I don't know why you can't get the foreign vehicles you want. But I'm sure the reason is NOT because they aren't made by an American country. If we all flip our garage doors open right now more than half of them have ricers.
Vehicles we should be allowed to buy. (not EVs)
- Thread starter swampbadger
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swampbadger
Well-Known Member
Maybe you are missing the point. What I'd like to see is a better pool of quality vehicles we as american consumers have a choice of driving.
Our selections of vehicles should be much broader. American car manufacturers have many if not more issues than your "ricers." They are no longer built with good materials by hard working americans. Things have changed for the worse across the board.
The Government and customs have laws and restrictions on many imports that are more fuel efficient and better built than what we have available at dealerships. If they were allowed here, It would force our american dealerships to produce higher quality vehicles.
The majority of imports that you can get are only feasible by the super rich as novelties, not intended as daily drivers.
What's available should be driven by technology and customer demand. I would bet that most car buyers really don't care if their car is gas or electric. They care what it costs, what the fuel costs are, what the maintenance costs are, and if it can go as far as they need it to go without refueling.
Neither federal nor state government should have a say in what fuel the vehicle will use.
Other than a ricer when I was an E-4 in the military, and couldn't afford an American made car, all my cars have been from Americans companies. However, the "American Made" part is pretty watered down anymore.
What cars would you like to see sold here? Buick Envision, Lincoln Nautilus, Volvo S90, Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid are made in China. Kia, Hyundai, are made in South Korea, Chevrolet Trax and Chevrolet Trailblazer are rebadged Daewoo's made in South Korea.
I wish I could buy an American made car, but I can't anymore. I come from manufacturing, so I understand that where a car is made and where it is assembled are not the same things.
All cars are the highest quality and the safest they have ever been. To say American cars are of lesser quality, from previous years, or less quality than foreign cars is ridiculous. From 1980 to 2022 the U.S had a 49% increase in population and a 17% decrease in fatal traffic accidents. That's from quality and safety products on vehicles.
As long as theres money to be made by keeping us in the dark things will continue to progress as they have for years. This includes restricting what vehicles are available to us.
MickThompson
Well-Known Member
Is Ford/Chebby versus "ricer" even a valid argument considering how many Japanese companies build stateside?
Yep. The Nissan Frontier is assembled in Mississippi, with an engine that is built in TN. Toyota's are assembled in Springhill, TN. Saves both a ton of money on import tarrifs to assemble the finished product here, regardless of where they source the individual parts. And thanks to NAFTA, the Fords and Chevys are assembled in Mexico and Canada, and don't have a lot of American labor involved in them any more.
Many Chevrolet vehicles are assembled in the United States, including:
Arlington, TX: Suburban, Tahoe
Roanoke, IN: Silverado 1500
Wentzville, MO: Colorado, Express
Bowling Green, KY: Corvette Stingray, Z06, Grand Sport, ZR1
Lansing, MI: Traverse, Camaro
Detroit, MI: Chevrolet
Kansas City, KS: Malibu
Lake Orion, MI: Sonic, Bolt EV, Cruise AV test vehicles
Flint, MI: Heavy-Duty
Spring Hill, TN: Engines for Tahoe, Silverado, Suburban, and Blazer
DEARBORN, Mich., May 22, 2024 – Ford Motor Company again solidified its position as the No. 1 American automaker in terms of vehicles assembled, vehicles exported from America to other countries and hourly workers employed.
Ford earned the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, the latest data from S&P Global Mobility shows.
"Ford is a uniquely American company," said Andrew Frick, Ford Blue president. "We are proud to serve our customers with vehicles that embody the best of American innovation and ingenuity."
Ford employs about 57,000 hourly manufacturing workers in the U.S., more than any other automaker, and training is underway for the new third crew that will assemble Bronco and Ranger vehicles at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, including nearly 900 new hires.
Also, Ford and Lincoln combined have more than 2,800 dealerships in the U.S., which create additional jobs in the communities they serve.
In 2023, Ford assembled more than 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. – 130,000 more than any other auto manufacturer.1 This includes the best-selling F-Series truck franchise of gas-powered, hybrid and electric pickup trucks, each assembled in America at plants in Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio.
Overall, more than 79% of what Ford sells in the U.S. are assembled in the U.S., more than any other automaker.
In 2023, Ford exported 260,000 American-assembled vehicles – including F-150, Bronco and Mustang – to other countries, more than any other auto manufacturer. Approximately one in every seven vehicles Ford assembles in the U.S. is exported to international markets including Canada, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico and South Korea.
Toyota doesn't have a plant in Spring Hill that I'm aware of so I googled it and didn't find one. GM does
Ford has a truck plant on the east side of Louisville. When I'm there for work I stay less than a mile away from it. Not saying they don't have any outside of the US but definitely still have some here. Would have to double check but pretty sure my truck came from there.
I'd like to see more diesels here in the U.S.
Tundra's are made in TX, camry in Kentucky.
Ford makes all the super duties in KY and rangers and broncos in Michigan.
F150's are made in KC Kansas or Dearborn
Trump has picked Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA. Hopefully he will do away with a lot of the unnecessary restrictions that stifle American manufacturing and contribute to increased prices. Maybe some of those changes will help you get the imports you want.
Of course, Trump may slap a giant tariff on them, especially if they come from China.
I applaud that. America First.
Of course, Trump may slap a giant tariff on them, especially if they come from China.
I applaud that. America First.
Carlos
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The Hilux is one I've wanted for awhile.
I agree 100% with you- more competition is better for the consumer in terms of pricing, durability, etc.
Maybe one day things will change, and we won't be governed as strictly.
I agree 100% with you- more competition is better for the consumer in terms of pricing, durability, etc.
Maybe one day things will change, and we won't be governed as strictly.
Land Cruiser 70-Series w a turbo diesel…
NashvilleMan
Well-Known Member
Hilux all the way!
Car companies piss me off all the time. They don't build what you want, they build what they want you to buy. And they cost $55,000 and up. What they build has way too much crap on it, and you can't buy a stripped down truck anymore. I want a 4x4 with manual windows, door locks, manual transmission, floor shifter transfer case, manual hubs. That's like finding a good deal on a used low mileage UFO. Sorry World we live in.
swampbadger
Well-Known Member
There's not enough electronics and moving parts to break down on what we want. They want us to stay in debt and continue to spend.
I consider it very similar to the ideology of pharmaceutical companies wanting to sell treatments and never any provide cures.
NashvilleMan
Well-Known Member
I swear if a company came along and started to build just a car, with only the tech needed to drive from point a to point b, no frilly nonsense…. they might just sell like hot cakes 
swampbadger
Well-Known Member
Interesting video going over history and politics behind oversized american pickup trucks.
We can all agree that there is a lot of politics behind this. I didn't know these little K trucks were being imported like they are.
I've heard there are some diesel powered European cars that get phenomenal fuel mileage while going from point A to B VERY quickly.
When a car that burns clean and uses almost half the fuel of some domestic cars isn't allowed in to the country, that's not about the environment. It's political.
When a car that burns clean and uses almost half the fuel of some domestic cars isn't allowed in to the country, that's not about the environment. It's political.
swampbadger
Well-Known Member
Totally agree! These politics are hurting American consumers by not allowing us to have better options at dependable vehicles. They are essentially restricting our choices to the point where the vast majority get caught upside down in vehicle debt.
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