When it comes to cars, what is your thought AS AN AMERICAN/CANADIAN when it comes to buying import vs. domestics brands?

 

As much as I'm a GM fan, I'm willing to buy other non-GM/non-American brands. In fact, I have personally (at the ripe old age of 20 lol) never owned an American car... I use to have a 1997 Honda Accord and now own a 2003 Infiniti G35 sedan. The GTO, however, was right there with it and if I could have found a 2005 for the same price as I paid for the G35, I probably would have done that. I also considered other cars such as a V8 Camaro and old muscle cars such as a 1970 Chevelle SS, but the cost of insurance or even the car its self was to much. The CTS was also among the top choices (3.6 engine), but they cost more than the G35 sedan similarly equipped.

In the end, while I prefer GM, that doesn't mean I will not buy something else - American or not - if the right car comes at the right price. The G35 sedan I got was the winner in this round, albeit not by another over some others - Mazda3, Mazda6, RX-7, GTO, CTS, Camaro, muscle cars, old S4, old M3, among others.

 

Erm, DCX, not DMX, my bad. (DCX, for those who don't know, is DiamlerChrysler Corporation...)

 

I have owned American cars and 1 van. I have moved on. They had torque in the 60s & 70s until the embargo. They gave it up for economy in the late 70s/early 80s & still lost to the Japanese (& Volkswagen). They cut corners (read cheap products) & made deals with the government to stay afloat. Meanwhile, the Japanese, Germans, and now Korean car companies have surpassed the quality of American manufacturers. Horespower is back in style now but the foreign competition has matched them though you pay more for them. Now it has become even more clouded with MB commanding Chrysler and domestic cars being assembled in Canada & Mexico. Sure foreign cars are made/assembled here too, but their standards have been set high. I have little desire to own American besides the Vette, Viper, or a classic muscle car (I love the Chevelle).

 

No domestic cars for me....at least for a VERY long time. I have owned two domestics and they were the biggest lemons I have had. Coincidence maybe, but I have purhcased Japanese vehicles ever since and have not had any problems. From my own personal experience, they have proved to me that they are more reliable than domestic made vehicles. One of the other BIG problems I see with domestics are their resale value. All cars depreciate quicker than we would like, but on average domestic resale values are horrible.

 

Not a big fan of domestic cars. I like imports a lot better, build quality and their engines are so much better. Plus imports hold their value much more. Though I wouldnt mind an escalade or some other caddy. those are nice domestics.

 

I've owned many of both and still have a mix. The imports offer better quality, reliability and improved resale and generally better design. Initial price is the major advantage of most N. American cars.

 

I've owned mostly imports, and the domestics I've owned makes me not want another piece of junk that can only sit on the driveway...

But there are a few domestic cars out there that make me want another domestic...

 

I would buy American if I had the money for a Corvette Z06. Kinda like the Charger Daytona also

 

I owned a C5 Corvette and would probably be open to another Corvette. I also think that Cadillac is doing great things lately. While I prefer the reliability of the imports, I think that the domestics are quickly gaining some ground.

-GT

 

I agree that the domestics are gaining ground. I do however think they have still got some catching up to do.

 

Keep in mind that many products in the past 2-3 years from domestics have been right there with the Japanese brands. Buick and Cadillac are rated among the best quality in the luxury brands, and while cars such as the Chevy Malibu are insanely boring, they're also among the most reliable.

Unfortunately for them, they shot them selves in the mid 70's-early 2000's. Take a look at some the the new and up-and-coming products from GM, Ford (as much as I hate them, I still really like the new Fusion, which is based on the Mazda6 platform, among the best in the game for midsizers...) and the new Mustang is the best since the original. The new Challenger looks amazing. The 300, Charger, among other Chrysler and Dodge vehicles are pretty damn sweet, and the Chysler Crossfire is based on the previous SLK platform.

American brands - no matter where they're assembled, America or not - have, or are just about, depending on the brands and cars, caught up to the foreign brands in quality, and it is now the Europeans, not the Koreans or Americans, that are dead last in quality and reliability.

 

I do plan to buy a used 2005 Pontiac GTO in a few years after the G is paid off- it's made in Australia, but they threw a LS2 Vette V-8 in it- a true stealth bomber to commute to work in. Should be able to find one cheap.

 

I would prefer something German or Japanese in my driveway. The only Domestic I would consider purchasing would be an SUV (like the H2) or one of their bang-for-the-buck sports cars, ie Viper & Vette. (if I had that kinda dough for a car). The Americans are well ahead of everyone else in the Pickup Truck division though.

 

haha, ya, the GTO is definately a sweet car. Great interior, 400 HP V8 (LS2 as you said... the C6 Corvette engine...), 0-60 in ~4.7-4.8 seconds (M3 territory...), one of the best (if not the best) current sleeper on the market in America as no one expects that, it just looks like a bland, could be a Honda or Toyota or Buick coupe...