No traffic on the Crossfire?

Do you

Yep, I do. I had a good source for American-made shoes up until just a
short while ago, and then the company (Dexter) was sold, and production
moved from Maine to China. Rats!

I tend to favor cars that are built in my own neighborhood. As I sit, I'm 2
miles from Sterling Heights assembly, for example. I bought my Duster when
it was being produced there (Stratus/Sebring now). I bought my Horizon when
it was built at Jefferson Ave. Assembly (site of the Grand Cherokee now.)

I will accept a Canadian substitute, like my Intrepid and my Caravan. I
avoid Mexican-produced and Japanese-produced like the plague. I can't
afford the German stuff. (Nor would I want to.)

I actively try to avoid Chinese-made products. I'm not always successful,
but I *do* look, and if there's an option, I take it. It's hard to avoid
when shopping at places like Walmart, however.

Says you.

--Geoff

 

No, but when I hear "domestic car" I think of something my grandfather
and father could buy, not any "assembled in USA" deal.

 

Thanks, guys for the correction about Chris Bangle's origin. Fortunately it
doesn't matter regarding my main point, that a designer is a designer and
that nationality is immaterial. Commercial success is the proof of the
pudding.

Or will somebody suggest that someone in the US sneaked in Chris Bangle to
have a go at undermining BMW...?...
Conspiracy theories live!
;-)


DAS

 

Why? What is your objective?

Don't you care in the first instance about quality, price, design?

DAS
--
---
NB: To reply directly replace "nospam" with "schmetterling"
---
.........................

I > avoid Mexican-produced and Japanese-produced like the plague. I can't
..........................>

.........................

 

A Jetta?

 

Hard to find a Studebaker, an Edsel, or a DeSoto these days.

 

Says reality. Open your eyes.

Cheers,

C

 

My objective is to keep myself, my family, friends and neighbors gainfully
employed and earning a comfortable living.

Period.

Quality and design are usually quite good in American-made products, BTW.
Try some and you'll see.

--Geoff

 

I can't

Go to carsdirect.com and price a Jetta vs. the domestic competition. It
extracts a nearly $3k premium over a Neon for example.

There's such a thing as paying too much, even if it's 'affordable'.

--Geoff

 

I don't think this is fair -- the Jetta is aimed a spot higher than the
Neon. I think the Neon would more fairly compare against VW Golfs.

 

And you'll do that by sacraficing the best price and/or the best bang
for the buck? Bully for you. It must be nice to be able to afford to
behave that way.

Best,

C

 

Not to mention that the Jetta is a complete piece of crap. My father in
law has been buying Jettas for years and has complained about them all.
(why does he keep doing it...dunno)

Cheers,

C

 

And you'll do that by sacraficing the best price and/or the best bang

Are you arguing that it doesn't make sense to buy anything that doesn't meet
those criteria? I think your forgetting that most automotive purchases are
emotional, rather than purely rational decisions.

--Geoff

 

Whoops, meant "you're". Sorry.

--Geoff

 

A car is hardly an emotional purchase for me. Other than the fun
factor, it's just transportation....an expense....a hole you keep
pouring money into whether it's gas, insurance premiums, repairs, etc.

While I'll admit the fun factor can influence the purchase, I'd like to
think that overall value is the deciding factor. So if you can ignore
that in an effort to somehow benefit your neighbor, that's great.
Personally, I think that short term help just encourages long-term pain.
A company that can't win your business based on value really shouldn't
be in business and will ultimately succumb to market forces and meet
that fate. I'm not saying Chrysler is one of those companies (after
all, I did buy a 300M), but some of these newer models should give one
pause.

Cheers,

C

 

It might surprise you to know that I have. I have been travelling on and
off to the USA for 30 years and have borrowed or rented cars on a number of
occasions, and I try to make it an 'American' car where possible.

Mixed feelings.

In the mid-seventies I had this large car (model forgotten) with this huge
engine -- 300 cubic in -- and it was very spacious and quite impressive on
entry. At over 90 mph it was the worst road-holding I have ever seen, with
the car jouncing about and being difficult to hold in a straight line. I
rationalised it with the thought that these cars were made for cruising
quietly at 55 mph and running all manner of utilities such as
air-conditioning (practically unknown in western Europe at the time), and
for that it wasn't bad.

Over the years the cars haven't been special/outstanding, but that's no
criticism. In recent times I had a Cavalier, and, I suppose, it was similar
to an equivalent GM car made in Europe.

Last April I rented a Sebring convertible -- in LA, of course -- for a
few days. It was rather nice, and if I could get it for the US price here
in the UK maybe I would consider buying it. However, given the actual
conditions, would I prefer it over the comparable Mercedes CLK Cabriolet I
do own? No.


DAS

 

But still, it's in the range of what most people pay for new cars. If a Neon
is at the upper limit of what you can afford, you're hardly typical.