by Mark Silva
Ford Escape or Subaru Forester?
Nissan 370-Z or Ford Mustang GT-500?
Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150?
Half of all people surveyed say they are open to the choice, according to the results of the newest Gallup Poll.
Few people start with the calculus that says Nissan, Toyota or Subaru only.
"In fact, the percentage of Americans saying they would only consider cars from American companies when making a new-car purchase has increased slightly in recent months, from 30 percent in mid-December to 37 percent today,'' Gallup reports.
Call it a sympathy vote of support for a struggling domestic industry shedding jobs like rubber in a second-gear launch at a green light.
The newest survey on the question finds that only 12 percent of Americans surveyed say they would only consider foreign car companies in their car-shopping, and that's down slightly from 15 percent in December.
Half of all those surveyed say they'd consider both foreign and American car-markers. Which means that Detroit has a fighting chance, if it offers consumers a competitive choice.
Corvette Z06 (above) or Jaguar XK (lower)?
Comments
My father bought whatever the smallest Chevy SUV is last summer. He thought he was buying American, but did the research and found out practically the only part of the car that was made here was the name.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 4, 2009 6:39 PM
With BMWs built in South Carolina, Toyotas in Kentucky, Subarus in Indiana, Hondas in Ohio etc etc and with "American" models built in Canada and Mexico -- globalization makes it less relevant. That Jag, for example, was built by an Indian-owned company.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 4, 2009 7:20 PM
The Vette of course! I'm a Chevy guy, a Vette and a Suburban. We'll buy American while there's American, and by that I mean a V-8, not a eco-friendly Clown car.
Posted by: Rei Shinozuka | March 4, 2009 9:25 PM
Well, I've always wanted a red Mustang convertible so I guess that is my choice. I just can't stand going to the dealers. If they could do something about HOW you buy a car...maybe I'd buy something.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 5, 2009 6:54 AM
I've been buying Hondas since the mid-80s, when Lee Iacocca started laying his national guilt trip on us. American cars have improved since then, but they're still not as reliable as Hondas. When they are, maybe I'll buy one.
Posted by: Grandblvd03 | March 5, 2009 8:13 AM
Rei Shinozuka = the problem
Posted by: TheReamer | March 5, 2009 8:35 AM
R.S.
Submitted for your approval.
Here's the real evedince. Note the black Porshe, yellow porshe, the blue Camaro RS, the blue Porshe, the red Dodge and finally, the last black Porshe (again!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vyD3NJ_Kb8
He really blows the doors off Camaro.
Posted by: RodSerling | March 5, 2009 8:44 AM
Here's some rare video of Bunkport on the way to church;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXVRdSbKDT8
Posted by: OldCreaky | March 5, 2009 8:46 AM
Sorry, here's the real deal;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXVRdSbKDT8
Posted by: OldCreaky | March 5, 2009 11:10 AM
John D and Rush take a road trip in their favorite machine...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqS38SSeaCc
Posted by: The LeninSisters☭ | March 5, 2009 12:18 PM
creaky,
Re. Bunk and that hive of mad bees;
'57 Saabs and there's nothin on' ??
Posted by: Woody@aol.com | March 5, 2009 6:53 PM