Here's my "Make America Great Again" reply. The big three make the best trucks and SUV's in the world. For a while foreign competitors were making more economical 4 and 6 cylinder (especially trucks). They sold big. Today, these same people want more power and opt for the V8. If you look at the mileage between foreign and domestic there may be 1 or 2 mpg difference. Here's my RANT: If you're one of those that agreed that corporations that went off-shore were un-American, then what are you when you go off-shore for your car/truck thereby sending any profit to another economy rather than the USA?
Ed,
I held off on posting a reply until I could get to my laptop, as I knew my reply could get lengthy (something I loathe doing over my phone).
To address your comments/concerns:
When I was young (I am in my mid 40's), I grew up with a father that owned only domestic automobiles. In the 1960s he had Chevelles, Impalas, and Malibus and in the 70s he had Monte Carlos, Z28s, and Novas. In the 1980s he moved into Cadillacs, Caprices, Lincolns, and GM trucks. In the 1990s he moved into Ford Tauruses, F-150s, and ElDorados. He passed away in 2006. He also sold new Lincolns, GM Trucks, Toyotas, VWs, and a host of used cars.
During my time as a youngster, I recall domestic vehicles "crapping out" at or about 100k miles, while I witnessed Hondas, Toyotas, and Datsuns (Nissans) getting 150k-250k miles. When I was in high school there were basically 3 or 4 vehicles that everyone wanted: Honda Preludes, Nissan 240sx, Honda Accords, Mustang GTs, and Toyota pickups. As you can see, 4/5 of these were Japanese. I remember the "vacuum tight" sound of a Japanese car door closing. Meanwhile, GM, Dodge, and Ford made cars like Berettas, Grand Prixs, Camaros, Saturns, Tempos, Escorts, and underpowered Dodge Stealths--most of which had a bumper that seemed to wrap all the way around the car (ugh, sigh, blah). In addition the radios, a/c controls, instrument clusters, etc. felt cheap, gray, and had oversized, under detailed knobs and buttons. These were the cars that seemed to overheat, smoke, make funny noises, have heavy doors, loose fittings, slipping transmissions, and crap out at 100k. At least that was my mindset. BMWs, VWs, Porsche, etc. were sort of the eclectic cars--nice, but they varied in quality and reliability.
With this experience and mindset, I started my adult life with the purchase of my first new vehicle in 1994 with a Toyota pickup, then a Nissan Altima, then a Nissan Pickup, then a Nissan Titan, then Honda Accord after Honda Accord, then Honda Civic, then Toyota Tacoma, etc.
I have always experienced good reliability, good fuel economy, easy parking, good resale value, etc.
In the meantime, GM and Ford seemed to have changed the game, in silent, and in the background to my generation. Time and time again I was hearing of F150s, Silverados, Tahoes, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc. going to 200k plus. In addition, they did it with V8 power and with American ingenuity.
I am very patriotic and over the years, as I have aged, I have become more so. As I have voted, worked, fed and raised children, etc. I have developed a new world view. I now see that the profits from all of my Japanese purchases went overseas and made Honda, Toyota, and Nissan a little richer. I also see that at the same time my actions, and many other like them, directly took jobs away from Americans. I hate that.
Now, I still look for quality, design, and reliability first. Next--> I have recently been, and will continue to, look for things made in the USA.
I had always wanted a Tacoma (or the like) since 1988 or so. When I finally had the financial means, I bought one. I must say that I was never truly happy with it, although I faked it for a while due to pride. It was simply underwhelming. The shifting was wonky, it had rattles, wasn't very comfortable, and the power was lacking. The pipe dream of the well-tuned, sewing-machine-like, long-lasting, well made, fantasy Japanese automobile took a big hit in my mind with that Truck. My wife still drives a Honda Accord with zero problems, but I wanted to try something new so I bit the bullet and ended up with the Tahoe.
So far I am absolutely loving it.
Cheers~
