[hsalaw]

Rogers, who grew up in the rural outskirts of Detroit, said he remembered the days when "you did not consider buying a foreign car. Now, I think the attitude of America has changed."

Maybe it's attitude. I think it's price and quality. Detroit unfortunately caved to unrealistic, unsustainable union demands, and tried to pass the costs to the consumer, when Toyota and the other foreign makers could sell their cars for less.

[goldstategop]

If Detroit made great cars for a decent price, people would buy them. But people don't don't want to be manipulated into buying high priced junk just because its made in America. Toyota has built high quality motor vehicles at an affordable price. Instead of finding ways to shut Toyota out of the marketplace, American automakers should try to learn from Toyota's success and build cars Americans want. That's how the free market is supposed to work.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[psjones]

MY first car was a brand new Buick Skyhawk, it was a POS. We replaced with a Nissan van, had no problems with it. Our husbannd's ford mustang didn't last that long, replaced with a camry. When we replaced the van, we got a Ford, it lasted 8 years with about 140,000 miles (we had to be towed in to Vegas) while the Camry was still going strong and it was older.
We now have 3 Toyotas.

[dhs12345]

No, I think you hit the nail on the head.

Will some more comments to your statement...

For the longest time, American car manufacturers used American patriotism as a tool to take advantage of their American customers.

They could cut corners here and there and Americans would continue to buy. This changed for me in the 80s. I finally got tired of the crap that GM made and bought Toyota.

Now, if I buy American (only Chrysler), I don't spend a lot of money. Because the car will pretty much be "throw away" after 100K Miles, anyway. As it is designed to be -- throw away after the warranty expires.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Ditto, I got sick of lemons and bought a Mercedes 190D. I had it 18 years. In 2004, I replaced it with a Ford Taurus that has worked out well for me. I won't be GM due to my past experience with them. If foreign works for me, I will buy it. Competition has made the US manufactures better, but the Union agreements are dragging them down.

[proudofthesouth]

I bought my first new car ever several weeks ago. Its a Hyundai.

I bought foreign for:

The price
The gas mileage
The quality
The GREAT extended warranty

I didn't buy American cause of:

The price
The quality
Lousy warranty

[MamaB]

I have been driving a Honda Accord since my first one in 1992. The one I am driving now is a 1996 with a little over 44,000 miles on it. I would not drive any other kind. I am short and this is the perfect car for me. My granddaughter wants me to get a new one and let her have this one. She loves to drive it. Guess I will just have to wait and see.

[KC_Conspirator]

"They’re manipulating the yen and it creates big differences in what they can sell their automobiles for," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, DMich., who represents thousands of Detroit-based autoworkers.

No, its liberal democrats from Michigan who are wrecking their own economy. Michigan is the only state in the union still stuck in a recession while the majority of the country is experiecing historical economic growth and sucess.