Quick note: The Honda Accord is built in Marysville, Ohio. I grew up in a Ford Family. Until about a decade ago, that's all that we drove--my dad had a Bronco II before exclusively switching to the Explorer then the Edge, my mom exclusively drove a Taurus, my first car was a Tempo. My parents and myself had never thought to look at any other brand until a decade ago. But somewhere around 2011-2012, Ford changed. I was the first one to experience this change. I bought a Ford Fiesta with the Powershift transmission. That car stayed in the service center more than it stayed in my driveway. My mom bought a 2015 Ford Focus after she wanted to downsize. She constantly had problems with that car. My dad got a Ford Edge around that time and the engine blew on it at 2,000 miles (brand new car). Ford at least bought that one back and he got another Edge, because the first one may have been a lemon. HOWEVER, the second Edge he bought had a bunch of electronic glitches and gremlins and he just lived with them until it was totaled in a hailstorm. I ended up buying a Mazda because the Fords that I had the best experience with (my 2007 Focus & 2012 Escape) were basically Mazdas with a Ford badge. I've had my Mazda 3 for 8 years now and haven't had a single issue with it. Before my mom passed away, she bought a Toyota Corolla on the advice of her sister. That car is still running today, we gave it to my nephew when she passed. My dad is now in a Nissan Frontier that he likes. He still wants to go back to Ford (he's looking at the new Bronco), but they are far too expensive for his fixed income. I want a car that's affordable and going to work. My family liked Fords because, in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, they were affordable and they worked. But around 2012, they started becoming expensive and stopped working. Same with GM. It seems like they found out what they could make the most money off of (unreliable pickup trucks & SUVs) and then just forced them on the public. American drivers want variety and reliability and that's just not something that Ford & GM offers anymore. I purposefully left off Stellantis because they are a Dutch company that sells vehicles in the U.S.
It's hard to buy American when they offer less value and features for the money. I also really love what Ford did with the Maverick of having an affordable vehicle to just turn it around and mark it up 33% in 2 years and it's nowhere near worth it's 30 grand asking price now
Right on the money my friend practically every mechanical "American made" product costs more money for an inferior product. An even better example than the auto industry is Harley Davidson. Their products are garbage in terms of reliability, but their most expensive bike starts at 50k! Compare that to a Honda Goldwing, which will never break, is half the price at 25k.
You nailed it. I have been car shopping for a while now. I originally thought I wanted a Dodge Charger. They greatly upscaled the price for the same cheaply built car. Even the used ones go for big money for a hemi. No wonder they are sitting on dealer lots. My backup plan was to stick with a Cadillac. But there too, the used market is pretty crazy for them too. Instead I am picking up my new to me 2021 BMW 330i M Sport. Certified used and much better quality than the Dodge or Cadillac.
@@lee1130fromtwitter I'm not in the know of current MSRP and dealer pricing but I when I bought a vehicle about a year ago, the dealer (Toyota) asking price included a $10k markup. I used my COSTCO membership to get the same vehicle for $500 under MSRP....but I had to go four states over to get it. 😀
@@AllCarswithJon what's disgusting is Ford doing away with the focus/fiesta and any small car. Chevy did the same pretty much too. When will they learn not everyone wants to spend 50k for a car. Even if they could afford it
Considering that the American vehicle makers don't make very many cars anymore but have switched their focus to SUVs. And there prices are outrageous! It hard to shop American anymore and find anything affordable or likeable. I bought a Japanese car!
I generally go out of my way to avoid buying American. When people say "Made in America" what I hear is "expensive and disposable". It also doesn't help the US auto industry has essentially given up on the car market with the exception of the Mustang and EVs.
I’ve been saying for the US to force the Chinese into 50/50 joint ventures so that the US automakers get all the technology and know how while the Chinese get their desired market share. I agree with that. I don’t think the Chinese onslaught of EVs and the Japanese onslaught of cheap cars is really comparable because the Chinese car industry developed through heavy subsidizing. On the other hand, the Japanese built their car industry from the ground up. Also the Japanese were very flexible with setting up shop in the US to avoid tariffs whereas the Chinese automakers get sour when the US talks about tariffs. Basically, the market in the 80s was a battle against Japanese automakers: but today the battle is not against Chinese automakers, but rather a battle against unfair market manipulation, unfair labor practices, and unfair direct involvement of the Chinese government backing the Chinese automakers. Basically we’re fighting off communism one on one to protect the free market from propagandized manipulation.
@@warrennyAmerica is advanced enough right now, but I’m thinking ahead because China is willing to fall into deficit just to get the latest manufacturing technologies and jump ahead. So if the US did a 50/50 joint venture, it would give American automakers just an idea of what they’re really dealing with.
One difference between China and the US is better intellectual property protection in the US. So if there was intellectual property that a Chinese company had, and it got used outside the joint venture, they could take action. The US companies are unable to do the same thing there. Another problem is that GM and Toyota had a joint venture at their Fremont, CA plant. The GM employees were exposed to lots of information about Toyota’s better production processes, but refused to adopt any of it elsewhere in GM.
@@warrennyThat’s a great way to look at it and indeed I agree the US is one of the most advanced in the tech sector, but with China the battle is against the Chinese government more than the actual automakers. China is using their automakers to take over the world whether by undercutting prices or stealing existing technologies.
Pretty much, Chinese auto only works if the Chinese goverment is willing to bankroll the subsidies because they have to sell at nearly a loss to make these products viable in the rest of the world, and considering we've seen rocky signs of the manipulated markets in china shaking and faltering this may not be long lived going forward. IMHO the west should have found this type of business highly undesirable because it's basicly a nation state killing another's industry by horribly undercutting them at a loss of general domestic GDP, but because a bunch of western nations are buttfuck stupid in their goverments "hey cheap cars" was all it took for them to fall for the scam. Also the Majority of Chinese auto tech is just stolen or reverse engineered US and Japanese tech anyways, we've cut their cars apart before, they have nothing we don't have besides an unwavering hatred for their own working class and willingness to effectively use slave labor to mass product products to destroy the industry of other nations.
I used to feel this way to buy American to help manufacturing, but now I have come to feel we are just a number. I’ll buy who makes the best product for the my dollar.
I think buying "North American" is a much more patriotic sentiment at this point considering how well us Canadians, Americans and Mexicans work together in the American auto industry to keep as much as we can at least on THIS continent. My 2000 Ranger is a Mexico-built unit, probably one of the last years any vehicle was assembled in North America about of 100% North American parts from all 3 countries. I don't know how much of Tesla's parts are from other regions of the planet but that might, sadly, be the most American car left and that's tragic
Reminder, BYD and other Chinese brands are only "winning" because the CCP is basically bankrolling it to take over national markets of other nations, for those not aware you have to pay terrifs, duties, customs/whatever when shipping stuff overseas, China subsidizes this by back-paying these brands these fees, so they can ship and sell their products here and else ware at very nearly their own cost plus minor profit to drive local brands out of business. China is winning by effectively having their government bankroll your purchase simply so they can take the market share and kill the local industry. When a deal looks too good to be true, it generally is, your purchase matters, do not support the Chinese auto industry, it's full of thieves and scammers created to kill your local industry.
Car companies forgot that they not only serve shareholders, but also car buyers. The American car makers have gouged to such a degree, people like myself are not willing to play the game anymore. I was a staunch American car guy, but after buying a 52k Cadillac brand new, I had great remorse since it didn't offer the value one would expect, mostly because Cadillac put a 2.0T in a big sports sedan.
Interesting point you brought on regarding Japanese vehicle domination starting in the 1970s. You pointed out how the Japanese were already building front-wheel-drive unibody cars. You mentioned how they were "ahead of the curve". However the largest and most dominant of them, Toyota was not. Some European makes and Honda indeed have already moved to transverse unibody fwd by the mid-70s. Meanwhile, Toyota didn’t import a fwd unibody to the US until 1981 with the Tercel. The Corolla, Celica, Corona were all rwd until 1983 with the Camry introduction. Their biggest sedan Cressida was rear wheel drive until the very end of its life. Toyota in fact made the transition to FWD AFTER the Detroit three and still managed to do it better in every way. The 1984 Corolla was as well build car as can be done and it was a complete new car. Went from rwd longitudinal car to fwd Transverse in one generation. It made the A body General Motors products and K-body Chrysler feel cheap and although Ford put out a bit more decent fight, Toyota was still ahead. Why do you think you never hear Chevy Cavalier or Ford Escort anymore? Toyota other than with their THS hybrid system has NEVER been a player who would introduce novel new technology to market first. In fact typically they are probably the last one to implement new technology This is why I laugh at all the clowns who single-out and target to criticize Toyota for being late to the EV game and that it is joeover for them. They clearly have not learned from history.
I would never compare an 80's Toyota to an A body GM. There are no 80's Toyota's left. The rust, the oil burning, the timing belts. The A body cars might be the last great GM product as were J cars like first gen Cavaliers. 80's Japanese cars were cheap and fuel efficient but definitely not good. I would say late 80's early 90's Accord or Camry were the first good Japanese cars. Anything before 87-88 Japanese cars were junk. The thing is being in a salt belt they never did solve the rust problem. Ex-wife had a new CRV in 06 in 07 the tailgate hinges needed painting because of rust under warranty. During that time I had a new 06 Subaru WRX that by 11 when I got rid of it the roof was rusty and paint was peeling. Actually put a motor in that car too. The 17 Rav I had till 23 when it was sold all the bolts in the hatch and door panels were rusty. So that said Japanese cars are far from perfect too.
To be fair, the EV they delivered is pretty much the least desirable EV on the market, they did really drop the ball. and their new hybrid and turbocharge drive trains going boom in their pickups is bot helping.
I too usually favor American brands. The previous pickup I had was built in MI and at the time was the most American vehicle. The transmission failed at 103k miles and I decided to buy a new vehicle (I drive a lot) I ended up buying a Toyota Tacoma, apparently engineered by Americans for a Japanese company and built by Mexicans (probably appropriately nicknamed a Taco). What is even American these days?
Two of my vehicles were built in Alabama and Indiana, and have 80%+ American made parts. The other two were built in the Tahara plant in Japan, which produces the highest quality vehicles available.
My 96 cavalier was built in Michigan. It was affordable on top of being a good car. I would have bought another one had they still made them. 13 years and 220,000 miles! Sadly no American car companies make vehicles like that anymore. I replaced it with a Japanese car and after 14 years replaced that car with another Japanese car. I hate SUVs! So I guess I'll never be buying another American car ever again.
Yeah, after 5 us built Fords I bought a Genesis because Ford doesn't care about selling affordable American made vehicles anymore. If the Maverick was Made In Michigan, one of them would be in my garage right now.
As a mechanic for the last 40 years it's a foreign car for me the reliability is great. I drive a four hundred thousand mile honda never had a major problem just maintains and oil changes😊
I get the best of both worlds, Honda Civic: Honda quality, and also made in the USA (Ohio) by American auto workers. I would rather support US workers than support a so-called "American brand" that is now "American" in name only. I will take the US-made Honda every time over a Ford made in Mexico, a Lincoln made in China, or a Chevy or a Buick made in Korea. Sorry US auto makers, you did it to yourselves.
Lee Iacocca said his cars are just as good as the Japanese. When the Japanese cars came to the United States in the 1970s, American's they were of better quality then the American manufactures Chrysler went bankrupt at the end of the 1970s because they came out with a very poor quality car
Jon, I think this is beyond automotive industry. Patriotism just doesn't seem to be compatible with the kind of liberal open democracy with relatively meritocratic and equitable economy we have in the west. In countries where it is more authoritarian and/or monopolistic/oligarchical, patriotism is implicitly placed on the population to keep them in line. Not only in China but also in Korea. Although it is a democracy it is a monopolistic oligarchy whereby Samsung is like 40% of the country's entire GDP. 90%+ of the cars sold in Korea are made by Hyundai. In fact 90%+ of Genesis sales comes from its own domestic market (it sells terribly in the rest of the world) and it outsells all the other foreign luxury automakers COMBINED in Korea. Compare Korea to Japan, which is also a democracy but has less monopolistic economy. Lexus, Toyota's luxury division only became best selling luxury car brand in Japan just last year 2023. Before then it was always either Mercedes or BMW. Japan despite what some in the media or politician portray as isn't as patriotic consumer as the other two Far East nations precisely because they practice more of the "Western values".
I'm from Beijing, studied in the US for many years, now started working. Naturally, I would try the "designed-and-made-in-USA" things, things that's widely recognized by the American culture, but I found out the most American thing I have is a 2010 Crown Vic, and it's built in Canada... Speaking of car prices back home, recently I found a brand new Lexus ES200 was sold for less than 30k in USD, and dealers are still having a hard time getting the cars off the lot
a well thought out point of view. I always appreciate that you look hard at an issue from multiple sides. I live in Ga and I have to admit that when I heard Kia was building a plant here, that I wondered if I should get one of those for my next vehicle. I seem to remember a documentary, or article maybe, that a lot of the "american" trucks and vans are being built in Turkey and shipped back here b/c it's cheaper in the long run. American industries across the board should do a self-audit to see what they can do better for the consumer as opposed to their board. Yes make a profit but not at the expense of the company and it just seems if things keep going the way they are, we're not going to have many of them left.
After the mediocre quality of the 83 Cutlass Ciera sedan, I wanted better quality, but American. I got lucky with my two 00-02 plastic Saturns. Lightweight, good MPG, long engine life and easy to repair, 95% USA parts, union made in Spring Hill, TN. Today, the US makers produce overpriced junky SUVs and behemoths I don't need. If I live long enough, my next car will be a "foreign" brand, even if it is made in the USA.
@@gregorymalchuk272 2.5 "Iron Duke". All 4-dr electric window wires went STRAIGHT across from unibody to the driver's door (and failed), STEEL bolt broke off in ALUMINUM thermostat housing, rear shoes had to be MANUALLY adjusted, rack and pinion wore out, many other problems.
American Honda Motor employs US engineers, US assembly line workers and produces throughout the Midwest and the South. Their total domestic content average is second only the the US's Tesla.
I think the biggest problem with the big three is that they just don't stand by their vehicles anymore. Cars are just insanely expensive now and when you're paying around $30,000 for a basic vehicle and the company can't even offer a 10 year 100,000 Mi warranty which some of them used to do it really makes people lose Faith because they're not trying to spend that much money on a vehicle and then be hung out to dry on repairs from parts that wear out prematurely because they were sourced as cheap as possible. I can understand these companies building the cars as cheap as possible and I'm not even saying they need to necessarily build them better they just need to stand by them,people shouldn't be worried about major repairs on a car that isn't even paid off because it doesn't even have a warranty that lasts as long as the vehicle's loan. With that being said I own a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport with 75,000 Mi on it I haven't had a lick of trouble out of it it's been a very good vehicle but I can understand why somebody who doesn't necessarily care about what it looks like or the technology in it and they just want reliable transportation they're going to buy the car that doesn't cost as much and offers a better warranty.
For me, it depends. Assuming the quality is the same/comparable and the price is comparable, i definitely prefer to buy American if it's possible. Sometimes the products just arent comparable. For example, I DIY a lot of my cars and therefore buy a lot of tools. How can I justify paying Snap-On 5x for something like a wrench or a socket compared to a product of equal (or better) quality from Japan or elsewhere for a fraction of the price? When it comes to cars, i prefer to support the American worker rather rhan the company. If a Chevy is built in Mexico, and a Honda is built in Ohio, I'd rather support the worker in Ohio. Now, the "problem" with the Chinese EVs is that they fill a gap in the market that nobody else is able to or willing to IMHO. Wheres my $15k subcompact hatchback with 150-175mi of range and fast charging? Where's my EV Ford Maverick for under $30k? Where's my Tesla Model 2? Nah, sorry, buy another $75K F150/Silverado/Sierra/Ram/Suburban/Expedition/Wagoneer.
As a German, I agree. Still driving my 1st new vehicles in life, a Hyundai, which was developed in Germany and built in Czech. Rep. (=EU) and a BMW scooter (developed AND built in Germany). (Former used cars came from Germany, Japan, the US, South Korea and France.)
John I agree with you on this one very much. We, the US, created China's economy. People like to point fingers. It was the politicians, the US consumer, the CEOS. Yes. It was all of them. In about 40 years we created our own worst enemy through short sightedness, laziness and greed. Walmart, as you mentioned is the greatest symptom of this. Bringing Chinese cars here will have the same detrimental effect but on another scale. At least when someone buys a BMW, it might have been made here and those corporate profits go to a friendly ally. China is NOT our friend. And the way China made our manufacturers partner with theirs, yeah smart on their part. They'll learn everything they need to know then kick you out when they don't need you any more. The worst part is, our corporate culture is so short term profit minded (gotta make the share holders happy!) that they did it!! They had to know it would bit them in the face soon enough. Ugh, I could keep going.
@@warrennyTheir control of the media is not about "misinformation", it's just to maintain their power, just like in every country. It's foolish to think governments wouldn't abuse the power of controlling the flow of information. China isn't just not democratic, is downright tyrannical. We shouldn't be on their side.
I lost my patriotism for American-made cars when American companies quit caring about long-term quality, so, I'd say the mid 1980s. For instance, my 96 Blazer has the dash disintegrating by the touch and the door panels falling off. On my 03 Trailblazer, the rear suspension mounts rotted off the frame. On my 08 HHR, the (plastic) glove box hinge wore out and snapped off and the fuel line rotted on the bend near the exhaust pipe. On the 00 Excursion, the windshield seal failed, exhaust studs constantly snap off, and it likes to launch spark plugs. I have about a dozen more examples from the previous post-80s vehicles I've owned and sold (or junked). Contrast that to my friend's mid-00s 200+K Corolla whose only major repair was accident damage, or another friend's early 70s squarebody GMC half-ton: neither have welded-on mounts rusting off of the frame, neither have a failing glove box hinge, neither have a failed windshield seal, neither have snapping exhaust studs or flying spark plugs, neither have failed fuel lines, and only the GMC has a cracked dash- but you can still touch it without it turning into powder. Oh, and both the Toyota and the GMC have substantially more miles than any of my examples. So, until the "American" brands can become competitive in price AND massively upgrade their long-term quality, I have no problem having a better car in my driveway. A frame shouldn't rot into pieces in 16 years, considering that there's a 70 year-old frame in my neighborhood that's been sitting outdoors for a decade and hasn't.
If it's not economically feasible to make a decent profit manufacturing cheaper vehicles in the US, and US consumers want/need cheaper vehicles, no amount of patriotism will charge that.
tell me why super cheapo cars like mitsubishi mirage, kia rio, hyundai accent, toyota yaris, honda fit, ford fiesta and chevy spark were discontinued? Because american consumers simple do not want these penalty box on wheels
@@miraphycs7377As a former Honda Fit owner...yup. They dont wish to put effort into smaller cars. That Honda was the worst car I ever bought I can tell you that. Super unreliable. But people say it's a good brand.
@@miraphycs7377 You just kind of answered your own question, nobody *wants* a penalty box. I hate to say it, but the low end of the market is where the Chinese excel. You've got the BYD Dolphin, which is roughly size equivalent to something like a Chevy Spark or Bolt, but it has a really nice interior, good ride quality for the size, and packed with tons of tech. Along the lines of what Lee Iacocca said, you have to build a small affordable car that people *want*. Unfortunately, all we have in the US are the penalty boxes that make you feel poor so you spend more money on the bigger vehicles
@@Black-Villain You are getting confused. Global BYD Dolphin is actually C-Segment, the size of Golf, Corolla and Civic. Chevy Bolt is B-segment and the Spark is A-segment both of which are smaller than the Dolphin. Of course Dolphin would have more features than both Chevys because it is a bigger vehicle. BYD Dolphin sold in the Chinese Domestic market is the smaller B-segment and the smallest EV BYD sells is BYD Seagull which is A-segment. However neither the smaller B-segment Dolphin or Seagull is sold overseas. Why? Because neither would meet any western safety crash rating. BYD themselves admitted this
I am still looking for a poster that it i remembered from the 70's. It pictured a Toyota. It said " Toyota from those nice people that bought you Pear Harbor".
Do they have a poster for American cars? One that says "from those nice people that brought decades of instability to the Middle East and South America?"
Great Video Jon! I've been studying up on this topic for some time now, and I genuinely believe we shot ourselves in the foot when we started globalizing to cut costs. I've never been more inclined to own American cars now more than ever, because before 1970, we were the best.
I am a Ford employee from our Chicago Plant that build the Ford Explorer and police intercepter. Also Lincoln Aviator. As you can see most of the Police Dept drive the Explorer . If you read the history on Henry Ford makes me proud to work for this American Co. We have are problems just like other manufactures out there, but what Henry Ford did for us to help us win WW ll to me, was something great. Converting plants over to build tanks and plane war vehicles was something great.My Dad was a WW ll Veteran all he instilled in us was to always buy AMERICAN PRODUCTS to keep out country strong. Anymore all i see is people driving Hondas Toyotas with American flags on there cars and it blows my mind.
I used to only buy Fords and occasionally a GM but not anymore. Nothing against you employees but corporate Ford and GM have gotten way tooooo greedy. They moved so much of your work to Mexico, China and Korea while Honda and Toyota have moved a lot of their production to the US. The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most American built vehicles today. Ford and GM’s quality has gotten horrendous, their reliability and resale value can’t hold a candle to most of the Japanese vehicles. American corporate greed, arrogance and only caring about their shareholders while not giving a damn about their customers is what is ruining Ford, GM and Chrysler. That’s while I’ll probably never buy another Ford or GM product. Toyota, Honda, Mazda or Subaru are the only brands I’ll buy now.
@@jayson657 Well i'm sorry you feel this way , but Ford has the most plants in the USA.All i have been reading is how bad the quality has been on the Toyota Tundra , they just had to recall 100,000 motors for metal shavings and motor failures., then on you tube been really disappointed in the new Tacoma with all there failures with there automatic transmissions and there manuals shifting problems. The Tacoma is built in Mexico. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger built in our Wayne Michigan plant and i have 50,000 miles on it , and the only thing i have had done to it was change oil every 6000 miles.When you buy a Ford the money go''s to Dearborn Michigan and stays in our country, when you buy a Toyota, Honda, Mazda, or Subaru the money go's back to Japan, making there country stronger. Something to think about the way the world is going.
Well that wasn't too long and winding at all. I think it comes down to quality. Our quality control in the 70's wasn't all that and when compared to the Japanese imports, we looked downright shoddy. That was the biggest complaint I heard back then. Oldsmobile hit a homerun back in the '80's with the cutlass, but I remember a particular episode of MotorWeek reviewing one where they mentioned moldings falling off the review car. The American auto industry was not looking out for us. It came back to bite them in the butt. Just slap them together and they'll buy 'em. NOT!
I'm of the mindset that the best product at the best price is all that matters. Its obvious the people running America don't care for its people, so why should I care for their pockets? It is one of the only times I believe you should be selfish. Get whatever you like the best, and vote for whatever is best for you.
Jon, I’d like your opinion on a new Volkswagen Jetta? I’m looking into getting a new car since I’m retired and it’s going to be my last new vehicle. I’ve bought new chevy and new fords and it was mind boggling the crazy things that would go wrong with these vehicles! I’ve bought new Toyota’s, new Nissan’s and new Honda’s, they were incredible in terms of reliability. The VW Jetta is all I need on a daily basis but what’s your thoughts and opinions on Volkswagen? Turbo engine? Expensive to maintain? Thank you and thank you for a TH-cam channel where you speak from common sense with heartfelt sentimentality about all the manufacturers.
Hi Jon. Unlike so many, and if the USA was my home instead of Britain, although it may not necessarily be an American brand, I do believe in supporting what you can of local manufacturing. But "what you can" really is another matter, as so many consumer items are no longer made not just in the USA, but anywhere in the West. We really are in the shit. In addition, what you are allowed to buy these days is a bigger issue in itself. Nissan and Toyota both manufacture in Britain. But looking at their websites recently, the range of vehicles is, well kind of sparse. Forgettable, over priced, convoluted hybrids and garbage EV's, simply hold zero appeal to an old guy like me. People mock the old British cars. Nostalgia might be too much of a healer. But for all of their faults, at least you could take a spanner to the damn things.
Where do you draw the line between "supporting local manufacturing" and "avoiding crap products?" GM and Ford are only putting in enough effort for quality to hopefully make it past warranty. That's great for people who buy a new car every 2 or 3 years, but the quality is in the trash can for those hoping to have a long-term purchase.
just bought a bu*ck envista which is union built in Korea (feat. Mexico) simply on price. many brands that build in america keep raising MSRP while dropping the ball on paying their workers. the pandemic era greed of dealerships has become a thirst for blood. buying a car in 2024 is WILD
I have to be honest. I havent bought a newer car in over 20 years. My current daily driver is an 86 Bronco. Which ive had for 4 years. Before that, it was a 56 Ford p/up. Which i drove for 4 years. I had a sprinkle of newer cars i bought, repaired and sold over the years. But my passion and driving enjoyment has always been the older ones. With that said. If i were to buy a new vehicle. It would be dependent on my needs. If just a daily driver car. It would be a Toyota. If it were a full size truck, it would be a Ram. Although Dodge has questionable reliability issues. They look best imo. If i needed an SUV, it would likely be a Cadillac.
I love all your choices. Especially the 1986 Bronco. When I was a kid, we had a K5 Blazer from that period. I won't argue which one is better looking, but I do love the full sized 2 door SUVs from the old days.
@@warrenny i love the K5 Blazers also! Only thing i like better about the Bronco is the slanted B Pillar. And i like how Ford kept changing up the Interiors. I have a 77K10 short bed im currently restoring. 4” lift, 35’s, 383 Stroker. I am also currently building a 347 Stroker for the Bronco. The 70’s and 80’s motors were very under powered. But are an easy and cheap platform to make great power with.
I have owned Ford and GM products built in the US, GM products built in Korea, Nissan, Mazda and Suzukis built in Japan, a Renault built in Kenosha, and Jeeps built in Illinois and in Italy. The worst quality vehicles I’ve ever owned were the Italian Jeep and the Kenosha Renault. Everything else was flawlessly reliable
This is a great channel you got here Jon. I really miss the old American cars of yesteryear. The 3800 buicks the towncars the K5/Ramcharger/Broncos and what not. American cars that did not cost S-Class money but were luxury esque reliable and had real caracter. Greetings from Iceland
I disagree that auto policy undermine US auto industries. If that is the case, except from auto industries, other industries should be doing well. But that is not the case because our political system does not reward the long term planning (i.e. industrial policy) and does reward throwing money at problems.
I think the big problem is what is considered "American". When American brands are being built in both Canada and Mexico, that's a problem. Yes, its a Ford this or a GM that, but its final assembly is in a neighboring country. Is that still an American brand? If you take the definition to task and consider final assembly being on US soil, then some Fords and GMs would not meet that definition where some Toyotas and Hondas would. If a Toyota or Honda was assembled in this country, employing UAW workers then there's a strong argument that its "American-made". Subaru builds the Outback, Ascent, Legacy and Impreza in Lafayette, Indiana. I would consider those models as being American-made made built by UAW workers.
Well thought out video and very interesting points for discussions. I was listening saying he is telling the truth. I wished people did support our industry. I know is a nameless person becomes president, he said was was putting a 15% tariff on imported cars and more.
Like Lincoln Nautilus. Now they’re built in China. The new Nautilus that looks like a spaceship inside… that new generation of Nautilus just needs one look and you know it’s built in China. Nobody worries about American made anymore. It’s the end I guess. Nothing is being done. No automaker wants to advertise made in USA. It’s totally weird. When I was growing up, the commercials for FORD were all about that… as well as automakers advertising quality and toughness. Everything’s weird.
I think we need to hold American (and Western) businesses to a higher standard. It’s not us, it’s them. The auto industry willingly went into China in pursuit of short term gains that enable/prioritized rich compensation package, stock buybacks, and share value over domestic innovation, quality, their own patriotism, and long team domestic growth. They created the China problem and now as it’s poised to bite back, they seem to be ready to cry foul but are doing very little to position themselves for the fight they, again, created. I want our domestic industries to succeed but we have got to start demanding better from them than just shareholder value and executive compensation. They have got to start prioritizing the products and health of the communities they serve. This is true of the auto industry and so many of our other American companies.
I think it’s true that patriotism should influence people’s buying decisions, but I disagree that we should try to emulate what’s happening in China with our own auto industry. If someone is deciding between an American and and non-American vehicle, and patriotism makes the American one seem comparatively more valuable to the consumer, then that’s a good thing because all it did was shift the natural value equation of the consumer. I don’t, however, think that protectionism and tariffs should be part of the US’ auto industry strategy. People often ask why other countries tariff our stuff but we don’t tariff theirs. The answer to that is that developing countries grow their domestic industry through protectionism, and that’s generally been understood to be a necessary tradeoff to support the fledgling industries of a developing economy. In mature economies, protectionism and tariffs have greater negative effects than positive ones. Those industries either already exist and don’t need it, or they are failing to compete with foreign players. Tariffing outsiders does nothing but artificially prop up companies that make inferior goods, and does nothing to grow our economy because we’re already mature. The jobs achieved by those tariffs exist, but those workers could be more efficiently employed elsewhere, producing goods that provide more utility. The tariffs just keep them making a product that is artificially in demand because the government handicapped the competing goods. China grew by discouraging imports and heavily subsidizing exports in China, and that worked for them for a while, but their government has refused to take the next step and focus on their domestic consumption instead of just artificially increasing their production of goods they don’t make enough money to consume. China might do better than us in some areas where we struggle, but it’s shortsighted to pretend that because their problems are different than ours, that that means they’re inherently more successful, and we should strive to employ their strategies and be like them. ‘Different’ doesn’t always equal ‘better.’ What I mean is that while China’s auto industry is rising rapidly and succeeding in Europe, Asia, and South America, it’s because China has a massive trade surplus that they want to unload on the rest of the world. They produce too much stuff, and their citizens don’t make enough money to buy enough of what they produce. Their government could address that by increasing consumer protections and social safety nets so Chinese consumers would feel free to spend more and save less, or they could continue to overproduce and underconsume and hope that foreign markets will pick up the tab and buy their surplus production. The Chinese government chose the latter option. An argument could be made to justify temporary tariffs on specifically Chinese products that they are overproducing and dumping their surplus here, but we shouldn’t take it too far and say that we should tariff all imported cars across the board because it allows developing countries to grow. We are not a developing economy, and we can afford to let our domestic companies compete with foreign ones to make a competitive product. We shouldn’t be forced to prop up GM and Ford just because they can’t meaningfully compete with Toyota and Hyundai in most sectors. If they can compete, that’s fantastic and we should choose their product if it’s good. But if they can’t, that is ultimately their fault, regardless of what the UAW or auto execs say. We can let patriotism play a part in our decision-making. I certainly value patriotism, and I will choose an American product over an imported one when two products are effectively competitive. But we shouldn’t let that patriotism turn into policies and protectionism just so we can all kid ourselves and pretend like inferior goods are competitive just because we can’t make good enough product. Leave tariffs for national security and discouraging China from dumping surplus here to kill off legitimate industries.
Another thing you left out of this is Tesla and Rivian. Tesla is the most American car manufacturer. American company, American built with (mostly) American parts. The batteries are really the only imported component but American production of those has begun now, too. Rivian is also an American company with trucks built in America. Hell, even the fuel is American made! Be it coal or solar, wind, hydro or nuclear.
I *still* don't consider an American car (which I'll define as a brand owned by GM, Ford, and Mopar) to be built as well as the imports (which I'll define as everything not GM, Ford, or Mopar.) The American brands are managed by penny-pinching executives that choose crappy materials to make their vehicles. That said, I don't consider the US-built "imports" to be built as well as the true imported vehicles. I attribute that to the American workforce vs. others.
None that is why I walked away from a good deal on a Trailblazer Activ. When I saw 25% of the vehicle's parts were sourced from China I thought wtf is the point even buying from GM?
The only people I remember with a "buy american" fetish in the 1980s were what we referred to as "hayseeds". No sensible person wanted typically clunky american cars then. (aside from a tiny number of exceptions)
Up until 5 or so years ago, I was all in on buy American for vehicles. But with the latest UAW outrageous pay raise extortion strike, I will never buy any vehicle made by UAW workers again. I will also never buy Chinese made cars. I've seen enough videos on their lack of actual quality and durability to make me not trust my life with them.
Honda Accord made in Ohio with UAW workers, Subaru Outback made in Indiana with UAW workers and both have over 80% American made parts which is more than many Ford and Chevy cars have.
I literally have EVER owned American cars. Yes, I am AWARE that my current daily, my Pontiac Vibe, is a Toyota Matrix, but Pontiac was an AMERICAN company and it was assembled in the NUMMI plant in California. My cars since 15, in order, as follows: 1995 Pontiac GrandAm 2002 Dodge Dakota SXT (loved that truck, even tho it had nothing but problems) 1998 Chevy S10 2017 Dodge Challenger (yes, I bought this new at 28 - to impress chicks, only men cared, got called a d*ch3b4g a lot) 2003 Pontiac Vibe (current around town daily) 1995 F250 7.3L (current work truck daily) I was going to buy a newer Toyota to replace the Vibe, but I can't do it now. I think I'll keep the American used car trend. Nobody can afford a new car.
I've owned 39 vehicles in my life, only one of which was a foreign car (the Honda that my wife owned before we got married); all the rest were built in North America, from Fords to GM and Chrysler products and even one Studebaker. Some were excellent, some were good, and only three (my wife's 1975 Honda, my 1981 Plymouth UnReliant, and my current 2019 Ford Flex) had major issues (the Honda was a piece of junk from the get-go, the UnReliant spent more time in the shop than it did on the road, and the Flex was a lemon until Ford finally traced down the electrical problems that plagued it). And when I do buy another car it will be made in North America by a North American manufacturer as well.
@@baronvonjo1929 My Flex is made by an American company (Ford) and assembled in North America; it is not made by an overseas-owned company, nor is it assembled overseas, to the detriment of our American economy. I've lived abroad (over 50 years ago now) and, had I needed to own a car when I was living in Spain, I would most likely have bought a locally-made vehicle. But, thanks to superlative public transit, I was able to survive the year by only using subways, buses, and the trains, only renting a car once for a trip.
I would buy an American vehicle if they made cars that appeal to me. I would love to buy a new focus or fiesta, or maybe a ford ranger that hasn’t been utterly neglected.
Used to drive strictly American cars until 1996, when I bought my first Honda. Since then I’ve had Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus and Mazda. While I didn’t like some of them (Nissan), none of them gave me any problems. I can’t say the same for the American cars, even though the American cars were from the 70’s and 80’s.
Overpriced US auto makers did it to themselves. I'm seeing Toyota and Hyundai are following the footsteps of the US auto. It's time to bring in the new kids on the block. Let's welcome the Chinese auto 😊
American auto executives treat Americans like suckers to be taken advantage of like suckers. Spend your money and buy value whether German, Japanese and yes, Chinese.
buy UAW/CAW, even if that particular vehicle is made in Mexico, etc bx that still helps support the American home base and keep the middle class going in the USA vs the low wage/low benefits of buying say a Kia made in the USA.
I was looking at a Chevy Equinox (made in MX) but ended up buying a basic Cadillac XT4 because it was made here with union labor. I refuse to buy anything made in Mexico because of the way they abuse their workers.
@@chuckgladfelter ford leads the pack in recalls. Stellantis vehicles nothin but quality issues. GM is probably the only one who isn’t plagued with issues
seems like the US automotive landscape is becoming asynchronous to the rest of the world. China has 1.4 billion people of which 400 million is considered middle class now. To hear VW make almost half their profit from the Chinese market is crazy to me.
Can you explain more? American brands are heavily in China. Buick has been there for decades and is a top seller. At the same time, America is importing Chinese built Buicks and Lincolns. As a side note, VW was the first in China....I want to say since the 1970s. I lived in China for four years. Everywhere you look you can see VWs.
It doesn’t help that America builds only trucks and SUVs for the most part. I drive a 2018 Mazda Miata, and the American companies offer nothing like it. American companies only want to sell expensive high-profit vehicles. I’m not interested.
if I were able to drive I'd either want an American Car A Japanese Car or a German Car ex of each a 2003 Ford Thunderbird or Buick Park Avenue for Japanese it would be either a Toyota Solara SLE V6 convertible or a Lexus LC Convertible and for German it would either be a BMW Z4 or a Mercedes Benz AMG C63 S convertible though out of these the LC is the rarest producing less than 3,000 units per year though Solara convertibles were pretty rare in their time as well the best seller of the Luxury cars is the C Class
The US was singular in its weathering of WW2, we emerged stronger and flush with resources. We had lots of steel and gas and cash. Japan didn't. They learned efficiency we learned opulence.
Unfortunately America has always been caught up on "Money" Greed is Good..lol i remember growing up as a kid in the 80s. My family always bought American Vehicles. My grandparents always GM, my parents always Mercury and the rest of family Ford/GM and Chrysler. Talking to one of my Aunts back then asking if she had looked at the new Honda Accord. She told me she was only looking at Domestic Vehicles she was trying to support the American Corporations. Unfortunately over the years due to having some unreliable Domestic Vehicles she crossed over...lol growing up from 80s 90s 2000s. I nowadays i see more foreign Vehicles on the road then American. I think that Bailout years ago pissed alot of people off.
Consumers the world over look for reliability, value for money, and a product that suits their needs. If the American motor industry cannot compete on that basis, then they cannot expect consumers to respond to a call on buy American because it is patriotic. That line of argument is effectively saying that they cannot compete with imported products.
Which is saying the heavy subsidies the Chinese government showers on their auto indusry means they can't compete based on value and a product that meets consumer needs.
@@AllCarswithJon The America auto industry wouldn't exist to day if it wasn't for the bailouts it received during the Bush and Obama Presidencies. The auto industry is global and all participants must compete on that basis. Asian and European carmakers compete in North America by establishing manufacturing facilities on that continent, and successfully compete because of the quality of the product they produce.
I can only speak so much for a group of people on the other side of the planet, but I can see why patriotism is thriving in China and their domestic sales. Imagine if American cars had, in just the past few years went from generic to kind bad to world class or beating on style, efficiency and price, with only further up to go. As for me, I got to watch as the cars made "in America" became mexican NAFTA jobs, crushing labor and making a worse and worse product every year, as they hid behind the chicken tax to to the point that the big 2 barely make CARS anymore, just trucks and SUVs. Also, anyone complaining that the CCP has their hands on the scale by underwriting their industry is forgetting 2008's bailouts, and that didn't improve matters much for anyone but the shareholders. I'd happily buy a BYD seagull, even after the 50% biden tariff since it would be something no one here is willing to make, a small city car that has enough range to get me to the next big city. I think it's telling all the americans can offer me is some nightmare pickup as big as a house or a tesla with doorgaps I can stick my fingers through and software errors that make me take it back to Elon's funhouse.
China got the trade war and trade restriction it deserved. If china doesn't like it, either drop the tariffs on foreign cars or go do partnership, joint venture and local production like it forced on foreign cars.
mate, India hates china and they will never buy chinese car in any significant amount. Africa? Bro, 3/4 of the continent is dirt poor and amist a war! New car is a luxury period, even a chinese one!
Yep. China started this trade war by aggression market manipulation and disregard for human rights in the workplace to push down manufacturing prices to absurdly low levels. They need to be banned simply for the good of the earth.
I agree in part. The reason for the ask on partnerships isn't about jobs. It was the ability for China to gain auto manufacturing knowledge. The US doesn't need the knowledge. We only ask for local manufacturing to gain jobs. That I agree with.
The speaker here is only half correct in my opinion. China, like most Asian countries, is very distrustful of anyone or anything that is foreign. Sure they'll let you in if you're foreign and useful, but they only do it on their terms in a way that benefits them (if they can). As soon as they don't need foreign intervention, they kick foreigners to the curb. It's cultural for them. In the US, we used to be this way. However, we're more cost oriented than many Asian countries are.
i agree with 1000% i buy clothes made in the us and as much other things as i can SUPPORT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS a few years ago one of the Ceos of Mercedes Benz was in china and he was upset because they forced the partner company with Daimler to buy the chinese batteries they didn't allow them any choice How did those chinese auto companies get to where they are today free land free auto plants restricted competition subsidized prices That is not a free market Support our Big 3 in Detroit Ford rebuilt the Michigan Central Train Depot isn't that worth something to Detroiters If your opinion of Detroit manufacturers is from the 70s you are so wrong they are different companies
Interesting i did comment on Australian car manufacturers last vid but i will touch on Australia patriotism. After WW2 the diggers or soliders came back from 2 fronts Germany n Japan, while some say Germans were bad the Japanese treated diggers really bad, so there Australians like grandad said he would never buy Japanese vehicles but uncle bob did buy Nissan because it had affordable 4WD unlike his brother my Pa brought F100 from USA. While USA celebrated in 76 our was in 88 i believe both countries car manufacturers could done more to keep buyers patriotism. The best car companies could do especially here in Australia is had advertising n bumper stickers. Holden famous ad on TV was Meat pies, kangaroos & Holden cars. Playing ACDC Thunderstruck n ute doing circle work, this also play into Deni ute muster with enclosed tent of new Holden VU, talking to engineers/design before national release. Ford would show their concepts like rest at Melbourne n Sydney Motor show then at agricultural field days..hearing concept ute Sandfire fire up with V8 twin 3 inch exhaust...Nice. i reckon Ford had best sticker Australian triangle logo Ford Australia - We're moving with you. in 80's or later Have you driven Ford Lately. but this was global saying. Ford also sponsor cars base on safety driving at DECA in Shepparton, Victoria. But by time tax had gone, political views had change in 90's Japanese got ahead plus Europeans taste of luxury, lack leadership from GM n Ford allow slow death. My advice is not patriotism but like Saturn been part of family, community, team will keep USA afloat but dont forget your brothers in arms Australia remember this is chess board not home front mindset.
Patriotism works when the company is American and it's made in America. Police car must be American brand and made in America, you don't see police drive in Toyota or Hyundai. I don't think it's changing. Politicians have power over that, we have a capitalist society and market competition. And patriotism will have problems with that. Where patriotism worked - Soviet Union, China, North Korea. But USA tries to protect some of its products: you don't see French or Italian movies, there are no French/Czech/Spanish/Chinese cars, and European/Asian cars are a lot different for USA than other countries, they have different options, names and usually look different.
I've never crossed that line and bought a foreign brand car. I've never been interested in even looking at them. Ford only. But, we are sedan buyers. Ford has stopped making anything that we buy. All i can say is, they, along with GM, had better be raking it in with this strategy, having squandered that relationship with brand loyal car buyers to focus only on ludicrously over priced trucks. Oh, they're not? Pretty stupid, guys.
It is the same with borders, citizenship, or property in other countries. It is extremely hard to both legally or illegally get into 90% of the countries, as well as own property, but every white majority country has to have open borders and must be free for all otherwise the media will destroy politicians or individual people who would like to protect their border and country. Industry is just one small piece of overall issue.
The problem with American automakers is that they are cheap, poorly built, and less reliable than the Japanese. They don't prioritize quality as Toyota does. Ford has led the way in recalls due to poor quality control. They are focused on increased profits and reducing costs at the expense of quality. This why many Americans prefer Japanese cars. Toyota and Honda do have plants in America, so some models are built in America
I'm enjoying these videos from Europe and some reflections: Made in America or American made is for some reason used instead of Made in the USA or USA made...!? It's really making things confusing, initially. Which part of America are you referring to? Any certain county? Which one, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Canada or Nicaragua etc? Anyway, US made vehicles are all made for the US native market. They are huge SUV or pickups. They are not attractive in Europe or most other places of the world. Making such vehicles don't entitle complaints about buyers in other countries not wanting to buy them. We want simple inexpensive BEV hatchbacks - it US makers can produce them, sure we will buy them. But they don't, hence the BYD Dolphin is a huge seller, dispute being a PRC made car. It's a great everyday vehicle/grocery getter at an equivalent of $10.000 factory fresh. Of course it's a top seller, petrol is equivalent to $8.57/US gal. Charging stations are everywhere and inexpensive. A Ford F150 pickup is $70.000, has a huge fuel consumption and an annual road tax of $3000. It's also difficult to park since a typical parking square is 15 x 7 feet, larger vehicles have to use commercial parking areas, far away, scare and expensive. Everything speaks for an PRC invasion of cars the upcoming years. 😊😊
@@deatruiy That is indeed true, despite a hickup with the Unions and local boycotts. However our Tesla are made in PRC or Germany. Money does go to a US company but it hardly provides any US jobs.
@@Airpang100 According to labor data source: "According to available data, a significant portion of Tesla employees in the USA do not directly build cars, with estimates suggesting that around 50% or more of their workforce is involved in non-manufacturing roles like software development, design, sales, marketing, research and development, and administrative functions, across their various US locations including the Gigafactories in Fremont, California and Austin, Texas" So, you have GREATLY contributed to the US economy. Thank you for buying American!
@@TheSouthieBeautiful I don't mind buying American, or perhaps you mean US made? I want to buy a good product, regardless of where it's made. However Im no fan of Tesla due to their lack of cooperation with the Unions, but they have benefitted the automotive industry with its evolution.
You forgot to mention that Anerican cars are very expensive plus the quality is bad. The competitors are better in quality plus the price is much much cheaper. You also fail to mention Amecian corporates tend to favor profits vs quality at the expense to the buyer. They also fail to innovate.
All American cars of often made with a large percentage of foreign parts...so you are mistaken. Besides why contribute to the criminally outrageous salaries of GM, Ford CEOs?
Chinese consumers prefer cars of domestic brands mainly because of the value, not patriotism. Chinese made EVs offer superior performance and come with cheaper price tag. US automakers aren’t competitive against foreign competition, what’s the reason they are steadily losing market share. In the segment where they still excel, i.e. full size pick up truck and SUV, Big three maintain dominant position. It’s absolutely unfair to ask American consumers to buy so called US brands. If you want to play the card of nationalism in car buying decision, then let’s compare the foreign vs domestic made parts/contents, a name plate doesn’t mean anything in the age of global supply chain and offshoring manufacturing.
One good thing we can remember is that as of now the auto industry in China is a huge net deficit for the economy as opposed to the immensely profitable car industry in Japan, the US, and some European countries. So we have an edge on that. It’s one thing to subsidize an industry until China is so in debt, and it’s another thing to keep the industry running after withdrawing the subsidies. Then it’s another thing to turn the auto industry in China into a profit. This could take years with all the backlash. Meanwhile the allies and western countries would be humming collecting massive profits from their car industry. So this is one good thing.
i watched a car tech do a side by side tear down of an American car and a Japanese and Chinese and wow the cheaper parts that where used on the American brand ..just blew me away, parts that fail well before 60,000,, people say buy American support American wave the flag, while eating a slice of American pie .. i work 60 + hours a week, my money isn't going out the window just to wear a flag pin, the company that makes the best car wins my money, will American car company's make warranty's that cover more then 36,000 miles?( no warranty is perfect but damm let me get a little piece of mind) THEY ARE AMERICAN.. COMPANIES… WELL BACK YOUR PRODUCT BETTER,.. SO PEOPLE WONT GO LOOKING FOR BETTER BUILD QUALITY ELSE WHERE
You can't say so. In Germany Renault and Peugeot are among the most successful imports (next to Skoda and Toyota). I have had a Citroen for 8 yrs (eccept the hydropneumatic chassis) without serious issues.
Does China have the same environmental laws? Does China have the same labor laws? Does the Chinese government subsidize this industry? Its more about unfair competition than pure patriotism. In the very least, we need to protect the American worker from unfair competition.
It's no need for that. That war is already lost. US auto makers are only producing vehicles for its domestic market nowadays. They are not wanted elsewhere. The US auto industry is not sustainable, it will fall, it's just a matter of time
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
Our politicians are not patriotic. They too are interested in their own pockets and vote accordingly.
Mandates have ruined the American car market and affordability. Keep voting for demonrats and soon you'll have to move to another country.
Make TOYOTA Japan 🗾 Great Again 😎 Scotty Kilmer
Quick note: The Honda Accord is built in Marysville, Ohio.
I grew up in a Ford Family. Until about a decade ago, that's all that we drove--my dad had a Bronco II before exclusively switching to the Explorer then the Edge, my mom exclusively drove a Taurus, my first car was a Tempo. My parents and myself had never thought to look at any other brand until a decade ago. But somewhere around 2011-2012, Ford changed. I was the first one to experience this change. I bought a Ford Fiesta with the Powershift transmission. That car stayed in the service center more than it stayed in my driveway. My mom bought a 2015 Ford Focus after she wanted to downsize. She constantly had problems with that car. My dad got a Ford Edge around that time and the engine blew on it at 2,000 miles (brand new car). Ford at least bought that one back and he got another Edge, because the first one may have been a lemon. HOWEVER, the second Edge he bought had a bunch of electronic glitches and gremlins and he just lived with them until it was totaled in a hailstorm. I ended up buying a Mazda because the Fords that I had the best experience with (my 2007 Focus & 2012 Escape) were basically Mazdas with a Ford badge. I've had my Mazda 3 for 8 years now and haven't had a single issue with it. Before my mom passed away, she bought a Toyota Corolla on the advice of her sister. That car is still running today, we gave it to my nephew when she passed. My dad is now in a Nissan Frontier that he likes. He still wants to go back to Ford (he's looking at the new Bronco), but they are far too expensive for his fixed income.
I want a car that's affordable and going to work. My family liked Fords because, in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, they were affordable and they worked. But around 2012, they started becoming expensive and stopped working. Same with GM. It seems like they found out what they could make the most money off of (unreliable pickup trucks & SUVs) and then just forced them on the public. American drivers want variety and reliability and that's just not something that Ford & GM offers anymore. I purposefully left off Stellantis because they are a Dutch company that sells vehicles in the U.S.
Honda Accord isn't sold in Japan.
@fuzzyschwartz Yes it is.
Marc your entire statement is a mirror of myself and my family. Thank you for posting.
Fiesta was a realy good car, as long as it had a clutch pedal.
Never Say NEVER 😎 Justin Bieber
It's hard to buy American when they offer less value and features for the money. I also really love what Ford did with the Maverick of having an affordable vehicle to just turn it around and mark it up 33% in 2 years and it's nowhere near worth it's 30 grand asking price now
Amen, and now there's rumors out there Ford will be bringing the "Ranchero" name back at a price under the Maverick.
Not believing it.
Right on the money my friend practically every mechanical "American made" product costs more money for an inferior product. An even better example than the auto industry is Harley Davidson. Their products are garbage in terms of reliability, but their most expensive bike starts at 50k! Compare that to a Honda Goldwing, which will never break, is half the price at 25k.
You nailed it. I have been car shopping for a while now. I originally thought I wanted a Dodge Charger. They greatly upscaled the price for the same cheaply built car. Even the used ones go for big money for a hemi. No wonder they are sitting on dealer lots. My backup plan was to stick with a Cadillac. But there too, the used market is pretty crazy for them too. Instead I am picking up my new to me 2021 BMW 330i M Sport. Certified used and much better quality than the Dodge or Cadillac.
@@lee1130fromtwitter I'm not in the know of current MSRP and dealer pricing but I when I bought a vehicle about a year ago, the dealer (Toyota) asking price included a $10k markup.
I used my COSTCO membership to get the same vehicle for $500 under MSRP....but I had to go four states over to get it. 😀
@@AllCarswithJon what's disgusting is Ford doing away with the focus/fiesta and any small car. Chevy did the same pretty much too. When will they learn not everyone wants to spend 50k for a car. Even if they could afford it
I'm old...never imagined a Lincoln would be sold here and assembled in China
In all fairness, nobody is buying those Lincoln's.
@@s99614 ford dealer I work out just stopped selling lincolns all together. We just selling what ever lincolns we have left
Never Say NEVER 😎 Justin Bieber
Buy american? Wranglers for 70k, f150 close to 90k? Hahahah sure
Considering that the American vehicle makers don't make very many cars anymore but have switched their focus to SUVs. And there prices are outrageous! It hard to shop American anymore and find anything affordable or likeable. I bought a Japanese car!
I generally go out of my way to avoid buying American. When people say "Made in America" what I hear is "expensive and disposable". It also doesn't help the US auto industry has essentially given up on the car market with the exception of the Mustang and EVs.
To your point it is quintessential American to want to purchase the best of the best, sometimes it's just made in Japan.
I’ve been saying for the US to force the Chinese into 50/50 joint ventures so that the US automakers get all the technology and know how while the Chinese get their desired market share. I agree with that.
I don’t think the Chinese onslaught of EVs and the Japanese onslaught of cheap cars is really comparable because the Chinese car industry developed through heavy subsidizing. On the other hand, the Japanese built their car industry from the ground up. Also the Japanese were very flexible with setting up shop in the US to avoid tariffs whereas the Chinese automakers get sour when the US talks about tariffs. Basically, the market in the 80s was a battle against Japanese automakers: but today the battle is not against Chinese automakers, but rather a battle against unfair market manipulation, unfair labor practices, and unfair direct involvement of the Chinese government backing the Chinese automakers. Basically we’re fighting off communism one on one to protect the free market from propagandized manipulation.
You dont do business with communist.
@@warrennyAmerica is advanced enough right now, but I’m thinking ahead because China is willing to fall into deficit just to get the latest manufacturing technologies and jump ahead. So if the US did a 50/50 joint venture, it would give American automakers just an idea of what they’re really dealing with.
One difference between China and the US is better intellectual property protection in the US. So if there was intellectual property that a Chinese company had, and it got used outside the joint venture, they could take action. The US companies are unable to do the same thing there. Another problem is that GM and Toyota had a joint venture at their Fremont, CA plant. The GM employees were exposed to lots of information about Toyota’s better production processes, but refused to adopt any of it elsewhere in GM.
@@warrennyThat’s a great way to look at it and indeed I agree the US is one of the most advanced in the tech sector, but with China the battle is against the Chinese government more than the actual automakers. China is using their automakers to take over the world whether by undercutting prices or stealing existing technologies.
Pretty much, Chinese auto only works if the Chinese goverment is willing to bankroll the subsidies because they have to sell at nearly a loss to make these products viable in the rest of the world, and considering we've seen rocky signs of the manipulated markets in china shaking and faltering this may not be long lived going forward.
IMHO the west should have found this type of business highly undesirable because it's basicly a nation state killing another's industry by horribly undercutting them at a loss of general domestic GDP, but because a bunch of western nations are buttfuck stupid in their goverments "hey cheap cars" was all it took for them to fall for the scam.
Also the Majority of Chinese auto tech is just stolen or reverse engineered US and Japanese tech anyways, we've cut their cars apart before, they have nothing we don't have besides an unwavering hatred for their own working class and willingness to effectively use slave labor to mass product products to destroy the industry of other nations.
I used to feel this way to buy American to help manufacturing, but now I have come to feel we are just a number. I’ll buy who makes the best product for the my dollar.
I think buying "North American" is a much more patriotic sentiment at this point considering how well us Canadians, Americans and Mexicans work together in the American auto industry to keep as much as we can at least on THIS continent. My 2000 Ranger is a Mexico-built unit, probably one of the last years any vehicle was assembled in North America about of 100% North American parts from all 3 countries. I don't know how much of Tesla's parts are from other regions of the planet but that might, sadly, be the most American car left and that's tragic
I think all of Tesla's models are routinely at the top of the American index surveys every year. Usually followed by some Honda models.
Reminder, BYD and other Chinese brands are only "winning" because the CCP is basically bankrolling it to take over national markets of other nations, for those not aware you have to pay terrifs, duties, customs/whatever when shipping stuff overseas, China subsidizes this by back-paying these brands these fees, so they can ship and sell their products here and else ware at very nearly their own cost plus minor profit to drive local brands out of business.
China is winning by effectively having their government bankroll your purchase simply so they can take the market share and kill the local industry.
When a deal looks too good to be true, it generally is, your purchase matters, do not support the Chinese auto industry, it's full of thieves and scammers created to kill your local industry.
Car companies forgot that they not only serve shareholders, but also car buyers. The American car makers have gouged to such a degree, people like myself are not willing to play the game anymore. I was a staunch American car guy, but after buying a 52k Cadillac brand new, I had great remorse since it didn't offer the value one would expect, mostly because Cadillac put a 2.0T in a big sports sedan.
Interesting point you brought on regarding Japanese vehicle domination starting in the 1970s. You pointed out how the Japanese were already building front-wheel-drive unibody cars. You mentioned how they were "ahead of the curve". However the largest and most dominant of them, Toyota was not.
Some European makes and Honda indeed have already moved to transverse unibody fwd by the mid-70s.
Meanwhile, Toyota didn’t import a fwd unibody to the US until 1981 with the Tercel. The Corolla, Celica, Corona were all rwd until 1983 with the Camry introduction. Their biggest sedan Cressida was rear wheel drive until the very end of its life. Toyota in fact made the transition to FWD AFTER the Detroit three and still managed to do it better in every way. The 1984 Corolla was as well build car as can be done and it was a complete new car. Went from rwd longitudinal car to fwd Transverse in one generation. It made the A body General Motors products and K-body Chrysler feel cheap and although Ford put out a bit more decent fight, Toyota was still ahead. Why do you think you never hear Chevy Cavalier or Ford Escort anymore?
Toyota other than with their THS hybrid system has NEVER been a player who would introduce novel new technology to market first. In fact typically they are probably the last one to implement new technology
This is why I laugh at all the clowns who single-out and target to criticize Toyota for being late to the EV game and that it is joeover for them. They clearly have not learned from history.
I would never compare an 80's Toyota to an A body GM. There are no 80's Toyota's left. The rust, the oil burning, the timing belts. The A body cars might be the last great GM product as were J cars like first gen Cavaliers. 80's Japanese cars were cheap and fuel efficient but definitely not good. I would say late 80's early 90's Accord or Camry were the first good Japanese cars. Anything before 87-88 Japanese cars were junk. The thing is being in a salt belt they never did solve the rust problem. Ex-wife had a new CRV in 06 in 07 the tailgate hinges needed painting because of rust under warranty. During that time I had a new 06 Subaru WRX that by 11 when I got rid of it the roof was rusty and paint was peeling. Actually put a motor in that car too. The 17 Rav I had till 23 when it was sold all the bolts in the hatch and door panels were rusty. So that said Japanese cars are far from perfect too.
To be fair, the EV they delivered is pretty much the least desirable EV on the market, they did really drop the ball.
and their new hybrid and turbocharge drive trains going boom in their pickups is bot helping.
I too usually favor American brands. The previous pickup I had was built in MI and at the time was the most American vehicle. The transmission failed at 103k miles and I decided to buy a new vehicle (I drive a lot) I ended up buying a Toyota Tacoma, apparently engineered by Americans for a Japanese company and built by Mexicans (probably appropriately nicknamed a Taco). What is even American these days?
Two of my vehicles were built in Alabama and Indiana, and have 80%+ American made parts.
The other two were built in the Tahara plant in Japan, which produces the highest quality vehicles available.
❤ Tahara 🥰
My 96 cavalier was built in Michigan. It was affordable on top of being a good car. I would have bought another one had they still made them. 13 years and 220,000 miles! Sadly no American car companies make vehicles like that anymore. I replaced it with a Japanese car and after 14 years replaced that car with another Japanese car.
I hate SUVs! So I guess I'll never be buying another American car ever again.
I bought a Tesla Model 3 LR Dual Motor. American company with cars built in Fremont, California.
batteries not made by an american company
Yeah, after 5 us built Fords I bought a Genesis because Ford doesn't care about selling affordable American made vehicles anymore. If the Maverick was Made In Michigan, one of them would be in my garage right now.
Very well said, joint venture deals, patriotism, global expansion, auto leaders becoming the followers etc! It’s a huge mess for USA auto.
As a mechanic for the last 40 years it's a foreign car for me the reliability is great. I drive a four hundred thousand mile honda never had a major problem just maintains and oil changes😊
I get the best of both worlds, Honda Civic: Honda quality, and also made in the USA (Ohio) by American auto workers. I would rather support US workers than support a so-called "American brand" that is now "American" in name only. I will take the US-made Honda every time over a Ford made in Mexico, a Lincoln made in China, or a Chevy or a Buick made in Korea. Sorry US auto makers, you did it to yourselves.
The Honda cars, specifically the Civic and Accord, both have CVT's. At least the Trax uses a normal automatic transmission.
Lee Iacocca said his cars are just as good as the Japanese. When the Japanese cars came to the United States in the 1970s, American's they were of better quality then the American manufactures Chrysler went bankrupt at the end of the 1970s because they came out with a very poor quality car
Jon, I think this is beyond automotive industry. Patriotism just doesn't seem to be compatible with the kind of liberal open democracy with relatively meritocratic and equitable economy we have in the west.
In countries where it is more authoritarian and/or monopolistic/oligarchical, patriotism is implicitly placed on the population to keep them in line. Not only in China but also in Korea. Although it is a democracy it is a monopolistic oligarchy whereby Samsung is like 40% of the country's entire GDP. 90%+ of the cars sold in Korea are made by Hyundai. In fact 90%+ of Genesis sales comes from its own domestic market (it sells terribly in the rest of the world) and it outsells all the other foreign luxury automakers COMBINED in Korea.
Compare Korea to Japan, which is also a democracy but has less monopolistic economy. Lexus, Toyota's luxury division only became best selling luxury car brand in Japan just last year 2023. Before then it was always either Mercedes or BMW. Japan despite what some in the media or politician portray as isn't as patriotic consumer as the other two Far East nations precisely because they practice more of the "Western values".
Are you a Leftist?
nope Frederick center to center-right. I am just sharing my observation.
I'm from Beijing, studied in the US for many years, now started working. Naturally, I would try the "designed-and-made-in-USA" things, things that's widely recognized by the American culture, but I found out the most American thing I have is a 2010 Crown Vic, and it's built in Canada...
Speaking of car prices back home, recently I found a brand new Lexus ES200 was sold for less than 30k in USD, and dealers are still having a hard time getting the cars off the lot
a well thought out point of view. I always appreciate that you look hard at an issue from multiple sides. I live in Ga and I have to admit that when I heard Kia was building a plant here, that I wondered if I should get one of those for my next vehicle. I seem to remember a documentary, or article maybe, that a lot of the "american" trucks and vans are being built in Turkey and shipped back here b/c it's cheaper in the long run. American industries across the board should do a self-audit to see what they can do better for the consumer as opposed to their board. Yes make a profit but not at the expense of the company and it just seems if things keep going the way they are, we're not going to have many of them left.
After the mediocre quality of the 83 Cutlass Ciera sedan, I wanted better quality, but American. I got lucky with my two 00-02 plastic Saturns. Lightweight, good MPG, long engine life and easy to repair, 95% USA parts, union made in Spring Hill, TN. Today, the US makers produce overpriced junky SUVs and behemoths I don't need. If I live long enough, my next car will be a "foreign" brand, even if it is made in the USA.
Which engine did your Cutlass Ciera have?
@@gregorymalchuk272 2.5 "Iron Duke". All 4-dr electric window wires went STRAIGHT across from unibody to the driver's door (and failed), STEEL bolt broke off in ALUMINUM thermostat housing, rear shoes had to be MANUALLY adjusted, rack and pinion wore out, many other problems.
American Honda Motor employs US engineers, US assembly line workers and produces throughout the Midwest and the South. Their total domestic content average is second only the the US's Tesla.
I think the biggest problem with the big three is that they just don't stand by their vehicles anymore. Cars are just insanely expensive now and when you're paying around $30,000 for a basic vehicle and the company can't even offer a 10 year 100,000 Mi warranty which some of them used to do it really makes people lose Faith because they're not trying to spend that much money on a vehicle and then be hung out to dry on repairs from parts that wear out prematurely because they were sourced as cheap as possible. I can understand these companies building the cars as cheap as possible and I'm not even saying they need to necessarily build them better they just need to stand by them,people shouldn't be worried about major repairs on a car that isn't even paid off because it doesn't even have a warranty that lasts as long as the vehicle's loan. With that being said I own a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport with 75,000 Mi on it I haven't had a lick of trouble out of it it's been a very good vehicle but I can understand why somebody who doesn't necessarily care about what it looks like or the technology in it and they just want reliable transportation they're going to buy the car that doesn't cost as much and offers a better warranty.
For me, it depends. Assuming the quality is the same/comparable and the price is comparable, i definitely prefer to buy American if it's possible.
Sometimes the products just arent comparable. For example, I DIY a lot of my cars and therefore buy a lot of tools. How can I justify paying Snap-On 5x for something like a wrench or a socket compared to a product of equal (or better) quality from Japan or elsewhere for a fraction of the price?
When it comes to cars, i prefer to support the American worker rather rhan the company. If a Chevy is built in Mexico, and a Honda is built in Ohio, I'd rather support the worker in Ohio. Now, the "problem" with the Chinese EVs is that they fill a gap in the market that nobody else is able to or willing to IMHO. Wheres my $15k subcompact hatchback with 150-175mi of range and fast charging? Where's my EV Ford Maverick for under $30k? Where's my Tesla Model 2? Nah, sorry, buy another $75K F150/Silverado/Sierra/Ram/Suburban/Expedition/Wagoneer.
As a German, I agree.
Still driving my 1st new vehicles in life, a Hyundai, which was developed in Germany and built in Czech. Rep. (=EU) and a BMW scooter (developed AND built in Germany).
(Former used cars came from Germany, Japan, the US, South Korea and France.)
John I agree with you on this one very much. We, the US, created China's economy. People like to point fingers. It was the politicians, the US consumer, the CEOS. Yes. It was all of them. In about 40 years we created our own worst enemy through short sightedness, laziness and greed. Walmart, as you mentioned is the greatest symptom of this. Bringing Chinese cars here will have the same detrimental effect but on another scale. At least when someone buys a BMW, it might have been made here and those corporate profits go to a friendly ally. China is NOT our friend.
And the way China made our manufacturers partner with theirs, yeah smart on their part. They'll learn everything they need to know then kick you out when they don't need you any more. The worst part is, our corporate culture is so short term profit minded (gotta make the share holders happy!) that they did it!! They had to know it would bit them in the face soon enough. Ugh, I could keep going.
@@warrenny To friendship! *raises a drink
@@warrennyWhat’s the silver lining?
@@warrennyTheir control of the media is not about "misinformation", it's just to maintain their power, just like in every country. It's foolish to think governments wouldn't abuse the power of controlling the flow of information.
China isn't just not democratic, is downright tyrannical. We shouldn't be on their side.
@@warrenny Do we need to choose?
Make TOYOTA 🗾Great Again 😎 Scotty Kilmer
I lost my patriotism for American-made cars when American companies quit caring about long-term quality, so, I'd say the mid 1980s. For instance, my 96 Blazer has the dash disintegrating by the touch and the door panels falling off. On my 03 Trailblazer, the rear suspension mounts rotted off the frame. On my 08 HHR, the (plastic) glove box hinge wore out and snapped off and the fuel line rotted on the bend near the exhaust pipe. On the 00 Excursion, the windshield seal failed, exhaust studs constantly snap off, and it likes to launch spark plugs. I have about a dozen more examples from the previous post-80s vehicles I've owned and sold (or junked). Contrast that to my friend's mid-00s 200+K Corolla whose only major repair was accident damage, or another friend's early 70s squarebody GMC half-ton: neither have welded-on mounts rusting off of the frame, neither have a failing glove box hinge, neither have a failed windshield seal, neither have snapping exhaust studs or flying spark plugs, neither have failed fuel lines, and only the GMC has a cracked dash- but you can still touch it without it turning into powder. Oh, and both the Toyota and the GMC have substantially more miles than any of my examples. So, until the "American" brands can become competitive in price AND massively upgrade their long-term quality, I have no problem having a better car in my driveway. A frame shouldn't rot into pieces in 16 years, considering that there's a 70 year-old frame in my neighborhood that's been sitting outdoors for a decade and hasn't.
If it's not economically feasible to make a decent profit manufacturing cheaper vehicles in the US, and US consumers want/need cheaper vehicles, no amount of patriotism will charge that.
If more manufacturing jobs were in the U.S. now, maybe Americans could afford more expensive vehicles.
tell me why super cheapo cars like mitsubishi mirage, kia rio, hyundai accent, toyota yaris, honda fit, ford fiesta and chevy spark were discontinued? Because american consumers simple do not want these penalty box on wheels
@@miraphycs7377As a former Honda Fit owner...yup. They dont wish to put effort into smaller cars. That Honda was the worst car I ever bought I can tell you that. Super unreliable. But people say it's a good brand.
@@miraphycs7377 You just kind of answered your own question, nobody *wants* a penalty box. I hate to say it, but the low end of the market is where the Chinese excel. You've got the BYD Dolphin, which is roughly size equivalent to something like a Chevy Spark or Bolt, but it has a really nice interior, good ride quality for the size, and packed with tons of tech. Along the lines of what Lee Iacocca said, you have to build a small affordable car that people *want*. Unfortunately, all we have in the US are the penalty boxes that make you feel poor so you spend more money on the bigger vehicles
@@Black-Villain You are getting confused. Global BYD Dolphin is actually C-Segment, the size of Golf, Corolla and Civic. Chevy Bolt is B-segment and the Spark is A-segment both of which are smaller than the Dolphin. Of course Dolphin would have more features than both Chevys because it is a bigger vehicle. BYD Dolphin sold in the Chinese Domestic market is the smaller B-segment and the smallest EV BYD sells is BYD Seagull which is A-segment. However neither the smaller B-segment Dolphin or Seagull is sold overseas. Why? Because neither would meet any western safety crash rating. BYD themselves admitted this
I am still looking for a poster that it i remembered from the 70's. It pictured a Toyota. It said " Toyota from those nice people that bought you Pear Harbor".
Do they have a poster for American cars? One that says "from those nice people that brought decades of instability to the Middle East and South America?"
My parents were of that mindset. The people that lived through the war and the boom afterwards are slowly fading away.
Great Video Jon! I've been studying up on this topic for some time now, and I genuinely believe we shot ourselves in the foot when we started globalizing to cut costs.
I've never been more inclined to own American cars now more than ever, because before 1970, we were the best.
As long as the brand is based in the United States, I would consider it as American.
I am a Ford employee from our Chicago Plant that build the Ford Explorer and police intercepter. Also Lincoln Aviator. As you can see most of the Police Dept drive the Explorer . If you read the history on Henry Ford makes me proud to work for this American Co. We have are problems just like other manufactures out there, but what Henry Ford did for us to help us win WW ll to me, was something great. Converting plants over to build tanks and plane war vehicles was something great.My Dad was a WW ll Veteran all he instilled in us was to always buy AMERICAN PRODUCTS to keep out country strong. Anymore all i see is people driving Hondas Toyotas with American flags on there cars and it blows my mind.
Thank you sir. When I see an American flag, or worse a Dallas Cowboys star on a Japanese import, it makes me sick
I used to only buy Fords and occasionally a GM but not anymore. Nothing against you employees but corporate Ford and GM have gotten way tooooo greedy. They moved so much of your work to Mexico, China and Korea while Honda and Toyota have moved a lot of their production to the US. The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most American built vehicles today. Ford and GM’s quality has gotten horrendous, their reliability and resale value can’t hold a candle to most of the Japanese vehicles. American corporate greed, arrogance and only caring about their shareholders while not giving a damn about their customers is what is ruining Ford, GM and Chrysler. That’s while I’ll probably never buy another Ford or GM product. Toyota, Honda, Mazda or Subaru are the only brands I’ll buy now.
@@jayson657 Well i'm sorry you feel this way , but Ford has the most plants in the USA.All i have been reading is how bad the quality has been on the Toyota Tundra , they just had to recall 100,000 motors for metal shavings and motor failures., then on you tube been really disappointed in the new Tacoma with all there failures with there automatic transmissions and there manuals shifting problems. The Tacoma is built in Mexico. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger built in our Wayne Michigan plant and i have 50,000 miles on it , and the only thing i have had done to it was change oil every 6000 miles.When you buy a Ford the money go''s to Dearborn Michigan and stays in our country, when you buy a Toyota, Honda, Mazda, or Subaru the money go's back to Japan, making there country stronger. Something to think about the way the world is going.
Well that wasn't too long and winding at all. I think it comes down to quality. Our quality control in the 70's wasn't all that and when compared to the Japanese imports, we looked downright shoddy. That was the biggest complaint I heard back then. Oldsmobile hit a homerun back in the '80's with the cutlass, but I remember a particular episode of MotorWeek reviewing one where they mentioned moldings falling off the review car. The American auto industry was not looking out for us. It came back to bite them in the butt. Just slap them together and they'll buy 'em. NOT!
I'm of the mindset that the best product at the best price is all that matters. Its obvious the people running America don't care for its people, so why should I care for their pockets? It is one of the only times I believe you should be selfish. Get whatever you like the best, and vote for whatever is best for you.
Jon, I’d like your opinion on a new Volkswagen Jetta? I’m looking into getting a new car since I’m retired and it’s going to be my last new vehicle. I’ve bought new chevy and new fords and it was mind boggling the crazy things that would go wrong with these vehicles! I’ve bought new Toyota’s, new Nissan’s and new Honda’s, they were incredible in terms of reliability. The VW Jetta is all I need on a daily basis but what’s your thoughts and opinions on Volkswagen? Turbo engine? Expensive to maintain? Thank you and thank you for a TH-cam channel where you speak from common sense with heartfelt sentimentality about all the manufacturers.
Hi Jon. Unlike so many, and if the USA was my home instead of Britain, although it may not necessarily be an American brand, I do believe in supporting what you can of local manufacturing. But "what you can" really is another matter, as so many consumer items are no longer made not just in the USA, but anywhere in the West. We really are in the shit. In addition, what you are allowed to buy these days is a bigger issue in itself. Nissan and Toyota both manufacture in Britain. But looking at their websites recently, the range of vehicles is, well kind of sparse. Forgettable, over priced, convoluted hybrids and garbage EV's, simply hold zero appeal to an old guy like me. People mock the old British cars. Nostalgia might be too much of a healer. But for all of their faults, at least you could take a spanner to the damn things.
Where do you draw the line between "supporting local manufacturing" and "avoiding crap products?" GM and Ford are only putting in enough effort for quality to hopefully make it past warranty. That's great for people who buy a new car every 2 or 3 years, but the quality is in the trash can for those hoping to have a long-term purchase.
just bought a bu*ck envista which is union built in Korea (feat. Mexico) simply on price. many brands that build in america keep raising MSRP while dropping the ball on paying their workers. the pandemic era greed of dealerships has become a thirst for blood. buying a car in 2024 is WILD
Make America Great Again! Never Surrender 2024
I have to be honest. I havent bought a newer car in over 20 years. My current daily driver is an 86 Bronco. Which ive had for 4 years. Before that, it was a 56 Ford p/up. Which i drove for 4 years. I had a sprinkle of newer cars i bought, repaired and sold over the years. But my passion and driving enjoyment has always been the older ones. With that said. If i were to buy a new vehicle. It would be dependent on my needs. If just a daily driver car. It would be a Toyota. If it were a full size truck, it would be a Ram. Although Dodge has questionable reliability issues. They look best imo. If i needed an SUV, it would likely be a Cadillac.
I love all your choices. Especially the 1986 Bronco. When I was a kid, we had a K5 Blazer from that period. I won't argue which one is better looking, but I do love the full sized 2 door SUVs from the old days.
@@warrenny i love the K5 Blazers also! Only thing i like better about the Bronco is the slanted B Pillar. And i like how Ford kept changing up the Interiors. I have a 77K10 short bed im currently restoring. 4” lift, 35’s, 383 Stroker. I am also currently building a 347 Stroker for the Bronco. The 70’s and 80’s motors were very under powered. But are an easy and cheap platform to make great power with.
@@johnnymula2305 👍
I have owned Ford and GM products built in the US, GM products built in Korea, Nissan, Mazda and Suzukis built in Japan, a Renault built in Kenosha, and Jeeps built in Illinois and in Italy. The worst quality vehicles I’ve ever owned were the Italian Jeep and the Kenosha Renault. Everything else was flawlessly reliable
I'd love to buy American except Saturn cars were last USA made cars of interest to me and they are gone.
This is a great channel you got here Jon. I really miss the old American cars of yesteryear. The 3800 buicks the towncars the K5/Ramcharger/Broncos and what not. American cars that did not cost S-Class money but were luxury esque reliable and had real caracter.
Greetings from Iceland
I disagree that auto policy undermine US auto industries. If that is the case, except from auto industries, other industries should be doing well. But that is not the case because our political system does not reward the long term planning (i.e. industrial policy) and does reward throwing money at problems.
Great show Jon ! Look what's happening today Recalls after Recalls even with the trusted Japanese manufacturers .
I think the big problem is what is considered "American". When American brands are being built in both Canada and Mexico, that's a problem. Yes, its a Ford this or a GM that, but its final assembly is in a neighboring country. Is that still an American brand? If you take the definition to task and consider final assembly being on US soil, then some Fords and GMs would not meet that definition where some Toyotas and Hondas would. If a Toyota or Honda was assembled in this country, employing UAW workers then there's a strong argument that its "American-made". Subaru builds the Outback, Ascent, Legacy and Impreza in Lafayette, Indiana. I would consider those models as being American-made made built by UAW workers.
Well thought out video and very interesting points for discussions. I was listening saying he is telling the truth. I wished people did support our industry. I know is a nameless person becomes president, he said was was putting a 15% tariff on imported cars and more.
Like Lincoln Nautilus. Now they’re built in China. The new Nautilus that looks like a spaceship inside… that new generation of Nautilus just needs one look and you know it’s built in China. Nobody worries about American made anymore. It’s the end I guess. Nothing is being done. No automaker wants to advertise made in USA. It’s totally weird. When I was growing up, the commercials for FORD were all about that… as well as automakers advertising quality and toughness. Everything’s weird.
I think we need to hold American (and Western) businesses to a higher standard. It’s not us, it’s them. The auto industry willingly went into China in pursuit of short term gains that enable/prioritized rich compensation package, stock buybacks, and share value over domestic innovation, quality, their own patriotism, and long team domestic growth. They created the China problem and now as it’s poised to bite back, they seem to be ready to cry foul but are doing very little to position themselves for the fight they, again, created. I want our domestic industries to succeed but we have got to start demanding better from them than just shareholder value and executive compensation. They have got to start prioritizing the products and health of the communities they serve. This is true of the auto industry and so many of our other American companies.
I have 4 Fords at home and all 4 of them are made in America with over 70% American parts/assembly. (Mustangs, explorer and expedition)
I think it’s true that patriotism should influence people’s buying decisions, but I disagree that we should try to emulate what’s happening in China with our own auto industry.
If someone is deciding between an American and and non-American vehicle, and patriotism makes the American one seem comparatively more valuable to the consumer, then that’s a good thing because all it did was shift the natural value equation of the consumer. I don’t, however, think that protectionism and tariffs should be part of the US’ auto industry strategy.
People often ask why other countries tariff our stuff but we don’t tariff theirs. The answer to that is that developing countries grow their domestic industry through protectionism, and that’s generally been understood to be a necessary tradeoff to support the fledgling industries of a developing economy. In mature economies, protectionism and tariffs have greater negative effects than positive ones. Those industries either already exist and don’t need it, or they are failing to compete with foreign players. Tariffing outsiders does nothing but artificially prop up companies that make inferior goods, and does nothing to grow our economy because we’re already mature. The jobs achieved by those tariffs exist, but those workers could be more efficiently employed elsewhere, producing goods that provide more utility. The tariffs just keep them making a product that is artificially in demand because the government handicapped the competing goods. China grew by discouraging imports and heavily subsidizing exports in China, and that worked for them for a while, but their government has refused to take the next step and focus on their domestic consumption instead of just artificially increasing their production of goods they don’t make enough money to consume.
China might do better than us in some areas where we struggle, but it’s shortsighted to pretend that because their problems are different than ours, that that means they’re inherently more successful, and we should strive to employ their strategies and be like them. ‘Different’ doesn’t always equal ‘better.’
What I mean is that while China’s auto industry is rising rapidly and succeeding in Europe, Asia, and South America, it’s because China has a massive trade surplus that they want to unload on the rest of the world. They produce too much stuff, and their citizens don’t make enough money to buy enough of what they produce. Their government could address that by increasing consumer protections and social safety nets so Chinese consumers would feel free to spend more and save less, or they could continue to overproduce and underconsume and hope that foreign markets will pick up the tab and buy their surplus production. The Chinese government chose the latter option. An argument could be made to justify temporary tariffs on specifically Chinese products that they are overproducing and dumping their surplus here, but we shouldn’t take it too far and say that we should tariff all imported cars across the board because it allows developing countries to grow. We are not a developing economy, and we can afford to let our domestic companies compete with foreign ones to make a competitive product. We shouldn’t be forced to prop up GM and Ford just because they can’t meaningfully compete with Toyota and Hyundai in most sectors. If they can compete, that’s fantastic and we should choose their product if it’s good. But if they can’t, that is ultimately their fault, regardless of what the UAW or auto execs say.
We can let patriotism play a part in our decision-making. I certainly value patriotism, and I will choose an American product over an imported one when two products are effectively competitive. But we shouldn’t let that patriotism turn into policies and protectionism just so we can all kid ourselves and pretend like inferior goods are competitive just because we can’t make good enough product. Leave tariffs for national security and discouraging China from dumping surplus here to kill off legitimate industries.
Another thing you left out of this is Tesla and Rivian. Tesla is the most American car manufacturer. American company, American built with (mostly) American parts. The batteries are really the only imported component but American production of those has begun now, too. Rivian is also an American company with trucks built in America.
Hell, even the fuel is American made! Be it coal or solar, wind, hydro or nuclear.
Jon, you nailed it all.
I *still* don't consider an American car (which I'll define as a brand owned by GM, Ford, and Mopar) to be built as well as the imports (which I'll define as everything not GM, Ford, or Mopar.) The American brands are managed by penny-pinching executives that choose crappy materials to make their vehicles. That said, I don't consider the US-built "imports" to be built as well as the true imported vehicles. I attribute that to the American workforce vs. others.
The US Manufacturers have not produced Vehicles of quality since 1969.
The cost to create Cars exceeds the ability of Drivers to own them.
I just want a cast iron pushrod engine and a torque converter/planetary gearset automatic transmission. Is that too much to ask??? 😭
None that is why I walked away from a good deal on a Trailblazer Activ. When I saw 25% of the vehicle's parts were sourced from China I thought wtf is the point even buying from GM?
All of my Japanese cars were made in America. Patriotic enough.
The only people I remember with a "buy american" fetish in the 1980s were what we referred to as "hayseeds". No sensible person wanted typically clunky american cars then. (aside from a tiny number of exceptions)
Up until 5 or so years ago, I was all in on buy American for vehicles. But with the latest UAW outrageous pay raise extortion strike, I will never buy any vehicle made by UAW workers again. I will also never buy Chinese made cars. I've seen enough videos on their lack of actual quality and durability to make me not trust my life with them.
Honda Accord made in Ohio with UAW workers, Subaru Outback made in Indiana with UAW workers and both have over 80% American made parts which is more than many Ford and Chevy cars have.
Buy Japanese. No regrets.
@@WJV9UAW only represents the big 3. The foreign automakers don’t need the union
Eff the uaw.
@@WJV9 lol. A quick google will tell you that your information is false. Why do you comment such nonsense?
I literally have EVER owned American cars. Yes, I am AWARE that my current daily, my Pontiac Vibe, is a Toyota Matrix, but Pontiac was an AMERICAN company and it was assembled in the NUMMI plant in California.
My cars since 15, in order, as follows:
1995 Pontiac GrandAm
2002 Dodge Dakota SXT (loved that truck, even tho it had nothing but problems)
1998 Chevy S10
2017 Dodge Challenger (yes, I bought this new at 28 - to impress chicks, only men cared, got called a d*ch3b4g a lot)
2003 Pontiac Vibe (current around town daily)
1995 F250 7.3L (current work truck daily)
I was going to buy a newer Toyota to replace the Vibe, but I can't do it now. I think I'll keep the American used car trend. Nobody can afford a new car.
I've owned 39 vehicles in my life, only one of which was a foreign car (the Honda that my wife owned before we got married); all the rest were built in North America, from Fords to GM and Chrysler products and even one Studebaker. Some were excellent, some were good, and only three (my wife's 1975 Honda, my 1981 Plymouth UnReliant, and my current 2019 Ford Flex) had major issues (the Honda was a piece of junk from the get-go, the UnReliant spent more time in the shop than it did on the road, and the Flex was a lemon until Ford finally traced down the electrical problems that plagued it). And when I do buy another car it will be made in North America by a North American manufacturer as well.
Why? Your Ford Flex was made in Canada. Why is Canada so special as to be above Japan, Korea, or any country in Europe in your eyes?
@@baronvonjo1929 My Flex is made by an American company (Ford) and assembled in North America; it is not made by an overseas-owned company, nor is it assembled overseas, to the detriment of our American economy. I've lived abroad (over 50 years ago now) and, had I needed to own a car when I was living in Spain, I would most likely have bought a locally-made vehicle. But, thanks to superlative public transit, I was able to survive the year by only using subways, buses, and the trains, only renting a car once for a trip.
American makers didn't have the kind of car I wanted.
I would buy an American vehicle if they made cars that appeal to me. I would love to buy a new focus or fiesta, or maybe a ford ranger that hasn’t been utterly neglected.
Sadly, I get that. The ones that are appealing are more money than I want to spend.
Used to drive strictly American cars until 1996, when I bought my first Honda. Since then I’ve had Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus and Mazda.
While I didn’t like some of them (Nissan), none of them gave me any problems. I can’t say the same for the American cars, even though the American cars were from the 70’s and 80’s.
Nissans often are listed as the least reliable cars you can buy.
I wouldnt worry. having owed CHEAP chinese cars. wait how much it will cost you when warranty runs out.
Overpriced US auto makers did it to themselves. I'm seeing Toyota and Hyundai are following the footsteps of the US auto.
It's time to bring in the new kids on the block. Let's welcome the Chinese auto 😊
Overpriced compared to Asian economies with slave labor and artificially cheap currencies.
American auto executives treat Americans like suckers to be taken advantage of like suckers. Spend your money and buy value whether German, Japanese and yes, Chinese.
buy UAW/CAW, even if that particular vehicle is made in Mexico, etc bx that still helps support the American home base and keep the middle class going in the USA vs the low wage/low benefits of buying say a Kia made in the USA.
I was looking at a Chevy Equinox (made in MX) but ended up buying a basic Cadillac XT4 because it was made here with union labor. I refuse to buy anything made in Mexico because of the way they abuse their workers.
Union labor doesn’t guarantee quality. When the big 3 build vehicles that are reliable then we will buy them
@@JDMSwervo2001 make any excuse you want but all my American union made cars have been stellar.
@@chuckgladfelter ford leads the pack in recalls. Stellantis vehicles nothin but quality issues. GM is probably the only one who isn’t plagued with issues
@@JDMSwervo2001 474,000 miles on my 03 Grand Marquis. Original engine, transmission, axle, front end. Only minor repairs since new...
seems like the US automotive landscape is becoming asynchronous to the rest of the world. China has 1.4 billion people of which 400 million is considered middle class now. To hear VW make almost half their profit from the Chinese market is crazy to me.
Can you explain more? American brands are heavily in China. Buick has been there for decades and is a top seller. At the same time, America is importing Chinese built Buicks and Lincolns.
As a side note, VW was the first in China....I want to say since the 1970s. I lived in China for four years. Everywhere you look you can see VWs.
It doesn’t help that America builds only trucks and SUVs for the most part. I drive a 2018 Mazda Miata, and the American companies offer nothing like it. American companies only want to sell expensive high-profit vehicles. I’m not interested.
if I were able to drive I'd either want an American Car A Japanese Car or a German Car ex of each a 2003 Ford Thunderbird or Buick Park Avenue for Japanese it would be either a Toyota Solara SLE V6 convertible or a Lexus LC Convertible and for German it would either be a BMW Z4 or a Mercedes Benz AMG C63 S convertible though out of these the LC is the rarest producing less than 3,000 units per year though Solara convertibles were pretty rare in their time as well the best seller of the Luxury cars is the C Class
Chinese cars manufacturers should expand into the USA market
The US was singular in its weathering of WW2, we emerged stronger and flush with resources. We had lots of steel and gas and cash. Japan didn't. They learned efficiency we learned opulence.
Unfortunately America has always been caught up on "Money" Greed is Good..lol i remember growing up as a kid in the 80s. My family always bought American Vehicles. My grandparents always GM, my parents always Mercury and the rest of family Ford/GM and Chrysler. Talking to one of my Aunts back then asking if she had looked at the new Honda Accord. She told me she was only looking at Domestic Vehicles she was trying to support the American Corporations. Unfortunately over the years due to having some unreliable Domestic Vehicles she crossed over...lol growing up from 80s 90s 2000s. I nowadays i see more foreign Vehicles on the road then American. I think that Bailout years ago pissed alot of people off.
Consumers the world over look for reliability, value for money, and a product that suits their needs. If the American motor industry cannot compete on that basis, then they cannot expect consumers to respond to a call on buy American because it is patriotic. That line of argument is effectively saying that they cannot compete with imported products.
Which is saying the heavy subsidies the Chinese government showers on their auto indusry means they can't compete based on value and a product that meets consumer needs.
@@AllCarswithJon The America auto industry wouldn't exist to day if it wasn't for the bailouts it received during the Bush and Obama Presidencies.
The auto industry is global and all participants must compete on that basis. Asian and European carmakers compete in North America by establishing manufacturing facilities on that continent, and successfully compete because of the quality of the product they produce.
I can only speak so much for a group of people on the other side of the planet, but I can see why patriotism is thriving in China and their domestic sales. Imagine if American cars had, in just the past few years went from generic to kind bad to world class or beating on style, efficiency and price, with only further up to go. As for me, I got to watch as the cars made "in America" became mexican NAFTA jobs, crushing labor and making a worse and worse product every year, as they hid behind the chicken tax to to the point that the big 2 barely make CARS anymore, just trucks and SUVs. Also, anyone complaining that the CCP has their hands on the scale by underwriting their industry is forgetting 2008's bailouts, and that didn't improve matters much for anyone but the shareholders. I'd happily buy a BYD seagull, even after the 50% biden tariff since it would be something no one here is willing to make, a small city car that has enough range to get me to the next big city. I think it's telling all the americans can offer me is some nightmare pickup as big as a house or a tesla with doorgaps I can stick my fingers through and software errors that make me take it back to Elon's funhouse.
China got the trade war and trade restriction it deserved. If china doesn't like it, either drop the tariffs on foreign cars or go do partnership, joint venture and local production like it forced on foreign cars.
Or just skip the US market. Other markets are growing (India, Africa, China), the US market is shrinking. Why bother?
mate, India hates china and they will never buy chinese car in any significant amount. Africa? Bro, 3/4 of the continent is dirt poor and amist a war! New car is a luxury period, even a chinese one!
Yep. China started this trade war by aggression market manipulation and disregard for human rights in the workplace to push down manufacturing prices to absurdly low levels. They need to be banned simply for the good of the earth.
I agree in part. The reason for the ask on partnerships isn't about jobs. It was the ability for China to gain auto manufacturing knowledge.
The US doesn't need the knowledge. We only ask for local manufacturing to gain jobs. That I agree with.
The speaker here is only half correct in my opinion. China, like most Asian countries, is very distrustful of anyone or anything that is foreign. Sure they'll let you in if you're foreign and useful, but they only do it on their terms in a way that benefits them (if they can). As soon as they don't need foreign intervention, they kick foreigners to the curb. It's cultural for them. In the US, we used to be this way. However, we're more cost oriented than many Asian countries are.
i agree with 1000% i buy clothes made in the us and as much other things as i can SUPPORT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS a few years ago one of the Ceos of Mercedes Benz was in china and he was upset because they forced the partner company with Daimler to buy the chinese batteries they didn't allow them any choice How did those chinese auto companies get to where they are today free land free auto plants restricted competition subsidized prices That is not a free market Support our Big 3 in Detroit Ford rebuilt the Michigan Central Train Depot isn't that worth something to Detroiters If your opinion of Detroit manufacturers is from the 70s you are so wrong they are different companies
Interesting i did comment on Australian car manufacturers last vid but i will touch on Australia patriotism. After WW2 the diggers or soliders came back from 2 fronts Germany n Japan, while some say Germans were bad the Japanese treated diggers really bad, so there Australians like grandad said he would never buy Japanese vehicles but uncle bob did buy Nissan because it had affordable 4WD unlike his brother my Pa brought F100 from USA. While USA celebrated in 76 our was in 88 i believe both countries car manufacturers could done more to keep buyers patriotism. The best car companies could do especially here in Australia is had advertising n bumper stickers. Holden famous ad on TV was Meat pies, kangaroos & Holden cars. Playing ACDC Thunderstruck n ute doing circle work, this also play into Deni ute muster with enclosed tent of new Holden VU, talking to engineers/design before national release. Ford would show their concepts like rest at Melbourne n Sydney Motor show then at agricultural field days..hearing concept ute Sandfire fire up with V8 twin 3 inch exhaust...Nice. i reckon Ford had best sticker Australian triangle logo Ford Australia - We're moving with you. in 80's or later Have you driven Ford Lately. but this was global saying. Ford also sponsor cars base on safety driving at DECA in Shepparton, Victoria. But by time tax had gone, political views had change in 90's Japanese got ahead plus Europeans taste of luxury, lack leadership from GM n Ford allow slow death. My advice is not patriotism but like Saturn been part of family, community, team will keep USA afloat but dont forget your brothers in arms Australia remember this is chess board not home front mindset.
Patriotism works when the company is American and it's made in America. Police car must be American brand and made in America, you don't see police drive in Toyota or Hyundai. I don't think it's changing. Politicians have power over that, we have a capitalist society and market competition. And patriotism will have problems with that. Where patriotism worked - Soviet Union, China, North Korea. But USA tries to protect some of its products: you don't see French or Italian movies, there are no French/Czech/Spanish/Chinese cars, and European/Asian cars are a lot different for USA than other countries, they have different options, names and usually look different.
I've never crossed that line and bought a foreign brand car. I've never been interested in even looking at them. Ford only. But, we are sedan buyers. Ford has stopped making anything that we buy. All i can say is, they, along with GM, had better be raking it in with this strategy, having squandered that relationship with brand loyal car buyers to focus only on ludicrously over priced trucks. Oh, they're not? Pretty stupid, guys.
It is the same with borders, citizenship, or property in other countries. It is extremely hard to both legally or illegally get into 90% of the countries, as well as own property, but every white majority country has to have open borders and must be free for all otherwise the media will destroy politicians or individual people who would like to protect their border and country. Industry is just one small piece of overall issue.
The problem with American automakers is that they are cheap, poorly built, and less reliable than the Japanese. They don't prioritize quality as Toyota does. Ford has led the way in recalls due to poor quality control. They are focused on increased profits and reducing costs at the expense of quality. This why many Americans prefer Japanese cars. Toyota and Honda do have plants in America, so some models are built in America
I don’t buy American cars cause they really don’t hold up but I’d rather buy them over the Chinese but I only buy Toyota
I'm enjoying these videos from Europe and some reflections:
Made in America or American made is for some reason used instead of Made in the USA or USA made...!?
It's really making things confusing, initially.
Which part of America are you referring to? Any certain county? Which one, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Canada or Nicaragua etc?
Anyway, US made vehicles are all made for the US native market. They are huge SUV or pickups. They are not attractive in Europe or most other places of the world.
Making such vehicles don't entitle complaints about buyers in other countries not wanting to buy them.
We want simple inexpensive BEV hatchbacks - it US makers can produce them, sure we will buy them.
But they don't, hence the BYD Dolphin is a huge seller, dispute being a PRC made car.
It's a great everyday vehicle/grocery getter at an equivalent of $10.000 factory fresh.
Of course it's a top seller, petrol is equivalent to $8.57/US gal. Charging stations are everywhere and inexpensive.
A Ford F150 pickup is $70.000, has a huge fuel consumption and an annual road tax of $3000.
It's also difficult to park since a typical parking square is 15 x 7 feet, larger vehicles have to use commercial parking areas, far away, scare and expensive.
Everything speaks for an PRC invasion of cars the upcoming years. 😊😊
“US made vehicles are not attractive in Europe”. Isn’t the Tesla model 3/Y the best selling car in Europe?
@@deatruiy That is indeed true, despite a hickup with the Unions and local boycotts. However our Tesla are made in PRC or Germany. Money does go to a US company but it hardly provides any US jobs.
@@Airpang100 According to labor data source: "According to available data, a significant portion of Tesla employees in the USA do not directly build cars, with estimates suggesting that around 50% or more of their workforce is involved in non-manufacturing roles like software development, design, sales, marketing, research and development, and administrative functions, across their various US locations including the Gigafactories in Fremont, California and Austin, Texas"
So, you have GREATLY contributed to the US economy. Thank you for buying American!
@@TheSouthieBeautiful I don't mind buying American, or perhaps you mean US made? I want to buy a good product, regardless of where it's made. However Im no fan of Tesla due to their lack of cooperation with the Unions, but they have benefitted the automotive industry with its evolution.
I am 100% loyal patriot. All my cars are made in Japan (and actually assembled there). 😆
You're Japanese 😂
You forgot to mention that Anerican cars are very expensive plus the quality is bad. The competitors are better in quality plus the price is much much cheaper. You also fail to mention Amecian corporates tend to favor profits vs quality at the expense to the buyer. They also fail to innovate.
All American cars of often made with a large percentage of foreign parts...so you are mistaken. Besides why contribute to the criminally outrageous salaries of GM, Ford CEOs?
So, what is your solution? And please explain how that solution will create a better future.
Chinese consumers prefer cars of domestic brands mainly because of the value, not patriotism. Chinese made EVs offer superior performance and come with cheaper price tag.
US automakers aren’t competitive against foreign competition, what’s the reason they are steadily losing market share. In the segment where they still excel, i.e. full size pick up truck and SUV, Big three maintain dominant position. It’s absolutely unfair to ask American consumers to buy so called US brands. If you want to play the card of nationalism in car buying decision, then let’s compare the foreign vs domestic made parts/contents, a name plate doesn’t mean anything in the age of global supply chain and offshoring manufacturing.
Buy American vehicles and move to México.
😂
One good thing we can remember is that as of now the auto industry in China is a huge net deficit for the economy as opposed to the immensely profitable car industry in Japan, the US, and some European countries. So we have an edge on that. It’s one thing to subsidize an industry until China is so in debt, and it’s another thing to keep the industry running after withdrawing the subsidies. Then it’s another thing to turn the auto industry in China into a profit. This could take years with all the backlash. Meanwhile the allies and western countries would be humming collecting massive profits from their car industry. So this is one good thing.
The bountiful fruits of communism.
i watched a car tech do a side by side tear down of an American car and a Japanese and Chinese and wow the cheaper parts that where used on the American brand ..just blew me away, parts that fail well before 60,000,, people say buy American support American wave the flag, while eating a slice of American pie .. i work 60 + hours a week, my money isn't going out the window just to wear a flag pin, the company that makes the best car wins my money, will American car company's make warranty's that cover more then 36,000 miles?( no warranty is perfect but damm let me get a little piece of mind) THEY ARE AMERICAN.. COMPANIES… WELL BACK YOUR PRODUCT BETTER,.. SO PEOPLE WONT GO LOOKING FOR BETTER BUILD QUALITY ELSE WHERE
I would buy what looked good for the price. I'm not that patriotic after Trump. I would buy a German car.
France isn't concerned, because no one outside of France buys their garbage cars 😂😂😂.
You can't say so. In Germany Renault and Peugeot are among the most successful imports (next to Skoda and Toyota).
I have had a Citroen for 8 yrs (eccept the hydropneumatic chassis) without serious issues.
Does China have the same environmental laws? Does China have the same labor laws? Does the Chinese government subsidize this industry? Its more about unfair competition than pure patriotism. In the very least, we need to protect the American worker from unfair competition.
china spent as much as 5% of its GDP on subsidies in 2022 more than any other nation
It's no need for that. That war is already lost. US auto makers are only producing vehicles for its domestic market nowadays. They are not wanted elsewhere. The US auto industry is not sustainable, it will fall, it's just a matter of time