Jay Leno: "I Believe That, All Things Being Equal, Americans Will Buy American"
Jay Leno, NBC comedian and car fanatic, would like to offer Motown's maven some independent analysis. So he does, via msnbc.com. "The type of vehicles America makes best are, unfortunately, not the type of vehicles that people really want anymore… Where we seem to lose it is in the low-bucks econocar… I believe that, all things being equal, Americans will buy American. It just has to be as good as the competition; it doesn’t have to be better… If you look at the new line of G.M. cars, they are almost as good as what the Europeans are doing… America does technology well, and I think this is how the companies will bring those buyers back. I think cars like the Chevy Volt, which is entirely battery-powered, or hydrogen cars from Chrysler, Ford and G.M. will take off…. One last thing: No matter what happens, do not expect all American cars to go Eurosize. American buttocks are not getting any smaller." So, aside from Jay's belief that close enough for rock and roll is close enough for rock and roll, and setting aside the issue of what constitutes an American car (Aveo? Accord?), and the fact that the Volt is actually a hybrid and a whole bunch of other stuff, the funnyman nails it. What do you reckon: Bob Lutz Award nominee?
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Bozoer Rebbe, The phrases "Jewish self-hate" and "American self-hate" are an invention of Jewish and American rightists and are used to describe Jews or Americans who don't agree with the rightists' politics. I don't hate America or Americans, although I certainly prefer Toyotas to GMs and I'm certainly unhappy with our current foreign policy. The reasons are simple, my Toyotas put money in my pocket (money which gets invested in the US, as it happens) and our foreign policy is clearly counter-productive. This isn't self-hate, it's just awareness of the world around you. --- thoots, I'm very much in agreement with you on the current state of the Camry. My b-i-l was happy and proud to loan me his last year and it (an LE) is an excellent car. The 4-cylinder moves it along nicely (five plus luggage), it gets great fuel economy and the interior was very nice. He bought it because his '01 Sienna treated him very well. Six years of abuse from his kids and it still looks new and hasn't been into the shop once. If I had to criticize something about it... well... the front end isn't all that attractive. But it's similar to many others, so it makes no difference. And the visiblity out the rear is a little restricted but that's also due to the current style of broadly arched roofline and high rear deck (the only midsize car that really looks a bit different to me is the new Accord - and the Fusion but that's an older design at this point). My four Toyotas, '99 through '01's, fairly high miles at this point, have also treated me very well. Comes time to look for a new car, I'll be checking Toyota first. They've put money in my pocket.
I really enjoy TTAC. Where else could I read defenders for, "All things being equal", (as if it can be between the Detroit 2.8 and the other major players from the Asian rim), that most Americans would rather defy belief, urban survival skills and experience, and would buy something from the 2.8. I may be an elitist, uninformed, perceptually wrong and some other things referenced here, but the chances of the 2.8 competing with Toyota, Honda and Nissan in my life time is not realistic. The 2.8 have had at least 25 years and I doubt they will turn it around in the next 25, plus I probably will not be around. Before I would buy another 2.8 product that is not a used PU truck, I want an explanation for the leaky water pumps, sprung door hinges, out of round Firestones, falling off body pieces, mystery squeaks and rattles, cracking windshields, chassis water leaks and a few more pages worth I could list on. And where else could I read a seriouis sounding report that Camry's are now a POS and owners are really unhappy. I sure do not hear that in my neighborhood. Must be a lot of elitists, uninformed and historically perceptively incorrect people in my part of the southeast USA.
One point needs to be made: The Harley-Davidson example simply won't work for cars. Harley-Davidson's are valued for a number of reasons that don't have anything to do with technology, but the real point is that in the US, a motorcycle is always an emotional purchase, not a logical one. Motorcycles in the US are toys, not essential needs of daily life and as such, different criteria for judging them will apply.