Posted on 05/11/2006 6:51:51 PM PDT by LowCountryJoe
Yet, by a crucial measure, the Sienna is far more American than the Mustang. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that were publicized in "Auto Industry Update: 2006," a presentation by Farmington Hills, Mich., research company CSM Worldwide, show only 65% of the content of a Ford Mustang comes from the U.S. or Canada. Ford Motor Co. buys the rest of the Mustang's parts abroad. By contrast, the Sienna, sold by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., is assembled in Indiana with 90% local components.
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"As the son of a union member, I'll admit that free trade is an issue with which I've struggled," says Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, who has a Nissan Titan pickup truck in his garage. But he adds: "Remember that every Nissan built in Canton also was engineered by Americans, for Americans."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Say again?
Does it matter? You obviously landed safely and probably flew at less cost than you otherwise could have if there was some kind of domestic parts composition requirement.
I've had mixed results. So far my 01 PT Cruiser has done a fine job (knock wood.)
You had a chevy Monza not a mazda.
Yes, she would appalled
Perhaps she would be appalled. But not appauled.
Ha! Ha! Yes, she would BE appalled!
Your PT Cruiser was Hecho En Mexico, not Made In USA.
Why do you appear more concern about the financial aspects of a company, than about the reliability of the product you are buying?
Do you believe that American car companies gave a second thought to your well-being? It's business, I want the best product, for my money. And I expect service after the sale. American car companies have not figured this out yet.
Just perusing the calculations, which appear to be accurate by the way, one has to wonder about the makeup of the shareholders of the domestic or foreign companies and what that does to the net benefits equations that you've listed.
Hey now! It takes a lot of stamina to fake the funk and go through the motions for $80,000 in real compensation. Just how much self worth do you feel one can have after playing Hearts for 12 straight years, day after day while watching the time clock?
Oh, they'll 'service' you after the sale, alright. The procedure involves sand, Vaseline, and metal shards.
Most American car dealers give the customer an experience resembling the video game Leisure Suit Larry. GM and Ford simply won't do anything about it.
No, I'm not looking for too much ;^) ... but Toyota's line of H1no trucks are becoming very popular with their conventional style (as aposed to the cab-over style).
One of these babies in 4X4 and a crew cab with a 10 or 12 foot dumping flatbed with sides would be very nice!
My Pathfinder is 10 years old (with a LOT less miles).. replaced the tires and battery. Looks and runs like new. And was built in Freemont California. GM and Ford have a long way to go before they earn back America's trust... if ever.
Still wanted to buy American, though. My next car was a Chevy Cavalier. Many small things wrong with it. Slow but steady deterioration. Engine burned out eventually, but GM "magically" fixed it at no cost to me. I suspect it was a "silent recall."
Still wanted to buy American, though. Next car was a Camaro. Was in the shop seven times in the first six months I owned it. Computerized engine controls wouldn't work right. Catalytic converter failed too. Sometimes I paid for the fix, sometimes it was warranty. Always I had to arrange for another ride while the dealer fooled around with it. Never got a loaner. Finally, they completely replaced the entire computer system. No charge to me for the replacement, but no compensation for the significant inconvenience. Needed constant work. Air conditioner re-charge, new heater core, replace engine, new winshield wiper motor, new windshield washer pump motor, yada, yada, yada, world without end, amen.
It's like they don't know how to finish the manufacturing process at the factory.
Anyway, next car was a Toyota. Perfect. Perfect the day we got it (I was married by then). Perfect every day after, till wife rolled it on a rainy highway near the National Synchrotron Light Source, where she was doing graduate work. Can't remember the name of the town.
Next car: another Toyota Celica. Perfect. Drove it till it rusted out, at about 140,000 miles (we live in the northeast, lots of salt).
Next car: a Toyota 4Runner. Fantastic. Only problem: rear door latch not designed well. Everything else, beautiful. 130,000 miles on it, with only routine maintenance.
Sorry, Detroit. I wanted to love ya. You just made it too hard. Toyota makes it easy. Oh what a feeling.
We've got 800 miles on it and I've yet to even drive it on the freeway, at night (altho wifey has on her Bingo runs!), or in the rain....but so far, so good. The automatic transmission seems to work well with such a small engine, but I don't run yellow lights like with the V6 Camrys. It's cute, tight, runs smoothly, and my around town (tons of stop and go, etc., and now constantly using A/C) mileage is around 33. I'd recommend one to anybody without reservation...we're optimistic this little baby will equal our satisfaction with our tiny Tercel which lasted from 1980 until 1997, when we went the bigger Camry route.
My 97 Nissan Hardbody has 164K on it and it was down for the first just two months ago. I had to put an alternator on at 163K. I guess it still averages out as a good little truck still.
Huh? No Pathifinders built at NUMMI; Corollas, Vibes and Tacomas only.
I am thrilled to have a vehicle that has been paid off for four years and all I have to do is put gas in it and change the oil. I drive on a lot of salty roads in the winter and rarely wash (never waxed) the car... there is not a speck of rust on it. Nissan is doing something right.
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