I recently had this discussion with a few people and wondered if this was ever talked about on this car forum. Figured if it hasn’t, it’s probably a great topic that deals with the auto industry and people purchasing vehicles because they are “American”
I understand in the day, Japanese cars were produced in Japan and shipped to the states. Same as many others. American cars were produced in the states and sold all over, which people loved because it was a true American car.
Why are people still riding this train? Companies like Toyota and Honda are actually becoming or have become more “American” than the traditional GM and Ford. The link and article below show the 10 ten “American” cars. 7 of those 10 are what most uneducated Americans would call “foreign”
We disqualify models with a domestic-parts content rating below 75 percent, models built exclusively outside the U.S. or models soon to be discontinued without a U.S.-built successor.
See that’s the only thing I could actually come up with as well. But for those that don’t, its funny when they try to argue this.
This is a comment from a fellow friend.
I used to live minutes from the Toyota plant in Georgetown KY. That plant hires 10,000 American workers(including my wife), uses American steel, sources 90% of all the materials from local companies, offers college, day care, great pay and benefits, rewards to excellent employees and gives 10’s of thousands of dollars to local charities. We tour it every year when we visit and never get tired of seeing the whole process from rolled steel to the cars coming off the line. Even the engines are all made right on site. Next year they will be building the Lexus ES sedan and adding another 1000 jobs I think the only parts from Japan are some Hybrid parts. Fact not fiction.
Just funny how much people hate on Honda and Toyota without realizing.
That’s exactly what it is. I bet a large portion of non car enthusiast Americans don’t realize that their toyota/Honda/Subaru/BMW/Vw…etc are built in America without someone telling them or reading a window sticker. But by the time they find out they are too stubborn to admit that those “foreign” cars are American made, and won’t change their mind… Because nobody wants to admit they’re wrong… Cause murica’
Or some people just don’t like Hondas or Toyotas? People can have a preference without needing some deep rationalization or distaste toward other options.
Of course this has been discussed on a car forum, but the reason this isn’t discussed anymore is because the topic has been beaten to death. But feel free to indulge yourselves
Very true for WNY. Although sadly many workers take this employment for granted(IMO) domestic automakers have led to some great lives for many locally. Hopefully this can sustain and even grow.
There is a difference between having offshore operations in the U.S. and being headquartered, run, and owned here, by Americans. Honda and Toyota take those profits from the American market and bring them back to Asia. The guy making $30k a year might be American but the guy making $30m isn’t.
Having said that, I buy American cars purely based on their merits. I like torque, not appliances. If a foreign competitor had something better suited to my needs (good enough to overcome the GMS discount as well) I would not hesitate to jump ship. Unless it was a Honda or Toyota, I am biased against those two just for pushing the cars as appliances model on us. When I bought my Caddy earlier this year though I cross shopped an Infiniti, Benz, and Bimmer though.
I had thought this way as well but aren’t most large companies investor owned? Who’s to say where those investors reside (geographically). I don’t think Honda and Toyota have one guy sitting behind a big desk watching his / her bank account grow as each car is sold.
You realize this shows everything I already posted in the OP. lol
I dont hate on the F150, they are fantastic trucks. Personally I love what Ford has been doing. I just dont find the need for one right now since I have my S and the Legacy GT. S has been a fantastic Jap car which I’ve put 60k + in 3 1/2 summers and I’ve only had to replace the Clutch master/tires/oils. I still have yet to do brakes and my inspection guy wont pass it if they weren’t good enough to pass.
The subaru I love because it is an amazing winter car with rwd bias. Not to mention its my first turbo and exciting to drive.
I have 0 idea what maintenance on your Subaru has to do with any of this.
I was just pointing out the most popular vehicle in America is also built here and contains the most american made parts…The point being its not perception in that case it is in fact an American made vehicle made by Americas :lol:
They are, but GM and Ford are traded on the NY stock exchange whereas Toyota and Honda are traded in Tokyo. There are plenty of foreign investors in both but obviously you’re going to get more in your domestic market. Not to mention the unions/workers pension plans have significant investments in them. (Those that didn’t lose their asses in the bankruptcies)
my point was that I’d consider a Ford but I have 2 cars I like right now that just happen to be foreign.
As for your point of the f150, that was already shown in the first post. nothing from what you showed was different with links. They show the same order of cars and ford f150 being number 1. lol
