Buy American or Buy best Quality?

[Briman]

I have to ask where people stand on whether one should be obligated to buy an American vehicle or other products or if they should buy the best quality for their money. This was brought up in another thread a few days ago and a few members went so far as to call me unAmerican and told me to leave the country because of my views.

I stated that there are two major manufacturers I would never buy from again- Chrysler and Ford. I've been burned twice by Ford, and I've always felt that Chrysler corp has always pushed loud styling but has never been up to snuff on engineering and quality. I currently have 2 GM vehicles and 1 of them is giving me troubles that are related to poor engineering and am beginning to reconsider my stance on buying another GM vehicle.

I've never had a problem with Nissans or Toyotas that I have owned or currently own.

I feel that economics is the democracy of money- you vote with your dollars. I refuse to vote for incompetence or the notion that I have any obhligation to "Buy American" if doing so means that I am buying substandard products.

I feel a bit vindicated by Dodge having to recall 600,000 vehicles because there's a chance that the wheels could fall off http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?...s&c=31,1041310

I also can't help but laught to myself when I see a vehicle with a domestic nameplate that I know was built in Canada or Mexico that has Bumper stickers that read "Buy American" or even some rude unprintable slogans that denigrate people who buy foreign vehicles.

[bigbulls]

I buy the best quality that I can afford. Regardless of who makes it.

If American workers want the consumer to buy american products then make them as good or better quality as the competition for the same price as the competition. There isn't a car made that is built in and with 100% of its home countries parts and labor.

Virtually nothing is made today 100% entirely in the states and with 100% U.S. parts any way so most peoples arguments are pointless any how. Much like PETA freaks, vegans, vegetarians, etc... They say that they would never kill an animal for their own gain but if they were to actually research a little they would see that there are thousands of things that are made with aniaml by-products. From the tires and glass on their cars to their makeup, to the computers they use to spew their crap.

If you want my hard earned money then earn it yourself.

[CalHunter]

I try to buy American but refuse to buy things that are of poor quality. I've had very good luck with Chevy trucks, pretty good luck with Ford cars and will never buy another Nissan again. I went through 2 transmissions in less than 120,000 miles and refuse to waste my money or time on a Nissan again. I agree that it is pretty hard to buy anything that is 100% made in America but try to do so whenever it is reasonably possible to do so.

[Cougar Mag]

It all depends on what product I want. I have no qualms at buying a General Motors or Dodge truck, but someday I really want to buy a Toyota. The Toyota Tundra is built in a huge plant 60 miles from me in Princeton, Indiana. My son builds seat frames for Toyota where he works.

On that note I want to stress that most of the products built in the Asian countries I have little use for. Products such as hunting clothes, treestands, archery equipment, etc. I would rather pay the higher price for the better American quality. You can still buy many quality items made in America but at a higher price than their same brand counterparts for lower prices but also lower quality.

[driftrider]

Quality, then price. I'll pay more for quality, no matter where its made. And if it's of higher quality and less cost then its a real no-brainer.

Take for instance, that right now I have a Sako 75 rifle (for those who don't know, is made in Finland) on layaway that had a Nikon Monarch UCC (***an) scope on it. I got a heck of a deal on the pair, effectively getting either the scope for free or the rifle for $400 less than its regular price (36% off), with the package coming to $1100. For that price I could have bought a Remington, Savage or Winchester with a decent scope, but the quality of the Sako so far surpasses the other three that I'd gladly pay more for the Sako and get a much better rifle. Same goes for the Nikon scope. Why not buy a Leupold? Well, there is nothing wrong with Leupold scopes, but they are no better than the Nikons in terms of quality, and in fact, my eye thinks the Nikon Monarch has a very slight edge in optical quality over the VX-III's, is just as durable and reliable, and costs less. I appreciate the fact that the employees at Leupold want to send their kids to college, but so do I, and I can't justify paying more for an equal or slightly inferior product just so a Leupold employee can make more money than I do. I refuse to buy a Leupold simply because there is a sort of "status" that comes with it. I'm a shooter and a hunter and couldn't give two craps whether my scope has a gold band around the objective bell or not.

For the same reason my next truck will probably be a Toyota. I owned a '02 Ford Ranger 4x4, and within 20,000 miles the timing chain tensioner started to fail, identified by a raspy rattling noise at low engine speeds. Fortunately it was under warrantee and Ford fixed it (the job was somewhere on the order of $2500). Well, at about 41,000 miles the same sound started again and it was no longer under warrantee. So I got rid of it.

Mike

[chrissum]

I would always like to buy American first, but quality and money is primary. I've had had several new fords and no problems. I 've got a villager minivan which is actually a Nissan that is 8 yrs old and no problems. I always like to shop and compare all products. THe only thing I will not waver on is hunting supplies, I buy them from our local gun/hunting shop instead of Wal Mart because I usually have questions later that no one at Wal Mart can help me with and I like to support them with my money.

[1eyedfish]

I also can't help but laught to myself when I see a vehicle with a domestic nameplate that I know was built in Canada or Mexico that has Bumper stickers that read "Buy American

I think a free market should be just that. But i have to laff myself when i hear ppl say buy american or else(i have heard it before myself). Or else like in the importation of drugs. Have the laws of congress etc protect there market then its ok (its called corruption/ not a free market) . When its someones personal rice bowl being questioned & the shoe is on the other foot - then that it is a diffent story for some - does make me laff also.

Ppl should be able to spent THERE moneys whatever way they chose.

The us goverment should not be in the bussiness of proping up welfare companys( unless its in ALL the ppls intrest) such as national defense etc .

A custom holland& holland or a browning ,weatherby, sako or anyother will NOT shoot 200+% better then A LOWLY SAVAGE rifle . So i will personaly buy the american Savage& american whenever i can & when possible - will buy American.But as i said ppl should have the freedom to buy what they like& what they want to spend there money on is up to them.

[BowHuntingFool]

I recently found out my treestand(hunters view) is made in china or somewhere other than USA. I'll be buying a new american made stand before next season. I am pretty bummed out about the failure to figure this out on my own, before I bought it![:@][:'(]Sucks!

[mike bell]

Hunters View aint that the Wal-mart brand of stands?

I cant find any at Wal-mart made in America anymore. When ol Sam Walton died, Wal-mart sold out to China!

[BowHuntingFool]

I got it at gander on sale so I was pretty stoked and hurried and bought it. It never crossed my mind to look where it was made. Lookin into a Lone Wolf I have bought VERY few things at a Wallmart and not recently! I hate that place with a passion! I don't really like buying things from gander either, Farm and Fleet for me!