Nine Out Of Ten Americans Agree: Detroit Makes At Least One Good Car

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: January 9th, 2009

nine out of ten americans agree detroit makes at least one good car

A recently-released Kelley Blue Book survey says that nine out of ten car-shopping Americans have at least one hunk of Detroit iron on their wish list. Even more tellingly, one third of shoppers polled would only buy a car built by Ford, Chevy or Chrysler. That’s a considerable preference for America as a nation-state of ostensible origin compared to Japan (12 percent) or Germany (five percent). “Seeing the domestic automakers’ recent struggle has ignited a heightened sense of patriotism among some American car shoppers, and the latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research indicates that people are pulling for the Big Three to survive and thrive,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. Which is one way to look at it…

Or, it could suggests that many of the people who buy American cars do so because they simply won’t consider any other. After all, if KBB’s data is correct a full third won’t even think about shopping a non-Detroit brand. The flip side of this coin is the low levels of online research for American vehicles. Why spend hours researching online if you know you’re buying domestic before you start looking (as a third of Americans apparently do)? In short, there isn’t a “perception gap” for American cars, per se. Detroit makes enough decent cars that nearly everyone would consider buying at least one. But sales seem to come primarily from a demographic that don’t cross-shop the “foreign competition.

Edward Niedermeyer

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4 of 31 comments

Don1967 on Jan 09, 2009

I am proud of North American workers, because they build the best damn cars at any price. Hyundai Alabama, Nissan Tennessee, Toyota Kentucky and Honda Ontario RULE! I would never buy a Chinese Chevrolet or Mexican Ford just to save a buck.

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Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009

I will never ever consider an import. Only buy American. OK. Call me names. Throw stuff at me. It's OK. Will never buy import. Stay true to my country and still no compromise in product. Toyota, Nissan Honda etc offer a fine product. Just not going to invest in their economies. Sorry.

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Frizzlefry on Jan 10, 2009
Bridge2far: "I will never ever consider an import. Only buy American. OK. Call me names. Throw stuff at me. It’s OK. Will never buy import. Stay true to my country and still no compromise in product. Toyota, Nissan Honda etc offer a fine product. Just not going to invest in their economies. Sorry." At this point, Subaru, Toyota, Nissan and Honda are doing more for the American economy than the big 3/UAW are. The evil imports are not sucking away citizen’s hard earned tax dollars to delay their inevitable downfall like certain American Companies are. The imports have not allowed themselves to be bleed to death by a greedy union thus risking chapter 11 which has contributed to the current instability of the economy. Buying a big 3 car pays two people. Overpaid and greedy union reps and stupid executives who could not plan themselves out of a paper bag. I fail to see how that supports America. If you want to support the American economy, buy a car made in America by a sane and fiscally responsible company. Subaru for example.

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Sherman Lin on Jan 10, 2009

Frizzlefry the Toyota Corolla Matrix and Tacoma are made by UAW workers. Everyone should just buy what they want and not worry about the other guy. Who gives a rats ass on what the other guy is buying?

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