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The Annoyed Man wrote:

PBratton wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:I drive a vehicle that was entirely made in Japan, so perhaps I'm not one to talk.... but even "made in America" doesn't really count if it really just means "assembled in America." When I was a kid, the Big Three in detroit didn't just assemble the cars on their factory floors; they bought car body parts from other domestic American manufacturers, electronic and engine peripherals from still other manufacturers, wheels, sparkplugs, and upholstery from still other American manufacturers, etc., etc., etc.

My son's Pontiac G8 GT has an LS2/LS3 motor made in the U.S., and a body and chassis made in Australia, and was "hecho in Mexico." Until we get back to the point where domestic manufacturers use domestically manufactured parts and subassemblies, we'll never get back to where we used to be. Global economies are all well and good, but look at what manufacturers from other countries are doing. Are BMWs manufactured in Germany still being delivered with Bosch spark plugs? I can tell you that my made-in-Japan Pathfinder was delivered with Nippon Denso spark plugs.

When it comes time to replace my Pathfinder (hopefully never), I will likely try to buy American first, but I have to say right up front that I'll never buy a GM so long as A) the federal government remains a stock holder, and B) their union continues to get the "screw-the-taxpayer" sweet deal. I refuse to be a party to that kind of corruption. And I won't buy junk, regardless of how patriotic it might be to do so. I can't afford junk.

The Japanese manufacturers got their foot in the door in the U.S. by offering more economical products with superior quality and reliability at that price point. The Big Three had taken the American consumer for granted for far too long, and it pretty much caught up with them. I remember when it became common knowledge that all three practiced an obsolescence cycle of only 6 years. I remember thinking that was highway robbery. You buy the second most expensive purchase of your life, and the builder PLANNED for it to only last 6 years? That's when I quit giving a rip what happened to the Big Three.

Rolls Royce built cars that came with a lifetime warranty. Sure, they cost more, but the fact is that one Rolls Royce back then would cost you less over your lifetime than a whole series of worn out American cars. Now, not everybody then or now can afford the buy-in for a Rolls. But, when an American manufacturer deliberately plans for your car to fall apart within the time frame that you'll still be making payments on it, that is unconscionable. They don't deserve your business if that is their business model, because screwing the customer is just as unAmerican as buying imports.

Now, when it comes time to replace my vehicle, if I can get an American vehicle comparable to my Pathfinder (2002), with 4 wheel drive, adequate power and adequate room, that will still be running reliably at 130K+ miles and 9 years later with low maintenance requirements, I'd be very interested. Maybe by then my Pathfinder might have 260K on the clock.

TAM, your 2002 Pathfinder was manufactured in Smyra, Tennesee. The engine and transmission were likely made in Decherd, Tn as well. Now, I'm not saying that EVERYTHING in your Pathfinder in US made, but the chassis, panels drive-train and assembly were.

Nope, you'd be wrong about that. It is true that some 2002 Pathfinders were made in Smyrna, and some were manufactured in Japan and imported fully assembled and ready for the dealerships. They are distinguishable one from the other by the VIN numbers. The Japanese ones have a different string of characters that clearly identifies them as Japanese made. Every single time I take mine to the dealership for service, they look surprised at the VIN number, and then inform me that mine was actually built in Japan. I tell them, "I know. Every dealership I've ever had it to has had exactly the same reaction. When I bought it, I was informed that mine was Japanese built, and that the Japanese built ones are more desireable." And they always tell me, "That's right." So now you know too.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I drive a vehicle that was entirely made in Japan, so perhaps I'm not one to talk.... but even "made in America" doesn't really count if it really just means "assembled in America." When I was a kid, the Big Three in detroit didn't just assemble the cars on their factory floors; they bought car body parts from other domestic American manufacturers, electronic and engine peripherals from still other manufacturers, wheels, sparkplugs, and upholstery from still other American manufacturers, etc., etc., etc.

My son's Pontiac G8 GT has an LS2/LS3 motor made in the U.S., and a body and chassis made in Australia, and was "hecho in Mexico." Until we get back to the point where domestic manufacturers use domestically manufactured parts and subassemblies, we'll never get back to where we used to be. Global economies are all well and good, but look at what manufacturers from other countries are doing. Are BMWs manufactured in Germany still being delivered with Bosch spark plugs? I can tell you that my made-in-Japan Pathfinder was delivered with Nippon Denso spark plugs.

When it comes time to replace my Pathfinder (hopefully never), I will likely try to buy American first, but I have to say right up front that I'll never buy a GM so long as A) the federal government remains a stock holder, and B) their union continues to get the "screw-the-taxpayer" sweet deal. I refuse to be a party to that kind of corruption. And I won't buy junk, regardless of how patriotic it might be to do so. I can't afford junk.

The Japanese manufacturers got their foot in the door in the U.S. by offering more economical products with superior quality and reliability at that price point. The Big Three had taken the American consumer for granted for far too long, and it pretty much caught up with them. I remember when it became common knowledge that all three practiced an obsolescence cycle of only 6 years. I remember thinking that was highway robbery. You buy the second most expensive purchase of your life, and the builder PLANNED for it to only last 6 years? That's when I quit giving a rip what happened to the Big Three.

Rolls Royce built cars that came with a lifetime warranty. Sure, they cost more, but the fact is that one Rolls Royce back then would cost you less over your lifetime than a whole series of worn out American cars. Now, not everybody then or now can afford the buy-in for a Rolls. But, when an American manufacturer deliberately plans for your car to fall apart within the time frame that you'll still be making payments on it, that is unconscionable. They don't deserve your business if that is their business model, because screwing the customer is just as unAmerican as buying imports.

Now, when it comes time to replace my vehicle, if I can get an American vehicle comparable to my Pathfinder (2002), with 4 wheel drive, adequate power and adequate room, that will still be running reliably at 130K+ miles and 9 years later with low maintenance requirements, I'd be very interested. Maybe by then my Pathfinder might have 260K on the clock.