Is America Ready for Cheap Chinese Cars?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Yes they are

No they're not.

This is one case where I'm more inclined to agree with Gupt.

I have not seen a car designed-and-built in the US which can take 4 passengers of 6'1" comfortably which is not a 6- or 8-banger gas-hog; by contrast, a 4-banger Camry or Accord can do so nicely (so can a 4-banger Jetta--as I actually proved).

Chrysler manages to fill a strange niche of being the only manufacturer of a 4-banger gas-hog which still doesn't fit 4 tall passengers.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Don't listen to them, Gary. Foreign cars are best left to foreigners.

Indeed. Without the sheep who must "buy American" the US car industry would (deservedly) collapse. Actually they already are.

[mawilson 2,133]

Don't listen to them, Gary. Foreign cars are best left to foreigners.

Indeed. Without the sheep who must "buy American" the US car industry would (deservedly) collapse. Actually they already are.

Far from it, my Japanese sheep loving friend.

[GaryC 7]

Scoff all you want. My Malibu gets 25MPG in town and 35MPG on the road. It's 6 banger has a bunch of power when I need it. I have had it 2 years now without even a small problem. It's big enough for my 6'2" frame and it rides very comfortably. Who needs a rice burner when this car gives me everything I want? In short, when Luz gets her license I will be getting her another car that I have had very good luck with. A Ford Escort. I have had 3 of them, they all made it past 150K miles with practically no problems.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Far from it, my Japanese sheep loving friend.

Tell me then, what were the profits of GM and Ford last year?

Scoff all you want. My Malibu gets 25MPG in town and 35MPG on the road. It's 6 banger has a bunch of power when I need it. I have had it 2 years now without even a small problem. It's big enough for my 6'2" frame and it rides very comfortably. Who needs a rice burner when this car gives me everything I want? In short, when Luz gets her license I will be getting her another car that I have had very good luck with. A Ford Escort. I have had 3 of them, they all made it past 150K miles with practically no problems.

No doubt the Malibu is a decent car, Gary. I've driven plenty of them as they're a standard rental car. But you never know what you're missing unless you tried something. I'm sure the person who grew up eating nothing but ground beef, didn't realise how good steak was either.

[mawilson 2,133]

Far from it, my Japanese sheep loving friend.

Tell me then, what were the profits of GM and Ford last year?

GM and Ford, as I'm sure you know, are restructuring their manufacturing base to end losses.

It's obviously working -- Ford posted a $282 million first-quarter loss this year, compared

to $1.42 billion a year earlier. Their revenue rose 5.4% to $43 billion.

The Ford of Europe unit had a pretax profit of $219 million in the first quarter, an increase from

$65 million a year ago. The Premier group -- which includes Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover --

reported a pretax profit of $402 million, up from $152 million.

[derekkj 0]

Hmmm, I liked my Ford Escort, loved my Honda Prelude, and like my current 95 Saturn. Of all them, I have had the Saturn longest. It has 120,000 miles on it, still runs well and hasn't had any major problem, knock plastic. But the fit and finish of the Saturn is complete ####### - the interior is filled with hard, cheap plastic and the dash has rattled since the day I got it. And besides the Saturn Sky, I have not seen a Saturn that I would want to own for another 10 years. So while this purchase is probably over a year off, I am now looking at the Mazda3 or maybe the Hyundai Sonata.

[eric&gen 0]

American cars and trucks suck. lol

[William33 110]

This will be a much longer road for the Chinese, than it was for the South Koreans.

What about when the Chinese car comes labelled "Buick". The latest Buicks are being designed and built in China. Its only a matter of time before they start selling Chinese built/designed ones in the USA IMHO.

A scary thought indeed.

If given a Chinese car for free, I would accept it, and then sell it immediately. I would never put out one dime of my own for one.

Given that American cars have reduced their market share to 50% (I cannot find yesterday's article outlining this), It is obvious that half of America has jumped ship.

I like Japanese cars, irrespective of where they are manufactured. We have a 2007 Acura TL Type S, which is by far, the best car I have ever owned. Where is it manufactured, with 80% USA made parts? Right here in the good O'l USA.

For many years, I insisted on owning an American car, no more. Too many costly repairs (even though I repaired them myself) and way too much depreciation.

[eric&gen 0]

I owned a Ford Escort a 92 that is and it was ####### nothing but problems lol. i couldnt tell how fast i was going at times,

[pedroh 21]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

[GaryC 7]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

Because that is what people want. I'd rather have a bigger car that I don't have to crawl into and take the lower gas mileage. It's my choice and the car companies are catering to it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

Because that is what people want. I'd rather have a bigger car that I don't have to crawl into and take the lower gas mileage. It's my choice and the car companies are catering to it.

A lot of it is regional, too. I see a lot more larger vehicles out in the countryside and the cars get more compact the more denser the population gets. Just my personal observation, don't know if it can be backed up with data.

Anyone ever try parallel parking a pickup? I have. And failed.

[Dan J 277]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

Because that is what people want. I'd rather have a bigger car that I don't have to crawl into and take the lower gas mileage. It's my choice and the car companies are catering to it.

A lot of it is regional, too. I see a lot more larger vehicles out in the countryside and the cars get more compact the more denser the population gets. Just my personal observation, don't know if it can be backed up with data.

Anyone ever try parallel parking a pickup? I have. And failed.

A lot of people that live in Minneapolis do generally own smaller cars (at least around the neighborhood I live) or just use the bus or programs like Hourcar. But a lot of people commute into Minneapolis every day, so half the traffic on the freeways are SUV's and pickups. Most of the time, there is no more than one person in the vehicle.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Most of the time, there is no more than one person in the vehicle.

Carpooling isn't always practical - I have never had a commute where I could have shared a route with a friend or family member. And what with all the freaks out there, I'm not riding with no stranger (unless it's public transport).

Edited July 10, 2007 by Gupt