I currently drive a used Kia Sephia. Four cylinder.. fairly decent on the gas.. I trolled the lots for something used, good, small, and American first.. but all there were were rather large SUV's and Vans.. whole lots full of them.. and that was five years ago.
I would own a modern, energy efficient american auto if I could..
I'm sure we'll get some other opinions here but so far I have to agree with what's been said here. Consumer Reports regularly ranks American made vehicles below Toyota and Honda. I've driven a Toyota for the last 30 years.
A lot of the problem is that the "Big 3" have to pay way more out to their employees than the non-union foreign automobile manufacturers. That makes their vehicles more expensive on the front end and they have to take make up for it somehow. Since they have to have their vehicles priced competitively with the foreign guys it stands to reason that quality is going to suffer. If they reorganized under bankruptcy protection, it is my understanding that they could nullify some of the more onerous parts of the union contracts.
1997 Dodge Intrepid - 190K miles (and runnin' strong!)
I like the style and power and mileage I get with my Mopars and won't look elsewhere. I've driven Olds, Fords, Chevy, Toyota, GM, Land Rover, and always come back to Mopar....
My worst car was a Land Rover - Freelander, and second worst was a Toyota RAV-4. Both were crapola SUVs that were quickly self-imploding when they were traded.
By the way, Daimler-Chrysler is going to all electric cars - that should be interesting... .
Didn't the Germans sell the Chrysler Division to another conglomerate that is now tryiing desperately to sell it as well?
I USED to like Chrysler, back in the day. But I haven't seen much of anything from them to get excited about in the last 30 years or so. And their "fit and finish" has ALWAYS been abysmal, just awful...
I have to agree wholeheartedly about the Land Rover. Good Lord, what an expensive P.O.S. Of course the English have always had a difficult time understanding basic automotive engineering.
I had 3 Austin-Healeys in the '60s. The worst cars I ever loved. So much fun to drive - or just BE in - but they broke down incessantly...
1996 Ford Exploder - good for pullin' the ol' popup and whenever I need to load up. Runs good, no complaints.
1996 Honda Civic - the boy drives it, got it new, been a super reliable ride.
He's also got a - think it's '94 Mitsubishi Spider, convertible. Clutch is raggedy, needs work, but a sweet li'l ride.
The girl drives a 1986 Subaru Brat. Stick, no power nothin'. She likes it, it's a work in progress, runs good, fun car.
Earlier this year wesold a Chrysler Concorde, 1996, great car. Drove it for several years. Got it off a fleet sale, and would still have it but my commute increased and the gas and upkeep was killing me. Ran good though and held up well.
We just got the VW Jetta this year, from Enterprise Fleet sales. I was looking at another Honda but the dealership got a brain transplant since I'd been there last and the whole sales "service" sucked, otherwise I'd have bought from them. I like Hondas over most all American cars in the same arena.
"Marin Honda", in Marin, California. Idiots. They treated me like a wad of gum, and when we "went in" didn't even offer me the .0 per cent financing deal they were running - I showed them my credit rating sheet and they started talking options quickly, and I left.
Service is number one in my book. I hate to dread dealing with a place because they're a-holes. So I go where I'm treated well and that's where I buy if I can get what I want.
The VW and the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic were all cars I felt good about.The Jetta was a little more $ but mileage is 31-32 per gallon, and while it's not the fastest off the dime it's got some serious go in the get up department, so it's a good freeway car. City too, very comfortable and the logic of the interior is good, it's easy to drive in and operate compared to others IMO.
I have a 2001 Ford Taurus in very good condition that has been running jes peachy for me for over the past year and a half. And it's _proven_ reputation as to its worthiness and operability is well known, ... even (grudgingly) among many of those who have totally sworn off American made cars.
Another thing that many people forget when it comes to the quality of cars, -- maintenance. Whether you're talking about American or foreign, you don't keep it maintained, it's gonna turn into a pile o' crap anyway.
At this point in time, I drive a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with a straight 6 engine that I've owned about two weeks, since I totaled my very nice 1999 Toyota Camry, which had 186,000 miles on it, was a 4 cylinder stick-shift and got 33 MPG. The Jeep is very comfortable, extremely nice, and gets about 15 MPG. But at least it's screaming bright red.
For the first twenty or so years of marriage we tended toward American-made, especially Mopar. Had a 1989 Dodge Spirit we put 208K miles on before we sold it. Had a Maverick we got from Mr. Garden's mom until it rusted out so bad the jack handle fell through the hole in the trunk onto the road. Had a Ford Escort, Plymouth Valient station wagon (POS), had a Dodge Dakota pickup, sweet truck, totaled by a 10 point buck as Mr. Garden was driving down a country road. At one point we had a Dodge Aspen which had a good engine but the body tended toward rust.
I had a 1999 Honda Civic that I dearly loved, followed by a Honda CR-V, which also met its doom after hitting a deer, and then the Camry.
After the untimely demise of the Dakota, we bought from a private seller a Ford Ranger pickup, club cab, manual transmission, very very nice indeed.
If humanly possible, we try to get manual transmission and a 4 cylinder engine. That way they are fun to drive and you also save money on gas.
We don't plan on having the Cherokee more than a couple of years, assuming the deer stay away from us.
I have to agree wholeheartedly about the Land Rover. Good Lord, what an expensive P.O.S. Of course the English have always had a difficult time understanding basic automotive engineering.
George, the English just invent jet engines instead...hard to imagine the world without jet engined planes, nowadays.
Japanese cars have been more popular in the UK as well. You always got more for your money. The bells and whistles that you pay extra for on other cars come as standard on Jap cars. Fuel economy is MUCH better.
Fuel economy on most US cars makes non-Americans roll their eyes in shock and horror.
Can you buy hybrids, or electric cars, in the USA?
My car...is a Vauxhall Astra 1994, good mileage. And I'm thankful; was a gift to me after another car got written off by another vehicle.
No doubt the Japanese cars are great, I had a 1992 Geo Metro marketed by GM but made by Suzuki. I loved the car at nearly 50mpg and it was a 5 speed, laugh all you want but it was so light that it really would fly. It was traded for a Cavalier, I really liked that car too it ran great did an average 33 mpg highway and with very little maintenance other than the oil changes and such treated me well for many years. Traded that for a my dads old truck that had fewer miles, the truck and I didn't get along very well and since it was my house it had to move. I now have a car payment for a vehicle I think is just OK, and my old Cavalier? Still going strong
There's strong peer pressure in my neighborhood to buy American cars, probably because I live fairly close to both the Chevy plant and the Ford plant. And being the patriotric American that I am, for the most part I've bought Fords and Chevys, with mixed results.
My last few cars were Fords. My last car before the one I have now was a 1997 Ford Contour. I loved the way it handled, it was just the right size to be comfy inside but not a "boat," it got decent gas mileage, and I was happy with it. But I wanted to buy a new car and Ford had discontinued the Contour. I'd had an Escort before but didn't want something that small again, and their other models were too big and not as economical. At my son's urging, I decided to jump ship and buy a Japanese car.
I've had my Toyota Matrix for almost 4 years and have no real complaints. I had to have the driver's side door lock mechanism fixed, but it was under warranty. And sometimes the radio/CD player gets a little squirrelly
(no offense, Ham), but other than that it's been great.
Well I swear by Honda for cars. Have had two with NEVER a single problem. Both were well maintained but I have to say they handled well, never broke, pretty comfortable.
Now trucks are another story. I've been driving the same Ford F-150 for the last 13 years. With age a few things went awry but nothing major. It has been a real champ. Starts easy, extremely comfortable to drive, runs strong, five speed manual that is smooth as any stick I've driven (hmmm I should add that I have always owned a stick). Prior to that I had a Chevy Silverado that I think just as highly of as the F-150 but it wasn't quite as comfortable on a long drive. I don't think you can top American made trucks...
So this raises the question - If we can manufacture such good trucks - why are our cars noticeably deficient in comparison to Toyota and Honda?
Someone mentioned union labor either on this thread or on the auto bailout thread. It is interesting that a lot of Hondas are manufactured right here in the US - Tennessee to be exact. They have union labor etc - and still make a fine car and are still making a profit. I think (and this applies to the bailout thread) that the problem lies in the company management more so than labor unions. I am no fan of what unions have become - but if Honda can use American union labor, make good cars AND make a profit then there is really little excuse for the Detroit "Big Three."
What criteria should we use to define an "American Made" car?
Honda, and its peripheral suppliers, for example, is one of the largest employers in the State of Ohio.
Thousands upon thousands of Ohio jobs depend on the success of Honda.
(Work conditions, however, have been the source of many horror stories I have heard people relate, especially at the peripheral suppliers.) Toyota is also a major employer in various U.S. cities. Then there is the other side of the coin. Cars that we might define as "American Made", such as "The Big Three", may, in reality, be merely assembled in the U.S.A. from parts imported from Canada or Mexico. And, American made parts might also be shipped to both of these countries for final assembly of what many consider an "American Made" car. It's really not a new phenomena. I worked for a Chrysler dealership doing new car prep in the mid 1980's. One of the first things we did was remove all the stickers that said "made/assembled" in anywhere other than the U.S.A. ------And there was a lot of sticker removal going on, believe you me.
Well I swear by Honda for cars. Have had two with NEVER a single problem. Both were well maintained but I have to say they handled well, never broke, pretty comfortable.
My Chevy Blazer "always" has problems we need it for the snow here(4x4)but the windows
always either don't roll up or roll down!
My husband loves Camaro's and both my sons have old Camaros they work on and race at
the drag strip.
My daughter has the 2 volkwagons and I really like the Jetta.
Back in "the day" I had a custom Dodge Van should of kept it,When I go to Car shows and
see one I could just kick myself for selling it.
I think PT cruisers are cool but don't have one.
Had one - a PT Cruiser. It was silver with silver ghost flames, black leather bra, chrome wheels. It was a Limited edition - all the bells and whistles. (I love loaded cars - I'm a princess!) Anyhow, it was great when it was just the three of us but when the second bundle of joy came along and then a dog, it got a little crowded.
Since they only have a 4-cyl engine (and a big one at that), I found my old Intrepid got better MPG's than the PT Cruiser got. I never did any repairs to the thing for the 3 years I had it - just maintenance. I'd take a GT (turbo) convertible version... in vanilla with woody sides.
Had one - a PT Cruiser. It was silver with silver ghost flames, black leather bra, chrome wheels. It was a Limited edition - all the bells and whistles. (I love loaded cars - I'm a princess!) Anyhow, it was great when it was just the three of us but when the second bundle of joy came along and then a dog, it got a little crowded.
Since they only have a 4-cyl engine (and a big one at that), I found my old Intrepid got better MPG's than the PT Cruiser got. I never did any repairs to the thing for the 3 years I had it - just maintenance. I'd take a GT (turbo) convertible version... in vanilla with woody sides.
Answering a question not addressed to me, sorry, but I had to butt in.
I had a 1999 Civic coupe that got 35 MPG, was manual transmission, absolutely wonderful car, died a hero's death when some fellow pulled a hay wagon out in front of me with no lights on. A delightful little sporty car just perfect for me.
Honda CR-V, wonderful, reliable, hit 4 deer at various times and #4 won.
Toyota Camry, died of trauma at 186,000 miles, also a stick shift, also no problems, 33 mpg.
We have a Toyota Sienna back in the State. Love it. Love the old dealer and service dept. It runs well, looks good, is comfortable to drive and can fit several 4 x 8 sheets of plywood in it with the rear door closed when the back seats are out.
In Grenada we drive what probably 60 - 70% of everyone else drives, a Suzuki jeep. Most of the ones here are "reconditioned." Ours is an "Eskudo" which I believe is the Samarai in the US. It is a good little car. I never thought much of Suzukis, but I am impressed. The gas milage isn't great and gas here is over 15 EC which is over 5 1/2 USD. Good thing the island is only 133 sq. miles most of which is without roads. It runs well though, and puts up with a beating driving around here.
............................................
As Waysider pointed out, "american made" does not necessarily mean american made. IMO it is about design. Not just in terms of looks but in terms of engineering. They can put out reliable long lasting trucks but can't make reliable, long lasting, fuel efficient cars? BS. They could but haven't. The technology and engineering has been there but it hasn't been used.
Did I mention they're the ugliest cars on the planet?
It is all about design. Money won't save the Big 3, design will, inside and out. Great design thrives on budget constraints. The US consistently grows some of the best architects in the world. We're building amazing buildings, beautiful, cutting edge, efficient, buildings all over the world. On the other hand, we have not been keeping up with the rest of the world when it comes to industrial design. The greatest industrial designers are mostly coming from Europe and Asia, where all the best cars come from.
Currently we have a 2007 Nissan Frontier 4WD and a 2002 Honda Accord. We like them a lot. In the past, I've had Ford Pinto, Escort, and Taurus and a Pontiac Fiero. Hubby had Dodge Pickups and PT Cruiser. They just didn't seem to be as well made as our "foreign" cars. You really can't call them foreign anymore. They are all made here for the most part. I remember Honda Plant near Columbus, Ohio. I believe Toyota has plants in the midwest as well.
It is interesting that the amount that Ford, GM, and Chrysler have tied up in to their vehicles compared to the others. The unions have really screwed it up my opinion. Here's a link I found about the auto industry:
I'm a county worker, and times are lean with people unable to pay their property taxes. If I had to take a cut in pay to keep my job, I would. I can't imagine what it would be like to make $73 an hour. Maybe they could afford a pay cut as well if it meant keeping their job and benefits.
The 3 big auto companies should be ashamed to ask the government to give them a handout. They should learn from this experience. They way they've handled business has been a bad example to American business. I feel sorry for the people who have depended on havinig jobs with them for their life.
We had the Ford Proving Grounds where I live. It was one of the best places to get a job. Ford sold it to Chrysler over a year ago, and Chrysler said they would have many jobs available as of last April when they opened it up. It appears the only activity out there is those who lease the grounds for their own testing. When Ford sold, they told people either they had to retire or move to Michigan. Most who moved to Michigan were laid off shortly after relocating and bought houses. They will be stuck there for awhile.
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Ham
I currently drive a used Kia Sephia. Four cylinder.. fairly decent on the gas.. I trolled the lots for something used, good, small, and American first.. but all there were were rather large SUV's and Vans.. whole lots full of them.. and that was five years ago.
I would own a modern, energy efficient american auto if I could..
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polar bear
No freekin way.
Until they start makin' better cars I'm buyin' imports.
Maybe someday they'll listen.
My son has a GM=constantly breaks down.
I have a Toyota=never breaks down.
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Sudo
I'm sure we'll get some other opinions here but so far I have to agree with what's been said here. Consumer Reports regularly ranks American made vehicles below Toyota and Honda. I've driven a Toyota for the last 30 years.
A lot of the problem is that the "Big 3" have to pay way more out to their employees than the non-union foreign automobile manufacturers. That makes their vehicles more expensive on the front end and they have to take make up for it somehow. Since they have to have their vehicles priced competitively with the foreign guys it stands to reason that quality is going to suffer. If they reorganized under bankruptcy protection, it is my understanding that they could nullify some of the more onerous parts of the union contracts.
sudo
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ChasUFarley
We are Mopar...
2007 Jeep Liberty - 35K miles
2006 Chrysler Town & Country - 42K miles
1997 Dodge Intrepid - 190K miles (and runnin' strong!)
I like the style and power and mileage I get with my Mopars and won't look elsewhere. I've driven Olds, Fords, Chevy, Toyota, GM, Land Rover, and always come back to Mopar....
My worst car was a Land Rover - Freelander, and second worst was a Toyota RAV-4. Both were crapola SUVs that were quickly self-imploding when they were traded.
By the way, Daimler-Chrysler is going to all electric cars - that should be interesting... .
My dream car....
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cheranne
My Chevy Blazer "always" has problems we need it for the snow here(4x4)but the windows
always either don't roll up or roll down!
My husband loves Camaro's and both my sons have old Camaros they work on and race at
the drag strip.
My daughter has the 2 volkwagons and I really like the Jetta.
Back in "the day" I had a custom Dodge Van should of kept it,When I go to Car shows and
see one I could just kick myself for selling it.
I think PT cruisers are cool but don't have one.
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GeorgeStGeorge
'96 Impala SS. The last real car Chevy made.
George
Oh, yeah. My wife drives a Dodge Durango.
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George Aar
Daimler-Chrysler? Uh, I thought that was history?
Didn't the Germans sell the Chrysler Division to another conglomerate that is now tryiing desperately to sell it as well?
I USED to like Chrysler, back in the day. But I haven't seen much of anything from them to get excited about in the last 30 years or so. And their "fit and finish" has ALWAYS been abysmal, just awful...
I have to agree wholeheartedly about the Land Rover. Good Lord, what an expensive P.O.S. Of course the English have always had a difficult time understanding basic automotive engineering.
I had 3 Austin-Healeys in the '60s. The worst cars I ever loved. So much fun to drive - or just BE in - but they broke down incessantly...
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socks
2007 VW Jetta - great performance, mileage.
1996 Ford Exploder - good for pullin' the ol' popup and whenever I need to load up. Runs good, no complaints.
1996 Honda Civic - the boy drives it, got it new, been a super reliable ride.
He's also got a - think it's '94 Mitsubishi Spider, convertible. Clutch is raggedy, needs work, but a sweet li'l ride.
The girl drives a 1986 Subaru Brat. Stick, no power nothin'. She likes it, it's a work in progress, runs good, fun car.
Earlier this year wesold a Chrysler Concorde, 1996, great car. Drove it for several years. Got it off a fleet sale, and would still have it but my commute increased and the gas and upkeep was killing me. Ran good though and held up well.
We just got the VW Jetta this year, from Enterprise Fleet sales. I was looking at another Honda but the dealership got a brain transplant since I'd been there last and the whole sales "service" sucked, otherwise I'd have bought from them. I like Hondas over most all American cars in the same arena.
"Marin Honda", in Marin, California. Idiots. They treated me like a wad of gum, and when we "went in" didn't even offer me the .0 per cent financing deal they were running - I showed them my credit rating sheet and they started talking options quickly, and I left.
Service is number one in my book. I hate to dread dealing with a place because they're a-holes. So I go where I'm treated well and that's where I buy if I can get what I want.
The VW and the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic were all cars I felt good about.The Jetta was a little more $ but mileage is 31-32 per gallon, and while it's not the fastest off the dime it's got some serious go in the get up department, so it's a good freeway car. City too, very comfortable and the logic of the interior is good, it's easy to drive in and operate compared to others IMO.
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GarthP2000
No good American cars anymore? Hhmmm,....
I have a 2001 Ford Taurus in very good condition that has been running jes peachy for me for over the past year and a half. And it's _proven_ reputation as to its worthiness and operability is well known, ... even (grudgingly) among many of those who have totally sworn off American made cars.
Another thing that many people forget when it comes to the quality of cars, -- maintenance. Whether you're talking about American or foreign, you don't keep it maintained, it's gonna turn into a pile o' crap anyway.
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ex70sHouston
I remember an old bumper sticker. "Tired, Hungry, Out of work. Then eat your forein car"
4chevy's and 1 Pontiac. Generaly I get great service 200000 miles. Just had a 2003 eat an engine $7530. ouch
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Watered Garden
At this point in time, I drive a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with a straight 6 engine that I've owned about two weeks, since I totaled my very nice 1999 Toyota Camry, which had 186,000 miles on it, was a 4 cylinder stick-shift and got 33 MPG. The Jeep is very comfortable, extremely nice, and gets about 15 MPG. But at least it's screaming bright red.
For the first twenty or so years of marriage we tended toward American-made, especially Mopar. Had a 1989 Dodge Spirit we put 208K miles on before we sold it. Had a Maverick we got from Mr. Garden's mom until it rusted out so bad the jack handle fell through the hole in the trunk onto the road. Had a Ford Escort, Plymouth Valient station wagon (POS), had a Dodge Dakota pickup, sweet truck, totaled by a 10 point buck as Mr. Garden was driving down a country road. At one point we had a Dodge Aspen which had a good engine but the body tended toward rust.
I had a 1999 Honda Civic that I dearly loved, followed by a Honda CR-V, which also met its doom after hitting a deer, and then the Camry.
After the untimely demise of the Dakota, we bought from a private seller a Ford Ranger pickup, club cab, manual transmission, very very nice indeed.
If humanly possible, we try to get manual transmission and a 4 cylinder engine. That way they are fun to drive and you also save money on gas.
We don't plan on having the Cherokee more than a couple of years, assuming the deer stay away from us.
WG
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Twinky
George, the English just invent jet engines instead...hard to imagine the world without jet engined planes, nowadays.
Japanese cars have been more popular in the UK as well. You always got more for your money. The bells and whistles that you pay extra for on other cars come as standard on Jap cars. Fuel economy is MUCH better.
Fuel economy on most US cars makes non-Americans roll their eyes in shock and horror.
Can you buy hybrids, or electric cars, in the USA?
My car...is a Vauxhall Astra 1994, good mileage. And I'm thankful; was a gift to me after another car got written off by another vehicle.
Previously had a
F ix
O r
R epair
D aily
and it really did need that sort of attention.
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so it was
No doubt the Japanese cars are great, I had a 1992 Geo Metro marketed by GM but made by Suzuki. I loved the car at nearly 50mpg and it was a 5 speed, laugh all you want but it was so light that it really would fly. It was traded for a Cavalier, I really liked that car too it ran great did an average 33 mpg highway and with very little maintenance other than the oil changes and such treated me well for many years. Traded that for a my dads old truck that had fewer miles, the truck and I didn't get along very well and since it was my house it had to move. I now have a car payment for a vehicle I think is just OK, and my old Cavalier? Still going strong
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Linda Z
There's strong peer pressure in my neighborhood to buy American cars, probably because I live fairly close to both the Chevy plant and the Ford plant. And being the patriotric American that I am, for the most part I've bought Fords and Chevys, with mixed results.
My last few cars were Fords. My last car before the one I have now was a 1997 Ford Contour. I loved the way it handled, it was just the right size to be comfy inside but not a "boat," it got decent gas mileage, and I was happy with it. But I wanted to buy a new car and Ford had discontinued the Contour. I'd had an Escort before but didn't want something that small again, and their other models were too big and not as economical. At my son's urging, I decided to jump ship and buy a Japanese car.
I've had my Toyota Matrix for almost 4 years and have no real complaints. I had to have the driver's side door lock mechanism fixed, but it was under warranty. And sometimes the radio/CD player gets a little squirrelly
(no offense, Ham), but other than that it's been great.
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RumRunner
Well I swear by Honda for cars. Have had two with NEVER a single problem. Both were well maintained but I have to say they handled well, never broke, pretty comfortable.
Now trucks are another story. I've been driving the same Ford F-150 for the last 13 years. With age a few things went awry but nothing major. It has been a real champ. Starts easy, extremely comfortable to drive, runs strong, five speed manual that is smooth as any stick I've driven (hmmm I should add that I have always owned a stick). Prior to that I had a Chevy Silverado that I think just as highly of as the F-150 but it wasn't quite as comfortable on a long drive. I don't think you can top American made trucks...
So this raises the question - If we can manufacture such good trucks - why are our cars noticeably deficient in comparison to Toyota and Honda?
Someone mentioned union labor either on this thread or on the auto bailout thread. It is interesting that a lot of Hondas are manufactured right here in the US - Tennessee to be exact. They have union labor etc - and still make a fine car and are still making a profit. I think (and this applies to the bailout thread) that the problem lies in the company management more so than labor unions. I am no fan of what unions have become - but if Honda can use American union labor, make good cars AND make a profit then there is really little excuse for the Detroit "Big Three."
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waysider
What criteria should we use to define an "American Made" car?
Honda, and its peripheral suppliers, for example, is one of the largest employers in the State of Ohio.
Thousands upon thousands of Ohio jobs depend on the success of Honda.
(Work conditions, however, have been the source of many horror stories I have heard people relate, especially at the peripheral suppliers.) Toyota is also a major employer in various U.S. cities. Then there is the other side of the coin. Cars that we might define as "American Made", such as "The Big Three", may, in reality, be merely assembled in the U.S.A. from parts imported from Canada or Mexico. And, American made parts might also be shipped to both of these countries for final assembly of what many consider an "American Made" car. It's really not a new phenomena. I worked for a Chrysler dealership doing new car prep in the mid 1980's. One of the first things we did was remove all the stickers that said "made/assembled" in anywhere other than the U.S.A. ------And there was a lot of sticker removal going on, believe you me.
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cheranne
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Lifted Up
Just like the driver, huh???
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now I see
Sudo and Rummrunner, what models of Toyota and Honda did you own?...I'm curious which models ran so well.
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ChasUFarley
Had one - a PT Cruiser. It was silver with silver ghost flames, black leather bra, chrome wheels. It was a Limited edition - all the bells and whistles. (I love loaded cars - I'm a princess!) Anyhow, it was great when it was just the three of us but when the second bundle of joy came along and then a dog, it got a little crowded.
Since they only have a 4-cyl engine (and a big one at that), I found my old Intrepid got better MPG's than the PT Cruiser got. I never did any repairs to the thing for the 3 years I had it - just maintenance. I'd take a GT (turbo) convertible version... in vanilla with woody sides.
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cheranne
Lucky you,I would want a silver one .
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Watered Garden
Answering a question not addressed to me, sorry, but I had to butt in.
I had a 1999 Civic coupe that got 35 MPG, was manual transmission, absolutely wonderful car, died a hero's death when some fellow pulled a hay wagon out in front of me with no lights on. A delightful little sporty car just perfect for me.
Honda CR-V, wonderful, reliable, hit 4 deer at various times and #4 won.
Toyota Camry, died of trauma at 186,000 miles, also a stick shift, also no problems, 33 mpg.
WG
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lindyhopper
We have a Toyota Sienna back in the State. Love it. Love the old dealer and service dept. It runs well, looks good, is comfortable to drive and can fit several 4 x 8 sheets of plywood in it with the rear door closed when the back seats are out.
In Grenada we drive what probably 60 - 70% of everyone else drives, a Suzuki jeep. Most of the ones here are "reconditioned." Ours is an "Eskudo" which I believe is the Samarai in the US. It is a good little car. I never thought much of Suzukis, but I am impressed. The gas milage isn't great and gas here is over 15 EC which is over 5 1/2 USD. Good thing the island is only 133 sq. miles most of which is without roads. It runs well though, and puts up with a beating driving around here.
............................................
As Waysider pointed out, "american made" does not necessarily mean american made. IMO it is about design. Not just in terms of looks but in terms of engineering. They can put out reliable long lasting trucks but can't make reliable, long lasting, fuel efficient cars? BS. They could but haven't. The technology and engineering has been there but it hasn't been used.
Did I mention they're the ugliest cars on the planet?
It is all about design. Money won't save the Big 3, design will, inside and out. Great design thrives on budget constraints. The US consistently grows some of the best architects in the world. We're building amazing buildings, beautiful, cutting edge, efficient, buildings all over the world. On the other hand, we have not been keeping up with the rest of the world when it comes to industrial design. The greatest industrial designers are mostly coming from Europe and Asia, where all the best cars come from.
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Nottawayfer
Currently we have a 2007 Nissan Frontier 4WD and a 2002 Honda Accord. We like them a lot. In the past, I've had Ford Pinto, Escort, and Taurus and a Pontiac Fiero. Hubby had Dodge Pickups and PT Cruiser. They just didn't seem to be as well made as our "foreign" cars. You really can't call them foreign anymore. They are all made here for the most part. I remember Honda Plant near Columbus, Ohio. I believe Toyota has plants in the midwest as well.
It is interesting that the amount that Ford, GM, and Chrysler have tied up in to their vehicles compared to the others. The unions have really screwed it up my opinion. Here's a link I found about the auto industry:
Auto Industry Comparisons
I'm a county worker, and times are lean with people unable to pay their property taxes. If I had to take a cut in pay to keep my job, I would. I can't imagine what it would be like to make $73 an hour. Maybe they could afford a pay cut as well if it meant keeping their job and benefits.
The 3 big auto companies should be ashamed to ask the government to give them a handout. They should learn from this experience. They way they've handled business has been a bad example to American business. I feel sorry for the people who have depended on havinig jobs with them for their life.
We had the Ford Proving Grounds where I live. It was one of the best places to get a job. Ford sold it to Chrysler over a year ago, and Chrysler said they would have many jobs available as of last April when they opened it up. It appears the only activity out there is those who lease the grounds for their own testing. When Ford sold, they told people either they had to retire or move to Michigan. Most who moved to Michigan were laid off shortly after relocating and bought houses. They will be stuck there for awhile.
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