The subject of buying an American or domestic brand car vs a foreign car came up once again this week on FB . It is hard having the views I do on this car issue living in the "motor city" or what was once the motor city. Automobiles were conceived here! We Detroiters are very proud of our legacy. As well we should be. But we should not over look how this industry has also held back this city from other areas of progress. Prime example is the fact that Detroit is one of the only major metropolitan areas that has never had a good public transportation system.
Hmmm ? you think, why is that? well DUH the big three as they used to be referred to, wanted us all to buy cars! Every family needs 2 or three of them! and we will build our roads to spindle out in all directions so that it will be pretty impossible to make a good mass transit system and people will just have to have cars to get around. Prime example just recently the Bus system for Detroit and surrounding areas was in a huge crisis. They can not afford to keep up and repair the buses.
The Auto makers just paid out some bonuses this first quarter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/13/detroit-auto-workers-have_n_808496.html
Maybe they could donate some of that profit to the bus system? would show good faith in the city. And help people get to jobs that can not currently afford to buy one of their cars. I would stand up and applaud such a move. Nope,they had to pull a large amount of buses off the routes and now people have even less choices to get to where they need to go.Not the Auto companies problem?? Really? How many people riding buses to get to jobs would rather own a car? maybe 70%. Help them out! and it also shows good faith in the city that you want to stand behind your product.
I am sick to death of people that judge me for the car I drive. Screw them and their attitude. You are not paying my bills and you are not looking at my financial situation.I find many people will bend their convictions when it suits their own situation. I all along have not accepted the bullshit that me buying a Ford car is going to keep these companies alive. Them giving me a good product to buy with a good warranty,fair price and great gas mileage will keep me buying their cars. I truly believe that is what keeps people buying a product. Do you really think our DOMESTIC auto companies would have stepped up the game if they had not had competition from the foreign companies?
And don't tell me well the foreign auto companies were given all these breaks to open shop here ,blah blah. Write your congress people! That sucks on all levels of business, not just with the auto companies.
The Auto companies paid workers very well here for many years. The unions helped with that for sure! But then the unions got to greedy and to powerful and the auto companies could not compete. I do not begrudge ANYONE from making a good wage. But seriously people. I would have killed to have just half the benefits they had.We all know a few pretty lazy auto workers. Come on,how many do you know that were paid for a full day but just read books for half the day?. The stories are endless in this regard.The unions made it impossible to get rid of bad workers. I worked in a Teamsters company for 3 1/2 years. Good pay, Good insurance. And lazy ass people sleeping in the warehouse that they couldn't let go because the union protected them beyond reason. Well you get the good with the bad I suppose. I am not going to down unions because I feel they helped workers for many years and without them in most cases the companies would not offer a fair wage. But they should also not protect lazy good for nothings.
When I look to buy a car I look over all my choices. This is a HUGE purchase for me. Its right under buying a home as far as I am concerned. I don't make allot of money. I raised a child ,and helped her through college by buying smart. I tend to keep my cars for ten to twelve years if possible. So I look for warranty ,durability,what the car comes with (options) etc. And Price!Example I have say $15,000 to spend ,what car is going to give me the best value for this amount.I have owned Volkswagen,Chrysler,Toyota,Ford,Hyundai.in my driving life. So about half foreign half domestic. Lets not even talk about the Chrysler piece of craps (had two of them) ugh.
Overall Toyota had the best car. Best for my money,best warranty,great gas mileage. Repairs could be a bit costly,but it hardly ever needed any so that was never an issue.The 2002 Hyundai I am driving now is about neck to neck with the Fords I had,BUT the warranty is 40,000 miles better and it is better on gas. So there you have it. If my husband and I need to get a car soon . And we very well may as his Ford Escort ,14 years old!! is about to bite it. We will look at Ford products first. I do give the domestics brands a chance to wow me,I really do. But when I am making such an important buying choice I am going to go with what I feel is the best buy for me.
The article below was a very good one! Put out by Car and Driver Magazine (available at New Horizons Book Shop 13 mile and little mack roseville michigan .)
Sorry a plug for my brothers independent book store!! LOL!
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/proud-to-be-american-buy
I agree with most of what you say..except for Chrysler cars being crap. I currently own a 2008 Dodge Avenger that has been a awesome car. I've had lots of Chryslers through the years and always found them to be reliable, good cars. I have always believed that people have the right to buy whatever car they want, the best deal for their money. I just never in good conscience could justify buying a foreign car.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your view Jeanette and for being interested in my blog! I feel I probly had a couple lemons with the Chryslers but that was two too many times for me. Glad you have had good luck with them!
ReplyDelete