A recent article on thestreet.com discussed a study, done by TrueCar, of retail car buying behavior in the U.S. 50 states in 2010. The study shows some intriguing trends that shed light on cultural/political differences and commonalities throughout America.
The study found that America truly does have a national vehicle. Ford’s F-Series truck was the No. 1 selling vehicle in 35 of 50 states, while the Chevrolet Silverado was No. 2 to the F-Series in 20 states. It ranked first in Arkansas, Iowa, Maine and North Dakota.
Twelve states had all five top selling vehicles made up of either pickup trucks or SUVs (no sedans). Eight out of 12 of those states voted for John McCain in the 2008 election. Hmmmm, many Today’s Machining World readers driving pickups or SUVs?
There were seven states in which all top five cars were Japanese. All of those states voted for Obama in the 2008 election.
Highly populated states bought a lot of imports. Imports make up the top five vehicles in three of the four most populated states: California, where Honda Civic is No. 1; New York, where Accord is No. 1; and Florida, where Corolla is No. 1.
In Michigan, not surprisingly, the top five retail vehicles were from the Detroit Big Three—ranked from first to fifth were the Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu, F-Series, Chrysler Town & Country minivan (not among top five in any other state), and Ford Escape. Analysts attribute the inclusion of Chrysler on the list to the fact that it’s the only Detroit car company to make a minivan.
Question: Would you feel good about buying an imported car from Japan if you thought it could help the Japanese rebuild their country?
9 Comments
Yes, if I thought so, and if I could first do the same for my own country, but like 5 times or so.
For decades we have read the mythical reports of inferior quality of US brands. A very telling study would be one that correlated the slant of the article appearing in major publications to the (foreign vs domestic) vehicles driven by the authors, or better yet the author’s bosses. Bets are that it’s over ninty percent foreign. They will never admit to not supporting the US, they protect their ego under the guise that they are driving something thats better built.
It’s very evident in reading the study that liberial states have no interest in supporting US manufacturing even when US quality is better than foreign. Just look at all the losers in Washington, DC being paid with US tax dollars, driving “MADE BY NON-US BASED MANUFACTURERS”.
I would continue, but it’s time to go load a few big bales on the back of my Prius and feed the cows.
Call me old school, or it could be the lessons from my father. I would buy an American built car to help rebuild our own economy, and I would feel good about it.
I’m all for buying American made… that being said, I will not buy American made just to do it. I ended up buying a Toyota Tundra back in 2008 just based on the options and quality of the vehicle. I havent looked at the the new Fords or Chevys, but in ’08, the options available and the interiors were night and day for the price. They were infact better built.
I drive a Jeep SRT 8. There is no finer SUV built ANYWHERE, and no other SUV that I know of that can light up all 4 tires for a full city block.
How did you come to the conclusion that the Tundra was better than Detroit’s offering in 2008? Numerous magazines and testing facilities have awarded Ford the best built and highest selling truck for close to four decades straight! You might have paid less for the Toyota based on the options you chose, but to claim it is better than the F150, or GMC and Dodge models offered in that year would put you in the minority.
It pains me to say but to assume buying a Japanese car would help with their current catastrophe is naive. They are going to need a lot more assistance to overcome this disaster. They will be lucky if the island will be even inhabitable considering the condition of their nuclear reactors. The world can only hope that Japan averts a complete meltdown and can begin a long painful rebuild of their nation instead of an evacuation.
I drive a ’07 Honda Civic Hybrid and I did not vote for Obama. I drive over 30k per year in my line of work. When I made my chioce I was down to the Honda Civic Hybrid and VW Jetta TDi. The ’07 TDi’s were out of stock and would be skipped in ’08. So I bought the Civic. My choices were ‘pay the middle east’ more money or try and keep some in my pocket. At 39 to 40 mpg, I feel I made the right choice.
Just to balance the scales, my wife drive an ’08 Town and Country.
I drove Japanese cars for 10 years from ’77 to ’87. American quality has improved by magnitudes and I believe now surpasses the Japanese. Look at the JD Power ratings for long term reliability that was just published. The cars surveyed were bought in 2008. The top 4 were American.
I am not sure buying a Japanese car would help their problem. I don’t think that they are short of cash.I have been a Ford guy since ’88.
It should be noted that Toyota and Honda employ thousands more than American auto companies here in California. Therefore, purchasing a Toyota or Honda appears to be supporting American jobs to me. I could care less who the billionaires are that own the company. What matters to me is who they employ.
Take a look at Haier, a Chinese owned company who employs a great many people in one of the Carolinas making refridgerators and freezers. I prefer their product over American owned companies who makes theirs in China.