Buying and the economy

[Thalermade]

Right now we have decided to spend money to keep our 3 vehicles, each with 100,000 miles - plus, instead of replacing one by purchasing a new vehicle. I do most of the labor, and the majority of parts I buy are American name brand, but are made overseas. If we replaced, would we buy something other than GM (my FIL is retired GM and my wife has all but once supported GM)?

Now we also are "buying American" through helping our son pay for his college education. He pays his tuition and books, we are paying his room and board. Hopefully we will be able to continue this, as sometime between June and September I will find out whether my job will continue to exist.

Other than that, like most people, with the global economy, a quality product in our price range is what we shop for.

Russ

[jhart]

Saw something the other day that said that Toyota had the most American made parts in their cars of all the manufacturers of cars in America. Go figure!! The "big three" had more foreign made parts. How do you tell anymore?? I usually look for the best value for what my need is. I generally am concious of the brand's reputation and that factor's into it also.

[dbhost]

Reminds me of an article I read ~ 20 years ago.

It seems that some city council passed a ordinance that all city vehicles purchased had to be made in the USA.

All the pickups made by the Big 3 at that time were manufactured in Canada. The only pickup they could find that was manufactured in the USA was a.......Volkswagen!

How can that be? As far as I recall, Volkswagen did not make a pickup in 1989, at least not one that I have ever seen. Was it based on the Vanagon?

On a serious note though. I buy American made where I can, but in all brutal honesty, I cannot afford a lot of the American Made products. A pity too.

[dbhost]

Let's see: Buy a Ford made in Canada or Mexico or a Subaru made in Kentucky. Which is American?

You know, my 2004 F150 was built in Ohio. The vehicle it replaced was a 2000 Ranger, built in Michigan if I recall the country of origin plate. The vehicle that replaced was a 1984 Jeep CJ-7, which was built in Ohio... American made can still be had. Forget about General Motors or Chrysler except for the Jeep division though, they build in Canada and Mexico.

[Mr__Bill]

There is an extension of this: When you do buy foreign made products do you you look at the country of origin and include that in your decision? For me, when possible I'll buy from a country that I am willing to send foreign aid to or a country that also buys from us (us as in North America).

I also try to buy based on value rather than price, but price is an integral part of value and often the price we pay is not just what is on the sticker. I often can buy CDX ply from the BORG for a few pennies less than the local lumber yard. However the local lumber yard sells locally made plywood and that purchase keeps my neighbor employed and when he is employed he can't stay at home and play his radio loudly in the back yard and bother me. He also can pay his taxes and this helps keep my t axes down.

Bill