Sadly, we can't buy a Toyota Estima minivan in this country

[KittyWampus]

They get 40 mpg and seat 7 people and the seats fold up so single people such as myself could use them as campers.

They look pretty cool on the outside (for a minivan) and VERY cool on the inside.

See link for Toyota's Japanese website with views of interior:
http://toyota.jp/estima/interior/index.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. i only buy American cars

but hope in 3 years when I get my new one, a similar car will be available from GM

[KittyWampus]

2. I buy what fits my requirements regardless of where it's built but appreciate your sentiment

[NMDemDist2]

7. i am lucky to be able to choose based on a variety of factors since I can afford

what I want.

employing my fellow citizens and keeping the profits here is top of the list and helps in making my choices limited and therefore not overwhelming

otherwise, there are WAY too many choices out there

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

4. They are only assembled here with parts made from all over the

world.

[NMDemDist2]

8. works for me

and lots of those parts are made here too and my best buddy is a GM retiree so i wouldn't want to explain why I'm driving a car that slits his throat

but I'm funny like that, even before I met him.....

[ogneopasno]

16. Funny, my car was more than 80 percent sourced out to American companies. Said so right on the

window sticker.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

28. Ditto

My Ford is like that... I wonder what IS made here in America.

[SmileyRose]

37. both my Fords too

[Romulox]

39. Same. nt

[BobRossi]

5. Same here.

I know what side my bread is buttered on.

[NMDemDist2]

9. ....

:toast:

[Canuckistanian]

23. ...whose parts are largely made in Mexico

Or even (gasp!) Canada.

[XemaSab]

3. The Honda Element doesn't get milage that good

but the back seats in there fold up too.

[KittyWampus]

6. You think it could work as a camper for a short person (me)?

I don't have dealerships really close by but will pay attention to what's on the road around me to see if I can find out what an Element looks like.

[XemaSab]

19. I've slept in it many times

and I'm not all that short.

They're the really boxy-looking jobbers.

[AlCzervik]

21. well it's not exactly aerodynamic, i test drove one and the wind noise on the highway

was awful.

[XemaSab]

22. This is true

:(

[AlCzervik]

24. i used to have an Isuzu trooper years ago, boxy mofo, loud on the highway but one excellent vehicle

it was built on a truck body so the ride wasn't all that nice but it was reliable and never one problem with it ever.

[tanngrisnir3]

26. That may have been a windshield/weather-stripping issue.

I sold Hondas for about three years and LOVE the Element. World's most utilitarian car.

However, the one problem (fixed under warranty) that there was ever a service bulletin for was exactly that: some stripping had been put on incorrectly and would make some noise at highway speeds. It's by far the exception though, not the rule.

Hondas are simply, IMPO, the best cars built, bang-for-the-buck and longevity, on the earth.

[AlCzervik]

27. i had a 2004 honda accord, it was a great car just not for me, it was my rebound car

after my Acura got stolen, anyhow it was the 4 cyl 5 speed, nice clutch and great on gas and giant. trunk.

[tanngrisnir3]

32. Same company, same level of quality, but you're right....

the Acura is more gee-whiz refined and performance oriented.

[AlCzervik]

33. that trunk was awesome, when it's time for another car i will look at Honda's

and maybe Acura's if they get rid of the new chrome grill they've stuck on everything, i really do not like that one bit.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. Time for American cars isn't it? I thought we'd all agreed on that in an unspoken way WHICH REMINDS

ME - what's the best, cheapest American car I can get? Are there any American hybrids? Suggestions?

[KittyWampus]

12. do any American minivans get 40 mpg?

[Xithras]

13. There aren't really any cheap, efficient American cars.

Chevy has the Aveo, but it's just a rebadged Daewoo built in Korea. The Ford Focus is a decent little car, but it was designed in Europe and built in Mexico. You have to get into the more midsize cars like the Chevy Cobalt before you finally find cars that are actually built in the U.S.

As for American Hybrids, there are a few on the market now. I did see my first Saturn Aura hybrid recently, but my understanding is that they are impossible to get and the mileage isn't all that great. Other than that, you're mostly looking at hybrid SUV's right now.

[madrchsod]

15. colbalt is a pretty good car and the dealers are "dealing"

[ogneopasno]

17. Focus is UAW-built in the USA; don't know where you got the Mexico information.

It's an excellent car.

[Xithras]

18. I just learned something new and interesting.

A good friend has an older (2002 or 2003) Focus 2 door hatchback that was built in Mexico, so I assumed they all were. I just looked it up and found out they moved manufacturing of the Focus to the U.S. as of 2006. I didn't know that, and stand corrected (and slightly impressed that Ford actually brought jobs back into the U.S.)

I agree that it's a very good car, however I also think the new design is slightly unimaginative...I was a fan of the old edgier design. The new one just looks kind of...blah. I understand that they have to refresh the designs now and then, but the original Focus turned heads because it was a really creative design when it was released. The current design as a follow-up is kind of a letdown.

[Romulox]

36. The Ford Focus is built in Wayne, Michigan. Just FYI. nt

[madrchsod]

14. ford focus 2008 model..

you should get a good deal on the car. around 35 mpg. ford has hybrids in their mid and full size sedans

[Sarah Ibarruri]

34. Thank you! I shall go hunting for a Ford Focus - you say they have hybrids too? nt

[Xithras]

11. I've been waiting for a hybrid minivan in the US for years.

I hate, hate, hate my wifes Caravan. It's the biggest POS I've ever owned, and it's the reason why I'll never buy another Chrysler product. It also gets uber-crappy mileage and only averages about 15MPG in around town stop-and-go driving. A plug-in hybrid minivan would save me a ton of money.

What really stinks is that my wife REALLY wanted a Mazda MPV, but I overrode her and went with the Caravan for a few other reasons (buying American being one of them). Every time the Caravan breaks (which is waay too often for a 2005), she goes on a rant about how she wouldn't be having these problems if I'd just bought the Mazda (I owned a 626 for years before buying my Subaru, and never had a problem with it).

[TexasProgresive]

20. I've owned and driven 5 Mazdas

And only one ever had dealer/ warranty work done. It was the hottest summer I've ever experienced with temps as high as 114 F. The glue that held the weather stripping around both doors failed. It was replaced with a smile and quickly. I bought a Chevy pickup and had it nearly strand me before I had even made a payment. They replaced one injector - 2 weeks later it did it again so they replaced 3 more. I traded it in on another Mazda. Now we have a 2007 Saturn Vue with a Honda drive train. No problem with the engine, tranny and differential but we have had numerous things go wrong with the trim, visor, a piece of trim on the front passenger window that has broken twice, an ignition switch that is sometimes nearly impossible to get to turn (moving the steering wheel is no help). Going to the dealer to get this stuff fixed is not free. While you may not pay for it in cash, you pay for it in lost time.

[flvegan]

29. I'm on my second Mazda.

So far, very pleased.

[michreject]

25. That's OK

They can't buy a Chrysler mini van in Japan. Import tariff's keep them out. In other words, protect-ism for Japan's domestic products.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

31. Why the fuck would anyone in Japan want to buy a minivan...

...that falls apart after six thousand miles? Seriously, I've driven two of those things and they were both the WORST cars I've ever driven in my life, save for that early 80s Renault/AMC bastard thing.

[michreject]

35. The idjit is strong with this one

[flvegan]

30. Apparently, they don't want us to have it.

The Sienna replaced the Previa, which is what the Estima is. Toyota hasn't put the hybrid tech into the Sienna...for whatever reason.

[Romulox]

38. It must be a conspiracy between GM and Big Oil!!!!1!!!1!1 nt

[SmileyRose]

40. Look at Ford Freestyle (Taurus X)

the overall mileage is in the high 20's/low 30's and with all the seats down it would be suitable for 2 to sleep in (it would be cozy).

http://www.ford.com/vehicles/vehicle-showroom#/ford/ford-taurus-x-2009

[Stevenmarc]

41. For $45,000 you can have it imported

If you don't mind right hand drive.