Patriotism regarding cars?

In Michigan it's a touchy subject. We're seeing lots of jobs eliminated.

Those two brands are no longer Sweedish owned. Volvo is owned by Ford and Saab by GM. Being that as it may I agree with you to a point. The only time I get upset is when I go to a dealership or an assembly plant and I see the employees not driving the brand they are working for. The Uaw, is a good group as a whole, some of its members want their cake and eat it too. I think it sucks when members of the auto unions scream when they are about to loose their jobs but drive another make to work everyday and some brand new. When I worked at Ford my whole family drove Fords, not Chevys, not toyotas not anything but Ford. I has driving a two year old Chevy and when I got hired I sold it and bought a used Ford. Today its not about company loyality but greed. In Sweeden the two cars Volvo.. a Ford product and Saab a GM product.. both american companies but the Sweedish people still take pride in the car. In the Usa we build Toyotas, Hondas, Nissians etc too. If I was running a Toyota plant and employed someone that owned another brand I would hope that the next car he bought came from his own plant. I recall when I worked for Ford the employees that drove Fords got to park closest to the building. If it were my doing if they owned a non Ford when hired I would make them an offer they could not refuse to drive, and plant workers get huge discounts usually, what they build and use their trade in for tank practice. I am sure the people at the Coke plant don't drink Pepsi in the lunch room.

Cars are expensive. If I'm going to spend MY hard-earned money on a car that I'M going to drive, it's going to be a car that looks that way that I want it to look, performs the way that I want it to perform, and doesn't fall apart after being driven for a few months. Yes, it is up to everyone to choose a care that suits them, irrespecive of where it is made. And don't friggin' tell me how to spend my own money. You want me to drive an American-made car, then you better damn well go out an buy me one.

I loved my Mustang Cobra, but it was a maintenance hassle and Ford doesn't make them anymore. I like the maintainability of Japanese cars, and they are more comfortable to drive for smaller people, but I need more power. Volvos and Saabs suck. Mercedes have some power, but they are also a pain to maintain. I need a new car right now and I'm leaning toward BMW. I think I want an M3.

It has to do with national economy.

The reasons for this is due to GNP vs. GDP.

GDP (gross domestic product) measures what is made within a nations borders where as GNP (gross national product) is a measure of what is made by a country's resources, specifically capital in the case of autos.

Think of it like this, Hondas are now made (assembled) in the USA, but the capital and profit still goes out of the country. This is part of GDP.

GMs are assembled in Canada and Mexico, but the money comes from the US. This is GNP.

If you are concerned about America's economy, then you are more likely to buy American funded/profit vehicles.

Of coarse, foreign vehicles have been more reliable in recent years, so American auto makers have been forced to improve their quality since they are losing so much market share. Not to mention the labor unions have driven the up the cost of making autos .

Patriotism is satisfaction on your u . s .. this is helping the rustic for the period of no longer uncomplicated situations and uncomplicated situations. Patriotism isn't blind faith. Patriotism is working to repair imperfections and greater beneficial the rustic for each man or woman it. Being a Patriot in united statesa. might reason separation at situations because of the fact American subculture is consistent with freedom--freedom of theory, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. All of those guy or woman freedoms are certain to reason disagreement and dissent at situations over what's maximum suitable for the rustic. actual Patriots will see that this dissent is effective in resolving subject concerns as long as all and sundry comprehend that we'd be incorrect now and lower back and are prepared to artwork for the period of the dissent and compromise.

If you really look at it there is no such thing as domestic or foreign automobile anymore. Makers like Chevy, Ford and Dodge were founded in the U.S. but majority of their parts are from China or Japan. Even some like the Corvette and Camaro wont be made in the U.S. anymore they will be made in Canada. Some of VWs vehicles are made in Mexico and shipped worldwide. Some of Nissans vehicles are almost fully assembled in the U.S. even though its originally from Japan. I agree with you just buy a vehicle that fits your needs. Very few vehicles and their parts come from one country anymore!!

I heard on NPR the other day that people in other countries buy much more of their own cars than in the US. Like most Germans own german cars by far. I think it's because US cars fall apart.

patriotism is great, but in my case it wont buy me a car so when i spend my hard earned money on a car it is going to be one that has a good reliability record, easy to maintain, comfortable and one that i like in general, that being said its is nice to see the North American auto makers really trying to improve quality offering longer warranties,hopefully the market regains its confidence in them so the jobs and money can remain in North America

I've had 7 Volvo's....the 4 cylinders will take ya 600k miles !

sorry but I thinks thats bullshit.. :-)

the reason is that german cars are for instance the best cars.. "value for money" I'm living in UK and see many german cars here... I'm a german but I like my car (peugeot)