Looking for a mid-size domestic car recommendation

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by steve, Aug 15, 2004.

  1. steve

    steve Guest

    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.
     
    steve, Aug 15, 2004
    #1
  2. | 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.
     
    James C. Reeves, Aug 16, 2004
    #2
  3. steve

    Jeff Guest

    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
     
    Jeff, Aug 16, 2004
    #3
  4. Chrysler 300.
     
    Peter A. Stavrakoglou, Aug 16, 2004
    #4
  5. steve

    el Diablo Guest

    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
     
    el Diablo, Aug 16, 2004
    #5
  6. steve

    el Diablo Guest

    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
     
    el Diablo, Aug 16, 2004
    #6
  7. 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
     
    Minnie Bannister, Aug 16, 2004
    #7
  8. steve

    el Diablo Guest

    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
     
    el Diablo, Aug 16, 2004
    #8
  9. steve

    Guest Guest

    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)
     
    Guest, Aug 16, 2004
    #9
  10. steve

    Guest Guest

    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.
     
    Guest, Aug 16, 2004
    #10
  11. 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.
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Aug 16, 2004
    #11
  12. steve

    Eugene Guest

    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.
     
    Eugene, Aug 16, 2004
    #12
  13. steve

    Eugene Guest

    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.
     
    Eugene, Aug 16, 2004
    #13
  14. steve

    Jeff Guest

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

    Jeff
     
    Jeff, Aug 16, 2004
    #14
  15. steve

    Jeff Guest

    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
     
    Jeff, Aug 16, 2004
    #15
  16. steve

    Mike Levy Guest

    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...
     
    Mike Levy, Aug 16, 2004
    #16
  17. Well, actually based on SLK 320 (previous version), to be slightly picky.

    DAS
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Aug 16, 2004
    #17
  18. 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
    --
    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

    [........]
    ..............
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Aug 16, 2004
    #18
  19. steve

    MelvinGibson Guest

    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
     
    MelvinGibson, Aug 16, 2004
    #19
  20. steve

    John Horner Guest


    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
     
    John Horner, Aug 16, 2004
    #20
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