Is "Buy American" a factor in your purchase decision?

wjones14 · 01-23-2009, 08:50 AM

Speaking as an American, it is for me. Even before the 3 U.S. automakers were having their current problems, I have always believed in buying American. And now I believe in buying American more than ever.

The last foreign car I bought was a 1978 Toyota Celica GT, and despite it being a reliable car, it bored me to death within 6 months and I had to get rid of it.

I ordered a new 1980 Z28 4-speed and never looked back. Since then, I've owned nothing but manual transmission, RWD, U.S. cars: 1984 Z28, 1987 Mustang GT, 1995 Mustang GT, and 2005 Mustang GT, and loved all of them.

Not that I wouldn't enjoy a BMW 135i or Nissan 370Z someday, but now is not the time, IMO. And it's not like I'm really sacrificing by buying a new Camaro SS...

CamaroSSforme · 01-23-2009, 08:51 AM

Yes

Dakota Kid · 01-23-2009, 08:53 AM

As an American, yes, it is a factor. But I have to temper that with the fact that GM has been so awfully mismanaged, and owned by the UAW.

But, yes, it IS a factor.

SSNIGHTMARE · 01-23-2009, 09:22 AM

ABSOLUTELY, I ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN, BECAUSE I AM ONE.

PQ · 01-23-2009, 09:24 AM

Not here. Most of the "foreign" cars are made here anyway. Providing jobs and with American skill. My wife asked for the Lexus IS 350 and told me if she could just get it then I could buy the new Camaro any way I wanted it. The 'IS has been a real nice car.

That being said, I'm buying Camaro because I have a history with it. My first car was a '73 V8 and I fell in love.

Since then I've always bought for family purposes or what my wife wanted. I am 38 and this will be the first car I have bought for me and only me since I was 17.

diddiyo · 01-23-2009, 09:27 AM

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSNIGHTMARE

ABSOLUTELY, I ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN, BECAUSE I AM ONE.

Muscle Master · 01-23-2009, 09:29 AM

Oh yes noting but American for me....If I was to go foreign it will be German, Audi or BMW

UCF w00t · 01-23-2009, 09:29 AM

A little. I like GM so it's more of a "buy GM" thing for me personally. But not really for the Camaro. I just love the car. If there was a foreign car that had the same mixture of features, amazing looks, and price, I doubt I could turn it down.

TomServo · 01-23-2009, 09:31 AM

This isn't as Black and White as many want to believe. While I want to buy American when all things "are equal" I often find that's not the case.

I work hard for my money and family. I served 24 years active duty USAF (my wife served 10 years in the USN, my daughter served 8 years active duty USAF and is in the reserves and my son is active duty USAF serving his second tour in Iraq) so I don't need a lecture.

I will buy the "best" product regardless of country of origin. Example, when I was out looking for a 4 door sedan as a daily driver to my vette, I bought an 08 Accord vs say a Malibu - why I needed/wanted the Nav. Mailbu doesn't offer it. And while I have a Blackberry w/GPS I don't find it as user friendly in the noisey enviroment of a car as the Honda's OEM system. If GM had the exact same features I would have purchased the Malibu.

wjones14 · 01-23-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irpq11

Not here. Most of the "foreign" cars are made here anyway. Providing jobs and with American skill.

Remember that while many foreign cars are made here by Americans, the profit goes overseas.

Jimmy · 01-23-2009, 10:01 AM

I generally try to buy American made products from American companies when they are available... all things remaining equal. I do believe the Camaro speaks for itself.

tjbusa · 01-23-2009, 10:05 AM

It always has been with me and only if the product is not made here will I purchase a foreign make. I love off road motorcycles, and I buy KTMs. I loved my 01 ss camaro for what it was and it was a force to be reckoned with the other cars in that era. I traded it for a silverado and have been patiently waiting for the new camaro ever since. I expect a higher quality standard from GM because this car is built in Canada. So I guess buying American now includes North American.... Go Canada

*Mr. Wyndham* · 01-23-2009, 11:10 AM

YES. YES. AND MORE YES.
I can't imagine owning a foriegn vehicle ('built here' or not)....there's no reason not to. Especially now when nearly every import has an equal or better domestic counterpart. Besides, I live here, I'm gonna buy from here. No two ways about it. There's a sense of responsibility coupled to buying domestic that FAR too many people don't have.:(

That's not to say I don't like some foriegn cars...luckily, there's none to tempt me away from a Camaro.

MrIcky · 01-23-2009, 11:46 AM

Yes, but not the only factor. American products are right up there in reliability and desirability now (excepting the Sebring or whatever). If American cars ever dip back down like they were in the 80s then I would have to look elsewhere. Buy American isn't a free pass.

01-23-2009, 08:50 AM	#1
wjones14 Drives: 2021 BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Niantic CT Posts: 775	Is "Buy American" a factor in your purchase decision? Speaking as an American, it is for me. Even before the 3 U.S. automakers were having their current problems, I have always believed in buying American. And now I believe in buying American more than ever. The last foreign car I bought was a 1978 Toyota Celica GT, and despite it being a reliable car, it bored me to death within 6 months and I had to get rid of it. I ordered a new 1980 Z28 4-speed and never looked back. Since then, I've owned nothing but manual transmission, RWD, U.S. cars: 1984 Z28, 1987 Mustang GT, 1995 Mustang GT, and 2005 Mustang GT, and loved all of them. Not that I wouldn't enjoy a BMW 135i or Nissan 370Z someday, but now is not the time, IMO. And it's not like I'm really sacrificing by buying a new Camaro SS... __________________ 2021 BMW M2 Competition 6MT 2011 Candy Lime Green Kawasaki Z1000 (1/4 mile - 10.38 @ 129.61 mph - stock) ---------- Previous: 2018 Summit White 2SS 1LE; 2015 MINI Cooper F56 6MT; 2015 BMW M235i 6MT; 2003 MINI 5MT; 2005 Mustang GT 5MT

01-23-2009, 09:22 AM	#4
SSNIGHTMARE Drives: 2002 SS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA Posts: 372	ABSOLUTELY, I ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN, BECAUSE I AM ONE. __________________ 04 GMC LB7, SOCAL DIESEL STAGE 2 HEADS, CROWER RODS, TWIN CP3 483 RWHP, 1008 FT/LBS, ATS 5K 02 SS, LSX BLOCK, 500 HP, WAITING ON BOOST 98 COBRA, EAGLE CRANK AND RODS, 568 RWHP, S-TRIM 02 SS, STOCK, THE SLO HO 08 CTS, POS EFI Live "Nitrous is like a hot girl with STD's, you know you wanna hit it but you're afraid of the consequences!" "..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.." --Samuel Adams

01-23-2009, 09:24 AM	#5
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	Not here. Most of the "foreign" cars are made here anyway. Providing jobs and with American skill. My wife asked for the Lexus IS 350 and told me if she could just get it then I could buy the new Camaro any way I wanted it. The 'IS has been a real nice car. That being said, I'm buying Camaro because I have a history with it. My first car was a '73 V8 and I fell in love. Since then I've always bought for family purposes or what my wife wanted. I am 38 and this will be the first car I have bought for me and only me since I was 17. __________________

01-23-2009, 11:10 AM	#13
Mr. Wyndham I used to be Dragoneye... Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 31,876 View My Garage	YES. YES. AND MORE YES. I can't imagine owning a foriegn vehicle ('built here' or not)....there's no reason not to. Especially now when nearly every import has an equal or better domestic counterpart. Besides, I live here, I'm gonna buy from here. No two ways about it. There's a sense of responsibility coupled to buying domestic that FAR too many people don't have.:( That's not to say I don't like some foriegn cars...luckily, there's none to tempt me away from a Camaro. __________________ *"Keep the faith."* - Fbodfather

01-23-2009, 08:51 AM	#2
CamaroSSforme Got my two Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS - RJT/Black Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 431	Yes

01-23-2009, 08:53 AM	#3
Dakota Kid Drives: 2010 2SS/RJT/L99 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,151	As an American, yes, it is a factor. But I have to temper that with the fact that GM has been so awfully mismanaged, and owned by the UAW. But, yes, it IS a factor.

01-23-2009, 09:29 AM	#8
UCF w00t Geek Drives: IOM 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 4,452	A little. I like GM so it's more of a "buy GM" thing for me personally. But not really for the Camaro. I just love the car. If there was a foreign car that had the same mixture of features, amazing looks, and price, I doubt I could turn it down.

01-23-2009, 09:31 AM	#9
TomServo Drives: 2007 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Swansea IL Posts: 727	This isn't as Black and White as many want to believe. While I want to buy American when all things "are equal" I often find that's not the case. I work hard for my money and family. I served 24 years active duty USAF (my wife served 10 years in the USN, my daughter served 8 years active duty USAF and is in the reserves and my son is active duty USAF serving his second tour in Iraq) so I don't need a lecture. I will buy the "best" product regardless of country of origin. Example, when I was out looking for a 4 door sedan as a daily driver to my vette, I bought an 08 Accord vs say a Malibu - why I needed/wanted the Nav. Mailbu doesn't offer it. And while I have a Blackberry w/GPS I don't find it as user friendly in the noisey enviroment of a car as the Honda's OEM system. If GM had the exact same features I would have purchased the Malibu.

01-23-2009, 10:01 AM	#11
Jimmy Drives: 2010 2SS RS Camaro Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 233	I generally try to buy American made products from American companies when they are available... all things remaining equal. I do believe the Camaro speaks for itself.

01-23-2009, 10:05 AM	#12
tjbusa Serious Sleeper Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lexington,SC Posts: 3,129	It always has been with me and only if the product is not made here will I purchase a foreign make. I love off road motorcycles, and I buy KTMs. I loved my 01 ss camaro for what it was and it was a force to be reckoned with the other cars in that era. I traded it for a silverado and have been patiently waiting for the new camaro ever since. I expect a higher quality standard from GM because this car is built in Canada. So I guess buying American now includes North American.... Go Canada

01-23-2009, 11:46 AM	#14
MrIcky Drives: Dodge Ram Megacab & Cobalt SS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boise Posts: 1,536	Yes, but not the only factor. American products are right up there in reliability and desirability now (excepting the Sebring or whatever). If American cars ever dip back down like they were in the 80s then I would have to look elsewhere. Buy American isn't a free pass.