No guilt trips here, we're all educated consumers trying to buy the best for our hard earned $$$.
So if you had to go out and buy a new / used vehicle today as a reliable daily driver, what would you buy??
How would you determine the purchase?? Brand loyalty, history of reliability, etc??
I'd like to see it all condensed into a graph for easier viewing.

Just vote, and then post a simple "Voted" to keep the thread bumped if you don't wish to comment.
Also please note if you'd buy USED or NEW.

Personally, I've got 4 GM cars in my driveway. (2 are classics)
One of them is an Isuzu Ascender (rebadged GMC Envoy)

But I also own a Lexus daily driver.

 

Voted.

No plans to buy anything now, but if and when I do, I'll probably be shopping for another used Mercedes or BMW.
Fun to drive, good mileage, durable, and hold their value.

- Eric

 

VOTED

I now have a 97 Plymouth Grand Voyager with 140,000 miles and an 08 Malibu LTZ. You can't beat the Bu with any car at any price! I can honestly tell my grandchildren I was not responsible for them having to seek employment from foreign companies.

 

I had an Oldsmobile Bravada which I loved, it ran strong at 130k miles then I sold it. Then bought a 2006 Envoy Denali with the 5.3 vortec in it, lost a rod bearing at 80k miles, sitting in my driveway now waiting to find a replacement engine, of course the 2006 Envoy Denalis are engine year specific so I just can's go any 5.3 which are all over.

Went out and bought a new Honda Ridgeline 4 weeks ago, they are usually good for more than 80k miles. Great Vehicle!

note - I am a GM musclecar guy at heart.

 

Hopefully I'm a good 2-3 years away from making this decision (I wanna see 200,000 Mi. before letting go), and I honestly can't vote yet because I'm going back and forth bet. a Ford Flex, and a Toyota Sienna. I've got to have the room for my DJ gear.

I've currently got a 2002 venture closing in on 160,000 miles, and would buy another in a heartbeat, but they don't make em anymore.

 

ok, after re-reading the guide, I voted domestic, because that is where my heart is, but I would still have to see which vehicle is a better fit for my needs.

If possible it would also be used. I've never bought a new car, and hopefully never will. More people are leasing now than ever, making it real easy to score a deal on a 2 or 3 year old off-lease vehicle.

 

Define "import" and "domestic". The vehicle with the greatest North American content is the Toyota Sienna minivan. My wife's Honda Civic was made in Ohio. New Camaros were designed in Australia and are built in Canada.

 

Woohoo! Then I guess I'm in the clear, voting domestic, either way!

 

Voted

Wife and I each had a daily driver. One was always a Mercedes. I liked the MB safety features as well as reliability and service. However, I feel now that domestic cars are as safe and almost as reliable. In addition while the $$ for all cars has gone up the prices on the MB (as well as BMWs et al) has gone up even more so. The one thing that hasn't gone up on the German imports is the mileage and considering there are some predictions that gas will hit $5/gal by 2012 I don't want to be caught with a guzzler.

 

No vote. I'd consider an import or non-GM domestic.

Been looking for a 2-4 year old Grand Marquis. I'm a full-size full-frame RWD kind of guy and that's the closest thing I can find without going truck. The old gray wagon is still dependable but 30 years old and 342k, it's time to think about something a little newer. Trouble is seems like 90% of Grand Marquis you find are silver or white, and I'd rather have something a little less bland. A Marauder would be nice.... if you could find one that ain't been beat all to hell.

Possibly a Nissan, Volvo or Mercedes, though I don't like the Nissan dealer here if it had to have dealer service. Even a Hyundai is possible. Toyota/Honda are not even on the radar, again due to local dealer behaviour. Don't really want something I'd have to take it 50 miles for dealer service.

I can guarantee it will not be another General Motors vehicle. That damn Bravada broke me of them. Plus I cannot see myself in a Cadillac, and just don't like Chevy on general principle.

Then again I might come out cheaper just to rent a car for trips longer than I'm comfortable taking the wagon. And that way I'm not saddled with something I may end up disliking.

 

2011 is the last year of the Grand Marquis but there should be lots of good used ones for some time but don't wait too long. I was surprised how many fewer used MGM's were for sale in 2008 when I bought my 07 than in 03 when I bought my 00. I'll probably get anothe MGM also.

 

Voted. Either a new Dodge Challenger or Charger, OR I will hopefully find a nice old Vista Cruiser (preferred). I will always prefer old cars due to simplicity.

 

Another Honda Accord, made by Americans in Marysville,OH.

 

Voted. Used cars only. I plan on restoring my Cutlass and driving it daily (except in rain or snow). I have a '04 V6 Monte Carlo for road trips if I need to. Not worried about safety or I would not be driving a big block Olds around. American all the way. I'll never buy another foreign car. Yeah there is the debate that American cars are not made in America but the money is going to an American company inside the U.S.

 

I agree with you.
To make things worse......>the big 3 have LEGALLY twisted the meaning of "America" to include Mexico
and Canada to lie to it's consumers on the purchase sticker "American Made" content.

However, for the sake of simplicity, Domestic = Big 3 as in GM, Ford, Chrysler
Even though many Domestics are produced outside of USA, people like to
contend that the profits all stay here, so that makes them domestic.

Even though some of them haven't paid any taxes in years, and Wall Street stock for any company is purchasable.
That all just complicates the scenario for the folks who are stuck in their perceptions.
4th generation Camaro's were also produced in Canada.
The American Icon of Rock n Roll commercials......I remember them vividly. All deceiving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMFYWb5QIcM

 

Voted, use a classic. Thats my wish.

I think my Cutlass will always be a weekend type ride.
My wifes 66 Volvo Amazon wagon that may someday take over DD duties
away from my 08 Silverado(last new purchase,I hope)

 

Yes but don't most of the parts come from the USA. or Mexico.

 

Bought my wife a 2009 Hyundai Sonata 100k warrenty and 15K sticker price with less the 6K miles sold me. Has been a great car. the few warranty problems have been resolved very easily. For me the 48 Olds when finished will be by daily driver as I will be retired and only plan on driving it and the 57 and maybe a 50 Olds coup that keeps calling my name.

 

Joe,

Looks like 5 of the top ten American made cars in America are Japanese.
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story....ory=amMade0709

IIRC Camaro and Mustang are ~60% domestic content.
Mind you, they are confusing "Domestic" with North American, so that isn't accurate for what's USA produced at all.

Mexico doesn't play any angle in what's good for "Domestic" content at all either.
Employing Mexicans is not helping WORKING Americans.

It's only helping the big 3 with larger profit margins to support the retiree's
with those insane legacy costs (healthcare / pensions)

 

I'll probably buy a 2-3 year old Chevy Malibu or Saturn Aura. Of course domestic content seems to be listed as "North America". i.e. Canada and Mexico, but I have no problems with Canadian built vehicles. All manufacturers have engine, trannies, etc. built in S. America. I have considered a Subaru legacy, and a used BMW 325XI, all wheel drive factoring in that decision. I owned a '94 Acura Integra back in '94, a fun, well built car.

 

Voted too. I drive an 08 Silverado, 85% domestic parts content, made in Indiana. I prefer domestic vehicles made by the big 3 mostly because there are very few foreign cars I like. Also, to me, it is important to spend our hard earned $ and keep them in this country by buying American made vehicles made by an American company.

 

The sad reality is the Big 3 are going to globalize more and more as Free Trade allows to increase profits.
It doesn't matter what you buy. This is not a shooting from the hip statement either.

Scroll down to bottom.
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story....ts&subject=ami

Look at the same Domestic and Import vehicles from 2009-2010.
The %'s of domestic content are declining. One thing is absolutely certain......
Corporations don't have a loyalty to anyone but the almighty profit margin of $$$$.

We have to reinstill the trade tariffs and stop Free Trade if you want to see this reverse.

 

My next purchase will be a new Buick Regal GS I have a 2000 with 134000 with no problems and gets 30mpg and runs the 1/4 mile in 13.40 @ 102.Here is a pic of it.
image_url-12662-1272836361.jpg

 

Your right, and the article does point that out. But it also shows that the big 3 still produce the most vehicles by far with a 75% domestic parts content level or higher. For that reason, they still support the most American jobs by far.

 

Will use old POS....I mean classics as drivers.

82 Dodge D150 slant 6
79 Chevy C10 with a 403

I am on the hunt for a non-truck to stick one of my 350s into.

Newest car I have ever used a DD is my sister's 89 Suburban.

sb

 

i will never buy a new car. unlikely i will ever get anything newer than 6 years old. also unlikely i will ever get anything with less than 90,000 miles. i got my 2002 chevy truck a year ago and love it. before that i had a ford for 1 month. i left GM because of the government money thing but found that i did not like ford real fast. our next vehicle will be another Oldsmobile van. in around 2 to 5 years from now we will try to find a final 500 van. so i voted older classic.

 

'09 Challenger DD for me and an '08 Charger for the wife. Last new cars I ever plan on buying after being caught in the keep 'em for several years and then trade them at a loss and start all over again trap for a long time. The Challenger has a lifetime drivetrain and 5 year/100k bumper to bumper warranty and the Charger has a lifetime bumper to bumper.
I have owned mostly GM vehicles, but the only one I bonded with when we were looking was a Cadillac CTS-V which was way more expensive than the Charger. I looked at a Pontiac G8, but didn't like it that much.
I drive the Cutlass quite a bit in the Summer.

 

That was an awesome offer Chrysler had until 2010. I really like that new Challenger myself.....I'd have to get the 6 speed.
A word of caution......read the maintenance requirements VERY THOROUGHLY for that lifetime powertrain warranty.

I looked at a new 2008 Dodge Ram with that lifetime warranty.
Some ludicrous maintenance demands can easily be overlooked and you can lose it.
Like for instance, changing all 16 spark plugs on the Hemi every 30,000 miles the dealer told me.
That's just one of them. (not just the Hemi either)

 

I hate to break this to you, but those aren't the "Big 3" anymore...

At the risk of bringing this up again (and I'm not an economist and don't know the answer), is it better for wages to go outside the US if profits stay here, or is it better for US workers to be paid by a foreign company?

 

VOTED. Not buying a new car again.

 

Big 3 has always referred to the American Big Three or Detroit Three manufacturers.
Rregardless of an import (like Toyota's) status,
Not that Wiki is the end all .....but.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Thr...nufacturers%29

The Big Three, when used in relation to the automotive industry, most generally refers to
the three major American automotive companies: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

BTW , I'm not trying to challenge your prowess on cars,
I know you're waaaaaay smarter with Oldsmobiles then I will ever be.

I'm only debating that one point because I'm bored. LOL

Me personally, my vote is to employ Americans.
I'm against buying a Mexican made GM or Ford vehicle because GM or Ford have to pay for their legacy costs. (retiree benefits)
The big 3 still do employ far more Americans overall though as a link I posted earlier shows.
But that number is dwindling annually......

I get the feeling more and more GM, Ford, and Chrysler parts will be produced outside CONUS for us to compete.
So if I buy a Honda Accord made in America, that employs Americans......that's good enough for me.

 

I think I would buy a Subaru Outback or VW Jetta station wagon if I replaced my wife's VW Beetle. Either that or a Buick LeSaber sedan.

 

Since the late 80s I noticed, many Oldsmobile fans drove( and still do) Fords for their daliy drivers.

 

Most Olds owners I know have stuck with GM, and would not consider a Ford.

 

When spring comes my DD will be a 65 Caddy Convert. Sweet. I can't wait. I also have my eye out for a used 2010 SHO Taurus. EEk! Lots of cash!

 

My daily driver for the past 15 years has been my 71 Cutlass and will continue to be until it disintegrates. From our experience, my wife and I (when it comes to her car) will continue to buy an Acura TL. It is a Honda produced vehicle with spectacular reliability and low maintenance. Other "Hi-line" cars we have owned, ie. "German engineered" were pitiful after about 4-5 years and were money pits.

 

i voted and would rather drive an old car or pickup that is american made. Some of these old cars have been beat to hell and still run and drive fine. With all these new veichals domestic and import they have so many sensors and coast a small fortune to fix compard to the older reliable classics!

 

Drive a domestic or import what as a daily driver?

I don't know if my daily driver is a domestic or import vehicle now.... are Schwinn bikes still made in the USA?

 

I can see it is a trick question.
People usually profess loyalty to American products and labor....Until they have to pay a little more money. Then they let the other guy buy the American product and they buy the Chinese stuff.
I've been a hypocrite myself.
I do like the idea of conciously making an attempt to pay the wages of our fellow Americans.
I'd buy a Buick, I got plenty of gray hair.

 

It's a percentage % of both these days.

Schwinn's have been made overseas since 1991 which is before NAFTA.
People forget NAFTA wasn't the checkered flag for global outsourcing.

It just removed trade tariffs for Mexico technically.

BTW here's an update to the one that really hurt us 10 years ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_797464.html

Call your Senators and get on their asses. This needs to pass to help protect American workers

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress...11/house/2/554