DaveInLakeVilla@webtv.net (Dave in Lake Villa) scribbled:

Heh. Funny story. Next door neighbor (not there anymore) was a big foreign-
basher. Especially when I came home with my Mitsu Eclipse. He was only
slightly steamed when I told him it was assembled in Illinois, but he
really blew a gasket when he found out his "American GM truck" was from
Canada!! Shut him up right away! :-)

I've noticed with some circles of people (like the guys at the local
farmer supply) my Santa Fe is frowned upon.  Not sure if its
foreign-hate, or they think its a high-dollar mommy-taxi (Lexus
low-end-RX, etc)...  For these folks I find my well-beaten 99 Dodge
halfton (an unreliable, gas-guzzling heap of gutless junk) works well.

JS

I used to give people flack about buying foreign cars until I bought
one.

- Mooron

I still prefer American. I would like nothing better than to buy my next car
from a pure American name plate. Unfortunately, they need to win me back as
a customer. The Ford Fusion and clones are a step in the right direction.
Too bad it's not quite good enough,  and is assembled in Mexico, which I
consider a hostile nation.

Yeah I caught a little flack from relatives and friends for buying my
XG350L, But when I explained to them that I really wanted a new Chrysler 300
C and when I looked around and priced what I wanted it was gonna cost me
almost $43K !!!!!! I looked at the Hyundai XG350L and found more than was
even offered on the Chrysler as STANDARD equipment, I was almost sold, I
then drove the XG and was sold, drove one home 2 hours later and for $21K
LESS than the 300C !!!!!I realize that its almost 150 HP less and its only a
6 cylinder instead of an 8... But I am extreamely happy that I did it and
have not looked back or doubted my decision one time in a year. My local gas
station is mad at me at my insureance man is mad but HEY who cares and
besides theres other gas sations and other insureance companys just like in
the end there was another car dealer. Will be looking forward to a real
fullsize luxury car from Hyundai and I mean Bigger and nicer than the XG350
or the Azera.

Tunez

I used to get some guff from relatives and some friends who've been
kinda brainwashed into the all-things-foreign made are bad. Never mind
their SONY TVs, or Samsung LCD computer monitors. They'll be looking
for their next car while mine is still under warranty.

Fact is, the ratio of "basic" useful things still made in a America is
pretty high but a lot of the major consumer goods are from outside the
US, or made by non-US entities IN the US. My cousin, who's a Union
sparky, likes his Ford F-150 pick-up. That's fine and well. He's the
stereotypical "won't buy it unless it's totally made in America /
support the American economy" argument type but he's left to ponder
what it means when I tell him my Hyundai was made in Alabama or
Georgia. Does it mean it's still "foreign" if it's made here? If my
wife and I gave birth in a Japanese hospital while on vacation would
my child still be American (nope, sorry, Japanese National)?

What I personally feel is if the quality of so-called American made
cars had the same warranties as my Hyundai and could match price
points---even by a $1,000---, have the same features, etc., I would
probably be inclined to buy one. But if US car companies can't compete
that way, they'll need a new strategy and quick. There's no such thing
as a 100% totally American made car as many components and parts come
from outside the US. The only things American about "American" cars
are usually their drivers. Just my 2 cents.

- Thee Chicago Wolf