Buying American...or are you?
- Thread starter Eghad
- Start date
- Status
Its all about the making the best product for the biggest profit. American companies need to have parts manufactured overseas to make a profit. Japanese companies found it was cheaper to built an assembly plant in the US and have the vehicles built here then to ship it from a factory in Japan. My Nissan Truck was built in the USA, My Chrysler car was built in Canada. VWs are built in Mexico, it makes no sense. China can produce manufacture anything from electronics to plastic injection parts cheaper then anyone anywhere. Globalization get it done cheaper anywhere in the world, and if you can't compete you disappear. Ford and other US companies need to do outside the US in order to survive. Labor Unions in the US and Europe and crooked politicians will drain more and more manufacturing jobs out to countries with cheap labor.
Marko Kloos
Inactive
The United States only imports roundabout 15% of its oil from the Middle East. Most of the oil we use came out of Alaska, Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, or Venezuela, not the Middle East. We import almost twice as much oil from non-OPEC countries than we do from OPEC, so the sucky gas mileage of your neighbor's Humdinger feeds more Canucks than it does Arabs.
All this talk about where the profit goes reminds me of the days of the Apollo space program. Lots of people complained about having billions of dollars sitting on the surface of the Moon while we had problems here on Earth.
All that's sitting on the surface of the Moon are hunks of metal, plastic, and whatnot. The billions of dollars are still here on Earth ... in a lot of folks' pockets, bank accounts, and homes.
As for the quality of American cars, Consumer Reports trashed my Jeep in their write-up. However, their feature-by-feature evaluation rated it as either average or above average in every category. Not a single below average. I've seen that sort of thing happen to other American vehicles, where the nod goes to the import--usually Japanese--even if the two vehicles rate equally well on the feature-by-feature evaluation.
My 4-banger Jeep gets 18 mpg in the city and 22-23 mpg on the highway. I've even gotten 25 mpg on the highway. Considering it's a four-wheel drive vehicle that is less aerodynamic than a brick, that's not bad. Plus, I can (and have) folded the windshield down and removed the doors, side and rear panels, and the top. It's a giant Lego toy for adults, and I can't think of anything else CR reviews that I'd rather have.
All that's sitting on the surface of the Moon are hunks of metal, plastic, and whatnot. The billions of dollars are still here on Earth ... in a lot of folks' pockets, bank accounts, and homes.
As for the quality of American cars, Consumer Reports trashed my Jeep in their write-up. However, their feature-by-feature evaluation rated it as either average or above average in every category. Not a single below average. I've seen that sort of thing happen to other American vehicles, where the nod goes to the import--usually Japanese--even if the two vehicles rate equally well on the feature-by-feature evaluation.
My 4-banger Jeep gets 18 mpg in the city and 22-23 mpg on the highway. I've even gotten 25 mpg on the highway. Considering it's a four-wheel drive vehicle that is less aerodynamic than a brick, that's not bad. Plus, I can (and have) folded the windshield down and removed the doors, side and rear panels, and the top. It's a giant Lego toy for adults, and I can't think of anything else CR reviews that I'd rather have.
How about no oil imports from countries that don't want us around?
People that complain/ed about the space program have it to thank for countless technologies.......calculators, microwaves, "space age" materials, such as various polymers, etc...., oh yeah and computers as we know them.
I'm afraid that what once made America great is disappearing.
The whores we apathetically elect have sold it all down the river.
I could give a hoot about globalism, only what's good for me and mine, and that means my country.
People that complain/ed about the space program have it to thank for countless technologies.......calculators, microwaves, "space age" materials, such as various polymers, etc...., oh yeah and computers as we know them.
I'm afraid that what once made America great is disappearing.
The whores we apathetically elect have sold it all down the river.
I could give a hoot about globalism, only what's good for me and mine, and that means my country.
As far as cars are concerned, there was a method th their madness in that there is an epa requirement for the company's vehicle production to meet a certain MINIMUM ave fuel economy, known as CAFE. This only applies to vehicles produced, percentage wise from components, with 50% or more US content. So intensionally, the vehicles that had the worst fuel economy, were produced somewhere else, Canada, etc. Kept the company from penalties. I believe the Ford Crown Vic was a perfect example. There has been legislation initiated to do away with this exemption, but don't know where it stands....
Actually, your total consumption of gas is more important than your car's mileage. For example if you drive a gas guzzling (14 mpg) truck to work every day a round trip total of 28 miles (for simplicity) you have used two gallons of gas...right? Someone else who has a super-econo-efficient (40 mpg) car and drives a round trip total of 160 miles per day (not uncommon in Southern California) is using four gallons of gas...twice as much!
I'm not trying to say that better gas mileage isn't better, but I do grow tired of the 'holier than thou' crowd who claims to be so ecologically-aware while they commute to work daily over 100 miles...what a farce!
The best thing that could happen with this country would be for more people to live and work more locally...thus reducing dependency on resources...but what the hell do I know.
uh, yeah, and then we could all ride our bikes to work.
if you had a vehicle that got 40 mpg you could make that trip almost one and a half times on one gallon versus the two gallons for one trip.
wtf?
more on topic is where you buy your gas, companies that import from the middle east or places like Citgo that go out of their way to buy from Central America and sources other than the middle east.
if you had a vehicle that got 40 mpg you could make that trip almost one and a half times on one gallon versus the two gallons for one trip.
wtf?
more on topic is where you buy your gas, companies that import from the middle east or places like Citgo that go out of their way to buy from Central America and sources other than the middle east.
If I could live within walking distance of my employer I would certainly do so. Unfortunately I work in the north shore of Chicago so it's a bit outside of my pricerange.
Eh, I buy the best gas for my engine, regardless of the source. I run Shell because my engine responds to it better than any other brand.
A chemist in the gasoline industry once told me that things work this way (in simplified terms):
Most companies (Chevron, Citgo, Texaco, others) get their base gasoline from the same refinery. For example, Chevron refineries might serve the Northern California area, and some other company (Shell?) might serve the Southern California area. Once the companies get the base gas, they add their additive packages that make Chevron gas Chevron, Citgo gas Citgo, Texaco gas Texaco, and so forth. Similar to profits, these things get mixed among different groups. So if you boycott Chevron in favor of Citgo, Chevron would lose a direct sale to you, but the higher demand for Citgo would mean Chevron would sell more base gasoline to Citgo (assuming Chevron is the base gas supplier). That's why, in part, those "boycott X-brand stations" ideas don't work. You need to decrease your consumption of gas instead.
As for Citgo, Citgo profits go to Venezuela for Mr. Happy Chavez and his cheerful band of anti-American socialists. Citgo is also anti-gun.
Most companies (Chevron, Citgo, Texaco, others) get their base gasoline from the same refinery. For example, Chevron refineries might serve the Northern California area, and some other company (Shell?) might serve the Southern California area. Once the companies get the base gas, they add their additive packages that make Chevron gas Chevron, Citgo gas Citgo, Texaco gas Texaco, and so forth. Similar to profits, these things get mixed among different groups. So if you boycott Chevron in favor of Citgo, Chevron would lose a direct sale to you, but the higher demand for Citgo would mean Chevron would sell more base gasoline to Citgo (assuming Chevron is the base gas supplier). That's why, in part, those "boycott X-brand stations" ideas don't work. You need to decrease your consumption of gas instead.
As for Citgo, Citgo profits go to Venezuela for Mr. Happy Chavez and his cheerful band of anti-American socialists. Citgo is also anti-gun.
What gas is that, Bin Laden special, I bet it wouldn't matter. The Saudi's dump lots o' money in R & D.
I suppose you're the same guy that buys audio interconnects with silver braided wire wrapped around monofilament line encased in white sand because it sounds better.
The power of suggestion. Probably shop at Whole Foods too.
Er, in all seriousness the best gas for your engine is the one which burns in it.
Yea because money from one fuel company adds to bin laden's bankroll more than other fuel companies.
I'm not an audiophile so I don't waste money on Monster cables but my choice in gas is not "power of suggestion". Different companies use different additives and detergents and some engines will react differently to them. I've been working on cars since I was old enough to spell 'fuel injection' and gas is not the same among various brands. It's almost the same and in a stock engine it'll make little difference but when you're pushing a dozen pounds of boost and adjusting timing on the fly with a fuel management system you programmed yourself you have to be picky about the juice your engine runs.
I'd shop at Whole Foods if there was one near my home but it's not really worth the time or money since I tend to stick to natural foods at the grocery store anyways. Again, doesn't make that much of a difference for me but I'm not a health nut.
You better believe it!
I didn't mean to get gritty!
Argree with the commute, however, you have to do what you have to do.
Quality of gas, my buddy drives a big honking SUV that costs him a ton and then some before he puts gas in it. I drive something a little less finicky, I can use the cheaper gas without a problem, and I'm glad I can.
I'm not a socialist and if you play you pay, but it just doesn't do anyone any good to piss away gas that costs $3.08 a gallon for regular at 13-14 miles to the gallon.
I just think as a nation, we're going the wrong direction on certain things.
Oh yeah, Monster Cables cost one twentieth what these things cost.
leadcounsel
Moderator
American can be a totally independent nation, independent of resources from the rest of the world. I wouldn't be happier if we told the rest of the world to piss off.
Seriously, though, we should reduce our import vs. export ratio and start requiring companies to have the majority of their products/labor originate here in the US.
As to gas mileage, it's all smoke and mirrors and hypocrisy by those that think they are saving the environment by driving small eco-cars which last 1/2 as long, are easier to total in an accident (requiring replacement), less safe, less utility, and require the rental of a HUGE moving truck every time one purchases any home improvement items.
I have a friend that criticises me for my SUV. I drive 12,000 miles annually and get 20 mpg. I use 600 gallons of gas per year. Meanwhile, my critical friend drives 24,000 miles per year and gets 25mpg in his car. He uses 960 gallons of gas per year. I still cannot make him understand that I am being more environmentally friendly than he!
Seriously, though, we should reduce our import vs. export ratio and start requiring companies to have the majority of their products/labor originate here in the US.
As to gas mileage, it's all smoke and mirrors and hypocrisy by those that think they are saving the environment by driving small eco-cars which last 1/2 as long, are easier to total in an accident (requiring replacement), less safe, less utility, and require the rental of a HUGE moving truck every time one purchases any home improvement items.
I have a friend that criticises me for my SUV. I drive 12,000 miles annually and get 20 mpg. I use 600 gallons of gas per year. Meanwhile, my critical friend drives 24,000 miles per year and gets 25mpg in his car. He uses 960 gallons of gas per year. I still cannot make him understand that I am being more environmentally friendly than he!
I'm not a tree hugger by any stretch, but using an excess of fossil fuel has a dramatic effect on the enviorment. Reducing the use of fossil fuels has an equally positive effect on the enviorment.
More on topic, your friend is using less energy to do an equivalent amount of work. Thus contributing less to America's need of foreign oil.
Remember when RCA(Radio Corporation of America) used to be American owned? Now they, for the most part, produce low budget junk in oversea factories.
More on topic, your friend is using less energy to do an equivalent amount of work. Thus contributing less to America's need of foreign oil.
Remember when RCA(Radio Corporation of America) used to be American owned? Now they, for the most part, produce low budget junk in oversea factories.
- Status