Union support?

[icenine]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

So they're still going strong Rob? Must not be Jap steel 12-13 years old is a long time!

Ice, but, how's the wiring? That is pretty cool.

Pete

The wiring is fine Pete....I have an iffy catalytic convertor that I was supposed to change over two years ago the check engine light goes on and off when I smogged it though they didn't catch it hopefully I will be lucky again this year. Now the Civic I had went to 289,000 miles....it was good but did require alot of nickle and dime stuff that added up...water pumps, timing belts, a new radiator. The CRV is at 215,000 and it gives me those stupid sensor messages and I just put in a new starter plus a throttle body thingy that cost $1000(that was two years ago). They last long but do need to be repaired quite a bit is my assessment on Hondas.

[Oerets]

Just bought a new 2012 Ford Escape. Only looked at US union made cars. PERIOD!

You ever notice the non-union cars are just as expensive as the union ones?



Barney

[Rex E.]

My '98 Z71 was most likely and unfortunately assembled by a Canadian union (I'd much prefer US cars being made in the US) from parts mostly made in, I'm sure, non union Mexico. Either side of it the US work got screwed, union or not.

And at just 156K on her, it has required a few thousand the past couple of years to keep it running. Shame the Canadian and Mexicans were not as good at building cars as the Japanese.......

[icenine]

I remember reading this article back when it was written....I am sure you non-union guys will not like it but it does throw an interesting light on the whole issue of Japanese cars and unionism.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...0,301245.story

I guess the point is if the UAW had unionized the transplant factories the Japanese would not have been as competitive on our own soil. I believe though that the simple perception(whether true or not) that Japan made better cars nearly did Detroit in. I also think that the Big Three basically cornered the domestic SUV and Pick -Up truck market and put cars on the back-burner during the 1990s and early 2000s, letting Japan dominate that sector of the industry. Those big gas monsters were selling like hotcakes back then.....

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Big_Bill

I support American companies and American workers, unfortunately that also supports American Unions. Two out of three ain't bad

That's one out of three Bill. Be honest.

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by icenine

I remember reading this article back when it was written....I am sure you non-union guys will not like it but it does throw an interesting light on the whole issue of Japanese cars and unionism.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...0,301245.story

I guess the point is if the UAW had unionized the transplant factories the Japanese would not have been as competitive on our own soil. I believe though that the simple perception(whether true or not) that Japan made better cars nearly did Detroit in. I also think that the Big Three basically cornered the domestic SUV and Pick -Up truck market and put cars on the back-burner during the 1990s and early 2000s, letting Japan dominate that sector of the industry. Those big gas monsters were selling like hotcakes back then.....

No perception at all, they made better cars that lasted longer and had better fuel economy. Classic example is the Ford Escort. When Ford designed and built the first version you almost guarantee a warped head or a thrown timing belt resulting in bent valves and or a cracked head. If you were unlucky like several of my friends, it would burst into flames while you were driving.

Enter the Second gen Escort and Fords partnership with Mazda. A great vehicle. The Mazda drive train (1.9 liter inline 4) had no problem doing 200K on standard maintenance and a timing belt every 60K as recommended. Even if you were cheap or lazy and drove it until the timing belt broke it would not bend the valves or crack the head. You simply had to replace the timing belt.

I owned several of these 2nd gen Escorts until I needed a truck for work. My '92 5 speed, two door Escort "Pony" would get 42 mpg with the a/c running doing 75mph no problem. Wish I had one now.

[Rex E.]

Pete,

I need a category that says:

US built, Canadian built with Mexican parts for US co., joint U.S. Japanese built, Japanese built, German built, US built for Japanese co...um......I'm getting cornfused but I'm 100% sure I've owned all of the combination (and China may fit in there somewhere). Never been fortunate enough to buy any of them new.........

[bobabode]

New is over-rated. Plus you can buy a jar it at O'Reilly's.

[bobabode]

Ford Ranger here made in Iceland for all I know. It was previously a fleet truck from the fracking gas company, does that make it union? Betcha your BVDs are union made.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by icenine

I remember reading this article back when it was written....I am sure you non-union guys will not like it but it does throw an interesting light on the whole issue of Japanese cars and unionism.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...0,301245.story

I guess the point is if the UAW had unionized the transplant factories the Japanese would not have been as competitive on our own soil. I believe though that the simple perception(whether true or not) that Japan made better cars nearly did Detroit in. I also think that the Big Three basically cornered the domestic SUV and Pick -Up truck market and put cars on the back-burner during the 1990s and early 2000s, letting Japan dominate that sector of the industry. Those big gas monsters were selling like hotcakes back then.....

Excellent article, Ice, Thanks.

A lot of truth to be found there as well.