Honda cleans up in Consumer Reports picks

[onehandle]

Duh. Nothing but Hondas for my wife and I.
__________________________________

All 10 of the magazine's 2006 Top Picks are Japanese nameplates, but half are U.S.-made Hondas.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Japanese carmakers -- or, more specifically, Honda followed by Toyota and Subaru -- took all ten spots in this year's Consumer Reports magazine top picks.

No American or European nameplates are represented in this year's list, which is published in the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

The lone American model on last year's list, the Ford Focus, was replaced this year by the new, redesigned Honda Civic.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/carreviews/03/01/cr_top_picks/index.html

[Sadie5]

1. Don't care how popular they get

Myself, I will never own a foreign car. Every time someone parks one of the foreign jobbies in their driveway they put an American out of work. You can yell about quality if you like but I still prefer an American car that comes with a guarantee. Try to get the warranty honored on one of these foreign cars.

[SledDriver]

2. You can put a turd in shoebox and slap a guarantee on it....

problem is, it's still just a turd in a shoebox.

[trogdor]

28. A turd in a shoebox made in Mexico.

Or by Suzuki in Japan, or Daewoo in Korea. Hondas are at least made here.

[SledDriver]

35. I agree.

I drive a 98 Civic with 250k+ miles on it. No major problems with it ever, and it still runs like a clock.

I was responding to the other poster's comment about U.S. cars at least having a guarantee. You can slap a guarantee on a POS, hell you can slap 10 guarantees on a POS. In the end, it's still a POS.

[SoCalDem]

3. 91 Honda Accord EX.. never had a problem with service

or performance.. It has the get up and go of a new car, still looks good, and we'll drive it til it drops.. We still have our 82 Corolla Wagon with 200K miles.. she;s a bit of a rusty-bucket, but every week, someone knocks on the door to ask if we want to sell it.. we also have a super beetle..also the target of wannabee buyers..

Ford Van we had..P.O.S.
Ford Crown Vic we had..P.O.S.
Chevy tuck we had..P.O.S.

We buy cars used and keep them a LONG time, unless they betray us.. We spent a fortune on tows for the Fords, and could not trust them..

Hondas forever for us :)

[pimpbot]

13. Fix Or Repair Daily... Nuff said

:)

[AnneD]

60. Found On Road Dead

was what I heard. Would love to own American and have, but I have to have quality and HIGH MPG. Until then, I try to buy the foreign ones made here.

[mikeytherat]

65. Funny, Old, Rebuilt Dodge

Also, First on Race Day (if you are a Ford fan).

One of my other favorite auto acronyms is SAAB (Still Ain't A BMW).

mikey_the_rat

[AnneD]

67. What..

another SAAB story.

[anitar1]

42. I am with you. My Accord is a '92 and still going strong.

So far have never had a major problem. Has 99,000 miles on it. My mechanic says it is good for another 100,000. Best car I have ever had.

[AlabamaYankee]

73. Your mechanic is a pessimist

I just rolled over 210,000 miles. The engine uses no oil and the clutch is original. Its only problem is that the air conditioner is anemic and i can't get the old coolant. Oh, and the LC display on the radio is burnt out. I'll drive it till it drops.

[AngryAmish]

80. 99 Accord

98000 miles.

I suppose I should get a new car but the thing runs so good I have no reason to. I got the brakes fixed about 5000 miles ago. Nothing else since I bought it 2 years ago.

[kurth]

4. Not every American can afford a Cadillac or Lincoln

Republican or Democrat, people want value for their money. Unfortunately, Detroit has been unable to deliver in the price range most people can afford.

[triguy46]

46. Apparantly, very few want them at any cost n/t

[mikeytherat]

6. What are you driving now? A Made-in-Mexico GM vehicle?

Perhaps a Made-in-Ontario Ford? Don't even wanna know if it's a Chrysler, oops, Daimler-Chrysler, since that's a foreign-owned company.

Hondas. Made for 25 years in Ohio. Employing Americans since the days of Ronald Reagan!

mikey_the_rat

[LeftyMom]

76. Not all GM vehicles are made in Mexico

Mine was made in Tennesee by union labor and it has 130K+ problem-free miles on it. Oh, and it cost less than me half of what a used Japanese car of comparable age and condition would have. :)

[Coventina]

7. You do realize that most "American" cars are made in Mexico?

And that many "foreign" car makers have plants here?

[mikeytherat]

10. Reminds me of the time in the early 90s when I saw a "Buy American" rally

at the local Geo dealership! I had to inform them that EVERYTHING on the lot was a foreign car! Many Isuzus, Suzukis and Toyotas on that lot, but not a single "American" car (by their narrow standards). I then had one of the flag-wavers (HUGE -hugh- American flags-a-wavin') open up the door on his Ford Taurus - I pointed out the "Manufactured and Assembled in Ontario, Canada" sticker on the door sill. Oddly enough, he didn't have an answer when I asked, "How long has Ontario been part of the United States?"

mikey_the_rat

[MissMillie]

8. I never had a problem w/ a warranty on either my Toyota or my Honda

And these cars are made in the USA with American labor.

I owned one American car in my life. After 4 years it was looking for its 3rd engine. Never again.

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Many of these "foreign" cars are manufactured here

Many also come with terrific guarantees.

And it's nice not to NEED the guarantees b/c your car falls apart.

It would take an awful lot of good press and marketing before I'd attempt a Ford, GM or Chrysler car again. I like my Subaru just fine, thanks.

[shanti]

11. that warantee is there for a reason

on the american made vehicles - because they break down more! even with the warantee, the american manufacturers will fight tooth and nail NOT to pay out on them.

i bought my first new american made vehicle - a dodge caravan - two years ago, and i'm already disappointed at the number of things that have been less than exemplary so far. before that, i had my toyota for 10 years, problem free. if it wasn't for the fact that i plan to retire and don't want another car payment, i'd trade the sucker in now and get a honda crv - my first choice, but unavailable.

i won't be buying an american car again.

[TommyO]

15. What if the car is built in the US?

The Honda Accord sold in the US is built in Ohio. The last time I checked that was somewhere in the United States and probably employs American workers.

[meganmonkey]

16. I drive a Hyundai

(which I proudly call a "Designer Imposter Honda" with it's crooked 'H' logo - remember those perfumes?)and while they are busy building plants in the US, creating thousands of jobs, GM is shutting theirs down and moving them to Mexico.

Your post is just plain inaccurate.

And by the way - the service is great, and when I take my car in they give me a ride to work and pick me up at the end of the day :shrug:

[Robeson]

26. I own a Hyundai, too!....

...it is an excellent car, and I love it. Also, I've had no problem with the warrenty, and it's one of the best in the business. They're a hell of deal.

[SeattleVet]

57. We put a little over 220,000 miles on a Hyundai Excel, then

bought a Subaru Outback (1996) and have just turned over 187,000 miles on it, with minimal problems. Alternator went out, was covered under warranty. We fully expect to get at least 250K out of this car, which was assembled in Indiana by American auto workers.

[Kaylee]

85. I love my Hyundai! Great car and has close to 100K ...

with no problems. I traded in my Saturn for it... now that was a GM piece of crap!

[stop the bleeding]

18. .

:rofl:

[Stuckinthebush]

20. You are kidding right?

We have a huge Mercedes plant down the road from me that employs hundreds of workers making good wages. Up the road we have a Honda plant that is doing the same. Oh, this is in Alabama...not Germany or Japan.

Come to think of it, if I want to support my fellow Alabamians, I should probably buy a Honda or Mercedes. The old "Buy American Cars Only" yell doesn't cut it anymore. As has been mentioned a few times on this thread, many "American" cars are made in Mexico and Canada, and many "Foreign" cars are made in the good old US of A. Perhaps it is time to change that yell to "Support Americans! Buy Hondas!"

[NV Whino]

21. Most of these "foreign" cars

are built in the U.S.

When Ford or Chevy builds what I want to drive, then and only then will I buy "American." Just sold a piece of shit Ford Ranger. Love my Toyota and getting ready to buy another.

[Orsino]

22. If America built hybrids, I'd have agreed.

All America offered last year was the Escape hybrid, and we couldn't justify getting an SUV. We had to go with the Prius and the hybrid Accord, both of which were built in Japan, unfortunately.

Detroit needs to get serious about fuel efficency. They missed their chance with us. I take solace only in the fact that I'm promoting hybrids, and that at least local dealers made money off the sales.

[Shakespeare]

23. LOL!! How delightfully ignorant.

You really should look into 1. how many Americans Honda, Toyota, et al., employ; and 2. how much of our U.S. auto production actually comes from other countries.

I proudly drive my fuel efficient, ultra-dependable, AMERICAN MADE Honda Civic.

"Try to get the warranty honored on one of these foreign cars." Wow. You honestly have no clue what you're talking about, do you? Guess ignorance really is bliss.

[Robeson]

27. ....

....:spray: :rofl: :rofl:

[yurbud]

29. American companies have probably lost two generations of consumers

for life with shitty products.

I remember riding in the back seat of a Ford Pinto as a kid. It was a cramped, poorly made car that broke down a lot. My uncle bought the GM equivalent- a Vega, a car that rusted while it was still on the showroom floor.


The American companies would be competitive now if they got out in front making alternative fuel and hybrid cars. Instead, they wait for the Japanese to come up with the new tech, and keep cranking our high displacement muscle cars even though the muscle heads that would want to buy them can't afford them on their Taco Bell salaries.

[Javaman]

38. Obviously you haven't been up on current events...

Until the U.S. auto makers get a clue, expect to see more of those "foreign jobbies" in drive ways.

GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all SUV produced themselves out of a market.

As long as 5 years ago, anyone watching the trends, would have seen the consumer market going towards the smaller gas efficient cars. However, the U.S. auto makers continued to spew out the train car sized urban assault vehicles, trying to grab as much money as possible with total disregard of where the market was going.

Now they are stuck with literally acres of SUV's they are unable to give away.

So do I feel sorry for the American worker? Damn straight I do, however, I won't cry a drop for these bloated and now failing auto makers.

However, given the current atmosphere in this country under morons* leadership, are we at all surprised that this has happened? If you recall, the auto makers give heavily to the repukes and are a member of the "have-mores" in this nation.

So who is more guilty? The company that designed it, the employee that makes it or the people that buy them? In this case it appears to me, all three.

The Japanese auto makers are doing something really amazing, they actually listen to the consumers and do studies to find out what people want, holy cow, mind blowing stuff...

until the mouth breathers of this nation wake the hell up, expect other types of "foreign jobbies" to pop up in the U.S.

Frankly, Honda puts out a damn fine car. If they didn't they wouldn't be winning various car safety and standard awards year after year after year.

The arrogance of detroit has now come to pass. And they are being passed by Asia.

oy.

[triguy46]

44. Camry is the best selling car in us, a foreign 'jobbie'...

And people buy it for good reason. GM Ford and Mopar have been comatose for 40 years (can you say "K-car" or "Citation" or "fiesta"? Working for one of these companies is a choice, not an entitlement, and it was a good deal for the workers for a long time. Sorry they couldn't see it coming. Guess they have been in a news/business blackout zone up there.

[kurth]

69. A Camry gave me 300,000 miles

Worked like a charm 100% of the time. NEVER died or broke down on me. All it needed was new oil & filter, brake pads, tires - the simple stuff. I changed the belts/timing belt/water pump/thermostat/spark plugs ONCE.

I've had plenty of experience with Ford and GM vehicles, and it was either horribly inconsistent or downright horrible.

[havocmom]

40. Most sold in US made by auto workers in US

The same sort of auto workers GM blames for all their problems as the suits keep insisting on big gas hogs despite the evidence that most people are gonna buy a fuel efficient RELIABLE car, like the ones Honda and Toyota make IN THE USA!

[triguy46]

43. No probs with warranty on my Honda

because I've never had to have repairs. In contrast, my "Murrican" ford focus had 4 warranty repairs in 25000 miles, including one that stranded my daughter 50 miles from nowhere, a faulty fuel pump of which there were thousands of instances, (http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=37&did=853), that ford refused to recall. Or my "murrican" 2000 Mustang that went in 3 times before 30000 miles for faulty computer, stranding me 3 times in town. Let me get this straight, we're supposed to buy "murrican" out of sympathy to displaced workers? To buy inferior crap? These displaced workers, as the ones recently laid off in OKC by GM will receive salary and benefits, greater than $50K/year for a minimum of 2 years. this is a problem?

[phylny]

47. Eh, our last four "American cars" (two GM, two Chrysler) were made

in Canada.

I bought a Honda CR-V, new, for a great price and I'm very happy with it. I researched other cars, including a Ford, but the Honda was the safest and had better gas mileage.

[triguy46]

48. I have gotten very crappy warranty support from Ford n/t

[physioex]

71. I agree.....

Ford warranty support is total crap.

[catzies]

55. Define "foreign." My Honda was built in Ohio.

It only ever required one warranty repair - for a burned out light for my low fuel indicator, and it was not a problem getting that honored at the dealer.

[LizW]

68. Mine was built by my neighbors down the road in Lincoln, Alabama.

It has been a terrific car. The only thing that has EVER gone amiss is that the front brake pads the dealership put on last time started squealing prematurely. They replaced them for free with no problem.

[IronLionZion]

56. GM brings foreign cars here and rebadges them

Aveo is a Daewoo
Cobalt is an Opel Astra
Malibu is an Opel
GTO is a Holden Monaro
100% of the Colorado engine is made in the People's Republic

Ford: Jaguar X-type is a Ford Mondeo

There's more. Car magazinese are fun to read. You get all kinds of info.

[pokercat999]

64. I've been managing auto repair shops since 1976. I

currently am general manager of 4 shops from a national chain. Since the mid 80's the best cars in the world (dollar for dollar, pound for pound) have come from Japan. The problem isn't with American workers it's with American CEO's and stockholders. I drive a Honda and my last four cars have been Honda. I've driven them a total of over 700K (all together) before passing them on to other family members who have driven them another 300K+. Two of the four are still in service, I'm driving my 2005 Odyssey and my son drives my/his 2004 Element every day. During that time I have also had a Ford Taurus and a Ford Escort. I prefer the Honda's for reliability and fuel economy.

[RubyDuby in GA]

66. My Honda, with over 200K miles on it and still going strong, was made here

by the American Honda Motor Corporation, unlike some Fords (pieces of shit - I've owned 2 so I know what I'm talking about) and Chevy's that are made in Mexico.

My warranty was fantastic (even though I never had to use it) and I will never NEVER own anything but a Honda. BEST. CAR. EVAH!!!!!!!!!!

[davepc]

72. I'll buy a Honda when they make one I can fit in

I'm 6'3, 200lbs. Hardly a large guy, but every Honda and Toyota mid-sized pickup I sat in when looking for a new vehicle, my knees would hit the bottom of the steering wheel. Even with the seats all the way back, and the wheel tilted all the way up.

All the quality in the world donset matter if I can't drive the damn thing.

[XemaSab]

81. Look at the stickers at the dealership

a lot of the "foreign" cars are made here, and a lot of the "domestic" cars aren't.

[President Kerry]

84. Not true..

Many major foreign manufacturers (Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, etc) have plants in the US where they employ US workers. Many US manufacturers produce overseas. Not buying your argument. I will buy based on quality.

[CatholicEdHead]

87. Many Hondas are made in AL or OH

While many "American" brands are built in Canada or Mexico, or even other countries overseas (Chevy Aveo is Korean). Also many parts in the big 2 1/2 come from offshore. "American Made" cars do really not exist.

[sarcasmo]

5. My Saturn Vue AWD has a Honda 250 V6 Engine. This is why we bought

our second one the Honda V6 Engine kicks.

[havocmom]

41. How do you feel about that Vue?

Am sorta interested in them.
Do they also have a Honda tranny? Honda trannies ROCK

[sarcasmo]

51. My wife and I like it a lot. This is our second Vue, do not buy the 4cyl.

This is our second V6 AWD and it does quite well in the snow. The Honda engine was the selling point and I will drive this one until it gets 200,000 miles or the frame falls off, which ever comes first. The 4 banger doesn't have the get up and IMHO doesn't look as sharp.

[texanshatingbush]

12. All Honda's that finished in top 10 are built in the USA

I buy American pickups because they're still the best heavy duty pickups available but I quit buying American designed cars a long time ago. No point in subsidizing the incompetence that goes into the engineering and styling of American cars.

[Phx_Dem]

24. "built in the US"??

These cars/trucks/suvs are assembled in the US, ALL the parts are manufactured in other countries, like Japan. I guess it's better than nothing.

[Shakespeare]

31. And that's different from U.S. carmakers HOW, exactly? n/t

[Phx_Dem]

32. some us carmakers

actually manufacture their parts in the US and assemble them in the US

[Shakespeare]

36. Show me. I know for a fact that most of the parts are now made

outside the U.S.

[DainBramaged]

50. Where does GM and Ford make their engines, transmissions and rear ends?

China?

I think not. Canada? Some. How about frames and sheet metal? Here or in China? Here or in Jabib?

Put up and let's see about your intimate knowledge of the American car industry.

[Shakespeare]

75. Unlike the other poster, I *will* put up.

Here's a couple to get you started.

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/strArticleID/56324/strSite/MDSite/viewSelectedArticle.asp

http://www.signweb.com/digital/cont/machinemakerb.htm

And here's one more, along with an excerpt:

Ford and GM have both been very public about their desire to purchase more components from low-cost countries, China in particular. For example, GM recently stated that it intends to purchase $4 billion of components from China (for GM assembly plants outside of China) annually in the next five years. GM also plans to purchase $6 billion of Chinese parts annually for its China operations. We note that this compares with a total global material buy of roughly $80 billion annually. Ford said that it aimed to source $1 billion of auto parts from China for its overseas operations in 2003.

Exports started with basic commodities, such as castings, forgings, tires, batteries and glass, and over time will include more sophisticated parts. In addition to parts that do not ship well, such as seats, the last parts to be exported are likely to be low in labor content and heavily electronic in nature, such as engine electronic control units.

http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2004hearings/written_testimonies/04_09_23wrts/stephen_girsky.htm

I think yes.

[DainBramaged]

77. Nice deflection. Took all day to find those articles huh?

Where are their engines, frames, sheet metal, and transmissions/rear ends made?

What plants in North America, where are they located? GM and Ford. Not their INTENTIONS as to small parts and electronics.

Don't bother, I've had it fighting with you wannabe patriots. You're no better than the Cons who you claim to despise. GM or Ford could win every position in the top ten for a decade, and you still won't give them a chance. Most of you who claim your Domestic is junk haven't owned one in nearly 20 years, or had experience with your parent's cars.

By the way, the article Consumer Reports also did on hybrids didn't get a mention here.

Here's the link:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/high-cost-of-hybrid-vehicles-406/overview.htm

In our analysis, none of the six hybrids we have tested recovered its price premium in the first five years and 75,000 miles of ownership (see Hybrids vs. all gas). Nor did any when the analysis was extended to 10 years and 150,000 miles. Rather, extra ownership costs over five years ranged from $3,700 to $13,300.

[Shakespeare]

79. LOL....nope. I have a job to do, and it comes before posting.

And don't you fucking dare question my patriotism. There's another message board where you're free to do that all day long, but you're not going to do it here. And that's not a deflection--that was a direct and precise response to your challenge. Still wanna argue that we're not having our parts made in China (among other countries)? Look at the volume of scrap metal and other raw products we're now shipping off to China to do just that. How many new steel plants have opened in the US in the last 20 years? And how many have gone out of businses?

I owned American-made cars until 1998, and got tired of the maintenance dogs eating up my money. And my dad--a USAF veteran and hardcore Ford man has stopped buying American cars in the past 2 years for the very same reason. Wanna question HIS patriotism? As you said upthread, "I think not."

And what do hybrids have to do with our little subthread? Oh, that's right. Exactly nothing. I don't drive one, and I've not touted their presumed virtues. I'd be much more interested in biodiesel, personally.

p.s. Ford is now making sevearl hybrids, too, so if you're going to turn your nose up at them, you get to turn your nose up at the "American-made" ones, too.

[DainBramaged]

82. You still won't answer the question

And that's not a deflection--that was a direct and precise response to your challenge. You did deflect and you still won't answer. And one final thought. Where do you think all of the electronics and small parts for the beloved foreign makes are made? Here? Laughable to think everyone assumes that too.

[Shakespeare]

83. No, you didn't ASK that question.

You wrote (inarticulately):

"Where are their engines, frames, sheet metal, and transmissions/rear ends made?

What plants in North America, where are they located? GM and Ford. Not their INTENTIONS as to small parts and electronics."

I have no clue what kind of logic leap you're making between transmissions and electronics (and whatever the hell "intentions" is supposed to mean in that sentence). Let me use small, easy words for you:

Did I say that foreign automakers who assemble their cars in the US use all US-made parts? Uh, no. Every car coming off the line these days contains parts from all over the globe (and nobody in this thread has assumed otherwise). It's a net wash to say one car is American made and another isn't. THAT is the point that so many are making, and they're correct. And if you're so concerned about where the money goes, then I suggest you respond to my question downthread. If you think the profits of Ford and GM flow right back into the US economy, you would be wrong.

[Shakespeare]

86. Only a coward sends a PM and then turns off his box for replies.

You're directing your anger at the wrong people, DainBramaged. I'll respect the confidentiality of the PM, but I will let the others know it was cowardly (no response accepted? Uh-huh.) and rude.

I'm more than happy to continue the discussion here, as we did before, but you don't seem interested in responding to my specific points. C'est la vie, mon amie.

[Tempest]

14. How timely

Just Tuesday there was an accident at the intersection two houses down from me between a Honda and a Chevy compact.

The Honda t-boned the Chevy in the rear tire well. The Honda had very little front end damage and the Chevy's rear axle was broken.

[Kolesar]

17. How is this news? eom

[AlCzervik]

19. my honda accord was built in Ohio, the tranny was built in Japan

no complaints so far.

[Phx_Dem]

25. FYI

Every part on your Accord was MANUFACTURED in Japan. Even down to the spark plugs (NGK or Nippondenso). the parts are shipped over here and assembled. As a lot of people have pointed out, all the American makes are not necessarily manufactured in the US so I don't know if anyone is supporting american workers whether they buy an "American" make or not.

[AlCzervik]

30. i'm looking at the sticker and it claims that 60% are us/Canadian parts

japan 25%

[Phx_Dem]

34. I hope that's the case

I might be buying a new car soon and am considering a Honda. Nice to hear that they are using a lot of US/canada part. I wonder where the engine/transaxle was made?

[AlCzervik]

37. sticker says the engine was made in the US, tranny made in Japan.

i'm such a dork, i can't believe i kept the window sticker.

[onehandle]

33. A story: I bought a five year old Honda from my sister in-law.

This was in 1993. Six years later, someone accidently bumped into it. They were nice and left a note, but I told them to forget about it because it was virtually nothing. It had a tiny, little nick in the front bumper. I went to a local Honda dealership to pick up some red touch up paint. While chatting with the girl at the parts counter, somehow I mentioned that the driver's seat belt was a little loose. She called someone within the building and insisted that I talk to the repair center. I drove it around the back, and someone took it right away. After about fifteen minutes, I started getting nervous (after all, this was a dealership). Shortly after that, the repair manager came in and handed me the keys. He told me that they had replaced all of the seat belts and mechanisms as a courtesy.

No charge.

This was not a warranty thing and I checked, there was no recall for the seat belts.

Nothing, but Hondas for me.

[AlCzervik]

39. i totally agree with you, i need touch up paint as well and they just gave

to me for free, also my emergency brake handle felt a tad loose, i blame myself for that one as i tend to pull it up to high and too fast and they fixed that right on the spot, no charge. You'd think after 20 years of driving a stick shift i'd be better about the emergency brake but i'm not.

[triguy46]

45. Cripes, its 2006, can you say "World Economy?"

These are good products, safe products. Why should we not buy them?

[IronLionZion]

53. STOP, Just stop thinking rationally, in fact just stop thinking.

It's unpatriotic to buy good safe products

Honda cars are designed in the US and made in the US from 60% US parts. Toyota is closer to 70%.

The patriotic thing to do is buy a very unsafe SUV that is assembled in Canada with less than 40% US parts and has a Chinese engine and doesn't even have to follow car safety standards. Not to mention the patriotic thrill of filling up with Middle East Oil and sticking Chinese made yellow ribbons and flags on it.

If you're not willing to burn a gallon every 10 miles and risk a serious rollover accident then you hate America for our freedoms. Freedom isn't free you know. A few billion dollars in oil money will really teach the terrorists an important lesson.

Haven't you heard? There's a war on fear so be afraid!

:silly:

[triguy46]

58. You're right, by buying a Honda, I'm supporting terra! n/t

[DainBramaged]

49. Here it comes, same old arguments, American cars suck

Keep buying the foreign cars. They may be assembled here, but in the end the profits go back to Japan, Korea and Germany. We're supposed to be concerned for our way of life, not our pocketbooks and wallets. And too many of us here think it's ok to trash American industry rather than support it or help to improve it.

That's why we have a huge trade deficit. Because no one respects anyone anymore, just their egos and wallets.

[wuushew]

52. Why do you care where the profits go?

Since these car companies are international in scope why not simply purchase shares of Toyota or Honda? The dividend check would be made out to you and sent to your American address.

[EuroObserver]

70. Sure thing. n/t

[DainBramaged]

74. So according to your logic, I should think like a wing-nut

And bet on the corporation that returns the most for my investment in the present not in the future? I think my duty as an American and patriot is to do my best to support American industry, AMERICAN owned industry, not transplanted foreign industry.

We used to make clothing, computers, machinery, and consumer goods here. Now we've been Walmartized, and so has the auto industry. And you all gleefully wish for it's demise as a functional part of our economy.

I'm done here. Enjoy your rides. In the next decade when your choices narrow and your prices skyrocket because competition declines, I'll enjoy your bleating.

[Shakespeare]

78. You seem to be under the mistaken impression that we have a choice.

All of those jobs--and all of the manufacturing--didn't go bye-bye because we're America-hating consumers who refused to buy USA. Those things went away because the greedy corporations are more interested in overinflated CEO pay and bonuses and their bottom line than they are in the people they depend on to make the products--and our government has all but encouraged them to do this.

This didn't start because budget and quality-conscious folks bought some Honda Civics. It started in the early 1980s when the Reagan administration began chipping away at government regulations, and what followed was the offshoring of our jobs, our manufacturing base--and our tax base. Cayman Islands anyone? No? How about a lovely "office address" in the Bahamas or the Canary Islands to help you evade corporate taxes? Those greedy fuckers are destroying this country because they don't want to keep their nose clean and pay a fair share of taxes. And that, DainBramaged, is the most un-American thing of all.

[IronLionZion]

54. So it's more patriotic to send profits to DaimlerChrysler stockholders?

Where do their profits go? Alabama?

And Ford and GM stockholders? Don't they all have massive foreign investments and sell cars all over the world? Didn't GM destroy the city of Flint one fine day? Don't they have stockholders all over the world? Aren't they all multinational companies who care only about profits?

When a GM plant in Mexico tries to unionize, the just fire everyone and hire all new Mexican workers.

The big three love Canada for one huge reason. I'll give you a hint. It starts with 'h' and ends with 'ealth care'. ;)

The big three are quickly being replaced by the big one - Toyota.

I own stock in Honda and Toyota. My Civic was made in East Liberty, Ohio from 65% American-made parts. Please show me an "American" vehicle with that many American-made parts.

[MissMillie]

59. Sorry Dain,

but I can't afford to put a 3rd engine into a car I haven't finished paying for.

[Solon]

61. I don't care about the nationality of the Stockholders or the CEOs...

only the Nationality of the workers, and that happens to be Americans.

[Eurobabe]

62. Honda ROCKS! I've been a Honda owner since 1991

now I am turned onto ACURA, I love my new RL. You think Honda rocks? Try an ACURA baby...

[wordpix]

63. I love my Civic and it gets 39 mpg (2002 manual)