Next week, I'll be traveling to Detroit for work.
It may sound weird to
some, but I love visiting Detroit. Yes, I know, Detroit isn’t usually on
people’s list of top vacation spots, but I love it all the same. I love driving
across the bridges, eating in Greek town, visiting the Museum of Modern
Art and hanging out at Belle Island. Whether you call it the
“Motor City,” “Motown,” or just the “D,” there’s no doubt
that Detroit is
a classic American city full of culture, diversity and fun.Which
makes it all the more sad to realize that no city in the country has been harder
hit by the recession than Detroit. Home to the top three American
automakers, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, Detroit was once seen as a
thriving metropolis where people could go to find good jobs. Today, Detroit’s official
unemployment rate is slightly below 30% and some figures quote it actually
closer to 50%. To put that in perspective; the national unemployment rate is
8.3%. American car companies, that once dominated the auto industry, now are
often seen as having inferior quality and reliability compared to their Japanese
counterparts.Some say American car companies are struggling
because of their focus on SUV’s. When gas prices started to rise, Americans
began looking for smaller, compact cars, which are often foreign. Others say
American companies missed the boat when it came to developing green cars with
better emissions. We can no longer sell most American cars abroad, because we
don’t meet the rest of the world’s fuel efficiency standards. Finally, some say
American car companies just mis-managed their funds, giving corporate executives
large bonuses, while ignoring their plants, technology and
workers.So my question to you
this week is, “What do you think of American cars? Are they inferior to foreign
ones? What do you think can be done to strengthen the American auto industry?”
You must answer all questions to earn full credit. Answers are due no later
than Sunday, September 9th, 2012.
Honestly I don't know the difference between foreign cars and American cars besides the size. I think that car companies got greedy and found a way to make more money and didn't care about the economy just because they were making more money. Foreign cars just focus on the environment and getting from one place to another. Americans on the other hand care about looks instead of the environment. If we start promoting environment friendly cars instead of looks.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised a GM kid. My grandfather was in management there and my dad has been there since after college 30 years ago. I grew up going to UAW picnics, having my dad home for weekends and holidays always, and when it came to me turning 16, a Chevy cobalt with a bow was on my driveway. Any of my friends with foreign cars were asked nicely to park in the street when they came over. So that being said, I have no choice, I like American cars. From what I have learned they are easier and less expensive to fix vs. foreign. I think buying American cars can help re-stimulate the economy and help the industry. GM has always been an amazing company for my family, so I will always buy American (even if they aren't as cute)
ReplyDeleteTHE D!!!!! I love Detroit too and was just there for my birthday. It's pretty much amazing, well most parts of it. I was born and raised a Michigan girl (shockingly having never lived there you'd think I'd had) simply because of my father and grandfather. My grandfather worked for GM for as long as I could remember. Because of that my dad would only drive GM made cars growing up, however when it came down to it when we were to buy cars for anyone other than my dad he was a loyal Honda owner, which was always weird.
ReplyDeleteAmerican made cars are sort of popular with those loyal Ford, Chrysler, GMC owners. However, I feel that American made cars are in almost every way inferior. Unfortnately Japanese made cars are cheaper, more fuel efficient and easier to get maintained, not only on technicians but also on the wallet. Unfortunately with that being said I feel the American Auto industry has quite a ways to get back to full strength.
I honestly know nothing about cars. My mom has a Mitsubishi and there is only one place near us to get it fixed and it’s outrageous. But we’ve had it for five years and haven’t had any major problems. My Jeep on the other hand needs fixed so much more often. The only reason I know the Mitsubishi is Japanese is because the guy told us the engine is louder because it’s a foreign car.
ReplyDeleteToday’s car purchasers are looking for good gas mileage and probably ‘go green’. That said they probably look at foreign cars before American cars (at least I think foreign get better gas and such..)
Again, I know absolutely nothing about cars we all drive but IndyCars on the other hand I could go on about forever, even they are in fights about foreign/American engine manufacturers as well!
American Muscle is what I was raised on. Cars that were made out of solid steel and not plastics. I am the current owner of a 1966 Ford Mustang and I have never been more happy with the quality of a car. I feel safe in it too.
ReplyDeleteSo Foreign against American?
American hands down.
I feel that American cars are better built. Yes they get less mileage then a tiny Foreign car but American cars are built to last. I would also like to point out the safety quality of both types of verticals.
Foreign cars are mostly made out of fiberglass or plastics now mostly for speed.
American cars TODAY are about the same.
I feel truly that if American manufacturers go back to using steel to make vehicles more people would buy due to safety quality, that the market for American made cars would go back up over that of the foreign hotwheels.
I don't know all that much about cars (nothing at all, really) so this is going to be a tough one to answer. Im on my third car, but I drove a ford for about 3 years and I loved it. It had great gas mileage, and it got me where I wanted to go. I now drive a Buick and I feel the same way. I think foreign cars are more attractive and have a higher outward appeal, but the inside of the car doesn't mean too much to me. If we want to get our car companies back on the market, we need to get up to the energy standards of other countries, no doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteForeign cars are better than American cars. With foreign cars you can get better gas mileage and durability. Foreign cars seen to last longer. If american car makers want to out beat the foreign car makers, they need to figure out how to out do the foreign cars. Make a car that runs off a natural product. It will be good for the earth and and for our pockets.
ReplyDeleteMan oh man..what do I think of American cars? Well all I know for sure is to "never, ever, ever, mess with a Ford!", as stated by my mommy. While growing up my mom had purchase a lot of American made cars and majority of them were Ford. She has a bad history with them. She says, "they are unreliable and its always something wrong with it". They are not very fuel economical, but at that time gas was a whole lot cheaper. Now a days if Americans expect to last in the car industry, they need to think logically and modernize their business to more of a need factor then the want. I do believe at this point in time American cars are inferior to foreign cars. Foreign cars are keeping up with the times, they are seeing that people are buying tings that will last longer and take them further. American car industries completely missed this entire phase of economic change. I feel that the American auto companies need focus more on the consumers and the economy. Put more thought into it, and look past the present but see where there changes could take them in the future and work to make that a reality.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is all about making money. If they can cheap around one corner, then they will cheap around them all. If they would just start caring about the quality of the car instead of the cash, then the car wouldn't be so inferior. I have seen this getting better over the past 2 years. I think they know that they were doing wrong and that they needed to fix the problem. I mean I love American cars, I am a Dodge Loyaltist; but we need to get with the times and get back on top. We do need more efficient gas mileage, we do need to explore other energy options, and we do need good quality parts. I miss the cars in the 90s, my bestfriend has a 1994 Buick Century and that thing is a beast! I mean it is made out steel and is like a tank. My 2005 Dodge Neon is made out of fiberglass and it blows in the wind like a kite. I don't like fiberglass. I think there should be more reasearch done on finding materials to make car frames and parts. There should be reasearch in other fuels. Tires should even be looked at. Oil too. I mean they should really think cars through, tear them down to their basics, and think about what they can change, want to change, and will change. I think there needs to be inventive people, more creativity, etc.
ReplyDeleteI like american cars for tough seasons like winter, most of the time foreign cars are better then american cars put are harder to drive in tough weather. to strengthen the American car industry they need to redeveloped the old classics but using the technology that green environment cars use.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion on American cars is that I really don't have one because I really don't know much about cars like that. But just from what I've learned ins chool is that America was the place to get exclusive cars and we were great at manufacturing them. Now in this day in age just from what I've assumed and what I've heard I do think we are now inferior to foreign cars because it seems like they get it when it comes to the better gas mileage and hybrid gas and electric kinda thing. To make our auto industry better we just need to vote President Obama back into office.
ReplyDeleteLike some of the others, I don't know much about cars but I do feel like American cars are inferior to foreign cars. We are getting better but there is still much more we need to improve to meet the world's standards. When I think of American automobiles, I think big muscle cars that last. Foreign cars, on the other hand, I see tiny, cute cars that give you better mileage but are harder to get parts for to fix. The American auto industry needs to find a median between the two. Americans still love their muscle cars and having room, but in the end we still want more money in our pockets. If we focus less on money or looks and more eco-friendly and putting their money to good use, our auto industry could once again rise above foreign cars.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad and Grandpa are both car fanactics. Growing up I had no other choice but to love and learn about cars. I support American made cars because my family has supported them. My grandpa collects old American muscle cars and foreign cars just don't have that. I will continue to support American cars for the sake of how I was raised. Foreign definitely beats them in mileage and environmental purposes but I don't believe they are as reliable. It is also sometimes inconvinent finding a place local that will fix a foreign car and often more expensive. I think if America stepped up their game on "going green" with cars, they would be back on top again. That way we have the powerful fast cars and safe SUV's AND good vehicles built for gas mileage.
ReplyDeleteI think american cars are some of the worst on the market and thats coming from a ford guy. Twenty years ago we had some of the sweetest cars on the road but now they are inferior to foreign cars why buy some something that gets 20 miles to the gallon and spits out bad emissions when you can get something thats a lot greener and gets 40 or 50 miles to the gallon. at one time i could only think about buying american because thats what you did they were the best on the road and they could be again if they were to start going the way of foreign cars i love my muscle cars but id also like to have gas to put in them. For starters we could make a universal policy to have cleaner emissions on all cars produced and start really researching better gas mileage engines
ReplyDeleteI couldn't tell you a foreign car from an American car even if it came with chopsticks. I really do not care where a car from even if it "stimulates America's economy" by buying one from an American maker. I pick a car with good specs and a good record. At the time, it was a honda that was lookin oh so fine, so I went with that. It is just that American cars are either gas guzzling monsters or muscle cars that are louder than the next door neighbors getting freaky... Foreign cars just look better on the check book too. They have awesome gas mileage. That sells itself right there when I have to choose between eating and getting gasoline.
ReplyDeleteI think that american cars at the current state aren't the greatest, when they keep coming out with gas guzzling cars and the price of gas is so high people are going to try and find more fuel efficient cars. Also more people are wanting to be more green efficient cars, and those are coming from foreign countries. If i were to get a new car i would probably choose a foreign car because of the better gas mileage, which is much friendly on my wallet.
ReplyDeleteHonestly when I think of American cars I think of these over sized vehicles which are often used to meet the needs of our over sized lifestyles. Automobiles which are reckless when it comes to the environment and gas mileage. We truly are behind in the car department.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think we should restructure our auto industry. Put a hold on whats current and write up an innovative blue print to change our methods of design, production, management, etc. Those would be some awesome ways to strengthen it!
I will always love american cars... The CLASSIC american cars. Its a little sad that we are supposed to be one of the worlds top industrialized countries but yet we have no emissions control or any sort of regulation when it comes to fuel economy for cars. When it comes to superiority, I would definitely have to agree that foreign cars are on the rise. Quality is getting better, fuel economy and overall satisfaction. We've already dug ourselves a hole by outsourcing jobs when it comes to the automobile industry. Even "American Made" cars and trucks are constructed of mostly foreign made parts. We may already be in too deep when it comes to saving american cars. If we didn't have to rely on foreign parts we would be so much better off.
ReplyDeleteI will never own an american car. My moms parents both worked for Ford from the mid 1940's so she has owned nothing but Fords. Growing up I remember spending countless hours in the repair shop for cars that had less than 30,000 miles on them. From that point on I vowed never to own an american car. I've owned three cars since turning 16 and they have all been foreign and I loved them to death. I think american car makers need to focus on on the future of electric and hydrogen cars. They worry too much about making a quick buck than a quality car that will satisfy the consumer and stay together for more than two years.
ReplyDeleteI own a Chevrolet and I like it. I think the american car makers can learn a thing or two from the Japanese and Chinese car makers. American car makers need to have the same kind of work ethics as foreign car makers to improve.
ReplyDeleteApart of me has always had a love for American muscle. My dad used to fix them up so it is something instilled in me from a yound age. Foriegn cars have a lot of advantages when it comes to fuel efficiency and the way the world is nowadays, they are more practical even if that means putting our own economy at risk. I just think America needs to get up to speed.
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