OT. this is really a shame

rccub23

New member
i work in construction, and drive to the job site daily. i can put some miles on a vehicle every week. so, i have been looking for a vehicle that gets really good mpg. would like to stay american made, since i am a union worker. here is the "shame" part. went to a dodge dealer and asked," what do you have that gets around thirty miles per gallon". his answer was. NOTHING. i went to a toyota dealer and asked the same question. his answer was, "do you want a two door or a four door". just wanted to rant. thanks.
 
I'm not sure if you like Chevy or Ford but I believe both of those companies offer decent gas mileage cars. I agree with you though soon enough with gas prices the way they are Dodge will be in some trouble for not keeping up with the times, and the changes in society.
 
Chevy offers the malibu that gets, I think 30mpg. They also have hybrids now. Go get a hyundai elantra , mine gets 35mgp, paid 14k loaded. The thing drives like a champ, has lots of room and you don't have to pay for the hybrid cost which is a bit pricy technology right now.
 
I also have an elantra, if you want american made, it doesn't meet yoru criteria

Brent must drive way better than me because I only get about 28 on my best days...haha

but the options and price are great...well worth it and its' really a good car brand...they've changed a lot over the years
 
My dad has a Ford Focus ZX3. I didn't like the looks at first but I do now. He gets mid 30's on the highway and it's a really peppy car around town.
 
My wife and I just bought a Chevy Malibu and I am really impressed with it. Great ride, smooth and quiet. Gets 22 city and 30 hwy. Seems like a great car so far.
 
I drive a Nissan to work and leave the gas hog GMC at home. Even the big auto makers get a lot of their parts from over seas. Its hard to find a true American made vehicle unless your only worried about where it was constructed. Some Dodges are put together in Mexico. :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12462542#post12462542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tonblogna
My wife and I just bought a Chevy Malibu and I am really impressed with it. Great ride, smooth and quiet. Gets 22 city and 30 hwy. Seems like a great car so far.

New Malibu? I had one of those for a work vehicle. Listen for the dash to vibrate it will get louder and worse. Take it in so they can add foam under warranty.
 
If you're concerned with what the union will think about what car you'll be driving, have them chip in a little bit for the gas. do you look at your co-workers funny because they have imported cars. Also if they start criticize you, ask if everything they own is made in America. Because if their answer is no, then they don't have any room to say anything.
 
GM has at least 30 models that get over 30-35mpg. The Saturn Vue is made in Mexico so stay away from that. Don't know about Ford but if it were me I'd get a Toyota Prius. 40-50mpg er so.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12462571#post12462571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ramtheory
I drive a Nissan to work and leave the gas hog GMC at home. Even the big auto makers get a lot of their parts from over seas. Its hard to find a true American made vehicle unless your only worried about where it was constructed. Some Dodges are put together in Mexico. :D

Hyundai has a plant in Alabama. Nissan has a plant in Georgia or Tennessee. A lot of Ford truck engines are made in Canada (I've been to the plant and sold them metal for the engines, they make Honda truck engines alongside).

Saying you want an American made car seems a bit difficult these days since everything is so much more connected than it used to be. Buying Hyundai helps keep the people in AL employed. Buying Ford helps keep people in Canada employed (and people who sell them metal in STL). Besides, the Hyundai plant in AL is likely union.

Bottom line, any car you buy will benefit multiple economies.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12462571#post12462571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ramtheory
I drive a Nissan to work and leave the gas hog GMC at home. Even the big auto makers get a lot of their parts from over seas. Its hard to find a true American made vehicle unless your only worried about where it was constructed. Some Dodges are put together in Mexico. :D

Thats a good point. Many of the smaller Dodge/Chrysler vehicles use Mitsubishi engines.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a used Chevy Cavalier to beat down miles with. Also, manual transmissions can help many cars achieve better MPG. My car is a V-8, and I can get almost 30MPG just because I can shift into 6th gear on the highway.
 
Whew,

rccub23, I am a bit less embarrassed by my Highlander. They said it was assembled in Indiana but I never checked. After 30 years of Gm cars and one Chrysler (everyone has lapses of judgement) I am really happy with the Toyota. It's been doing 21.0 mpg in the city. No good highway trips as of yet.

How is that tank looking? And what was the name of that whitetail deer assfaceia thing?

Faz
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12462705#post12462705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmf507
Saying you want an American made car seems a bit difficult these days since everything is so much more connected than it used to be.

Exactly...But I do get the original poster's point. My neighbor who sells supplies to contractors for a local company. Gets harassed all the time for driving a Nissan Maxima so he bought a Ford Taurus. I told him why did you do something like that? You didn't feel like arguing or educating them. :lol:
 
Faz,
Your highlander is mainly shipped in from overseas and some made in Indiana. The new Toyota plant in Tupelo, Mississippi will be where the Highlander will be made starting next year. The engines are made in Troy, MO and Jackson, Tenn.
Most of the popular Toyotas are all made in the US now ,emlpoy US citizens and the engines are made here in Missouri.

So I do work for Toyota at the engine plant in Troy, MO as an engineer for the 4 cylinder engine, that goes into the Toyota Camry assembled in Georgetown, Ky, but......I still drive a Chevy Silverado. I do not think I will ever own a Toyota, but my money goes towards an american made, gas guzzling truck and I would not have it any other way.

-Steve
 
you guys are right. it is very difficult to buy 100% american. looked at a pontiac vibe. not too bad for what it is. so i think, ok, here is an american built car that suits my needs. then i find out the drive train is strictly toyota. seems GM and toyota have a plant in california they share. still looking.
 
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