What is your foreign manufacturer bank account foot print?
I marked this as "cars" cause I am actually interested, let's not make it political. Also, it should go without saying that an American Car counts as "foreign" if you live in Europe...just trying to prevent some embarrassment.
OK, I've owned 4.
But I was living overseas for 2 of them so I am not sure if that counts. But they were used in any event. Here in America I have owned 2 Foreign Cars, in 1979 I owned a Datsun 280ZX and recently I bought a Mercedes E320. I bought the ZX from a wrecking yard and restored it, and the Mercedes I also purchased 2nd hand so no money went to Nissan or Mercedes. A local wrecker and car dealer made the profit instead. Subsequently I can't think of a single car I bought which actually put money int he pockets of a foreign manufacturer. Not a source of pride or consternation, just an interesting fact.
Cars I've owned:
1974 Old Cutlass 1974 Ford Maverick 1979 Datsun 280ZX 1980 Pontiac Sunbird 1983 Camaro Z28 1988 Holden Commodore (bought new while living in Australia) 1984 Mazda RX7 (bought used in Australia) 1984 Suzuki Samurai (bought used in Australia) 1989 Ford Bronco II 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo 1997 Mercury Mountaineer 2000 Chrslyer 300M 2004 Mercedes E320
Countless 1984,1986,1987,1988 Fieros (never owned an '85 interestingly enough)
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10:57 AM
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kwagner Member
Posts: 4258 From: Pittsburgh, PA Registered: Apr 2005
lol - tough one. being my suburban was actually canadien, my VW was made in pennsylvania, and my malibu is- well - all over the place
but - as it goes: 1972 Ford Pinto ya ya - wow, eh?! 1972 1974 Ford Galaxie 500 - a fav - so so smooooth 1975 Chevy Van 1976 Chevy Chevette 1978 Chevy Nova - lol - yup....RS Nova at that - wow - rally 1979 Ford Mustang 1982 VW Rabbit - diesel - 50 mpg - another fav - unstoppable - ran forever - probably still running today 1982 Chevy Chevette 1985 Pontiac Fiero (YAY) 1988 GMC Suburban 1996 Ford Escort - probably best designed/assembled car i've had - 2nd being the VW - so easy to repear/work on 2002 Chevy Malibu
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Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
Limiting myself to current ownership, my Fiero is the only "American-made" car I own. The others:
1980 VW Rabbit diesel -- don't know whether it was made in Germany or in the U.S. plant 1991 Buick Regal -- made in Canada 1993 Dodge Caravan -- made in Canada 1998 Dodge Caravan -- made in Canada
Going back farther in the past, other "foreign" cars I have owned include:
1950 Jaguar XK-120 -- British made 1951 Riley 2.5 -- British made 1953 Jaguar MK-VII -- British made 1954 Austin-Healey 100-4 -- British made 1962 Jaguar 3.8 MK-II -- British made 1968 Porsche 912 -- German made 1969 Porsche 911S -- German made 1980 Porsche 928 -- German made
It's interesting to note that a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry has more "U.S. content" than any of my current "American" cars.
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 12-22-2008).]
Domestics 89 Ford Escort POS 90 Ford Escort GT POS(had to buy something quick when first car died) 3 85 fieros 2 4cyl and 1 6cyl all stick (never had problems with them) 04 Ford Focus ZX5 00 Ford F150 6cyl 5spd
I currently drive the rabbit after trading in the truck
I think so. All of the japanese cars are still foreign engineered and built, they are mostly just assembled here. That's because it's easier and cheaper to ship parts and blueprints than it is to ship entire cars. At least that's the way I look at it.
Domestic: 85 Chevette (tough) 95 S-10 (good toy truck) 96 GMC Jimmy (junk) 98 Grand Am (still on the road but has issues) 99 S-10 ( junk compared to the 95 I had) 04 GMC Sierra (a constant problem on wheels)
Fiero's: 84 SE (parts car) 86 coupe (had to sell before I could get it on the road) 86 GT (fun!) 87 coupe (this springs project)
Foreign: 87 Nissan Sentra SE sport coupe (rear ended at 35mph) 93 Mitsubishi Eclipse (fun car) 98 Hyundai Accent (40 mpg!) Tin can on wheels.
------------------ 86 GT 87 coupe restoration project.
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ohioindy Member
Posts: 2137 From: Wooster Ohio Registered: Nov 2003
I have bought 2 cars so far, both used. forst was the '95 subaru POS that i'm getting rid of. Second is my '86 no-options Fiero that I love. I also own a '98 cherokee that my parents gave me, but i doubt that it was built here.
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css9450 Member
Posts: 5572 From: Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA Registered: Nov 2002
I have nothing against people buying foreign cars if that's what they want, but I prefer to buy American whenever possible. I don't rule out buying a foreign car in the future.
Cars I've owned:
1969 Firebird 350 1972 Trans Am 1987 Buick Grand National 1988 Fiero Formula 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis 1999 Grand Am 2000 Trans Am Convertible
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NEPTUNE Member
Posts: 10199 From: Ticlaw FL, and some other places. Registered: Aug 2001
1998 Nissan Sentra 1997 Ford Contour w/ V6 1198 Ford Contour w/ 2.0 Zetec The Contours are Ford England, so they are foreign, right? 1995 Mazda Millenia
I have owned a 1947 VW bug ( horrible car ), the Dodge Colt Twin Stick made by Mitsubishi ( superb), a Fiat sedan, and a 1972 Toyota Corolla ( superb). The Corolla, VW, and Colt were purchased new. Since I no longer buy new cars, I don't put money directly into any manufacturer's pocket. Congress has taken over that job for me.
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ARFiero Member
Posts: 1262 From: Savannah, GA Registered: May 2008
81 Toyota Tercel 91 Honda Civic 89 Toyota Truck 2003 VW GTI
The only domestics I have owned were my Fiero, and my Ford Ranger. The Fiero was an absolute nightmare as far as maintenance went, and I would be surprised if any of the idiots working at the local Pontiac dealership had their grade 8 education. When something went on the car, they would just start replacing items, with the repair bill hitting up into the thousands in no time at all. 9 times out of 10, they were still unable to figure out what was wrong with the car, and because it was a Fiero they did not offer warranty on much of the service they performed due to the application into which the parts were installed. The idiots working there ensured that I would not consider driving another domestic vehicle for as long as I live.
My imports have been another story all together. The Toyota's I have never had a single issue with, the Ranger (Rebadged Mazda B3000) was also a great little truck, and my Volkswagen has also been a great car save for the folks at the dealership there have been quite expensive when maintenance is required.
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2.5 Member
Posts: 43235 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
2003 Honda CR-V (current) 2009 Toyota Matrix (current)
So 6 domestic 14 foreign
Which would come out to 70% foreign.
BUT, if you look at it, 4 of the domestic cars came before the early 1980's when foreign cars really weren't much of the market. And 1 of the domestic cars was the Fiero that brought me to the forum. So if you throw those out, it has been 14 foreign, 1 domestic. So over 90% foreign.
The one domestic car was the Silhouette minivan. I really liked it over the Odyssey and the Sienna. Until the transmission failed at 70,000 miles. That would have been a $3000 fix, but fortunately the guy I got it from owned 1/2 of a Pontiac dealership, and was a patient of mine and a friend. Somehow, he got GM to pay for it. Wow. Unfortunately, he was NOT able to get GM to pay for the MULTIPLE fuel injector failures due to the stupid over-regulated EPA "boutique" gasoline required in my area because we have (environmentally) the misfortune to be close to Chicago, Illinois. I guess I could excuse GM, but on the other hand, other car makers, including domestics, did not have this problem.
I essentially gave that car to one of the pastor's of my church, and that thing still seems to be running strong now as I see it in the lot all the time.
HOWEVER, the experience RUINED my wife regarding even considering another domestic car.
Here is how bad and illogical it is. We had to get the Toyota Matrix instead of the Pontiac Vibe. Same car. And she KNEW it. She is very car smart and likes to drive (for goodness sake. She has had TWO station wagons-essentially-now and both were MANUAL transmissions) but still, she is SO ticked at GM for the Silhouette experience.
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UCFieroCharger Member
Posts: 976 From: Cincinnati, OH Registered: Nov 2005
lots. Only 2 were purchased at the dealer, though, and one was just last Friday. Most of them were resold for profit as the prices have gone up substantially around here.
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OKflyboy Member
Posts: 6607 From: Not too far from Mexico Registered: Nov 2004
87 Honda Civic - totaled by illegal immigrant (rear ended me then ran like hell...) 92(ish - can't quite remember) Eagle Talon (rebadged Mitsubishi Eclipse) Synchro blew at about 60mph, smoked the trans. VW Dune Buggy (Based on 65ish Beetle) Sold to fund my motorcycle but is still going today, AFAIK '79 Kawasaki 400
[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 12-22-2008).]
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84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
