Would You Buy an American Car?
4 years ago, John was thrilled when he purchased his first “real and brand new” vehicle, the GMC Canyon Pick-Up Truck with 4 wheel drive. He’d gotten a great deal. And it had been running great.
That is, until now.
Since he’s hit the 50,000 mile mark, John’s truck has had one problem after another. First it was the clutch. Then it was a mysterious electrical malfunction that only surfaces periodically, and never when the truck is in the repair shop. The problems continue, and in addition to his payments, John now often has a large monthly repair bill.
One day a friend of John’s sat him down with the Consumer Guide Car Edition, and had him take a look at the rating charts for his truck versus some of the other trucks on the market. Here’s what he found:
1) His truck, the GMC Canyon 4 WD 2004, was listed on the Used Cars to Avoid List.
February 2008
Used cars to avoid
| Audi A4 (4-cyl.) ‘00-05; A4 (V6) ‘99, ‘01-02; A6 (V6) ‘98-00, ‘02-03; A6 (V6, turbo) ‘00-01; A6 Allroad ‘01-03; A8 ‘04-05; Q7 (V8) ‘07 BMW 3 Series Wagon ‘04; 328i Sedan ‘00; 330i Sedan ‘01; 5 Series (6-cyl., AWD) ‘06; 5 Series (V8) ‘98, ‘00-02, ‘05; 6 Series ‘05; 7 Series ‘98-02, ‘04; X3 ‘07; X5 (6-cyl.) ‘01-02; X5 (V8) ‘01, ‘03, ‘05-06; Z3 ‘98; Z4 ‘06 Buick Century ‘99-00; Park Avenue ‘98; Rainier (V8) ‘04; Rendezvous ‘02-03; Rendezvous (AWD) ‘04-05; Riviera ‘98; Terraza ‘05-07 Cadillac Catera ‘98; CTS (V6) ‘07; DeVille ‘00-03; DTS ‘06; Eldorado ‘98; Escalade ‘04, ‘06-07; Seville ‘00-03; SRX (V6) ‘04, ‘06; SRX (V8) ‘04-05; STS (V6, AWD) ‘06; STS (V8) ‘05 Chevrolet Astro ‘98-04; Avalanche 1500 ‘03-07; Aveo ‘04, 06; Blazer ‘98-04; Cavalier; Coupe ‘02; Cavalier Sedan ‘98; Cobalt ‘05-06; Colorado (2WD) ‘04; Colorado (4WD) ‘04-06; Corvette ‘02, ‘05-07; Equinox ‘05, ‘07; Express ‘98-03, ‘06; HHR ‘06; Impala (V6) ‘01-02, ‘06; Impala (V8) ‘07; Malibu Maxx ‘04-05; Malibu sedan (V6) ‘98-04; Monte Carlo (V6) ‘01-02, ‘06; S-10 (4-cyl.) ‘02; S-10 (V6, 2WD) ‘98; S-10 (V6, 4WD) ‘98, ‘00-03; Silverado 1500 (V6, 4WD) ‘04, ‘06; Silverado 1500 (V8, 4WD) ‘98, ‘03-06; Silverado Classic 1500 (V8, 4WD) ‘07; Silverado 2500 (4WD) ‘99-00, ‘03-05; Suburban 1500 ‘98-99, ‘03-05, ‘07; Suburban 2500 ‘98-99, ‘04-05, ‘07; Tahoe ‘98-99, ‘07; TrailBlazer (6-cyl.) ‘02-03; TrailBlazer (V8) ‘02, ‘05-06; Uplander ‘05-07; Venture ‘98-03, ‘05 Chrysler 300 (V6) ‘07; 300 (V8) ‘05-06; Pacifica ‘04-05, ‘07; PT Cruiser (non-turbo) ‘04; PT Cruiser (turbo) ‘03; Sebring Convertible ‘01-05; Sebring Sedan (4-cyl.) ‘02, ‘04; Sebring Sedan (V6) ‘01-02; Town & Country (FWD) ‘98, ‘01-05; Town & Country (AWD) ‘99-03; Voyager (4-cyl.) ‘01-02; Voyager (V6) ‘01-03 Dodge Caliber (AWD) ‘07; Caravan (4-cyl.) ‘00-02, ‘05; Caravan (V6) ‘98, ‘01-05; Dakota (2WD) ‘06; Dakota (4WD) ‘98-99, ‘05-06; Durango ‘98-99, ‘01-02, ‘04; Grand Caravan (FWD) ‘98, ‘01-05; Grand Caravan (AWD) ‘99-03; Intrepid ‘98, ‘03; Magnum ‘05-06; Neon ‘98-99; Nitro ‘07; Ram 1500 (2WD) ‘99-00, ‘06; Ram 1500 (4WD) ‘98-02, ‘06-07; Ram 2500 (4WD) ‘03; Ram 2500 (turbodiesel, 4WD) ‘99, ‘06; Ram Van/Wagon ‘98-99; Stratus Sedan (4-cyl.) ‘99, ‘02, ‘04; Stratus Sedan (V6) ‘01-02 Ford Contour ‘98; Econoline ‘06; Excursion ‘01, ‘03, ‘05; Expedition ‘03-04; Expedition (4WD) ‘05; Explorer ‘02-04, ‘06; F-150 (V8, 4WD) ‘04; F-250 (4WD) ‘05; F-250 (turbodiesel, 2WD) ‘03, ‘05-06; F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD) ‘03-04, ‘06-07; Focus Hatchback ‘01-02; Focus Sedan ‘00, ‘02; Focus Wagon ‘00, ‘02-03; Freestar ‘04-05; Freestyle ‘05; Mustang (V6) ‘05; Ranger (4WD) ‘06; Taurus Sedan ‘99; Taurus Wagon ‘01; Thunderbird ‘03; Windstar ‘98-01, ‘03 GMC Canyon (2WD) ‘04; Canyon (4WD) ‘04-06; Envoy (6-cyl.) ‘02-03; Envoy (V8) ‘02, ‘05-06; Jimmy ‘98-01; S-15 Sonoma (4-cyl.) ‘02; S-15 Sonoma (V6, 2WD) ‘98; S-15 Sonoma (V6, 4WD) ‘98, ‘00-03; Safari ‘98-04; Savana ‘98-03, ‘06; Sierra 1500 (V6, 4WD) ‘04, ‘06; Sierra 1500 (V8, 4WD) ‘98, ‘03-06; Sierra Classic 1500 (V8, 4WD) ‘07; Sierra 2500 (4WD) ‘99-00, ‘03-05; Suburban ‘98-99; Yukon XL 1500 ‘03-05, ‘07; Yukon XL 2500 ‘04-05, ‘07; Yukon ‘98-99, ‘07 |
Honda Passport ‘99-02 Hummer H2 ‘03, ‘05; H3 ‘06-07 Hyundai Accent ‘00-01; Azera ‘07; Entourage ‘07; Sonata (4-cyl.) ‘02; Sonata (V6) ‘00-01; Tiburon ‘03; XG ‘01-02 Infiniti QX56 ‘05 Isuzu Rodeo ‘99-02 Jaguar S-Type ‘00-01, ‘03; XJ Series ‘99; X-Type ‘02, ‘04 Jeep Commander (V8) ‘06; Grand Cherokee ‘98-07; Liberty ‘06; Wrangler ‘05; Wrangler (4-door) ‘07 Kia Amanti ‘04-05; Sedona ‘02-07; Sorento ‘03, ‘05 Land Rover Discovery ‘00-01, ‘03-04; LR3 (V8) ‘05-06; Range Rover ‘06; Range Rover Sport ‘06 Lexus GS (6-cyl., AWD) ‘07 Lincoln Aviator ‘03-05; LS ‘00-01, ‘04; Mark LT ‘06; Navigator ‘03-06 Mazda B-Series (4WD) ‘06; CX-7 ‘07; CX-9 ‘07; RX-8 ‘04-05; 6 Sedan ‘06; 6 Wagon ‘05 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (V6, RWD) ‘01-02, 07; C-Class (V6, AWD) ‘06; CLK ‘03-06; CLS ‘06; E-Class (V6, AWD) ‘00-01, ‘05-07; E-Class (V6, RWD) ‘03, ‘05, ‘07; E-Class (turbodiesel) ‘05; E-Class (V8) ‘03-07; GL-Class (V8) ‘07; M-Class (V6) ‘00-02, ‘04-06; M-Class (V8) ‘06; R-Class (V6) ‘06; S-Class (V8, RWD) ‘00, ‘02, ‘07; SL ‘03, ‘05; SLK (V6) ‘05-06 Mercury Cougar ‘99; Monterey ‘04-05; Mountaineer ‘02-04, ‘06; Mystique ‘98; Sable Sedan ‘99; Sable Wagon ‘01; Villager ‘99 Mini Cooper Convertible S ‘05 Mitsubishi Galant ‘99 Nissan 350Z ‘04; Armada (4WD) ‘04-06; Quest ‘00-02, ‘04-06; Titan (2WD) ‘05; Titan (4WD) ‘04-06 Oldsmobile Alero ‘99-03; Aurora ‘98, ‘01-02; Bravada ‘98, ‘00, ‘02-’03; Cutlass ‘98-99; Silhouette ‘98-02 Plymouth Breeze ‘99; Grand Voyager ‘98; Neon ‘98-99; Voyager (4-cyl.) ‘00; Voyager (V6) ‘98 Pontiac Aztek ‘01-02; Bonneville ‘00-03; G6 ‘05-07; Grand Am ‘98-03; Grand Prix (V6) ‘98, ‘00-01, ‘03; GTO ‘05-06; Trans Sport ‘98; Montana ‘99-03, ‘05; Montana SV6 ‘05-06; Solstice ‘06; Sunfire Coupe ‘02; Sunfire Sedan ‘98 Porsche 911 ‘03; Boxster ‘99, ‘03; Cayenne ‘04 Saab 9-3 ‘99, ‘01-04, ‘06; 9-3 Convertible ‘00, ‘04-05; 9-5 ‘99-00, ‘02 Saturn Aura XR ‘07; Ion ‘04-05; L-Series (V6) ‘00-01, ‘03; L300 (V6) ‘04; Relay ‘05-07; Sky ‘07; SW ‘00; Vue (4-cyl.) ‘03; Vue (V6) ‘02-03 Suzuki Aerio ‘03; Grand Vitara ‘06 Toyota Camry (V6) ‘07; Tundra (V8, 4WD) ‘07 Volkswagen Cabrio ‘98, ‘01-02; EuroVan ‘02; Golf (4-cyl.) ‘98, ‘01; GTI ‘02, ‘07; Jetta Sedan ‘98-07; New Beetle ‘98-01, ‘03-07; Passat (4-cyl., AWD) ‘04; Passat (4-cyl., FWD) ‘98-99, ‘01-03, ‘06-07; Passat (V6, AWD) ‘07; Passat (V6, FWD) ‘99-03, ‘06; Touareg ‘04-06 Volvo C70 ‘01; Cross Country ‘98-01; S40/V50 (non-turbo) ‘05-06; S40/V40 (turbo, FWD) ‘00-01, ‘05; S80 (6-cyl.) ‘99-00; V70 ‘01; XC90 ‘03-06 |
2) Next, John’s friend showed him the GMC Canyon’s reliability chart:
3) Then he showed him the Toyota Tacoma’s reliability chart.
At this point John concluded what his friend and thousands of Americans have concluded:
Don’t waste your money on GM vehicles. Or Chrysler, Dodge, or Ford vehicles, for that matter.
This evidence has been around for years, and Americans are finally getting fed up. According to a recent NY Times article, GM, Chrysler and Ford are currently losing $2 billion dollars a month. They’re asking for billions in US tax dollar subsidies to stay afloat.
Now, in edition, GM is asking for $10 billion to pay for their merger with Chrysler.
First, the banks, then the insurance companies, then Wall Street, needed handouts to stay in business. Now it’s Detroit.
Big business in this country is managing itself into the ground.
Detroit is just another sinking ship in the U.S. fleet.
U.S. car maker’s lackluster, over-paid, short-sited leaders have knowingly been cranking out inferior vehicles for years. Check out the Consumer Reports Car Report for the last 20 years if you don’t believe me. Detroit cars are “black dot” cars. And no amount of flashy advertising is going to change that.
Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of Americans are employed by these or ancillary companies. If these companies sink, we all do.
But bailing them out only supports further mismanagement and inferiority. Detroit needs to clean up their act, or head for that great junkyard in the sky where they belong. Toyota and Honda manufacture in the USA now. They employ thousands, and could emply thousands more. We should be encouraging those that “do it right,” not the screw ups.
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Comment by Steve Borgman on 31 October 2008:
There is no question that I will never, ever buy an American car again if I can help it. I have always driven Toyotas, until a few years ago, when I wanted to ’save’ money by buying a used Saturn. Things were groovy until 6 months later, when the engine block cracked from the cold. Long Live Toyota and Honda!
Comment by Kathy @ Virtual Impax on 1 November 2008:
My father was a GM dealer so I grew up with “buy American” ringing in my ears. Then, one magical, mystical day, I purchased a VW!!! That sound you hear is the angels singing.
Consumers do what makes “sense”… and it doesn’t make sense to buy a car that spends one week a month in the shop after hitting 50K miles!!!
The US automakers didn’t learn in the 80’s and they won’t learn today - as long as they thing the government will bail them out of their troubles!
Comment by Lisa on 1 November 2008:
@Steve- I did the same thing with a Ford Escort Station Wagon. I got my money’s worth with AAA for those years. I must have gotten towed 5 times over two years.
@Kathy- I agree with you totally. It’s a mindset.
Thanks to both of you for your thoughts- Lisa
Comment by Mary@SimplyForties on 3 November 2008:
I’ve had lots of cars in my life, American and other. I currently drive a Saturn and have been pretty happy with it. I try to shop with an open mind and consider all possibilities. I hate to think American car makers have gotten so lazy they can no longer make a quality product and now want to be bailed out of their mistakes.
Comment by NtJS on 8 November 2008:
I have bought American cars and will continue to do so. No one can deny the quality issues that American automakers have faced over the years, but it is important to cut through the hype, even when it comes to CR.
I’m going to have a Joe Biden moment here…
I love Consumer Reports. They do important work and I trust their findings. God love ‘em, but when it came to Toyota, they lost their minds.
Apparently, at some point, Toyota had convinced CR to blindly give it’s vehicles the top reliability ratings - without even testing them. Rather, they based predicted reliability ratings for new and redesigned models based on past performance only. Yeah. That ‘07 Tundra on your “used cars to avoid list”, got a predicted reliability rating of “Very Good” from none other than Consumer Reports. This, despite the fact that it was an all new product built in a brand new plant. There was literally nothing to base that rating on. CR has since abandoned this practice with Toyota.
Also, it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to Detroit. Ford has made some great strides lately to be on par with the much ballyhooed Toyota and Honda.
Comment by ethel on 9 November 2008:
I have never owned American and never will if I can help it. I have owned a Honda (which ran forever) a Subaru (still have and never had one problem), a Mitsubishi (great car) and now another Honda because I liked the first one so well. My friends on the other hand, like to “buy in the good ole US of A” and always have problems with their cars. Always complain of the shoddy workmanship. I wish the American car companies would change because I would actually love to buy a car here in the US that is comparible.
Comment by JP on 9 November 2008:
I have owned many American and imported cars over the last 25 years. While American cars are less reliable as a group, they are cheaper to own. Imported cars run the gamut also. The most disappointing car I have ever owned was a 1992 Eagle Talon made by Mitsubishi which burned oil and needed major mechanical repairs after 90,000 miles. I have also been disappointed with Nissans and Mazdas. Toyotas tend to develop oil leaks after 100,000 miles. I currently have a 2002 F150, 2004 Honda Accord and 2005 Ford Focus. They all are great cars with the F150 the best of all. If it got better mpg it would be perfect. The Focus is a great car but remember it is a European derived model. The Honda is the most comfortable though it lacks personality. I am renting a 2008 Saturn Aura right now while I have a car in the body shop. It’s ok but has the usual GM quirks (strangely designed steering wheel, odd styling). If all GM cars were at least as good as this one, they would be doing fine.
I have and would buy an American car because they are fairly reliable depending on the model you choose (avoid Chrysler and be selective about GM. Ford is a better bet). They tend to be cheaper to get into and parts and service is somewhat cheaper. ALL cars are more reliable than they were 20 years ago. It’s a good thing because you can’t work on them anymore.
Comment by lance on 17 November 2008:
No i will not buy another american branded car or truck. All
do is suppport the unions and there demands and over paid
workers. Besides the car arent that good Will stick with
lexus
Comment by Joe on 19 December 2008:
I agree with the comments about CR and the comment about cost of ownership of US made cars being low. My personal experience with my current Ford Taurus 18yr/195K miles and Dodge minivan 8 year/100K miles have been great. In contrast, my experience with Nissans have been horrible in terms of time-in-the-workshop and repair money down the drain. I would always own US made cars to do my little bit to prevent money going outside the country and adding to the foreign exchange deficit.