Jusy dont care for rice

 

I like at least one or two model cars from almost every brand out there. I like seeing all kinds of different cars on the road.

The American vs. Ricer or Chevy vs. Ford kind of mentality is just silly kids stuff imo.

 

American workers should strive for more than answering phones for these companies. Just like we shluld not be fighting for the right to pick our own lettuce. Our country needs more focus on educating people, so we can continue to be in charge and let other people handle the menial tasks of anwering phones.

 

I don't hate cars from other countries, simply do not have much use for MOST of them.

 

I do not hate import owners at all just the countries the cars or profits are from

 

I'll bet there are a few of us here who couldn't care less about what other people think - especially about motor vehicles.

Own, drive, and savor whatever you like... within your fiscal means, of course (disregard that codicil at your own peril).

Import - shmimport... We live in a global economy - like it or not. Some components on almost every vehicle manufactured came from somewhere other than the vehicle's presumed country of production... Get over it.

This vehicular "hating" syndrome is no more that artificial "peer pressure" fueled by less than subtle marketing, advertising, and media manipulation. Profit is the goal... everything else is rhetoric.

Personally, I own and drive/ride what I like... and it's an eclectic collection: G35 6MT Coupe, G35 6MT Sedan, Audi CS Turbo Quattro, and an E250 van to haul the bikes (2 Hondas - GL1800, CBR1100XX; 2 Harleys - FLH, XLX; and 2 Confederate Hellcats).

I've had 2 Corvettes ('64 Coupe, '87 Coupe) and am considering acquiring a new one, notwithstanding that I'm running out of space in the shop/garage...

Life is just too damn short for all this "hating" crap... Why waste the time..? Time is all you really have - and that's limited.

Drive & Ride Safe! ... oh yeah, and Savor Life while you can..!

Okay, move along now... Nothin' to see here...

 

I think you're hung up on the concept of "profit." If only profits matter, what happens when GM posts a loss (as they often do)? Does buying a Chevy become "bad" for the economy?

Local wages count more than profits. Even in break-even years, GM will employ hundreds of thousands of people. If my sole proprietorship taco stand posts a bigger profit (as it well might), would you argue that my taco stand is more important to the United States economy than General Motors?

A dollar paid to an American worker is a dollar paid to an American worker, whether it comes from a manufacturer incorporated in Germany, Japan, or the United States. Those dollars *do* go into the local economy. If GM were to shut down all U.S. engineering and manufacturing and moved all operations to China -- but kept their corporate headquarters in Detroit -- would you still argue for the "American" Chevy and against the "foreign" Toyota made in Kentucky?

The question of which brand is "better" for the U.S. economy is way more complex than where the board meetings are held. I concede that it's probably true that dollars spent on GM products in general benefit the U.S. economy more than dollars spent on Toyotas, in general, but certainly not in all cases -- and it has more to do with where their operations are located, and less to do with where they're incorporated.

And what about the nationality of the shareholders? If foreign banks own a majority share of GM, what then?

 

Its a patriotic thing, an economic thing and flat being effing tired of some of the magazine rags pushing the "superiority" of foreign cars for the better part of the last century.

 

insecurity

 

It's not about cars being built from parts that are made here or there, the man said it clearly and I, for one, agree.

"When I buy a Vette, yes, some of the parts and subassemblies are built in Canada and Mexico and even Japan, but the bottom line is that the profit for that car goes to Detroit. Its assembly employs American workers and supports local economies. Think about what would be in Bowling Green if the plant wasn't there.

To me, buying an import means that most of my money is going to a foreign country. Honda builds cars here in Ohio. Toyota builds down in Georgetown, KY. There are plants all over the country, BMW in Spartanburg, Mercedes in Tuscaloosa. Those plants do support the local economy the same way as GM supports KY, but the profit from those sales is going back to the home company. Honda and Toyota of Japan are getting a share of the pie. BMW is a closely held company and all of it's profits go back to Germany."

 

Actually, not true the internet and forums like this changed all the rules for American Car makers much more than import quality.

 

I dont hate on them, in fact I am a bit impressed how those cute little 4 cylinder engines pull those cars!

But.... I wont get one for myself, its not my cup of tea! I just like american cars, IMO I think the front end of the american cars have a meaner looking configuration, and the japs basically look happier and more jolly! Happy and jolly dont look to well for a car that accelerates at a high rate of speed. Id rather have a meaner looking front end!

The vettes nose looks like it has a face that says "Dont f*ck wtih me, just move aside"

 

Live in Michigan. In case any of you forgot, we try to make cars here. Each import bought hurts Michigan and the US. Is anyone going to say that this is not the case?

I don't see the need to look at foreign products if I can find one made in the USA. I prefer to help US workers keep their jobs instead of sending my $$ overseas when I can help it. Heck, we send so much out already, why not try to support one of the major mfg industries that is still doing business in the US?

I'm not going to kick the US companies in the gut when they are down. Maybe it's the internet sites that I read, but it seems like every person out there is out to see the US go down the tubes. I'm not going to contribute by buying big ticket items mfg'd in another country if I can find a similar product made in the US. Plain and simple.

 

Good analysis. I tend to agree with this line of though. I want to add one more point...that each foreign car company plant opened in the US is more than likely replacing a US car plant someplace else in the US (most likely in my state of Michigan). That matters a lot.

 

Ricers make baby Jesus cry.

 

Reading between the lines in these magazines really shows me how anti-US car a lot of the writers are. It's either my bias, or it's theirs. A lot of times, when they praise a US car, they also add some cynical remarks.

For example, the ZR1 article in Motor Trend, Feb 2008 issue reads "Whoa, eas off the Red Bull, Tom. This is just a souped-up C6 Corvette, right? Or did you slip a mid-engine V12 in without the blogosphere noticing?"

OK, since it's not the latter, it must be the former. JUST A SOUPED-UP C6....is how I read that. Even though I have been somewhat critical of the zr1, that car is not about flash and glitz or shiny things. It's about an evolution from a great z06 platform to something a few notches above. Lots of refinement and subtle updates. I hope that thing obliterates some of the stupid foreign cars that get a pass in the rags before even competing in a way that is fair and accurate. The magazines (C&D, Motor Trend) seem to have people on staff that are not really American car fans. When I see articles written that go out of their way for something negative to say, it makes me come up with my opinions about the magazines and the writers. Probably not going to renew Motor Trend. More objectivity, less editorials, plz.

Same article:

"The hardware and numbers sound impressive and we're rooting for the home team, but can a car with a front weight bias really smoke a GT3 or F430 Scuderia around the 'Ring? And if it does, will the well-heeled queue up to buy one?"

Now, where the zr1 is being criticized for a front weight bias, other cars (Porches) seem to skate when you see articles talking about that wonderful rear mounted engine. No, on these cars, you have to know how to drive it properly, so it's not a detriment. Also, he questions whether GM will be able to sell them. I didn't think that statement was necessary, and I think it is self-answering. Will people who like German performance cars line up to buy the zr1? No. Will people who are fans of the Vette buy one that can afford to? YES. Anyone here think it will be tough to sell the 2K quantity per year? I don't think so, even with the economic times. I could be wrong, but 2K cars is very small. You get a lot of performance for the dollar, even WITH the (oh, no) forward weight bias.

I also notice where the magazines ridicule the Ford Shelby GT500 as heavy, a pig, etc, for weighing 3800lbs. Looking at the same mag on the GTR, which weighs more than the Mustang and has less power, I did not see any mention of it being a lard-o.

These are the subtle things I see all the time. It's inconsistent across US vs foreign cars, and it happens all the time. Maybe it's just me?

 

I like that attitude. Welcome back from the dark side (j/k).

 

I will. This is not (necessarily) the case.

There are cars that contain more Michigan content than the Corvette -- particularly the previous LS2 Corvettes. As a patriotic citizen of Michigan, you could have bought one of those cars instead.

Except you would have wound up with a car you didn't want. So as much as that might "help" some people in Michigan, it would hurt you. And you, too, are part of Michigan, and the United States.

Car manufacturing is not make-work. It is not an end in itself. It is not a charity. If a foreign-made car is cheaper or better (by whatever standard) for a particular American buyer, that buyer benefits. And that, in and of itself, is good for the United States.

That said, I like the idea of owning American-made stuff and supporting an increasingly-bygone tradition of American manufacturing. I have a toolbox full of absurdly-overpriced Snap-On hand tools that backs that up. But charity is not what made this economy what it was, and the only way forward is to continue to make better products.

 

I'm no lover of rice and young punks that kill people street racing! Hate the sound of fart cans, and get tired of the rice guys wanting to race my C6.

 

Keep telling yourself that and eventually you will believe it.