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12 Oct 12
Subject:
North American factories have done more for America than the Japanese ever will. People have been brainwashed and pay a high dollar for a plain jane jap mobile. Behind ever car dealership showroom is a repair shop, Japanese or North American. People buy out of country products and blame the government because there are no good jobs. Wake up America. Most big inventions are not made by Japanese but Americans or Europeans. All the Japanese can do is copy and subsidize the hell out of their products.
9 April 12
Subject: Foreign Cars
There are many false arguments trying to justify buying foreign cars over American cars. Now that you cannot argue that foreign cars have better quality we now hear "My foreign piece of junk is made in the U.S.A. so it is providing American jobs". My response? If Toyota and Honda and Nissan go out of business there will still be American cars and American jobs building them. If Ford and Chevrolet and Chrysler go out of business does anyone think that Toyotas will still be made in America? There is no good argument to buy any vehicle other than an American car, made in America, by an American company!
There is hope. Last Summer I saw a large trailer with "Toyota Racing" advertised all over the sides heading up the freeway. I assume it was carrying several Toyota racing cars and going to the nearby race track for an upcoming race. The trailer was being pulled by a Silverado.
3 Dec 11
Subject: Flying the American Flag??
I noticed two Japanese car dealerships near my home in San Antonio were'nt flying the American flag...they had huge Texas flags, but no U.S. flag...
Is there a prohibition of Japanese businesses in America from flying the U.S. flag...or are they making a statement??
Mike in San Antonio, TX
2 May 11
Subject: Here's what I send to as many people as I can
Please feel free to copy any or all of it.
Now that we know about all the hidden defects in Japanese vehicles, and that we’ve been fed a line of bull on their quality, shall we keep buying them and continue losing jobs?
Or is enough, enough?
I’m talking about the millions of Japanese vehicles we buy every year that sends billions in profits to Japan, making us Japan’s cash cow!
This costs us hundreds of thousands of jobs in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, etc. And the sorry impact of this trickles down to ALL 50 states.
As to jobs we get from the Japanese building some vehicles here (majority come by boat from Japan), they’re outweighed some 6-7 to 1 by jobs we lose and the billions in Japanese profits that are drained from our economy.
And when you add this reality to what we’ve recently learned about safety defects in their vehicles, we need to smell the manure!
Since 2000, the USA has reported Toyota flaws have taken 89 lives. Odds say there are more.
In addition to deadly acceleration potential on ALL Toyota models (6200 complaints, 89 deaths... problem still unsolved?), reported are steering flaws on Corollas, rusty frames on Tundra and Tacoma trucks, rollover, steering, and hybrid problems with Lexuses, corrosion and instability in Siennas, stability-control problems in Sequoias, and 270,000 faulty engines that could stall (ugh if it happens in an intersection.)
And AP has reported “Toyota faces more than 200 lawsuits in the U.S. tied to accidents involving defective automobiles...and lower resale value of Toyota vehicles. . . . .” USA Today: “Toyota gets another subpoena.” This time it’s from a Federal grand jury for allegedly stalling disclosure of faulty steering rods.
Honda also has problems. Some models have potentially deadly airbags and fire hazards. They go back years, but we’re just NOW hearing about them. Anything else?
So, talk about Japanese quality...HOGWASH!
How could we be such fools for so long? Well, for 20 years or so, publications have been recommending, brain-washing us, selling Japanese. Does this pass the smell test? Have palms been greased?
But there’s hope: Considering today’s 14 million or so jobless, those sucked in by “JapaneseCaritis,” are reflecting: “Hey, just maybe we’ve made things worse.” Hopefully, such people when they get their next cars or trucks, their common sense will push them back to AMERICAN.
Anyway, because we're such suckers, they just have to love us in Japan. We’re major supporters of their economy.
In return, can we build, sell American cars and trucks in Japan? Nope! They impose barriers that make it just about impossible. The Japanese won’t buy “nuttin” from us! They’ve even refused to buy our apples! Yet they come over here and sell 3-4 million cars and trucks every year! That’s fair?
Square shooters, NOT! They’ve been screwing us like this for years. They get away with it because their lobby spends big $ in Washington. They get Congress to kid itself that Japan’s UNFAIR trade is “FREE" trade.
As to the Japanese covering up defects, they have a saying: “If something smells, put a lid on it.” Well, that’s not our way. For this, the US has fined Toyota 16.4 million!
And consider this: Japanese auto-making is run from Japan. So, the USA has much less say about what they do. So, we don’t get the same protection we get with American vehicles.
Back to the economy: We need to think about the jobs we lose when we drive Japanese.
So, let’s resist the smooth BS advertising the Japanese flood us with and remember “Charity begins at home.” DRIVE AMERICAN!
And to diehard Toyota owners: Just because an electronic problem was found not the reason for some Toyota vehicles’ deadly uncontrolled acceleration, that doesn’t mean the problem has been resolved. It’s still exists. So, keep your seat belt buckled, foot ready to brake, hand ready to shove into neutral, and have good insurance.
Friendly Farmer
2 May 11
Subject: Test
MY SOAP BOX (if you agree with me, please pass these messages on)
ARBITRATION is a travesty of justice! Big business uses arm-twisting contracts to force it on little people (agree or you're fired, or you don't get this job, house, car, apt, insurance). You lose your right to go to court. So, cry out against arbitration! Push Congress to amend laws that enable big business to shove arbitration down our throats. Arbitration greatly reduces big companies' chances of having to pay for its wrongs. Ordinary people get screwed over by biased-for-big business arbitrators.
DRIVE AMERICAN! Those of us who drive foreign, especially, Japanese and S. Korean, just don’t realize the hundreds of thousands of jobs this costs Americans. Those two countries are feeding on our economy. With 25 percent of our kids living at or beneath poverty level, and 14 million or so of us without jobs, we should support foreign countries’ economies at the expense of our own? Think about it.
Unsigned
16 Dec 06
My last four cars -all were new when I bought them --were American made --and I never had a problem with any of them. They didn't "blow up" or fall apart. I drive a 98 Ford Explorer now and have never had a problem with it beyond normal wear and tear. Anyone who believes Japanese cars are better than American cars is a victim of misinformation and propaganda. Does Japan produce quality cars? Yes, they do but American cars are just as good. And so, having a choice, I will always look out for my country by buying American. I will never buy a Japanese car. When I was in the Air Force, I bought a new Ford Aerostar. Before it was a year old I got orders to Japan and had to sell it. You know why? Because Japan doesn't allow American cars to be sold in their country or even for American service members to bring theirs temporarily. Given that fact and the fact that American cars are just as good I think you can understand why I only drive American. I find it ironic that the poorest among us, the people who live in the country where there aren't many jobs and consequently don't have a lot of money, are the people who have the most traditional values and continue to buy American. It's ironic because those that can afford it the least demonstrate their patriotism by buying American.
The next time I see a Japanese car with an American flag sticker on the bumper, I'm going to rip it off --or paste a Japanese flag over it. Because they have no right to wave the flag. They've shown where their loyalties lie. And don't tell me "oh, you can't say a car is built in the USA anymore. They're made in Mexico and Canada, etc --BULLSHIT. I don't care of they're made in the heart of the USA. If the name on the car says Toyota or Honda, guess where the profit made when that car is sold goes. That's right. Straight to tokyo. Straight to Mitsubishi. Straight to the same companies that built the machines that killed our father, uncles, and grandfathers.
Ray
21 Dec 06
Nice site. I hope there are others like it. Last month a local newspaper editorial stated that foreign auto companies were somehow saving the domestic auto industry because they were manufacturing one of every three vehicles made in the United States. How is it saving our industry when all the profits from these foreign plants go back to their respective countries? And how does the loss in profits, domestic market share, and jobs benefit our industry? It is unfair for these companies to be operating in our country. Their automobile markets are closed to us and the cost for them to manufacture cars is less because in their home countries their companies don't have to pay for health care for their workers. They have socialized medicine. Foreign companies are doing nothing but destroying our industry.
Jay Shores
24 Dec 06
You know what burns me up is when I drive around the neighborhood, and I live in a newer, fairly affluent neighborhood, and in most of the garages, I see a set of Japanese cars and a BMW. What the heck are these people thinking? Are they total sell outs? Are they so penny-conscious that they are afraid to take a "risk" on an American car? I mean, I know driving an American car is not a risk but you know how these sheep swallow propaganda. Drive American!
JB
26 Dec 06
Great site! I agree with everything here. The biggest problem with the way Americans are abandoning American made cars is what it represents. Americans don't have faith in their country, their brothers, or themselves. It is apparent that this country is on a downhill slide. When a country no longer believes in itself, it cannot survive. Everyone is in it for themselves. Immigrants and minorities and democrats, who don't appreciate what this country has given them are happy to see this and hasten our country's demise by buying foreign cars. That's why every democrat you know drives a toyota or a honda or, if they can afford it, that champion of the liberal class, the volvo. They are ecstatic that America is failing. Well the battle ain't over yet! I am fighting back! I won't ride in a Japanese car and I only buy American! Keep up the good work.
Mark
3 Jan 07
Are you aware of the disaster looming for the American auto industry? American-made vehicles are the best ever produced, yet the industry is in one of its worst slumps ever. Some time ago our politicians decided that Toyota and Honda and other foreign automakers should build their vehicles here in the United States. These foreign automakers have a huge advantage over American manufacturers because they have no pensions in the United States and have no unions! If the American public continues to buy foreign vehicles, they will have helped to destroy the U.S. auto industry!
Rich
9 Jan 07
I might be a little olde fashioned. I don't know what a liter is when it comes to cars. I s till think in terms of inches. Like 318 cubic inches. And I just don't get the attraction of these so called Luxury cars like these japanese Lexuses and Infinitis. Is that the same company? I don't even know. But anyway why would anyone think fo these tiny little Japanese cars as luxury cars? If I want a roomy luxury car, I'll get a Cadillac! Not shoehorn myself into something that looks like very other car on the road.
Will in SE Georgia
9 Jan 07
I like it. Maybe if enough people get the word, japanese cars will lose their value! And people will be scrambling to sell their imported cars while they still can. And because of the glut of japanese cars, the price will plummet. And people who drive japanese cars will get what they deserve: stuck with jap scrap on their hands. Ha ha ha ha ha a haha
Derrick
11 Jan 07
What??! Drive American??!?? You expect us to forget the monopoly that the BIG THREE used to have for all these years??! I'm sure as hell not paying a ridiculously high price for a neon or a focus or some other broken down piece of shit so that the union workers can bitch that they're only getting $30/hr plus benefits!
The BIG 3 have screwed us over again and again by putting the same poorly made components into each and every piece of shit car they make and when things go wrong, they blame the consumer. Not to mention the fact that they always make sure we're out of warranty when they do break down! I've never known an American car manufacturer to stand behind their products. Besides, who have you heard complain about their asian vehicle as much as an American? The BIG THREE need to take a lesson from Nissan and Toyota. Americans deserve a well built, reliable car and if it comes from japan, then so be it!
Our lives are too busy for our cars to be breaking down not to mention the huge repair costs. I hope the so-called BIG THREE go bankrupt and rot in hell. Now WE have the power to screw THEM over for a change and it feels damn good!! Drive Japanese!!!!
Teresa
Editors Note: If I had a wife with a mouth like that I'd wash her mouth out with soap and make her iron all my clothes (again). Readers, did you pick out all the well-known and well worn propaganda that the irresponsible use to justify buying foreign?
- America produces substandard cars.
- American substandard cars cost too much.
- American union workers get paid too much.
- American auto-makers don't care that their cars break down.
- American auto-makers screwed us over and now it's our turn.
And she fit them all into one post. All these claims are unsubstantiated lies. I suppose she can't shoulder all the blame. We all know that women get their opinions from their husbands. Her husband probably drives a Toyota.
28 Jan 07
In a lot of cases American manufacturers have brought this situation on themselves. I have heard that alot of women buy Japanese cars only because of the shoddy way they're treated at the dealership when they need to get their cars repaired. It's a fact that Japanese cars break down less often. Whenever I go to the American dealerships, they're always backed up with work. When I visit the Japanese dealerships, their garages are always empty and the mechanics are idle. They told me that the Japanese cars just don't break down. That's quality.
Drake
11 Feb 07
I like this site. its about time somebody spoke some plain english on this topic. The government should put high taxes on any vehicles that are to be shipped to the U.S. from overseas. There for more people would buy American, and
more companies would want to keep there companies US based. Always buy American write whatever you
have to.
G.
14 Feb 07
I have had american cars since 1977 and have never had a major problem yet. Some of my cars had well over 200,000 miles.
Proper care and maint. are key. Try supporting americans and we will all be better off. BTW if American cars are so poorly made why do you commonly see old American cars still on the road? You don't see any old Datsuns on the road. That should tell you something.
J.P.
14 Feb 07
What has Ford ever done for me besides crank out crappy cars that I spent a fortune repairing? And what have Ford workers ever done besides demand more and more money which drives the price higher and higher? Now that better (japanese) cars are available, let the Big 2 rot in a well-deserved hell. Nothing good ever came out of Detroit anyway.
Rob
16 Feb 07
I am offended that you associated Volvos with Democrats. Volvos are the type of cars that appeal to conservatives (who are often Republican). As a Republican who happens to drive a Volvo I think that people who drive Fords are democrats and the only reason Republicans drive fords is so they can appear to be mainstream, traditional Americans but in their secret heart of hearts, they would rather drive a Mercedes or Volvo. All these politicians, whether Repub or Democrat, only drive American cars (if American cars can actually really claim to be American since they're made overseas) so they can appeal to the lower classes of America who only drive American cars because they are too stupid and redneck to see that there are much better made cars out there. Volvos are safe, well-made, and reliable. Fords are expensive piles of scrap metal that drop dead after about 50,000 miles. American made cars need to be maintained all the time and you need to bring it to the Ford dealership every week for another recall because somebody in a Mexican car factory screwed something up. I am a true American and I will only live in the United States. I enjoy my freedom and praise this country for everything it stands for but I can’t stand that these Democrats are screwing everything up for the future. Compared to their plans to let Social Security expire, Bush’s idea was a good idea and it needed work but that's more than I can say for the Democraps. At least Bush isn’t too busy laying his secretaries and is focused on the issues at hand. As for 9/11 it would never have happened if Clinton had not let Osama bin Laden go free but wait he was too busy at the time. His intern was in the oval office! Anyway, please reconsider your position that Volvos are liberal vehicles because they are not!
Jules
17 Feb 07
Damn rite! You rice-burners will not beat a V-8 Mustang! My Monte Carlo V-6 will blow the doors off your jap scrap. Maybe when you rice burner drivin traitors retire you can get social security from Japan. People who drive jap scrap will look funny in the unemployment lines. I own a business and I only hire people who drive American made cars. I raced a Subaru WRX STI after the little punk ran his mouth how he could dust my Chevelle. WRONG! He looked pretty stupid when I blew the doors off that funny looking little turbo charged 4-door jap car. He was PWNED!! Those cars are ugly. Jap cars aint shit.
17 Feb 07
I agree with the sentiment but I suggest we don't castigate those people who bought or drive Japanese cars. After all, maybe those American auto workers, unionized to the gills, DID produce shoddy work at times and DID demand too much pay for too little quality. And if it wasn't for the people who bought Japanese cars they wouldn't have straightened up and got their act together and started producing quality cars again. So the next time you want to talk shit about Japanese car drivers, remember that, eh? Having said that, it's time to remember who invented the industry and return to American quality. Drive American!
Allen D
1 Mar 07
Nice site, brother. There are precious few out there that stick up for us. Every time I see the news and hear another story about another US automaker cutting thousands of jobs I just want to nuke Toyota's operations and sell their factories for pennies on the dollar. I'm thinking about forming a coalition to beat the crap out of Japanese cars. Not the driver. unless they go out and buy another Japanese car. Maybe Japanese car dealerships.
RageAgainstTheMachine
4 Mar 07
I stumbled across this story while doing some research. It appears that Japanese automakers have a very low opinion of American workers. After reading this, there is no way I'd work for them. In this or any country. Or buy their cars.
WOODSTOCK, Ont. (CP) -Ontario workers are well-trained.
That simple explanation was cited as a main reason why Toyota turned its back on hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies offered from several American states in favour of building a second Ontario plant.
Industry experts say Ontarians are easier and cheaper to train - helping make it more cost-efficient to train workers when the new Woodstock plant opens in 2008, 40 kilometres away from its skilled workforce in Cambridge.
"The level of the workforce in general is so high that the training program you need for people, even for people who have not worked in a Toyota plant before, is minimal compared to what you have to go through in the southeastern United States," said Gerry Fedchun, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, whose members will see increased business with the new plant.
Acknowledging it was the "worst-kept secret" throughout Ontario's automotive industry, Toyota confirmed months of speculation Thursday by announcing plans to build a 1,300-worker factory in the southwestern Ontario city.
"Welcome to Woodstock - that's something I've been waiting a long time to say," Ray Tanguay, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, told hundreds gathered at a high school gymnasium.
The plant will produce the RAV-4, dubbed by some as a "mini sport-utility vehicle" that Toyota currently makes only in Japan. It plans to build 100,000 vehicles annually.
The factory will cost $800 million to build, with the federal and provincial governments kicking in $125 million of that to help cover research, training and infrastructure costs.
Several U.S. states were reportedly prepared to offer more than double that amount of subsidy. But Fedchun said much of that extra money would have been eaten away by higher training costs than are necessary for the Woodstock project.
He said Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained - and often illiterate - workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.
"The educational level and the skill level of the people down there is so much lower than it is in Ontario," Fedchun said.
In addition to lower training costs, Canadian workers are also $4 to $5 cheaper to employ partly thanks to the taxpayer-funded health-care system in Canada, said federal Industry Minister David Emmerson.
"Most people don't think of our health-care system as being a competitive advantage," he said.
Tanguay said Toyota's decision on where to build its seventh North American plant was "not only about money."
"It's about being in the right place," he said, noting the company can rely on the expertise of experienced Cambridge workers to help get Woodstock up and running.
Premier Dalton McGuinty said the money the province and Ottawa are pledging for the project is well-spent. His government has committed $400 million, including the latest Toyota package, to the province's auto sector, which helped finance $5-billion worth of industry projects.
"I think that's a great investment that will more than pay for itself in terms of new jobs and new economic returns," McGuinty said.
The provincial funds for the auto sector were drawn from a fund set up to attract investments specifically in that industry. McGuinty said no similar industry funds are being planned for other sectors, but added the province wants to attract biotechnology companies - those working on multibillion-dollar advanced medical research.
"What we have done for auto we would like to be able to do for biotech," he said. "That's where we're lending some real focus to at the present time."
Similarly, Emmerson said Ottawa is looking to help out industries that create "clusters" of jobs around them - such as in aerospace, shipbuilding, telecommunications and forestry - where supply bases build around a large manufacturer.
8 Mar 07
I work for Nissan in Canton, MS, and I have better pay and benefits than I have ever had before plus I don't have to share my paycheck with the United Autoworkers Union! I worked every kind of crappy low paying, ditch digger job I could around my home town of LaFayette before finally deciding to commute 150 miles every day to work for Nissan! Now I can afford to drive that far every day and I still come out ahead and make more money than at any other job I've ever had! Nissan and other car makers are good for our rural areas and good for America.
PlutoInOrbit
11 Mar 07
Canton sold it's soul for money. Can't you see that Nissan only builds plants in the most backwoods, low-wage states there are? So they can pay low wages and produce cars cheaper than our own manufactuers can? I'm glad Canton is doing their part to put American automakers out of business! Good job, Canton! I wouldn't work there or drive a Nissan if you paid me! I got more pride. And if you had got off your lazy ass and got an education you'd be able to find employment and not have to work ditch-digger jobs or have to submit to foreign companies to make abuck!
Danny
14 Mar 07
The times when a person could judge whether a car was American made solely by the name plate are over. It may have been possible back in the 70's but not in this modern global trade era of auto manufacturing. To continue to ignorantly believe in the Toyota bad/Ford good philosophy in the 21st century is stupid and naive. You have to consider the car individually. A Ford or GM product made in Canada with less than 50% domestic content is not better for America than a Toyota or Hyndai made in America with a 51% domestic content. You ignorant hicks need to get an education and discover what is fact and what is bible-thumping urban legend.
Hunter
21 Mar 07
Hunter, stop spouting the party line and use your brain to think for yourself! It IS possible to determine which car is American made. Look at the name. If it says Oishi or Squishi or Toyota or some other foreign name, it ain't American! If it says Ford, GM, Dodge, etc, it IS American-made! That's all there is to it. The fact that a car contains parts from Mexico or Japan doesn't enter into the equation at all! And, even if a Japanese car is assembled here in America to circumvent trade laws, it's still a foreign car. The profit made when it's sold goes to its manufacturer's country: Japan. And just because American car manufacturers take advantage of the cheap labor in Canada and Mexico, it doesn't make American cars assembled in Canada or Mexico any less American. When those cars are sold, the profit goes to American companies. Be proud! Drive American!
Randy
Better a sister in a whorehouse than a brother in a Toyota
24 Mar 07
Don't make th mistake I did. Despite my dad's warning I bout a Toyota, a 2001 SR5. It was a nice looking truck -it had the works - 4WD, power everything, a moon roof, running boards -- I really thought I would like it but - it goes through tires quick! and they're expensive! And I've had it in the shop several times for O2 sensors and they are expensive too! but the worst thing is the brakes are light --under-powered. It has drum brakes in the rear and they warp because it does'nt have enough stopping power for the weight. I won't make the same mistake again. Once I can sell this without losing money, it'll be GM from now on.
Buster
7 Apr 07
Hunter is absolutely correct. Although it may hold true for several other industries, "Buy American" does NOT make sense with the auto industry. It depends on how you define American-made. Are Hondas made in Ohio any less American than a Ford made in Canada but sold in the U.S.?
Is buying a Chevy Aveo which is made in Korea buying American? Is buying a Saab (owned by GM) buying American? Can I now buy an Aston-Martin or Jaguar(owned by Ford) and still be buying American?
I once had a Ford Tempo which was made in Canada. My dad drove a Honda Civic made in Ohio. In my opinion, his car was more American than mine. Most people today don't care about the "made in America" label because we know how that the automotive industry is global and this line of debate is thoroughly obsolete.
Buddy
11 Apr 07
Sorry guys you can keep the japanese junk i'll take an american car any day. The imports break down just as often and the parts are astronomically priced. Call me old fashioned (I'm 48) but I still believe in supporting your country and fellow workers. I don't like sending my money overseas.
And all that talk about Saabs and Jaguars is just an attempt to muddy the water and make things confusing. Noone should have to explain this to an adult. First, the European cars are not as big a threat to our industry as the Asian-made cars. The European cars are produced under such strenuous labor laws that they are relatively expensive and not as attractive to American buyers. Americans normally only buy European cars as status symbols. If you buy a Jaguar, it is not American (obviously) although Ford does (hopefully) make a profit on the sale.
John
17 Apr 07
I drive a 1995 Chevy Beretta that has over 170,000 miles and runs great! And no rust. I drive by Honda Accords all the time with rust holes above their rear tires. GM makes good, reliable cars. Take a look at any older Accord it has rust above the rear tires! I wouldn't buy a Honda for anything!
Roger
10 May 07
Don't feel like the lone ranger bro. A lot of people feel the way we do. You just never hear about it.
Dennis
22 May 07
Anybody who thinks Japanese cars built in the US are "American" is nuts. And anybody who says that Japanese car plants in the U.S. help the U.S. economy is, at least, mildly retarded. Toyota, Lexus, Infinity, and the dozen or so others are Japanese companies with Japanese stockholders. When a Japanese car manufactured in America gets sold, only a fraction of the profit stays here. Most of the profit goes straight to Tokyo. Sure, the low level, assembly-line workers in poor counties in the South are happy. They have jobs. But overall, America is losing out by allowing these companies on American soil.
Patriot
3 June 07
If these yuppie fags want to drive japanese cars so bad why dont they move to fuckin japan!
B.P.
13 June 07
As further evidence of the MYTH of Japanise reliability here are some nice links.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html
http://fourwheeldrift.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/toyota-avalon-transmission-problems-expose-toyotas-problem-reporting-problems/
http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/toyota-camry/T97BCGL925GAMH2TL
Buster
29 Jun 07
This is a nice site. I agree and support you 100 percent. America better wake up. People need to get a backbone, and have some character and integrity. Or maybe one day they'll wake up and Ford and GM and Chrysler will have gone out of business and you won't be able to buy an American car anymore. Wouldn't that be a shame. We'd be like all the other backwater, non-producing countries. Dependent on other countries for what we need. What a pity. Good job, lazy, self-absorbed Americans. You did it! You ruined your own country!
Paula
5 Jul 07
If the american public believes japanese cars are better made than American I have a bridge I'd like to sell them. Just look around. People, use your common sense. Drive around your city for an entire day and keep track of all of the cars you see that were built in the 80s and 90s. At the end of the day, you'll find that the vast majority of the cars on your list are american cars. If you're lucky, you'll find maybe one japanese car. What does that tell you? THAT AMERICAN CARS ARE WELL BUILT AND LAST. You never see a 1980s japanese car for sale but you see old american cars for sale all the time. What does that tell you? THAT AMERICAN CARS ARE WELL MADE. Remember that the next time you go shopping for a car! When you buy an American car, you get a quality product AND help your own country's economy.
El Camino
5 Jul 07
You're right el Camino. Toyota recalled more cars than it sold last year. That's from Toyota's own numbers. Also Toyota is only showing its real quality in the last year because they're finally publishing their REAL warranty numbers for the past 18 months. Toyota hid their warranty problems in "customer appreciation days", with free oil changes, or whatever to get the cars into the dealers and then replace parts without the owners' knowledge. Why does the media over look this stuff for the Asian car companies? If GM or Ford did this it would have been headlines across the country! Toyota always had average quality and is only perceived as better.
Tony
11 Jul 07
To Buddy who wrote " Most people today don't care about the "made in America" label because we know how that the automotive industry is global and this line of debate is thoroughly obsolete".
Congratulations, you just swallowed the same propaganda that the rest of the country did. Most people DO care about their country and about buying American. Maybe you shoud speak about something you know something about. I bet you believe in Global Warming too. I bet you drive a girly Lexus.
Randy
17 Jul 07
You know, I think we might be making some progress with this American car issue. Not long ago, maybe just a couple of years ago, it seemed like when I pulled up at a red light I was surrounded by Toyotas and Lexuses and often I'd be the only person in an American car. But lately, more and more often the ratio is about 50-50 and occasionally or often, American cars now outnumber imports when I stop at the light! It is not uncommon, on a three lane road these days to pull up at an intersection and be all American cars in the first row! I swear. This is in Atlanta. So don't be discouraged. I think we're making progress!
Ray
20 Jul 07
Here's an interesting link. It's about China's booming economy and why Japanese cars aren't selling as well as GM in China. It seems that the Chinese know how to honor the sacrifice of their countrymen by not buying from their enemies.
http://china.seekingalpha.com/article/29954
Quote:
If Lexus really wants to catch up in China, then they need to both produce in China and import here.
Considering how well run Toyota is and how they are beating up GM (GM) and Ford (F) in the US, I
have been surprised at how poorly they are doing in China compared to other foreign counterparts.
Smart investors will look at the future manufacturing capabilities of the car producers to see whether
or not they will be able to take market share. The automobile companies that have wisely invested in
product lines in China will be the big winners in China’s booming sector unless they built too much
and have overcapacity.
Anti-Japanese Rhetoric
As I interviewed drivers about what car to buy, I realized that a large part of Toyota’s or Nissan’s
(NSANY) problems in China come from nationalism. As we saw recently with Japan’s Prime Minister’s
Shinzo Abe’s shameful words about Japan’s sexual enslavement of thousands of women in Asia during
World War II, Japan’s Government and its crazy ultra-nationalists constantly destroy Japan’s business
interests throughout Asia.
I usually do not like to jump into politics in my columns, but it needs to be said in this case – unless Japan
completely fesses up to its horrible wartime record during World War II as Germany has done, Japan’s
business community will be hit hard in Asia. I won’t even enter into the much more compelling moral
arguments.
When we interviewed drivers in Shanghai, they overwhelmingly told us not to buy a Japanese car because
the “Japanese are evil.” Investors should not underestimate the level of hatred most people in Asia have
for Japanese. I used to live in the Philippines and Korea and the hatred is as palpable there as in China
because Japan does not acknowledge its horrendous actions. Regardless of what political regime runs an
Asian country, Japan is uniformly hated in Asia.
When I was a graduate student at Harvard, some of my classmates were sent over by the Japanese
Government to study. One of my classmates, a girl with Japan’s Defense Forces (basically Japan’s military
when you look at their capabilities and budget size) told a group of us that the sex slaves or “Comfort Women”
chose to satisfy the Japanese soldiers and were paid. In all, they were happy with what happened, she said,
and that there was no reason for Japan to apologize, let alone feel guilty. Besides, many Japanese argue that
Japan paid its debt by giving low interest loans to Asian countries.
Well, the rest of Asia disagrees completely with Japan’s assertions. I do too. The numbers indicate that Japan’s
abominable posturing for the crazies in Japan like my former classmate hurt Japan’s business interests. For
instance, GM sold 876,747 automobiles in China (including HK) in 2006, while Toyota sold only 308,000 cars in
China.
Randy
22 Jul 07
Have you guys seen those nauseating Toyota Tundra commercials on TV? It's apparent, judging by the narrator they chose, that they're trying to appear to be as American as Chevy or Ford. The narrator sounds just like that guy on the DI-A-BEET-US commercials. Know the one I mean? -the cowboy-lookin' actor.. Wilford Brimley! I had to look that up. But anyway, it's just the latest in a series of gravelly-voiced country accent voice overs. I sincerely hope the American people ain't falling for that lame hogwash. The only thing American about a toyota tundra is... well.. there's nothing American about it. It's a economy-cost, city boy attempt at being a truck -and it ain't. Anyone who buys a Tundra obviously doesn't have much on the ball.
John
24 Jul 07
Japan subsidies all their car companies so they can undercut our prices. They pay employees less that American car companies do. Tariffs our cars so we can’t sell them in Japan. Won’t let us build cars in Japan so we compete fairly. Have created over 200,000 jobs, but have taken away over 3,000,000. If you want to buy a Japanese car, do it but when you lose your job to unfair trade laws you can eat your Datsun.
Jason
25 Jul 07
WTF!!! What is wrong with all of you sick, ignorant, miserable bigots? Who do you think you are to say that it is evil and unAmerican to buy a Toyota?! This is a free country!! In fact, you should really be careful this subject has pretty much exposed that you are really visiting earth and are not a human being. The sad part is, it’s so many of you out there. You are the very ones that promote, perpetuate, and embrace many of the problems we have in today’s society. This being said, your first option is to stop supporting American car makers. Next, you should refrain from expressing your ignorant, pathetic views about one of our country’s greatest blessings. I take offense to you criticizing what humans do and I take no pride in responding to idiots. But I am compelled to try to offer some help in this situation. No matter how long you’ve been visting here on earth, I think that you’ve pretty much worn out your welcome. You really need to go away–to the planet from which you came. All of us responsible human Americans won’t miss you at all because we don’t need your kind here on earth. Furthermore, you don’t even deserve to be placed in the earth just leave it!!! But before you depart, I beg that you don’t leave any of your crap behind nothing at all. Oh you had better check out the vehicle information plate on your space ship. It was probably made by Totota.
RT
Editor's Note: Don't this last letter make you wonder WHERE these anti-American people come from? And why they hate America and its people so much? Anyway, RT, I won't waste any time pointing out how stupid your letter is. Take a look at this recent article about how Buick was named as most reliable car by J.D. Power and Associates. As most thinking people know, Buick has ALWAYS been ahead in quality. I am very pleased about the results of this survey and I think it only turned out the way it did because the survey process was held up to scrutiny. I strongly suspect that other big name surveys, which I won't name, have been biased in the past and even paid off by Japanese companies. Congratulations Buick! Well done!!
21 Aug 07
You got yourself a fine site here. I thought you might be interested in this link I stumbled on while Googling the words, liberal welfare cheat! It's for all the America-Haters out there. This is a one-stop shop where liberal welfare cheats can boycott everything from our President to Ford and anything American-made! http://www.boycottbush.org/cies-cars_en.php. It's sort of interesting and at the same time creepy to read about what these kind of people believe in. Anyway, Peace!
John
11 Sep 07
The thing I don't understand is why people drivinn around Hyundais have American flags pasted on their cars. Don't they realize the incongruity of such an action? If a person really loved their country, they wouldn't be drivin a Hyunday in the first place.
Check out this link. It seems some Americans are rooting for America to lose.
http://www.jucee.org/japan/Boycott-of-U.S.-products-has-impact.html
Bob
14 Sep 07
You think that's odd?? I've seen people with Medal of Honor license plates on a Toyota! You would think they, of all people, would know better!
John
2 Oct 07
I agree in principal with supporting our country by buying American cars but you should realize that some of us are driving imports because we can't afford to buy the domestic car we want. I drive a Subaru right now. I don't enjoy it, it was all I could afford at the time. I lost my job at the paper mill and have been unemployed for almost a year. I totaled my truck and needed a ride. My sister wanted to get rid of her Subarau so... it's a temporary ride. When I get back onmy feet again I will drive something american-made. so cut us some slack. Not all import drivers want to be driving them.
Dennis
15 Oct 07
I love your site and I agree with all of your thoughts. I am a 19 year old
college student who loves to drive american. I have had a ford thunderbird,
ford LTD, cadillac fleetwood and now own a mercury grand marquis. Being as
young as I am you can only imagine the abuse I put these cars through, however
I have never spent any money on repairs. These cars are built very strong. I
love owning big V-8 rear wheel drive car and I get sad when I see these cars
get takin over by more fuel efficient cars. Rear wheel drive cars have a lot
more class and feel more like a real car not just some little go kart honda.
In highschool many of my friends argued that I was foolish to drive gas
gussling american made cars. I told them I was proud, it is part of my
culture, my Dad raised me to drive american made cars, I will never buy a
foriegn car. It's a terrible thing to see local chrysler and Ford dealerships
go out of business. We need to keep buying american cars so the demand for
these cars will not fall. And as far as the performance aspects go for
domestic cars, they own. Anyone trying to get power out of a little honda is a
fool. I'll take anyone on in my V-8 ford and run their ricer ass down.
Bobby
18 Nov 08
I love your site! I have the means to purchase just about any vehicle manufactured, but find it morally impossible to buy a foreign vehicle. It's akin to renouncing God or betraying my country.
I have purchased nothing but American cars since I came of driving age over 25 years ago. My first car was a 1968 Buick Special Deluxe I purchased for $650 when I was 16 years-old in 1981. I later passed it down to my younger brother who drove it until 1992! I currently own a 1988 Buick Park Avenue which I use as my daily beater, a 1989 Cadillac Brougham I purchased new and intend on keeping forever, and a 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance I purchased last year when I traded my 2002 Cadillac Seville STS. My girlfriend has a 2005 Buick LaCrosse CXL she purchased new in March of that year. We are extremely happy with our GM vehicles and couldn't see ourselves driving anything else.
Mike and Janet
Philadelphia, PA
12 Dec 08
I love your site it is great. I get so tired of these liberal POS's driving their slow and pukey Jap crap vehicles.
Some have the American Flag stuck on or waving from them, It makes me sick.
They all look like Japanese Zero's to me.
I want to paint little rising sun flags on my fender for them to admire as I blow by them.
I want to put bumper stickers on all of the rice cars that say "Traitor to the United States".
I have had US Built Vehicles my entire life, I am 50 and never had problems.
I have a 30 yr old Mercury Cougar that I drive everyday, Looks new drives new and not one squeaks rattle or anything. Everything works as it should. 22mpg on the hiway and I am a happy guy. Its comfortable and nice and will completely blow a rice car away from its rice easily. Plus it has style, It isn't an utter ugly curved box with a Toyota nameplate.
I support the big three and always have, But then again I am a true patriotic American. I have fought for my country and bought for my country nothing else matters. We need to end the importation of rice in this country and start the deportation.
Thanks and You good Americans have my full support
Sincerely Vince
28 Dec 08
This morning I was astonished to see, in our local newspaper's Opinion section, a huge editorial encouraging the support of our domestic auto industry. It has been my experience that this point of view was seen as ignorant, irrelevant, protectionist or just plain futile. I am very happy to see this article and hope that it signals a transition in popular opinion! This is our local paper but I hope that this might herald the publishing of similar views around the country and ultimately help our industry!
The article, titled "We Should Learn From The Greatest Generation" by Ramond Chiaramonte, was published in this morning's Tampa Tribune. Here are links to the article:
We Should Learn From The Greatest Generation" by Ramond Chiaramonte (Tampa Tribune on-line)
We Should Learn From The Greatest Generation" by Ramond Chiaramonte (local copy)
Sincerely,
Ray
1 Jan 09
Subject: I always have until now
I presently have two automobiles. 1997 f-150 4wd and a 2001 1500 dodge Ram van. The truck has 218,000 miles and the van has 215,000 miles. Both have been fairly good vehicles and normally about now I would go buy another ford or an American made car or truck. But after the bailout, I simply refuse to unless the savings are passed on to the buyers. Our tax money just bought everyone a new car except for the fact that we didn’t get anything. The US automakers should have to live in the same market that all other industries have to compete in. The textile companies were not bailed out or given any sort of protection and the auto companies bought imported fabric for their cars. If the car companies were serious about competing they would have open new factories in the same areas that the completion was. So, they can cry me a river. Just ask the Steel, Textile, Electronic, Toy, Fruit…you get the message.
Jeff
1 Jan 09
Subject: Whats wrong with this country
I hear all this crap about Honda's built in Ohio, and Fords built in Canada, what is "MORE" American? First off here I want these liberals to get something straight. "Honda's" arent BUILT in the USA. They are assembeld with Japanesse Parts. That surely isnt Built. and for a matter of fact "HONDA" to me Just surely doesnt say "AMERICA". If it does then YOU are just outright "STUPID". "FORD" "DODGE" "CHEVY" SAY AMERICAN. "TOYOTA" "HONDA" "NISSAN" SAY "JAPAN"!!
Liberals adore free trade and never fair trade. They adore that if you live in ASIA and you want a Chevy Tahoe, you will pay $14,000.00 Just to bring it into the country. Its called Protectionism..Get it? and if you buy a Crappy Jappy Car it means that you support ASIA instead of America. They bring their vehicles here for free."GET IT"?!
Personally I wish the people that have USA Flag stickers on your "Protectionism Cars" would just get up pack your bags and move over sea's where I am certain you would fit in much better. Since you are against supporting your own country's economy and prefer to support the land of the rising sun instead of the red white and blue. "You all need a shot of Americanism,and Backbone" I was raised in an american family, I wasnt raised by liberal asians. All the liberals on my street own imports and voted Obama, Not me! I drive a dodge and voted McCain. But then again I didnt vote for what the liberals wanted. Because I want a strong USA instead of a weak one. I dont want the US Troops trying to fight battles with Tanks made by Kia, or artillery made by Nissan. Like some of you un american morons want. I will put my detroit BUILT Dodge up against your Tiny handed Jap built truck any day of the year. I would love to watch as you attemped to pull a 36' fifth wheel RV with your Tundra as I do with my dodge.
You Un American A Holes are a joke and an embarrasement to our country.
If you had any respect for what the military personal went thru in WWII you would not buy that Garbage. "Liberals" always trying to ruin our country it makes me sick to my stomach. These Japanesse suicide machines are complete dissposable, and recycleable, Thats why you never see a 10 yr old Toyota.
I will never support this liberal garbage you call Honda and Toyota or any other that ruin my country. But then again I was raised an American and not a communist."American Cars Rule" thanks ROB KINGMAN AZ
PS When you see an American Built Truck in the rearview mirror on your Kia Move over!!! and when you see my "OLD GLORY" it means something unlike yours!
and to these Lib's "Please stop the ruination of our country"
Vince from Phoeniz, Arizona
9 Jan 09
Subject: No Subject
Wait a minute look around at the big companies like carnival and disney there american cruise lines and guess what thier ships are built in europe and they just just purchased holland america line and cunard line both are foreign they're not complaining about anything it's called free market my freind , |Now look atthe s.s. united states the best ship built by the U.S. can go 45 knots forward and 23 knots in reverse which is a classic cruise liner NCL bought the S.S. united states and have the S.S. norway as well a foreign built ship made in the 1960's but recently |It was retired .
Secondly The S.S. norway was a great hit with the U.S.cruise industry it helpedout Ncl which was a new cruise line atthe time boost it's sales. Most important of all it helped the economy despite it's foreign manufacutred . Sadly though i see more american cars in the junkyard than foreign two days ago i see several 2000 2003 american cars in the crusher at the junkyard what does that tell you about quality?
Tell me why old ships both foreign and U.S. built are still going strong while there still 10 year old american cars going to the junk yards? It'saboutsurvival of the fittest my freind don't be mad at toyota or honda it's your guys damn fault i know from expereince you guys are just jealous |It's good NCL is ressrecting the good old S.S. united states because the public wants it and it will boost their revune even more and hopefullyit will sail again in 2010 please respnd to flury42@yahoo.com
Glorie
16 Jan 09
Subject: You have the greatest website I have ever seen.
This website is AMAZING!!
It is like a website with my mind on it.
Everyday I tell these dang traitors what they are doing to our country.
It makes me sick to see American people buying Toyota and Infiniti and making these PATHETIC excuses!!
Where can I order the "TRAITOR" and "I DRIVE AMERICAN" bumper stickers?
It's time that SOMEONE wakes up America!!
It makes me sick to see what people have done, just sick...
Keep up the great work!!!
-Anton
Los Angeles, Cal. USA
26 Feb 09
Subject: Everything is American
I own 2 "foreign cars".
Both of them were assembled in America by Americans. When demand for foreign cars goes up, those companies build more plants in America. Both of them were sold to me in America by American dealerships. When sales goes up, the dealerships can expand and hire more Americans. My tax, title, and license fees I pay go to my local governments, not Germany or Japan.
I also disagree with the "facts" being touted by many writers that U.S. cars are as good or better quality than foreign cars. Just because you or Joe has a Dodge that lasted 40 years certainly doesn't mean that all Dodges last 40 years. Look at CR's current Best and Worst used car list and see where the chips fall. Take a look at JD Powers best compact cars. Look at Edmonds.com ratings. They all paint the same picture. Sure, I can concede U.S. builds the best trucks, and it looks like Buick and Chevy make good mid sized sedans. Nobody claims that ALL American cars are bad.
There's a lot of hate on this board towards people who chose not to buy American cars (which are full of foreign parts and R&D expense). Instead of being angry towards everyone who buys a foreign auto, maybe you should direct some of that energy towards the U.S. car manufacturers. Clearly the have failed in convincing all Americans that OUR cars are the best. Whether this is from actual lack of quality or merely poor marketting, either way it's the Big3's fault -- you can't unfairly pin BLAME on people for how they chose to legally spend their money in a free country.
And not every foreign car is a "pukey rice rocket kia". I don't think being proud of breaking speeding laws and wanting to kill fellow Americans you disagree with is patriotic either.
Respect,
-John
28 Feb 09
Subject: Hello
I love your website.
Hey this John whomever he is , Is indeed a true liberal nut case.
My husband and I restore classic mustangs, and our dailey driver is a 1979 Ford F 150. It has nearly 300,000.00 miles. and we gave it a fresh coat of paint and now it looks new again. We get tired of hearing about this imported "RICE" stuff. There is news out now that has related the Asian Manufactors directly to supporting terrorism in the Middle East. and I ask You , Do you really support that? My husband and I never never would, He is a retired Army Ranger. He and I wouldnt ever think of owning anything other than American. Different Stroke for Different Folks , But we choose to support the land and the country we love and adore the USA.
Thanks and keep up the great work
Rob and Nicki Barber
Benton Harbor MI
2 Mar 09
Subject: Just a Suggestion
Hi, I enjoy your site and just thought I'd write in with a suggestion for the guy above who had to drive a Japanese car due to his financial circumstances. My neighbor had the same problem. He drove an old Toyota that he inherited from his wife's dad but he was embarrassed to be seen in it. What he eventually did was buy an after-market Ford emblem and glue it on top of the Toyota emblem. Now nobody can tell. Well, some of us can but most people can't and he drives with a lot less anxiety. You know, a Ford Focus looks a lot like one of them later model Toyotas. Oh -you can get them from JC Whitney for about $10 or so he said.
Jim
Hide Your Shame!
8 Apr 09
Subject: Letter sent to Mr. Jackson, President of Autonation
Dear Mike Jackson,
I watched you talking to the Governor of Michigan. Man oh man are you ever a liberal leech, Wanting the Government to mandate $4.00 per gallon gas.
Just so you can push your ultra liberal Prius agenda.
People like you make me sick to my stomach, Toyota is a Japanese vehicle and doesn't support the USA at all, whats wrong with you people? Are you so intent on the ruination of our country, That you are brain dead? You Sir will never mandate to this Army vet that I drive a ugly death trap, You Mr. Liberal shall never mandate my old vehicles off the road! We are Americans and I have the right to drive what I choose, NOT what you choose, Try and remember that.
How is a contractor going to haul sheets of drywall in a Prius? Please answer, I would adore to hear your answer. Pull my boat with your liberal Japanese made death trap, I would love to watch, Liberals like you think you can just mandate “WE THE PEOPLE” into submission. Well Sir you can not!
Let me ask you something, So what if one third of the US population had to plug in their vehicles at night, It not only would raise our light bills but it would cause usage issues with the electrical grid, Making the already stressed electrical system work harder and use more energy, So truly what are you saving? People like yourself are only interested in one thing and one thing only Lining your ultra liberal pockets with cash from the American people.
You hope for the failure of the Big Three so you can push your un-American agenda, I choose to drive a thirty year old Ford, and you know something, it gets 26 mpg and has a v/8 Thats right. So put that in your ultra liberal agenda pipe and smoke it. You will mandate nothing! You are the problem not the solution here. You try and push your liberal agenda's and make our country weak and available for an attack. I Sir with for one That people like you wouldn't speak for the people of this country. You will not force me to drive a death trap! I will do my part as a “GOOD and TRUE” American and battle your ultra liberal agenda all the way until my death.
What we need in this country is a $6500.00 tariff on all foreign vehicles to level the playing field. “NOW” that would help.
Also how are we disposing of all the used auto batteries once they're spent?
Seem to be more hazardous waste to me. Are we now going to fill our landfills with these toxic battery's? I guess you do not care about that right.
You just care about selling ultra liberal imports in our USA.
Have a great day..... Vance Keaton Phoenix AZ
http://wwwamericanpatriot-vance.blogspot.com/
http://www.drive-american.org/letters.htm
16 May 09
Subject: Fuel Efficiency
I was reading your website and noticed it does not address fuel efficiency at all. I recently bought a Honda Fit largely because it is one of the most fuel efficient non-diesel, non-hybrids available. Excluding hybrids, which have their own environmental problems, no American made car gets milage as good as my Fit. As much as I would like to drive American, I cannot justify compromising the environment and national security based upon wasteful and excessive consumption of oil. American manufacturers need to get past their single-minded focus on horsepower and engine size and focus on efficiency for the sake of their employees. That is where the market is going and the current wasteful carbon emissions are not sustainable.
Craig
16 May 09
Subject: WORKING AT THE DEALERSHIPS
My husband is a mechanic at a local Ford dealership now, He was at a Dodge dealership until last October when they laid him off. The dealership he was laid off from is now slated for closure, in someway we are so thankful he was laid off a year ago because less than 24 hours later he was able to be hired by Ford. Everyone loosing their jobs now will not be as lucky as we have been.
He gets paid flat rate as do most mechanics since 6 months before he was laid off from Dodge he has only been getting approx 40 hours for half a month. I have been lucky enough that my company has given me unlimited overtime so we have been able to make ends meet but most of our friends have not been as lucky several have lost their homes which is quite frequent here in Arizona.
My biggest concern is about the restructuring of GM and Chrysler is all of the people that are being dumped into a job market were there are no jobs.
I really do not think that the white collar higher ups and government officials are not seeing the big picture they are leaving the people factor out of the equation!
I thank god everyday that my husband and I are doing ok but I worry more and more about how long this will last. Please all of you talking about each others post remember the people out there that are being affected by all of this.
Kim I Phoenix Az
4 Jun 09
Subject: Clearly American
First off I will be passing on this website to everyone I know.
I have ALWAYS owned American made cars for the 42 years I have been driving. NEVER any problems. Anyone who thinks foreign cars are better made “have their heads in the sand”. They are NOT cheaper either. Korea is now marketing cheap cars and buyers will find that out. Korean cars also have flawed warranties. This will be found out soon when problems arise in the Korean product.
Next issue is that Americans have become a stupid lot and easily led like sheep. Basic economics dictate that if I buy a foreign car the profits will ultimately go to Japan or wherever. I guess not too many Americans ever understood the basics of economics in this way too. PROFITS OF FOREIGN GOODS GO TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Even the elders I see now, who drive Asian cars, do not understand that.
Last and most important is that foreign car buyers can’t understand why there is an economic depression, not a recession as the government would have us believe. If foreign car buyers want to know why they don’t have a job then all they have to do is look in their goddamn driveway !! What these SOB’s have been learning in college over the last 40 years is NOT common sense, for sure. Until American idiots realize that THEY control this economy by what they drive we will become 3rd world nation. So much employment revolves around the auto industry that most of these boobs are not aware because they watch MTV instead of learning the basics of national economic policy and it’s system. If they want a job then they had better go to Japan or Germany, huh.
Stop me if I start making any sense.
Ed Lapinskas
Disabled Combat Vet
Purple Heart Recipient
American Patriot
GM retiree
American car owner ( always )
26 Jun 09
Subject: JUST COPY WHAT THEY DO!!!
Hi there,
First of all I am sorry to see the American Car Companies and the economy as a whole in trouble and I wish your site all the success in the future.
Sadly the Big 3 failed to learn the lessons of the Tragedy of the "British Car Industry" approximately 30-35 yrs ago when the Japanese killed that Industry off with their Small reliable American looking cars at that time as well as the onslaught of the Cars coming in to Britain from France and Germany.No Amount of British Flag waving or "Buy British Cars" saved that industry and it seems the same could be happening here.
In the early 1980s the Big 3 should have grasped the fact that the Japanese played another clever move :They began to design their cars in a small European style way. EUROPEAN STYLE = Nice style with good economy. Not to mention the fact they were now competing with their European Counterparts even for the American Market! Even Europe was in trouble! At least the foreign car industry is at a par with the Jap Car Industry but sadly not the US.
The only answer is this: If you cant beat them, just copy what they do in size and play them at their own game!
PJ
30 Jun 09
Subject: ALL PROFITS GO TO TOKYO???
Hi there once again,
having read most comments so far on your site you all seem to overlook an aspect of this issue regarding the profits going to Tokyo.Although the Japanese car companies in the US may Profit,surely these companies are all Quoted on the stock exchanges in Japan that be can traded by anybody in the world.If Americans have shares in these companies as many may do and through US investment companies,will they too not Profit and therefore be a US gain?If this is correct then the Profit may only be a small issue. Many years ago American Industries located in Britain to export to the old British Colanies to escape the tariffs.Oops..By the way I am Irish not British!
The big issue here is to keep the labor and jobs in your country.
Lets not forget that although you do not export a large amount of your cars to Europe or Japan you do have OPEL-GM and FORD car factories located in different parts of the World bringing Profits to the US and to other shareholders in the world.Also FORD own Jaguar, Land Rover and some of Volvo in Europe.....FORD own some of MAZDA in Japan! We all have to see this in Global terms!!!The western word has been out manovered on the labor front.
A wise man simply said "In the technicial world We did not fall behind,the Poor countries just caught up."
As I do not live in America I would love to hear some comments to this E-Mail and may or may not need be corrected,
Cheers!
P.J.
6 Jan 10
Subject: CASH FOR CLUNKERS?
Hi everybody!
There hasn't been an E-mail sent since June 2009.What happened?
What happened to Cash for Clunkers?
I was watching a 13 minute You-Tube Video on Detroit.It says that the Car Unions were to blame and not the Cars they make.Is this true?Like to know.
Happy 2010!
Patrick
9 Jan 10
Subject: Drive American
I am in the car business and have been my entire adult life. I work for a large automotive group that has almost all brands of dealerships foreign and domestic. I am on the service and parts management side of the business and see financial reports monthly from all of our dealerships. One of the things that you do in the car business is mearsure your Fixed Operations business (service,parts,and body shop)separate from sales. From there you measure your business by customer pay business, internal business, and warranty business. I have always been amazed at the notion imports were better especially when there is information out there that proves otherwise. Monthly I see the the amount of warranty work for our import stores is substantially higher that our domestic stores. Example; at a typical domestic store your customer pay business would be 70% of what you did, internal 20%(reconditioning used cars), and warranty10%. Warranty fluctuates at domestic stores from 9 to 16% of total business. Most of our import stores, even highline like Acura is always 25% to 32% warranty work. On top of all of that our GM and Chrysler stores have a much longer warranty on their cars so you would thing the result would be the opposite.
I will also tell you that I was in a domestice dealership 20 years ago and the quality was poor. It was the big 3s fault this all started, but they fixed their issues. Anyone who thinks the quality of imports are better than domestic is basing it on extremely outdated information.
KJ
23 Feb 10
Subject: I Drive American!
Wow! Awesome site! It's as if I created it as I agree with you 100%. Between me and my family, we have driven American all of our lives. All but one of my friends drive American and we bust the other one for not. I am 22 years old BTW so I'm in the demographic that Scion and the Honda Fit are trying to target. It absolutely sickens me that there are so many brainwashed people driving foreign cars. No, I don't hate people that drive foreign cars... they are good people but I just don't like the decision they made. Foreign cars being more reliable and having better quality is now, more than ever, a myth. Just look at what's happening to Toyota right now! I'm sorry that people had to die to bring Toyota's problems to light but I hope this finally brings out the truth. Yes, all American cars are not great (I had a 2001 Z24 that was horrible) but I also believe that goes for imports too.
I saw the new Kia Sorrento commercial about it being made in America and I had to laugh. Like has been said on this site already, very little of the money earned with these "American made" imports stays in this country. They aren't fooling this American! Another thing I don't get is how can you buy something from someone whos ancestors willingly wanted to kill your fathers and grandfathers? Like other people have been saying, I hate it when I see foreign cars with American flags on them. If you really supported America there would be a Ford, Chevy or Dodge badge on that car.
Another thing that annoys me are those rice-burning cars with pointlessly huge spoilers and irratingly loud exhausts. That and those plastic "ground effects" don't add any performance and just make the people driving them look like idiots. What bothers me even more is when you see American cars with the same crap on them... stop imitating stupidity!
I thought Cash for Clunkers was a horrible idea... I have seen alot of good American cars with NOTHING wrong with them sent to the junk yard.
I drive a 2007 Cobalt that I bought brand new and a 1994 Ford Explorer. The Explorer has been good to me for being 16 years old... nothing but normal wear and tear. Using my Cobalt as an example, I can't understand why anyone would want a Civic or Corolla. Yes the interior could use come work but the Cobalt has one of the highest standard HP ratings and gets the best non-hybrid gas mileage in its class. Plus I bought the thing with 2 miles on the odometer for the tune of $10,300... I would love to see anyone buy a foreign car for that money. Their prices are always bloated because of their "quality." I drive the car as if it was a Corvette and it still brings me nothing but reliability. I did have to bring the car in for warranty work once but it was for a cigarette lighter! Other than that ZERO problems.
Ok, that's enough of my rant but I want to say one more thing.... BUY AMERICAN!!!
Signed,
Matt
2 May 11
Subject: Test
MY SOAP BOX (if you agree with me, please pass these messages on)
ARBITRATION is a travesty of justice! Big business uses arm-twisting contracts to force it on little people (agree or you're fired, or you don't get this job, house, car, apt, insurance). You lose your right to go to court. So, cry out against arbitration! Push Congress to amend laws that enable big business to shove arbitration down our throats. Arbitration greatly reduces big companies' chances of having to pay for its wrongs. Ordinary people get screwed over by biased-for-big business arbitrators.
DRIVE AMERICAN! Those of us who drive foreign, especially, Japanese and S. Korean, just don’t realize the hundreds of thousands of jobs this costs Americans. Those two countries are feeding on our economy. With 25 percent of our kids living at or beneath poverty level, and 14 million or so of us without jobs, we should support foreign countries’ economies at the expense of our own? Think about it.
Unsigned
2 May 11
Subject: Here's what I send to as many people as I can
Please feel free to copy any or all of it.
Now that we know about all the hidden defects in Japanese vehicles, and that we’ve been fed a line of bull on their quality, shall we keep buying them and continue losing jobs?
Or is enough, enough?
I’m talking about the millions of Japanese vehicles we buy every year that sends billions in profits to Japan, making us Japan’s cash cow!
This costs us hundreds of thousands of jobs in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, etc. And the sorry impact of this trickles down to ALL 50 states.
As to jobs we get from the Japanese building some vehicles here (majority come by boat from Japan), they’re outweighed some 6-7 to 1 by jobs we lose and the billions in Japanese profits that are drained from our economy.
And when you add this reality to what we’ve recently learned about safety defects in their vehicles, we need to smell the manure!
Since 2000, the USA has reported Toyota flaws have taken 89 lives. Odds say there are more.
In addition to deadly acceleration potential on ALL Toyota models (6200 complaints, 89 deaths... problem still unsolved?), reported are steering flaws on Corollas, rusty frames on Tundra and Tacoma trucks, rollover, steering, and hybrid problems with Lexuses, corrosion and instability in Siennas, stability-control problems in Sequoias, and 270,000 faulty engines that could stall (ugh if it happens in an intersection.)
And AP has reported “Toyota faces more than 200 lawsuits in the U.S. tied to accidents involving defective automobiles...and lower resale value of Toyota vehicles. . . . .” USA Today: “Toyota gets another subpoena.” This time it’s from a Federal grand jury for allegedly stalling disclosure of faulty steering rods.
Honda also has problems. Some models have potentially deadly airbags and fire hazards. They go back years, but we’re just NOW hearing about them. Anything else?
So, talk about Japanese quality...HOGWASH!
How could we be such fools for so long? Well, for 20 years or so, publications have been recommending, brain-washing us, selling Japanese. Does this pass the smell test? Have palms been greased?
But there’s hope: Considering today’s 14 million or so jobless, those sucked in by “JapaneseCaritis,” are reflecting: “Hey, just maybe we’ve made things worse.” Hopefully, such people when they get their next cars or trucks, their common sense will push them back to AMERICAN.
Anyway, because we're such suckers, they just have to love us in Japan. We’re major supporters of their economy.
In return, can we build, sell American cars and trucks in Japan? Nope! They impose barriers that make it just about impossible. The Japanese won’t buy “nuttin” from us! They’ve even refused to buy our apples! Yet they come over here and sell 3-4 million cars and trucks every year! That’s fair?
Square shooters, NOT! They’ve been screwing us like this for years. They get away with it because their lobby spends big $ in Washington. They get Congress to kid itself that Japan’s UNFAIR trade is “FREE" trade.
As to the Japanese covering up defects, they have a saying: “If something smells, put a lid on it.” Well, that’s not our way. For this, the US has fined Toyota 16.4 million!
And consider this: Japanese auto-making is run from Japan. So, the USA has much less say about what they do. So, we don’t get the same protection we get with American vehicles.
Back to the economy: We need to think about the jobs we lose when we drive Japanese.
So, let’s resist the smooth BS advertising the Japanese flood us with and remember “Charity begins at home.” DRIVE AMERICAN!
And to diehard Toyota owners: Just because an electronic problem was found not the reason for some Toyota vehicles’ deadly uncontrolled acceleration, that doesn’t mean the problem has been resolved. It’s still exists. So, keep your seat belt buckled, foot ready to brake, hand ready to shove into neutral, and have good insurance.
Friendly Farmer
