Looking for a mid-size domestic car recommendation

Hi, I am looking to buy a new mid-size domestic car
(Ford/GM/Chrysler). Any recommendations. I have an old Dynasty and
really like it. Am looking for something about the same size.

 

| Hi, I am looking to buy a new mid-size domestic car
| (Ford/GM/Chrysler). Any recommendations. I have an old Dynasty and
| really like it. Am looking for something about the same size.
|
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http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=279937

You can knock Chrysler off your list...Daimler owns them now (German), so it is
no longer considered "domestic" by most. That should narrow it down a bit. If
you're into gadgets and gimmicky features (that are overly complicated)...look
at the GM offerings. If you prefer basic/simple, look at Ford. Since you're
driving an old Dynasty, you're probably used to simple. The problem with Ford
is that you're probably looking at the Taurus/Sable, based on your
description...not sure I'd buy one of those. GM has better offerings in the
mid-size car lines (in my opinion)...but a word of warning...you will need to
spend a few days reading the manual to understand how to program
everything...they have LOTS of "automatic" features that you will need to
_thoroughly_ understand.

 

If you are looking for domestic, don't forget Honda, Toyota, Mercedes and
other people who make cars in the US.

The car companies are not really US companies any more; they are world
companies.

After all, Ford has plants in Germany, England, owns Vovlo, Jaguar and other
companies; GM has plants in Germany, England and other countries; it owns
Saab and other companies.

Jeff

 

Chrysler 300.

 

http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=279937

Steve,

If you like the looks I don't think that you can go wrong with the Monte
Carlo. I have some friends that have the standard offerings and some have SS
models. They range from 2001 to 2004 in year and none of them have had a
serious problem with them. They lack a little in the rear leg and head room
in my opinion but if that isn't an issue then you may like them.

GM lets you do the 24 hear test drive. But that's for those that have a good
credit rating. I know because I did the 24 hour test drive with a 2004
Silverado Z71. Glad I did because I saw no reason to get rid of my 1999
K1500. It's just as good a truck if not better.

Brian

 

Actually you are right Jeff, we live in a world economy now. The saying of
buy made is USA is getting to be less and less heard. I personally think a
world economy is healthy and will eventually help to keep the US from
supporting other countries.

Just think some day we'll be saying "Buy Made On Earth".
Oh well back to the Star Trek movie marathon....

Brian

 

My late father-in-law vowed he would never buy a foreign car, but when
we took over his '81 Dodge Mirada we found that it had been made in
Canada -- as was our '02 300M.

MB

 

My 1968 Pontiac GTO was made (assembled) in Canada. That's right a good old
American muscle car made in Canada. But hey that's OK. Everyone has to work
and eat.

Brian

 

Daimler Chrysler products are still considered DOMESTIC, whether built
in the USA, Mexico, or Canada. The ownership, whether German or not,
is shared worldwide by the stockholders of the company - and there are
more american stockholders than German, I'd venture to bet.

Better yet, just find another good low mileage later model Dynasty or
New Yorker (up to 1992) and keep on trucking!!!!

I just bought a Mercury Mystique to replace my 88 New Yorker. So far I
like it. It is smaller than the Dynasty/New Yorker, but has a better
body than the Cirrus/Breeze.(virtually all I looked at had perforated
hood leading edges at 6 years of age. Some even sooner)

A mid-size GM with a 3.8 (previous to the Gen II) is also worth
looking for, but I've found the bodies do not stand up well in our
salt/ice conditions. Rockers and door bottoms disintegrate.
My 95 Trans Sport does not have that issue (the"corvette station
wagon" or "plastic vantastic" has about 320,000KM on it and looks like
new)

 

That is correct. And Canadian plants have consistently produced some
of both the best "american" and "japanese" cars in the world.

The Cambridge built Corollas (and Matrix and Solara, among others) and
the Alliston built Honda products are every bit as good as anything
that comes off the boat. In my experience they (Canadian built
"american" cars) are better than the Mexican built vehicles
(contourr/mystique, Neon, and Crown Vic among others) and every bit as
good as ANYTHING that comes out of Detroit, Kansas City, or wherever.

The "windsor" engine was one of Ford Canada's major contributions to
Ford World, and now many of the Mod series engines that find their way
into "American built" fords are produced in Windsor, which, although
SOUTH of Detroit, across the Detroit river, is in, you guessed it -
CANADA.

 

Perhaps not by you, but you are not "most".

Cars built in North America of primarily North American parts are
considered "domestic" for legal purposes, regardless of whether the
nameplate says "Dodge" or "Nissan" or whatever.

 

Thats why they are German owned now. After the merger the high up major
stock holders in America sold all their stock and retired. The majority of
stock is now owned by high up executives in Germany so that is why they are
no longer considered an American company.

 

Nissan, Honda, and Toyota are still considered a Japaneses car even if they
do assemble some of them here. The final assembly of a car is a very small
part of the whole product when you add in all the parts such as design,
testing, project management, etc. Companies like then are still majority
owned by Japanese banks with the majority of profit and jobs going back
into the Japanese economy. They ship most of the parts here and do the
final assembly so they can market them as American to fool consumers.

 

Actually, the US gov't considers cars made in Canada and Mexico as domestic.

Jeff

 

http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=279937

Try looking at the Ford 500. You might also like some of the Volvo, Saab,
Jaguar and Mercedes offerings. These are all owned by American companies
(although Mercedes is owned by Diamler-Chyrsler, which is more German now).

Jeff

 

However, the cars made by GM and Ford for the US market are all built
in North America, except for the Aveo, that's built in Korea. I think
the OP and person replying were implying US-market Chevy, Buick,
Caddy, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury. Honda and Toyota are still
foreign companies, despite the US-market vehicles being built in the
US. The comment about Chrysler is a good point, it's now owned by a
German company, so it COULD be considered a German car company. Heck,
the Crossfire is a C320 I believe...

 

Well, actually based on SLK 320 (previous version), to be slightly picky.

DAS

 

Some statistics about distribution of shareholding:

Germany 55.4%
Europe, without Germany 20.7%
USA 16.2%
Others 7.7%

Shareholders exceeding 5 % total 17.6%
Deutsche Bank AG 10.4%
Emirate of Kuwait 7.2%

Free Float 82.4%
Institutional Investors 54.4%
Private Investors (1.8 million) 28.0%


I don't think there are a lot of "high up executives" as shareholders,
though it is correct to state that only a minority of the shares are held in
the USA. I don't know who holds the 17.6% of shares not quoted.

It won't surprise you to know that the Kuwaiti government shareholding
sometimes gets controversial...

More info:

http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0,,0-5-7196-1-70868-1-0-0-0-0-0-36-7164-0-0-0-0-0-0-0,00.html


DAS
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For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
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Take a look at a Mercury Grand Marquis GS. My one son just
purchased a brand new 2004 for under $19,000! Six passenger car
with room in the trunk for their luggage. High tech 25 MPG V8,
loaded, leather the works.



mike hunt

 

The new Chevy Malibu is getting very strong reviews in the press, and the
friend of ours who bought one is happy with it.

John