just evaluate a car based on it's own merit rather than the HQ location of the home office. Hell, the Camaro, Firebird and GTO are all Imports.

bruddah_man_matt

Yes how unfortunate for all of those people who buy cars that are less expensive and more reliable. The average person is not the die hard enthusiast that we are and knows close to jack **** about cars. Seriously, how many people still know how to change their own oil? But with that in mind, can you blame people for buying "what their neighbors have" as you put it? How many times have you bought a product you were unfamiliar with based on suggestions from others? Even if you research a product before making a purchase, you will almost always read reviews from other buyers and take into consideration what they have to say. And in the case of the general automobile buyer, WTF would you do if you read generally good reviews about said Japanese bread and butter sedans? If all you're looking for is a people mover LOGIC would dictate that you'd pick the car that gets the best ratings in quality, reliability and value. And hey look at that, oftentimes it's the best seller. Who would have thought? If it's just basic transportation for your average "non-enthusiast" then why not go with the majority. For Christ sakes look at THIS VERY BOARD. When someone asks for a reliable daily driver to park next to their 11 second LS1, TOYOTA AND HONDA ARE THE TWO MOST FREQUENT MAKES MENTIONED. No one on this board says "oh hell yah how about a used Ford Escort or Chevy Cavalier for a daily driver." When it comes to a reliable winter beater or DD Corolla, Camry, Civic and Accord are the most frequent models mentioned.

You're wasting time complaining about the decisions your AVERAGE CONSUMER makes when what you should be doing is recognizing that GM is doing a shitty job of building competant products. Yes the health care bill is ******* them over but FFS what they need to do is build products that outshine the competition rather than run with them and lag behind "just a bit." Innovate instead of imitate. It's not as easy as it sounds but if the Japanese companies could come out of nowhere and practically rape the American companies in 2 or 3 decades it's possible for American manufacturers to do the same (and yes I know that a big part of the Japanese car boom came from Detroit being unprepared for the Oil Crisis but still). GM needs to stop trying to fix broken **** and start from scratch. They need to stop cutting corners and spend those few extra dollars. Your average consumer will spend that extra two grand for a superior product provided they feel that the extra two grand will pay off down the road in the way of increased reliabilty and lower maintainence. Fanboys like to bash consumers who buy competing products. They like to single them out as the sole reason why the products they defend aren't selling when in fact they should be bashing the manufacturer they stand behind for building inferior products.

TriShield

What RWD platform does Ford have? The only country Ford is cranking out mass-market RWDs is Australia, not the US. Chrysler is the only US automaker doing that in the US, while Ford piddles with the Taurus, Five Hundred and upcoming Fusion. All FWD.

sb427f-car

I guess the crown vic (though aeiling, and a mis. seller) and the mustang, don't count as RWD platforms.

TriShield

The Panther doesn't count because nobody wants the damn things, they aren't new or competitive. The Mustang is a niche coupe and built off old bones of two other cars Ford wished sold as well, the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type. Both of those cost substantially more than the Chrysler 300C.

Neither Ford or GM have anything brand new or mainstream like Chrysler's LX. GM decided not to import Zeta here so mainstread RWD Chevrolets are out the window and Chrysler owns the market. Ford only sells the Falcon in Australia, another treat that could have countered Chrysler here in the US.

sb427f-car

Like I said in my original post, "well, it's out there." I didn't say it was selling well or was the best technology in the world, but thanks for proving my point

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

nowadays if u buy a jap car, it has about as good a chance of being made in the us as the domestic brands

HemiDakota

Chrysler is now exploring AWD on many models beside RWD.

16 more models prior to MY 2008.