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Am I Unpatriotic?
Posted by Raven on January 3rd, 2009
Read this article…and then the comments that go with it. It’s interesting chat- and food for thought.
MANCHESTER – In an attempt to combat economic uncertainty among automobile buyers, Hyundai and local affiliate AutoFair Hyundai are offering a first-of-its-kind one-year guarantee return program.
Starting today, the dealer begins allowing a new-car buyer to return the vehicle in the event of “life-altering circumstances” such as layoffs, job transfers and accidental deaths up to a year after the purchase.
Says AutoFair Hyundai Chief Operating Officer Andy Crews, “It’s no secret that with economic uncertainty, customers have been hesitant on car purchases. With the new Hyundai guarantee, our customers no longer have to worry about car payments when they encounter unexpected life changes, and our cars are a natural choice.”
The Hyundai Assurance Program is available to all new Hyundai vehicle purchasers, regardless of age, health, employment record or the amount financed.
Maybe the American auto industry should be ashamed of itself. Maybe not. One thing’s for sure: I will never buy an American built vehicle again- so long as the UAW are part of the picture. Bail out and all, I will not feed the mouth that gluttons on my tax dollar, unappreciated and with strings attached.
The foreign competition has won over this gal (not Hyundai!!)…does this make me unpatriotic?
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I happen to own two Hyundais and that promotion is interesting. For yeasrs I stayed true to the “Buy American” campaign, but it eventually became clear the UAW and the “Big Three” were tking care of “Number 1″ rather than trying to save a segment of American industry. The foreign car makers are building plants in the US and creating good paying jobs for Americans. And they are producing quality automobiles. More power to ‘em.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Not at all. It is the UAW and their mob bosses who are unpatriotic.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Lessee… I’ve lost my job, and now you think I should give up my car so that I can’t go find a new job. Sounds like a bad long-term strategy to me. Hyundai really has a grasp on real-world problems.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Ford hasn’t taken a dime. (yet) If fact, they got b-slapped because of it. I drive a Mazda now, but if I was in the market for a car and could afford new, Ford would get a look from me.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:37 am
When one buys a slab of meat, one should be careful there’s no spoilage on the slab. Obviously, if there is spoilage one should either not buy it or, in the alternative, buy it at a deep discount with the spoilage removed (i.e.- the rotten parts cut off from the product.)
Seems a good way to evaluate a “Big Three” car. As soon as the rotten head of each company (i.e.- the bean counters who decide what we’ll drive, like it or not) and the rotten butt (i.e.- the unions) is removed from the product, maybe they’ll start producing a product we can afford and that will compete with the foreigners making cars here.
But don’t hold your breath. Its difficult to find them when they’re busy flying corporate jets and playing golf on their own (mega-bucks losing) course.
January 4th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I knew Toyota had factories in the US….but didn’t know Kia and Hyundai did as well. I doubt I would ever purchase a vehicle made by K or H, but I owned a Toyota for yrs and it was the most reliable car I ever had. When I ditched it, *traded it in*– it had just under 300,000 miles on it, still ran smoothly,it started every time without fail, was peppy— the AC still worked, ect ect…try getting that number of miles on an American made vehicle.
Hah- won’t happen.
January 4th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I HATE to think a union can alter my purchasing decisions; that, and this bailout bullshit really is the last straw. I know Ford didn’t get any money, this time- but I’ve not had good luck with their rigs. Plus, they outsource so much of their parts building to Mexico, it doesn’t really seem like I’d be buying American…I had no idea just how much of a Ford vehicle is made in the US- very little. Chevy and Chrysler are simply out of the question now for me- out of the running.
I own a Jeep right now, and it’s a great rig for me and it will (hopefully) last me another 4-5 yrs- as my previous one did. I love my Jeeps and always will…BUT there comes a time when I just can’t continue to support stupid entitlement mindsets such as the unions hold. My Jeeps’ could cost me 2 to 3 thousand LESS if it weren’t for those asses.
January 4th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Dashford, not all people own cars they’re financing. At least in my corner of the country…everyone (it seems) has a clunker back up vehicle they own outright- or have pretty easy access to. There are hundreds of used car lots up here owned by MomPop type peoples- one can buy a car for under a thousand bucks and get by…make do…I’ve done that before and it was fine. So your argument doesn’t stand out to me.
Personally I’d rather return a car than use welfare money to make it’s payments. But that’s just me. If I got laid off, I would get right back to work with another job or two if need be…just to make the payments.
January 4th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I like your idea Carlos. Trim the gray fat layers off the roast, and we might still have a good quality piece of meat.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
There is nothing “unpatriotic” about purchasing a product that gives you the most value for the cost. I own two Toyotas because I trust the company to create a quality product for the price, and one that will stay together longer than a domestic vehicle. I have heard the the new Ford cars, like the Fusion, are much better than they have been in the past and are compariable to a Toyota Camry in quality. So I am considering the Ford line of cars/trucks (shudder), another Toyota, and a Jeep, for my next vehicle once the old 1992 Toyota finally kicks the bucket…
To suggest that you are not buying American is unpatriotic is ridiculous. I don’t hear the same argument with consumer electronics. Ofcourse, I bought an Xbox (Microsoft) over a Playstation 3 (Sony), so I guess I am a patriot after all..
January 4th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Oh, and Raven, is that a Texas flag you have as your gravatar. Very nice. Very, very nice.
January 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
There isn’t much of a distinction between American and foreign cars any more, for reasons already mentioned. American companies use parts made outside of the US, and foreign companies have assembly plants in the US.
In the interests of full disclosure, I own two Chevys, both used and bought without taking out a loan.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Ron Gettlefinger, the president of the UAW claims to be a former reserve Marine. That did not stop him from restricting Marines attending drill at the Broadhead Naval Reserve Center in Detroit, who drove foriegn branded cars, from parking in their lot. It had been allowed for years, since the UAW HQ is across the street from the reserve center. It was only because of a deafening public outcry that he finally lifted the ban. Me support the UAW? Not a chance. And I’m originally from Detroit.