Michigananders Love Their Domestics

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YSSMAN

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In a not too surprising story, it baisically confirms my assumptions that people in Michigan still love their American cars and trucks...

July 24, 2006

DETROIT-AP — A recent poll shows Michigan residents continue to support American automakers, with 45 percent of households owning a vehicle made by General Motors.

The poll, conducted by the Detroit Free Press and WDIV-TV, also shows 39 percent of households own a vehicle made by Ford, while 22 percent own a Chrysler Group car or truck.

Only 15 percent of Michigan households own a vehicle made by a foreign automaker.

However, foreign automakers have gained ground across the U.S., accounting for about 45 percent of all car and truck sales last year.

The results are based on interviews with 800 Michigan residents 18 years old or older. The total numbers exceed 100 percent because some households own multiple vehicles.
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Well, I guess my home is a little odd then. Three GM, one VW, one Toyota, one Mazda.
 
...Another interesting facotoid that kinda relates...

99% of the marketshare in Wolfsburg, Germany goes to VW (derrrr). I'm almost certain the numbers are similar in Detroit, probably split pretty evenly depending on what part of the city you live in...
 
Yeah, that doesn't surprise me too much. Then again, a lot of that has to do with rural Michigan and its bias towards domestic cars - I bet suburban Detroit would display about average vehicle ownership by country, don't you? All large cities are basically the same in that area, with few exceptions.
 
Depends I guess, I'm not completely certain. Every time I'm in Detroit (aka not that often) it is for the most part all Chevrolets and Fords. Of course, it also depends on where you are at in the city as well.

...Grand Rapids (where I live, second largest city in Michigan, one of the weathiest areas in the state) is for the most part American cars and trucks, but the side where I grew up (Forest Hills/Ada/Cascade) is oriented much more twards the Americans, Germans, Sweeds and then the Japanese.
 
YSSMAN
Depends I guess, I'm not completely certain. Every time I'm in Detroit (aka not that often) it is for the most part all Chevrolets and Fords. Of course, it also depends on where you are at in the city as well.
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Perhaps YSSMAN but do remember one big thing - GM and Ford products are still about a third to a half of all vehicles sold in the United States. So seeing more GM and Ford products than anything else is actually expected.
 
Yes, I think GM still holds just more than a quarter of the marketshare for all of the cars sold in the US. I'm not sure on Ford though...
 
I think it's good that people support their domestic makes. It's kinda funny though that a lot of Japanese cars are made in the States now, and lots of American cars are also made in neighboring countries.

I think I win, because my cars are usually built in U.S.A., sold by Japanese companies. I support where I'm from, and where I'm at. Without even trying. :D
 
I don't mind supporting a Canadian dude when I buy a Camaro or Impala, but it's those damn Mexicans... (j/k)

I know that a lot of the American cars and trucks still have their final assembly in the US, but a good ammount of the parts are comming from either Canada or Mexico these days. That isn't too upsetting I suppose, as that is how globalization works.
 
And it could be far worse. GM could just say the hell with America and build most of their cars in Mexico like VW does. At least while building cars in the U.S. they are both helping and getting screwed by the U.S. economy and legal system; not to mention the UAW.
 
I think Ford build Focus in Mexico as well. It doesn't really make me want to go out and buy Focus to be honest, no offense. I used to like VW a lot more, before I found out that most of them(all of them?) in the U.S. are built in Mexico.

Canadian quality, I'm not too sure about. Anybody familiar with their craftsmanship?
 
They built the F-bodies and possibly the C5 'Vette (though that might have been Bowling Green). Can't think of anythin else.
 
This isn't suprising at all.


To be honest I don't know if I would want a car built from our local factory (Holden), I know some of the people working on the line and I not sure if I am comfortable with them building my car. :scared:

:p
 
As of right now, I belive the only VWs sold in the US that are built in Mexico would be the Jetta and New Beetle. The Rabbit/Golf/GTI and Passat are both built in Germany, as is the GLI (I think), and I belive the Touareg is as well.

(Phaeton doesn't count, as it is dead in the US after 2006)
 
YSSMAN
As of right now, I belive the only VWs sold in the US that are built in Mexico would be the Jetta and New Beetle. The Rabbit/Golf/GTI and Passat are both built in Germany, as is the GLI (I think), and I belive the Touareg is as well.

(Phaeton doesn't count, as it is dead in the US after 2006)
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I don't know about in Europe, but Phaeton flopped hard here. I don't think I would have bought one either, when you could have bought sedans that were just as good from established luxury brands. No merit.

I'm glad to hear that Wabbits & Golfs are built in Germany. If I am going to buy a VW, I want one built in Germany. :)
 
Toronado
Those sedans from established luxury brands cost considerably more though.
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Really? I didn't know it was that much cheaper. Was it "Lexus" or "Infiniti" cheap, like when they first came out?
 
Well, no. But compared to say, Audi, it was. And it was essentially the same car as the A8, just with a different chassis (it didn't use the aluminum chassis the A8 did). The Audi would be 100K and the Pheaton would be around 85-90K similarly equipped. I beleive it started at 60K.
 
Brands being presently discussed/build location of current models

1. Chevrolet
Avalanche: Mexico
Aveo: Republic of Korea
Cobalt: United States
Colorado: United States
Corvette: United States
Equinox: Canada
HHR: Mexico
Impala: Canada
Malibu: United States
Monte Carlo: Canada
Silverado: Canada and United States (split about evenly)
SSR: United States
Suburban: United States
Tahoe: United States
Trailblazer: United States
Uplander: United States

2. Ford
Crown Victoria: Canada
Escape: United States
Expedition: United States
Explorer: United States
F-150: United States
Five Hundred: United States
Focus:
- sedan (ZX4), wagon (ZXW), 3-door (ZX3): United States
- 5-door (ZX5): Mexico
Freestar: Canada
Freestyle: United States
Fusion: Mexico
Mustang: United States
Ranger: United States
Sport Trac: United States
Taurus: United States

3. Subaru
B9 Tribeca: ugly

4. Volkswagen
GTI: Germany
Jetta: Mexico
New Beetle: Mexico
Passat: Germany
Phaeton: Germany
Rabbit: Germany
Touareg: Slovakia (though the vehicle has a German VIN number)
 
Toronado
Well, no. But compared to say, Audi, it was. And it was essentially the same car as the A8, just with a different chassis (it didn't use the aluminum chassis the A8 did). The Audi would be 100K and the Pheaton would be around 85-90K similarly equipped. I beleive it started at 60K.
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$60,000 doesn't sound bad, but in $90,000 range, most people probably would want more upscale emblems on their luxury sedan. :D

Edit:
Doug - You forgot the Fusion.
M5Power
3. Subaru
B9 Tribeca: ugly
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Cheap shot!
 
Toronado
Those sedans from established luxury brands cost considerably more though.
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I'm tired of hearing people say this.

Base models, luxury sedans
Mercedes S550: $85400
BMW 750i: $71800
Audi A8: $68100
Volkswagen Phaeton V8: $66700
Jaguar XJ8: $61800
Infiniti Q45: $58100
Lexus LS430: $56500

People think the Phaeton was some sort of godsend for its cheapness in the class. No vehicle that costs $10200 more than the arguable best-in-class model, Lexus's LS430, is a bargain. Calling the Phaeton a class deal is totally false.
 
a6m5
I don't know about in Europe, but Phaeton flopped hard here. I don't think I would have bought one either, when you could have bought sedans that were just as good from established luxury brands. No merit.
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The Phaeton flopped here in Europe too (well, Britain anyway) I see a dozen or more Bentley Conti GT's for every Phaeton i see. (The GT and Phaeton shared a fair bit under the skin) The VW brand just doesn't compete in the large luxo barge segment. I don't know why they bothered trying in this segment when they (VAG) already have Audi, Bentley, Lambo and Bugatti. They should stick to what they do and know best - making good small and medium sized cars.

I suppose the Tourag is an exception to this.
 
M5Power
People think the Phaeton was some sort of godsend for its cheapness in the class. No vehicle that costs $10200 more than the arguable best-in-class model, Lexus's LS430, is a bargain. Calling the Phaeton a class deal is totally false.
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I understand and agree wtih what you are saying, but when I said "Established Luxury Brands" I was speaking particularly of the other German ones, which is what is typically what is thought what the Phaeton was competing with directly.
 
Toronado
I understand and agree wtih what you are saying, but when I said "Established Luxury Brands" I was speaking particularly of the other German ones, which is what is typically what is thought what the Phaeton was competing with directly.
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Yeah - but since when has anything been cheaper than a Mercedes or BMW? :D You've already got the luxury car segment stats. Check out the rest of the segments:

Premium midsize SUV w/4WD
BMW X5 3.0i: $42500
Mercedes ML350: $40500
Infiniti FX35: $39300
Lexus RX350: $38800
Saab 9-7X: $38500
Land Rover LR3: $38300
Volvo XC90 2.5T: $37400
Volkswagen Touareg: $37300
Acura MDX: $37100
Cadillac SRX: $36300
GMC Envoy Denali: $36200
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited: $3600
Toyota 4Runner Limited: $34400
Mercury Mountaineer Luxury: $33400
Buick Rainier: $32600

(the Audi Q7 isn't included here because as of right now it's V8 only)

Premium midsize sedan
Mercedes E350: $50100
BMW 525i: $43500
Audi A6 3.2 2WD: $40800
Lexus IS350: $35400
Saab 9-5: $34100
Toyota Avalon Limited: $33800
Acura TL: $33300
Honda Accord Hybrid: $32300
Jaguar X-Type: $32300
Cadillac CTS 3.6: $32000
Volvo S60 T5: $32000
Infiniti G35: $31200
Nissan Maxima SL: $30200
Volkswagen Passat 3.6: $30000
Buick Lacrosse CXS: $27300

(Admittedly some of my comparisons here aren't head-on but you know what would happen if I compared the Infiniti M35 to the A6 3.2 front-driver, which cost the same)

Small convertible
Porsche Boxster: $45000
Mercedes SLK280: $42900
Audi TT Roadster: $36000
BMW Z4 3.0i: $35600
Nissan 350Z Roadster: $35100
Chrysler Crossfire convertible: $34200
Honda S2000: $34100
Saturn Sky: $23100
Volkswagen New Beetle: $22100
Mini Cooper convertible: $22000
Mazda MX-5: $20400
Pontiac Solstice: $19900

(Why do Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti not have an entry in this segment?)
 
Are the cars made in the locality?

I know in my area there's alot of Fords (More than general) because the Visteon workers get discounts on Ford group cars, and guess what, they can't afford Jaguars and Aston Martins.
 
I think the major event that really effects the cars that we own is the Woodward Dream cruise. One of the largest car shows in the world and its right in Detroit Michigan. When you drive your own muscle car or show car it makes the event that much better. Sooo many people come from everywhere in the US just to see that show. So man in fact that the attendance is over 1million and usually there are about 40,000 musclecars,street rods and much more. I went the last 2 years and these numbers are definetly accurate. The entire show is over 16 miles long and over 10 cities. Yes thats probably why the people in Michigan love their domestics. :sly:
Plus most domestics are soo cheap to build and if you find the right insurance it is dirt cheap! I only spend $30.00 a month for 2 muscle cars at around $20k in full coverage value. Impossible to beat that insurance.
And the reason most own trucks is because of the show in the winter.
http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/About.html
 
ExigeExcel
Are the cars made in the locality?

I know in my area there's alot of Fords (More than general) because the Visteon workers get discounts on Ford group cars, and guess what, they can't afford Jaguars and Aston Martins.
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Well, here in Michigan we get employee discounts as well, and because so much of the state works for either GM, Ford, or DCX, they often advertise the employee prices on the television and in the paper.

Where I live, we make some of the pannels for the GM sedans, and there are a few independant suppliers who make the windows, electronics, and a few other things for Ford and DCX as well.

The closest factory to me is in Lansing, and they build the Cadillac CTS there, and they will also be building the new GMT960 crossovers there as well.
 
Michigananders...Is that a real word?

To me, it sounds like a word that can't find the brake pedal.
 
Pupik
Michigananders...Is that a real word?

To me, it sounds like a word that can't find the brake pedal.
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:lol: Classic.

To answer your question no, it's not - the proper term is "Michiganders," he just tacked on an extra "an" for the hell of it.
 

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