How old is your car?

[Sunset Bob]

Originally Posted by cee65

14 years old - 1994 Toyota Camry V6 XLE - - 149,000 miles - -change oil & filter each 3,000 miles, rotate tires each 5,000 miles.
On interstate get 30-30.5 mpg - - around town 19 - 20 mpg.
Am thinking about a new Camry - - either Prius or a Camry hybrid or just another Camry V6 XLE.
An outstanding car and it's a love, too.
Now is surely the time to buy a new car if someone needs it.

Buy American save the American auto industry.
Or don't cry when this country goes broke!

[Just Sold]

2000 Olds Intrigue 121K and going strong. Just put brakes and tires on it so I am set for a while. Now putting 25 to 30K/year on it too. 24 to 28 MPG on a V6!

[MAXUM]

1992 Toyota 4Runner 4X4 3.0L V6 5 Speed Limited Ed. Just rolled 250K, owned for 10 years.

1998 Toyota T100 XCab 4X4 3.4L V6 5 Speed 189K, owned for 8 years.

1996 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl Auto 185K, owned for 4 years.

Love 'em, all in MINT showroom condition and have no desire to sell any of them. All these vehicles represent Toyota in their prime, the newer ones are not made nearly as well and far as I'm concerned are ugly and full of expensive gadgets I have no interest in.

[corollaman]

Originally Posted by Sunset Bob

Buy American save the American auto industry.
Or don't cry when this country goes broke!

The American auto industry isn't suffering cause of people buying foreign cars,but it's cause of the greedy CEO's running the Big 3.I think it's unamerican to buy from a company with these types of ethics,and besides,every American car I've had has always been in the shop.They're over-priced too,so I also think it's unamerican to buy from a company that steals from its customers by overcharging.I know,some foreign makes are more expensive,but you get more car for the money.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by corollaman

The American auto industry isn't suffering cause of people buying foreign cars,but it's cause of the greedy CEO's running the Big 3.I think it's unamerican to buy from a company with these types of ethics,and besides,every American car I've had has always been in the shop.They're over-priced too,so I also think it's unamerican to buy from a company that steals from its customers by overcharging.I know,some foreign makes are more expensive,but you get more car for the money.

I think you missed a couple of stereotypes in there.

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by corollaman

The American auto industry isn't suffering cause of people buying foreign cars,but it's cause of the greedy CEO's running the Big 3.I think it's unamerican to buy from a company with these types of ethics,and besides,every American car I've had has always been in the shop.They're over-priced too,so I also think it's unamerican to buy from a company that steals from its customers by overcharging.I know,some foreign makes are more expensive,but you get more car for the money.

Thanks for the expert opinion. How long have you been in the auto industry?
Curious, if you have the time, if you might site some specific examples, and #'s. You paint with a broad stroke. They are strokes anyone at all could similarly paint. But I'm sure you have specific facts/numbers/examples....

[momof3]

1997 Mercury Villager, Nautica Edition. 116,000 miles on it. Had no major problems, still love my van, however, cannot pass inspection, and applied for waiver but a no go, very long story, so began looking at 1yr old vans/small SUV's, hoping to buy in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Which for me brings up more concerns since my husband was laid off for approximatley 10 months last year, don't even now if I will qualify for a car loan...we'll see. Thank God he is back to work but not the same pay. I mentioned selling our boat, THAT CONVERSATION DID NOT GO WELL :-)

[RI Swamp Yankee]

This doesn't relate directly to the lake but pay for autoworkers has been mentioned here. Here is one of the few stories I have seen with numbers. I can't vouch for the validity but is interesting reading.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4630103.shtml

[sa meredith]

As I stated eralier in this thread, it is indeed the UAW which crippled the auto industry in this country. The article posted previous to this posting actually states the pay is not $70 per hr, but rather works out to that when figuring in health insurance, sick time, personal time, vaca time, etc., etc., etc.,
Things are changing quickly, however. Union workers realizing very quickly what the alternative is.
When this mess sorts intself out (in 2 or 3 years) my guess would be unions will be a thing off the past. Back to the days of "an honest day's pay, for an honest day's work". Never mind 12 weeks vaca, 15 sick days, 11 Holidays, 10 floaters, 22 sick days......