Made in America

**JefmcC** · 07 Sep 2004, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by g0zen

Wake me up when the U.S. starts making good cars again, because right now the American automotive industry is in the shitter compared to Asia or Europe. They don't have the micro-management or efficiency of Asia or the expertise and quality of Europe.

American cars are much, much better than they used to be. In fact, the entire auto industry is bascially in bed with itself.

For example:

Cut and pasted from, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jul16.html

Silicon Valley, Calif.: Warren, I've noticed atrend towards a Swedish/japanese
connection in the cars currently available. The most
obvious is the Saab 9-2X, which is just a tricked up
Subaru WRX wagon. But I was told by a salesman at a
Mazda dealership that the Mazda3 is built on the same
body and suspension as the Volvo S40. Was he blowing
smoke? Thanks.

Warren Brown: Not really, Silicon. Nor was he puffing you up.
Here's the deal: GM owns Saab. GM also has an interest, 20 percent, I think, in Fuji Heavy industries, which owns Subaru, which produces the WRX. Saab needed a limited edition, entry-level car. Saab went to GM, which went to Fuji, which went to Subaru, which yielded the modified WRX as the Saab 9-2X.
Similarly, Ford owns Volvo. Ford also has a controlling interest in Mazda. Ford has a global small-car platform, on which sits the S-40, Focus and Mazda3. That's about as good as I can explain it.

Also, most so called Japanese cars bought in the USA are made in either Mexico or in the US.

**Calliander** · 07 Sep 2004, 02:02 PM

I totally dig what Stone is saying. (I even touted that crap before you, you bastard.) I used to have a pair of Red Wings back in freshman year of high school. The only reason I stopped wearing them was because they were part of that whole pseudo-goth thing I'm glad I got over. I don't remember them costing a lot of money, but then, I didn't buy them. My dad has been wearing them to work ever since I stopped donning them about halfway through freshman year. He's got major foot problems and he says they're the most comfortable boots he's ever worn.

Originally Posted by Stone

I think a majority of Americans are no longer used to paying for quality - as a whole, we're trained to buy the cheapest stuff possible, and then replace it as soon as it wears out. It's too bad.

That's the saddest truth nowadays. Anyway, I wish I had more money to buy more American products. Unfortunately, when you make poor financial decisions you're limited to Wal-Mart, crappy grocery stores like Albertsons, and Kohl's.

For me, for all intents and purposes, Mazda is an American car. I really want a Protege. (Overall I'd like a BMW 5-series, though.) American cars aren't bad by any respect - is Kia made in America? - I just happen to like cars based on design. Best beer I've ever had is made in San Diego county - Arrogant Bastard Ale. Right down the street from me is a place called "Rock Bottom" that makes their own beer and they have some really damned good dark brews. I've never really liked non-American beer anyway, though.

**station82o** · 07 Sep 2004, 05:09 PM

shiner bock is a good beer, and thats texas made, But yeah i'd rather drink something better even if it came from Europe anyday. I dont know, I usually don't pay attention to where shit is made. Except for metal bands, which I happen to notice the majority of whom I listen to are all bands from Europe or the UK or Scandinavia. That doesn't apply here though.

**Nomi** · 07 Sep 2004, 05:12 PM

After getting two defective motherboards in a row, I am never buying anything from Korea again, ever. I don't know about American quality, but most shit I've ever had from Korea falls apart too quickly.

**Rhydant** · 07 Sep 2004, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Right down the street from me is a place called "Rock Bottom" that makes their own beer and they have some really damned good dark brews. I've never really liked non-American beer anyway, though.

Holy shit, I've been there. My friend ordered a beer there, I think it was something like 'Coronado Nut Brown Ale', and my god it was the best beer I've ever tasted.

**Calliander** · 07 Sep 2004, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Rhydant

Holy shit, I've been there. My friend ordered a beer there, I think it was something like 'Coronado Nut Brown Ale', and my god it was the best beer I've ever tasted.

They probably name them differently in different areas, but yeah, the brown ale is like, heaven in a beer. The Long Beach one calls the brown beer, "Long Board Brown Ale" and then they have a really good, chocolately black beer called, "Black Seal Stout." The brown is pristine. When my parents came to visit, my dad had some and it totally blew him away because he's never really cared about brands or tastes or anything like that. Stone, I think, liked it as well. The black is the ultimate steak companion. Dark and heady and rich.

**flux=rad** · 07 Sep 2004, 07:23 PM

It seems a little arbitrary to decide the quality of a product by its country of origin. We make crap in the U.S. just like other countries. I find it hard to believe that a large country could exclusively create crap. Likewise, it seems nearly impossible that everything or even most of the stuff the U.S. makes is top-quality.

**Thief Silver** · 07 Sep 2004, 08:08 PM

Actually it depends on the standards set by that countries government. If you consider a coutnry that lets what ever the hell they want to flow out from it, compared to a country in which you'll face a great deal of suits for making shitty products, yes a country could exclusively create crap. Though it's unlikely that it will Only create crap.