Ot: calling all outside sales reps and Motor-heads... Time 2 buy a new car!
August 10th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^
We're picking up a new Altima for my wife this week or next. She's going from her Jeep back to a car because the Jeep is SOOOO thirsty and we don't need as much room now tht my daughter is older.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:01 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
#1 - Please provide with facts, not personal opinion.
#2 - As a GM employee, I am pretty disappointed with the lack of support of American made cars, as opposed to foreign cars. Especially on a Michigan website.
#3 - Please excuse me for being a dick, I'm enjoying my Summer Shandy for as much as possible until it is taken off the shelves.
#4 - Go Blue.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
Fair enough. Everyone has their own opinion and I can respect that.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:21 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:46 PM ^
I have to disagree. GM vehicles are largely not American made vehicles. For example, the Buick Regal... 27% made here.
Chevy Cruze (hottest seller for Chevy right now)... 45% made here
Buick Lacrosse... 57%.
Cadillac SRX... 21%, All other Cadillac models... 57-65%.
GMC Sierra/ Silverado... 61%, all other GMC models... 65-75%. Honda Ridgeline... 75% made here. That is just crazy. Pick-ups are 100% American creations. Blasphemy!
Ford... 65-75% made here, The Expedition... only 50% made here.
Now for the "Foreign Cars"
Acura... most models are 65-75% made here.
All Hondas... 65-80% made here.
Kia.. why you would support Korea in any way, I do ot know, but they are the lowest at 3-5% made here for all models but Sorento at 60%.
You get my point... I guess we should all buy Hondas if we really want to support America... but then again, Honda has surpassed GM in sales, so I guess we are.
SOURCE: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/page?id=13795239
August 11th, 2012 at 1:47 AM ^
I can tell you that all the parts are not American made. I think common sense could tell you that. The point is that American made cars were centered in Detroit which could be a sensative subject for some people, including myself, especially on a Michigan fourm.
American made cars are for the most part built state-side, thus supplying many Americans with jobs.
Main point being, Detroit is called the "Motor City" for a reason. No reason to rain on our parade.
Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I would suggest to keep the Detroit bashing to a minimum on this fourm. No, not everyone on here is from Michigan, but the majority of us are.
August 11th, 2012 at 6:42 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 9:25 AM ^
The Japanese and the Korean government both follow(ed) Mercantilism and still give very strong support to their auto industry. I can't remember Japan's numbers, but the tax on buying a foreign car in Korea is more than 100% (iirc). They all got/get significant tax benefits for establishing factories in the US, and for them building a plant in the American South is simple labor arbitage.
Not that i'm against what they do. It's the same system that the US used to gain its premier economic standing (and England used it to the same effect before the US). It's smart and it works. But i don't think you can say that there's a level playing field in terms of competition.
*I say this as a person who's mostly owned foreign cars (born and raised in Detroit) and who would never buy a GM product. My driveway consists of an ancient Toyota truck, a 2001 Honda Civic, and a 1991 BMW. I'd replace the Civic with a Ford, but they won't sell me a true wagon so it will be replaced by either a Volvo or a VW.
August 11th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:01 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:05 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:18 AM ^
Grandfather, father and uncle all worked at GM. I tried to be loyal and bought only GM products for my first 5-6 cars. Then, I got my first lemon in 1994... had to lawyer up and sue GM. Won the case and didn't look back. Went straight to a Lexus and it was like I travelled forward in time by 20 years. In 2007, I gave it another try and bought a brand new Envoy Denali... 2 years later, I sold it and got another japanese SUV. I'm sorry, American cars are garbage. And now that they really are more Mexican, Canadian and Chinese made than American, I don't feel bad driving a japanese brand that was assembled here and contains 65% american made parts. I feel this is way more support to our country than buying a GM would be... it just doesn't support the UAW. Then again, the UAW has failed the industry, so what's the point?
August 11th, 2012 at 2:05 AM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
I completely disagree. I own a Toyota because they make the best hybrid, but if you don't need/want a hybrid, Ford and Chevy both have great options that are just as good (if not better in some instances) and the Japanese. if you want something nicer, both Buick and Cadillac make some of the sharpest cars on the road right now.
August 11th, 2012 at 7:44 AM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 8:01 AM ^
I drive 25K a year and comfort is key. I would not buy the Subaru Impreza for this reason. Fun as hell to drive at first, but that rough suspension will get on your nerves after a while.
I would also suggest the OP look at a certified pre-owned vehicle. No sense in buying brand new when you can get a well maintained lease turn in with under 36K miles. Especially if you are a road-warrior. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. It also gives you a shot at buying up - perhaps getting that mid-sized luxury car that you've always wanted but can't afford new.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:26 PM ^
I have a Jetta Wagon TDI (diesel). It's the best car I've ever had. It gets crazy good gas mileage, like 32 in the the city and almost 50 on the highway. It's fast and responsive, and it comes in stick, which is what I prefer. I live outside Chicago, and it's fine in the winter. It's not as good as an SUV in deep snow, but the gas mileage makes up for it.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:30 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:32 PM ^
I am a serious road warrior in Michigan/ Indiana and I drive 45-50k miles per year. Had a 2008 BMW 535xi and it was really nice, but I needed more rear seat legroom and wanted a bit more technology this time around. I have also owned the following in the past... 2011 Ford Edge... really solid and great mileage considering the size. Ford Fusion... junk. GM Impala... junk. Jeep Grand Cherokee... junk, horrible mileage. Dodge Charger... horrible in snow, really poor ride and terrible blind spots. Ford Taurus... ok, very bland feel and look, but it was a 2004. The new ones are way nicer IMO. 2008 Infiniti QX56... great in all weather, 12mpg... so it gets used for tailgating mainly. 2004 Infiniti FX45... great car, decent mileage, a little small once we had kids. 2001 Lexus GS400... awesome in summer, great in winter with snow tires, otherwise, you will die.
I can tell you that I am in love with the Infiniti M37x so far, and it is awesome for the 7 hour drive to Marquette, MI. Very Comfy, 330 hp so it will keep up with anything on the road, and 28 mpg... I actually make money to drive it.
The BMW is for sale... just saying. BEst of luck in your decision.
August 11th, 2012 at 1:36 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 4:14 PM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:57 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:59 PM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:03 AM ^
sure, your gonna seem like 'that guy' but listen, other than getting the same milage as my chevy stepside, my crown vic fantastic. everyone slows down for you, i've never been pulled over. it mobs, and its got all wheel drive. not to mention, the back seat (now replaced with civilian issue leather seats) are incredibly comfortable.
this isn't my video, but it excites me none the less
August 11th, 2012 at 12:10 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
I've had my Santa Fe since 2002. No major repairs, with over 190,000 miles, and as long as you have good all season tires, you will do well on ice and snow with the AWD.
My V6 started out at about 24 miles per gallon HWY, now down to around 21 MPG.August 11th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
I've had my Santa Fe since 2002. No major repairs, with over 190,000 miles, and as long as you have good all season tires, you will do well on ice and snow with the AWD.
My V6 started out at about 24 miles per gallon HWY, now down to around 21 MPG.August 11th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
I've had my Santa Fe since 2002. No major repairs, with over 190,000 miles, and as long as you have good all season tires, you will do well on ice and snow with the AWD.
My V6 started out at about 24 miles per gallon HWY, now down to around 21 MPG.August 11th, 2012 at 12:10 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:11 AM ^
I drive a '98 Nissan Sentra SE in Wisconsin with Yokohama tires and it drives well. I pass up most sedans with out all-wheel drive. It's all about the tires and your driving skills, yo!
August 11th, 2012 at 12:16 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:18 AM ^
On my second Impala. The first one I sold after more than 130,000 miles. No problems at all--just routine maintenence until I hit a deer; it was never quite the same after that. I drive mostly highway miles and get 30 mpg highway. I now have 35,000 miles on my "new" car. I can fit nearly as much stuff in it as my wife's SUV, which came in real handy when dropping off child #2 at her dorm room over 500 miles away.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 2:09 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 3:06 AM ^
03 altima, 07 fusion....both 4cylinders.......Altima slightly nicer interior, fusion better overall vehicle........fusion got tboned by a girl ran a redlight with my child in the passenger seat where the car was hit, other driver going over 45mph......daughter wasn't hurt...........I would never have trusted the altima to hold up to that accident......and the fusion wasn't totaled, the other drivers car was!
Fusion is far more solid then the camry and accord..........inlaws have new accord, friends have camry.....I'd take my fusion over them every day of the week.......Seats are far more comfortable in the fusion,
BTW, 100,000 on my 07 fusion, 2 wrecks, still going and not near the rattle trap my buddies camry is...and never a problem. Though he continues to tell me how great his camry is after having it repaired he will say if it were a ford it would have been in the shop more....I love the excuses for honda/toyota ......................perception is everything though....
August 11th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 3:32 AM ^
The downsides are none of the Subarus have very good interior room or gas mileage. We gladly make the trade off, but those are the drawbacks.
The interior is nice, and it has held up well to two young kids and all their adventures.
I had to have my sister's car (a Merc) towed a few weeks ago and the tow truck driver, who obviously sees many broken down and stuck cars, commented when he saw my Forester that for his money Subarus are the best cars on the road, hands down.
If I had a ton of money, I'd probably be driving something else, but for the price and all-purpose use, I love my Forester.
August 11th, 2012 at 3:41 AM ^
When I was a sales rep here in CA after moving here from Michigan in the early 00s...I drove 2 Porsche 911s on the road. It was a ton of fun. One was a classic 1986 and the other was a 97 993 model....both were cabriolets. Cruising all over So Call in a top down 911 sure makes work more fun. People that I worked with thought I was crazy but my customers loved it.
In Michigan, I usually drove Toyotas.... the Michigan weather necessitates a truck or all wheel vehicle. A Suburu may be a nice vehicle for that weather if you dont want a truck.
August 11th, 2012 at 4:14 AM ^
A penny saved is worth more than a penny earned since you don't have to pay taxes on it. Buy used and spend the money you save on entertainment, travel, home improvements or whatever.
August 11th, 2012 at 8:09 AM ^
Agree with this get-off-my-lawn like post.
Can afford a luxury car, but am cheerfully driving a 2012 Kia Sorento (60K bumper-bumper warranty).
I've put 30K miles on it in 14 months, so there is no point in buying $80K car at the moment...
August 11th, 2012 at 4:38 AM ^