What’s the most "American" car you can buy?

04 July 2006

In response to Cars.com “American Made Index” Find out which cars are most American.
and KWTX “All-American Cars Identified”. 30 June 2006 Waco Texas
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/3258221.ht...

You ask what’s the most "American" car you can buy? Simple. And how do you define "American"? Even easier. It’s the cars and trucks made by companies founded in America and companies that keep the profits in THIS Country! Ford & GM! Unfortunately Chrysler is now foreign owned (DaimlerChrysler). BMW, Honda/Acura, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan/Infiniti, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota/Lexus/Scion, Volvo and VW just to name a few imports, KEEP the PROFITS! That’s why they are in business! The Americans assembling the imports in this country do take home a paycheck but they are supporting the foreign company they work for using mostly foreign parts. The same Americans assembling these imports could be working for Ford or GM, take home a paycheck and keep the profits here. Some imports may have one or two model lines high in American content such as the Toyota Camry to persuade the consumer that they are “American.” But yet the same import company “Toyota” using a different name “Lexus” is only 3 percent American content and made in Japan due to the inability of the American workers skills per Toyota! Yet we are skilled enough when it comes time to buy Toyota/Lexus/ Scion imports.

The American automotive companies do use parts from abroad as the same with the imports, however the imports use more parts from abroad and acquire most of them from their country. If the American automotive companies used only American parts and the imports continue to use the cheapest parts available to them from any country of their choice… Well, I think you can figure what would happen.

I wonder what America would be if Americans where to make an effort to buy from their friends, family and neighbors such as Ford, GM and other American companies?

These automotive import companies are imbedding themselves into the “American” culture and Americans believe it hence this article. Be aware, these import companies are wolf’s in sheep’s clothing. There would be nothing better for them to see Ford and GM, the “American competitors” fail. By the way have you noticed there appears to be support lent to the imports from the media?

Some Americans believe if they own a USED import their not part of this equation. Sadly they are. They purchase replacement parts, keep the imports in circulation and most of all increase the trade-in value of that model while reducing that of a domestic.

P.S. If you own an import, leave the American flag off the car. It doesn’t make it American, and the rest of us find it to be a hypocritical statement. If you want to put a flag on your import, use the one where the profits return. The American flag demonstrates how embedded the foreign countries have become and their success at taking money deep from your pockets only to leave you with an enormous trade deficit as they favor the spoils.

Mark Roberts

Although late, I have read your comments. May I remind you that American auto companies are the ones who are moving to parts manufactured by other nations as their products are inferior and subject to more recalls than others.
I never thought I would own a foreign vehicle, however after 30 years of American made and being told the defects (while under warranty) were "operating as designed", I was saddened yet forced to look elsewhere. Perhaps American companies need to look at "why" they are failing, not at accusing those of us who choose to wisely spend our dollars.

So Mark says you should buy GM and Ford so the profits stay here. Does he mean the profits that the CEO's of GM and Ford are making for shutting down the plants and laying of American workers in America and moving them to Mexico and Canada? ALL CARS including Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota or whoever are all Mexican and Canadian, not American. The "American" Chevy Aveo is entirely manufactured and assembled in the Bupyong plant in South Korea and shipped as a whole to America therefore making it an import. All the parts for the "American" Ford Crown Victoria are made in Mexico, shipped to St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada where the car is assembled and than they are shipped to America therefore making it an import. The profits for these vehicles are divided among the fats cats at GM and Ford and than used to build new factories in Mexico. How is this money staying in America if no one here except the rich CEO's works for them? If you’re going to spend your money on a car you might as well buy one you know is going to run no matter where they are made. Honda and Toyota have much more reliable reputations then the Mexican o I mean "American" cars.
P.S.-Putting an American flag on a Mexican car is a hypocritical statement. I think Mark has a confederate flag on his car anyway because he sounds like a hillbilly.

The crown vic is not shipped from mexico to St.Thomas to be finished it is built in St.Thomas from start to finish. The cars you're refering to are built completly in Mexico where they relocated the assembly since they are closing the St.Thomas plant completly and we are now out of work. The only cars that have ever made it to St.Thomas from mexico were recalled cars that they messed up and it was cheaper to send them here than back to mexico. You should get your facts straight Steven before you start running your mouth.

I have to laugh when I hear "keep the profits here" as one of the definitions of an "American" company. So you know my qualification to speak, I worked in the american automotive industry for 25 years as a "contract" designer. That means I did the same job as "direct" employees, I sat in the same seat as those "direct" employees.....was LOYAL to GM all for about 65% of what they made in wages and benefits. That was BEFORE GM laid off about 3000 American engineering people and opened a "tech center" in India to help with the "shortage" of American engineering talent. I was one of those laid off after being abused by them for many years.
Let me say that I have NEVER bought a foreign car.....but my next car will NOT be an "american" one. G Richard Wagoner (GM Chairman) took home 10 Million dollars in salary and bonus last year. Alan Mullaly (Ford CEO) took home 32 million. MANY American designers and engineers took home unemployment check. Regarding "profits".....in April of 2003, if you had bought GM stock (for profit?) you would have paid 34 dollars a share....GM trades at 34 dollars a share today, off a LOW of 18. In April 2003 if you had bought Toyota stock (TM) you would have paid 45 dollars a share.....today TM trades at 122 and you would have realized a profit of 270% of a HIGH of 135. I have had to remake myself at the age of almost 50 years old.....to put food on the table for my family......the American automotive CEO's don't give a CRAP about Americans and they have destroyed the Great State of Michigan with their gross incompetence in the running of these companies. MY next car will be a Toyota!

Well sorry for mixing up the facts Tim but this still proves the same point that I was trying to make. These "American" cars are Mexican and Canadian. I actually would rather the car be built in Canada but it looks like they're shutting down the Canadian plants too. Thanks for clearing that up and now at least people can hear the true storyies from the actual employees who have been screwed.

A Motortrend article regarding how American the new Mustangs are-

http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/112_n...

I love the last paragraph on page 2. A perfect example of how some hard-headed people think even when the facts are right in front of them.

Steven Hayes- You are entirely incorrect the engine and transmission for the crown victoria are both made in the United States. As for the profits they do stay in America and help support our military, schools, police, roads, etc. with their tax dollars. As far as quality Ford has taken more top spots in quality ratings than any other car maker through J.D. Powers and Associates. Even if some cars like the Ford Fusion are just assembled in Mexico the profits to create tax dollars still stay in the United States. So help your country and buy a real American car such as Ford or GM. This country cannot afford to be without our automobile manufacturing by American Companies.

P.S. Whats wrong with Mark having a confederate flag on his car? We need more people like that in the U.S. and less like you.

Also are you living on goverment assisted dollars?

Brian Milidrag- You are a blooming idiot.

I once saw a rusted toyota traveling down the road,and I had to pull over and laugh.Their was a bumper sticker on the back that said...Veitnam vet.. and dam proud of it!..If he was soo dam proud,maybe he should support his country and buy AMERICAN!

I believe I already said I was incorrect about the Crown Victoria but your wrong anyway because they don't make them at all anymore. It is also sad that you think any profits made help support anything but the bank statements of the CEOs. I was also glad to see Ford's quality ratings in JD Powers and Associates; maybe they can finally turn things around before all their buyers leave. I do like the new Fusion. Even Rick's car, the Mazda Miata, won Ford an award. Nothing represents America more than a Mazda Miata. JD P & A is good for quality of new cars but you may want to pick up a Consumer Reports Annual Auto Guide to check the reliability of a car down the road. Don't take my word for it, go educate yourselves. The American car industry isn't losing ground for no reason. I still think people are missing my point. I'm not saying not to buy American cars, I'm saying don't limit yourself to buying certain cars even cars you really don't like because you want to support your country because it really doesn’t matter anymore. It all comes down to what you like. If you find a Ford Fusion at a good price and you like it, buy it, it's a good car. Just keep your mind open to new things, you might like them more. I've already gone over the term "real American car". No comment is needed for the confederate flag remark. The ignorance speaks for itself. Rick is from Cincinnati so that explains it. His blatant racism is excusable. As far as my job, I'm busy all day giving people like Rick MRI's of the brain so I don't have to worry about losing my job. I can't speak for Brian but he sounds a little more educated about the auto industry than Rick. Brian only worked for them for 25 years, what would he know?

Steve, I am on my 32nd year wih Ford Motor Company so I am very well educated at what I say when it comes to the auto industry. I am an industrial machine repair man their. It seems we both work on brains but you in humans and me on machines. I am not in anyway trying to get into a major argument with you just trying to state some facts and points as are you. As for the racism thing, dont get me started. But let me just say this over 90% of people in jail are black, street gangs and so called thugs in the city are black, and more robberies, breaking into houses, and crimes committed are by blacks. I have no problem with black people at all, just those types which there is a name for but I will not say. I understand we also have our white trash, but it seems not near as bad. I also use to live in Atlanta so I am very familar with a lot of these events.

Also, I dont drive a mazda miata nor would I ever buy a mazda. They are only about 25% Ford anymore and are to Japanese for me. I drive a Ford F-250 and I am proud of it. It gets the job done with ease compared to some Toyota Tundra POS.
Have a good one.

Rick, I would have to agree. You have stated nothing but facts. They are sad yet true. I have not had any reason to buy a truck yet but if I do it probably will be a Ford. The Ford F-150 is #1 on the most domestic parts. Here is the site where I found the ratings.

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp...

The article does go on to say that these "domestic part index" ratings lump US and Canada together. I don't think this should be done. You might as well include Mexico if you’re going to include Canada. How much more does Canada help the U.S. economy than Mexico does? Some ratings actually rate "North American" content, which does include Mexico so watch out if your buying a new car. Don't get me wrong I actually would rather the cars be built in Canada than Mexico but it shouldn't be factored in the ratings.

It's a global world jackasses. Get over it! My dad has sold Chevy's for 30 yrs. So don't go shooting your mouth off that i support foreign cars. However out of the 4 makes run in NASCAR Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota the Toyota is the only assembled by American workers. Then there is the confusing issue of ownership. As Chrysler is now DaimlerChrysler. General Motors owns 49 percent of Isuzu, 20 percent of Fuji Heavy Industries, which produces Subaru, and 20 percent of Suzuki. Ford has a 33.4 percent share of Mazda, and “DaimlerChrysler owns 37.3 percent of Mitsubishi.” GLOBAL!

Assembled by american workers because it is cheaper to have the assembled here then to be assembled in Japan and shipped here. However the profits go back to Japan...We already covered this.

Steve wrote:

I believe I already said I was incorrect about the Crown Victoria but your wrong anyway because they don't make them at all anymore. It is also sad that you think any profits made help support anything but the bank statements of the CEOs. I was also glad to see Ford's quality ratings in JD Powers and Associates; maybe they can finally turn things around before all their buyers leave. I do like the new Fusion. Even Rick's car, the Mazda Miata, won Ford an award. Nothing represents America more than a Mazda Miata. JD P & A is good for quality of new cars but you may want to pick up a Consumer Reports Annual Auto Guide to check the reliability of a car down the road. Don't take my word for it, go educate yourselves. The American car industry isn't losing ground for no reason. I still think people are missing my point. I'm not saying not to buy American cars, I'm saying don't limit yourself to buying certain cars even cars you really don't like because you want to support your country because it really doesn’t matter anymore. It all comes down to what you like. If you find a Ford Fusion at a good price and you like it, buy it, it's a good car. Just keep your mind open to new things, you might like them more. I've already gone over the term "real American car". No comment is needed for the confederate flag remark. The ignorance speaks for itself. Rick is from Cincinnati so that explains it. His blatant racism is excusable. As far as my job, I'm busy all day giving people like Rick MRI's of the brain so I don't have to worry about losing my job. I can't speak for Brian but he sounds a little more educated about the auto industry than Rick. Brian only worked for them for 25 years, what would he know?

The crown victoria most certainly is still being produced. The vehicle is being produced for fleets, and the other two divisions are still selling dressed up versions of the same car. The bottom line is to buy what you like, domestic or otherwise. In a country that is unfortunately losing it's very identity it is hard to say what is american and what is not. How many of you folks shop at certain large chain stores and buy things? Take a look where the products are made. To answer the never ending question of "What is most American", the sad bottom line is cheap labor. Who's fault is this? Why it is our own. The cheaper the product, the more we just eat it up.
American cars up until the late 80's have traditionally been large, RWD, and had body on frame construction. HMMM, what present car offers such things, the Crown Victoria. If crown victoria was produced by toyota on mars I would still say it is traditionally most american. But what is American?

Uh, profits staying in the U.S.? What profits are you speaking of? I didn't think Ford or GM were turning profits, but then again I always thought profits were divided amongst shareholders, which could be anyone in any country. I have stock in Toyota because they simply produce a better product overall. As a stockholder, their profits have been going into my pockets, and although I lived in Japan for 4 years via the US military, I am an American. If I were going to buy a truck it would have a Duramax or a Cummins. If it's a car for fuel economy, reliability, and overall cost value, Honda and Toyota own GM and Ford. If you don't beleive it you are in denial. Look at the figures and facts. Who is bankrupt? What companies spend all their time lobbying the Federal Government for help instead of adopting better controls? My point? It's obvious to me that from a shareholders standpoint, Americans own more stock in Honda and Toyota than they do in Ford and GM because we prefer to support companies that actually WILL turn a profit. Dont get me wrong, I love a GOOD chevy car. Like the new z06. Or a saturn sky redline. It's just that the fat cats at the Big 2 are grossly mismanaging their companies.

Haha...Im just speechless at such an uneducated comment

Mark Roberts wrote:

04 July 2006
In response to Cars.com “American Made Index” Find out which cars are most American.
and KWTX “All-American Cars Identified”. 30 June 2006 Waco Texas
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/3258221.ht...
You ask what’s the most "American" car you can buy? Simple. And how do you define "American"? Even easier. It’s the cars and trucks made by companies founded in America and companies that keep the profits in THIS Country! Ford & GM! Unfortunately Chrysler is now foreign owned (DaimlerChrysler). BMW, Honda/Acura, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan/Infiniti, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota/Lexus/Scion, Volvo and VW just to name a few imports, KEEP the PROFITS! That’s why they are in business! The Americans assembling the imports in this country do take home a paycheck but they are supporting the foreign company they work for using mostly foreign parts. The same Americans assembling these imports could be working for Ford or GM, take home a paycheck and keep the profits here. Some imports may have one or two model lines high in American content such as the Toyota Camry to persuade the consumer that they are “American.” But yet the same import company “Toyota” using a different name “Lexus” is only 3 percent American content and made in Japan due to the inability of the American workers skills per Toyota! Yet we are skilled enough when it comes time to buy Toyota/Lexus/ Scion imports.
The American automotive companies do use parts from abroad as the same with the imports, however the imports use more parts from abroad and acquire most of them from their country. If the American automotive companies used only American parts and the imports continue to use the cheapest parts available to them from any country of their choice… Well, I think you can figure what would happen.
I wonder what America would be if Americans where to make an effort to buy from their friends, family and neighbors such as Ford, GM and other American companies?
These automotive import companies are imbedding themselves into the “American” culture and Americans believe it hence this article. Be aware, these import companies are wolf’s in sheep’s clothing. There would be nothing better for them to see Ford and GM, the “American competitors” fail. By the way have you noticed there appears to be support lent to the imports from the media?
Some Americans believe if they own a USED import their not part of this equation. Sadly they are. They purchase replacement parts, keep the imports in circulation and most of all increase the trade-in value of that model while reducing that of a domestic.
P.S. If you own an import, leave the American flag off the car. It doesn’t make it American, and the rest of us find it to be a hypocritical statement. If you want to put a flag on your import, use the one where the profits return. The American flag demonstrates how embedded the foreign countries have become and their success at taking money deep from your pockets only to leave you with an enormous trade deficit as they favor the spoils.
Mark Roberts

Are you by any chance the Mark Roberts that used to own the Honda dealership in Bartlesville?

I find it funny how everyone on here goes well American companies are laying people off, its because inconsiderate Americans purchase foreign automobiles thus causing lay offs,maybe if you would stick with purchasing an American automobile they wouldnt have to lay people off!! if so many people are buying imports and not American how can they afford to keep all there employess its called common sense!! Buy American keep the jobs!!! and support America!! I Support General Motors and Ford 100% screw off imports!!! If you want to build more revinue into this country triple tax the import car manufactores for sending there shit boxes here!! and for that TOyota commerical thats says the Tundra is built here in America i dont think so!! try all parts content made in china so thank you very much for false advertisement!!

Rick....all you do is call me names.....your comment does not address ONE point I made and you call yourself an "educated Man"? Can you follow and comprehend a sentence? An update: I just bought my first foriegn car....a 2008 Lexus IS250. Profits stay here?....what a joke. No GM trades in the high 20's....only profits being made are Allan Mullaly....G.Richard Wagoner....et al. Just for the record...I went into the Cadillac dealership to get the new 2008 CTS. They wanted 582 dollars a month on a lease.....nice car....they are selling them apparently....but way higher than the competitors.
Why is it exactly that you think I am a "blooming idiot"
I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you were reading someone else's blog.....otherwise, I think it is YOU who are the blooming idiot, and certainly NOT eduacated to any reasonable competent standard.