Archive for the ‘Car Buying Guide’ Category

Can You Really Still Buy American Cars?

Okay, so you want to invest in America -- meaning you want to buy products, specifically automobiles which are made in the good ‘ole USA. But wait! Here is some information about American cars you might not have heard the last time you went auto shopping.

Remember how back in the 90s, American auto manufacturers, a bit threatened by the success of the Japanese imports, began to push the virtues of buying American and supporting American industry?

You even got a little sticker on your car that you purchase was built in America by Americans. The 1994 American Automobile Labeling Act has required for years that all cars selling in the USA come with window stickers to mention where the car was assembled, how much local content the car has and where the engine and transmission came from. There are so many different brands and models it’s getting nearly impossible to find out where they were made -- or at least assembled. 

Finding cars made in America
Let’s say that you are someone who has really taken that message to heart and you really want to only buy American cars so that you can support American industry.

You think you deserve a little bit of luxury and you choose the 2011 Lincoln MKZ. You tell your friend who is a member of the United Auto Workers union and hope for some well-deserved praise. All you get for your trouble though is a dirty look. It turns out, your car is manufactured south of the border in Mexico.

Off shore auto manufacturing
What do you do when an American company like Ford wants to sell cars in America to make elsewhere? True fans of the Buy American movement certainly don’t like your European, Korean or Japanese brands. But they also completely disapprove of cars that the Big Three assemble in other countries.

Even if it is only the assembly that takes place elsewhere. With the Lincoln MKZ, high-value parts like the engine and transmission actually get completely made in America. If it gets assembled elsewhere though, it usually isn’t considered to be domestic.

How can you tell?
A car that’s made in America has a VIN number (that you find on the base of your windshield on the driver’s-side) that starts with the number one. What should you do if you are really trying to keep jobs in America whatever purchase you make? How are American cars supposed to be defined?

The American Honda?
According to that AALA’s labeling practice, a Honda Accord would be almost completely American since it is almost completely built with domestic parts in America. And a Buick Regal, that is built in Germany out of internationally-sourced parts is almost completely foreign.

To the common buyer though, buying Honda feels like buying Japanese while buying a Buick feels like buying American. And then of course, there is the whole debate on what to do with Canada. The AALA’s labeling practice considers anything manufactured in Canada to be domestic to the US.

Basically, all you get is a sticker that tells you how much of the car was made where. The government has backed out of actually telling you which the American cars are. There is no sign that says “This is an American car”.

The decision on what constitutes an American car ultimately comes down to the consumer. It is up to you to decide. Now that you and I are totally confused, maybe we should just go and buy a used auto -- maybe a 1957 Chevy? That should have been USA made, don’t you think?

Your Deal Trip to Affordable Used Cars

Economy down, money is tight, so looking for affordable used cars makes plenty of sense nowadays. 

Today, there are more and more people on the look out for affordable used cars. There has always been a market for these, but today people want things that take less gas, and they want to get them in a hurry.

That might mean they get something used before they go out and get a new car that has better gas mileage. This is especially true for those that have been driving vans and trucks, and have decided that they have to do something to save money on gas and travel in general. You don’t have to look too hard to find them.

Trucks and cars for sale

I have noticed that everywhere I go, I see trucks, vans, and even fishing boats for sale. These are sitting in lawns. Those that own them are the ones feeling the pinch of high gas prices, and they have probably already gone out and gotten affordable used cars.

Pickups

It is a good time to buy a used truck if you have a need for one, but not such a good time to be selling one, as everyone is looking for better gas mileage. Car dealers and independent sellers already know what is going on, and they are making it very easy to find affordable used cars that are going to be what people want right now.

When you are looking for a pre-owned automobile that is not too expensive, you may not have to look very far. Keep your eyes open as you drive around your daily route, as they are everywhere.

You can find some from private buyers, but be sure you know how to check something out on your own before you buy, or have a mechanic look it over for you. You will also find that many of your local used car dealerships are going to be running some great specials on affordable used cars with good gas mileage. They know you want them, and they want to give them to you.

You can also see what you can find online. Shopping for affordable used cars online may seem like an alien notion to you, but many find the car they want this way. There are many searches and sites that allow you to search within so many miles of your own home to see what is out there.

Shop online for auto sales

You can do some pre-shopping right from the comfort of your own home. You can look for make and model of your choice, and then go see the ones that you think might be the right fit for you and your family.