First Car

[Willit Run]

[quote]It's basically impossible to buy a purely American car anymore. The Corvette may be the exception? Chevrolet partnered with Toyota as far back as the 80's. Ford has had ties with Mitsubishi and others. The Ford Courier pickup was manufactured in and imported from Japan by a company I never heard of. Chrysler has ties with both German & Japanese automakers. Blah, blah, blah...................

Just have all vehicles you are interested in checked over by a reputable mechanic and do your homework. I'll take reliability and affordability over status any day.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

[quote][quote]It's basically impossible to buy a purely American car anymore. The Corvette may be the exception? Chevrolet partnered with Toyota as far back as the 80's. Ford has had ties with Mitsubishi and others. The Ford Courier pickup was manufactured in and imported from Japan by a company I never heard of. Chrysler has ties with both German & Japanese automakers. Blah, blah, blah...................

Just have all vehicles you are interested in checked over by a reputable mechanic and do your homework. I'll take reliability and affordability over status any day.

[expat]

Who owns Who?

BMW owns:
-BMW
-Mini
-Rolls Royce

Daimler/Chrysler owns:
-AMC
-Chrysler
-Dodge
-Eagle
-Hyundai
-Jeep
-Maybach
-Mercedes-Benz
-Plymouth
-Smart

Fiat owns:
-Alfa Romeo
-Ferrari
-Fiat
-Lancia
-Maserati

Ford owns:
-Aston Martin
-Ford
-Jaguar
-Land Rover
-Lincoln
-Mazda (Ford owns 33% of Mazda)
-Mercury
-Volvo cars

Fuji Heavy Industries owns:
-Subaru

General Motors owns:
-Buick
-Cadillac
-Chevrolet
-Daewoo (GM owns 44%)
-Fiat (GM has decided to divorce itself from Fiat as of Feb '05, but will retain 10% ownership.)
-GMC
-Holden
-Hummer
-Oldsmobile
-Opel
-Pontiac
-Saab
-Saturn
-Suzuki (2.5%, from 20%)
-Vauxhall

Honda owns:
-Acura
-Honda

Hyundai owns:
-Hyundai
-Kia

Isuzu owns:
-Isuzu
(Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp. and Mizuho Corporate Bank owns part of Isuzu.)

Mitsubishi Corp. owns:
-Isuzu (13.6%)
-Mitsubishi Motors Corp (13%)

Nissan owns:
-Infiniti
-Nissan
-Renault (Nissan owns 15%)

PSA Peugeot Citroen owns:
-Citroen
-Peugeot

Porsche owns:
-Porsche
-VW (20%)

Renault owns:
-Nissan (Renault owns 44%)

Toyota owns:
-Daihatsu (~51%)
-Fuji Heavy Industries -- Subaru (Toyota owns ~20%. Toyota bought this from GM in late 2005. )
-Isuzu (5.9%, announced 7 Nov. 2006)
-Lexus
-Scion
-Toyota

Volkswagen owns:
-Audi
-Bentley
-Bugatti
-Lamborghini
-SEAT
-Skoda
-Volkswagen

So, about as inbred as some parts of East Anglia and North Carolina  ;D

Matt

[Willit Run]

[quote][quote][quote]It's basically impossible to buy a purely American car anymore. The Corvette may be the exception? Chevrolet partnered with Toyota as far back as the 80's. Ford has had ties with Mitsubishi and others. The Ford Courier pickup was manufactured in and imported from Japan by a company I never heard of. Chrysler has ties with both German & Japanese automakers. Blah, blah, blah...................

Just have all vehicles you are interested in checked over by a reputable mechanic and do your homework. I'll take reliability and affordability over status any day.

[Boeing227]

And hehe...

Murphy Motors Corperation owns:

[Giteen]

WOW!

[cheesegrater]

Yeah, because in Japan they have emission laws. Also, you really don't need a car anyways.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]

[expat]

 Please, if you have not already, GO TO JAPAN.  Tell me how many GM vehicles you find on their streets. Next to none?? NOT SUPRIZED This is due to their heavy importation laws and rules.

And due to the fact that Japanise cars are in just about every way superior to American cars.

With the exception of Ford you will rarely see an American car outside the US anywhere in the world.

Also with todays oil prices you will get better mileage with any car that is not American. Don't misunderstand me, if I could afford a nice V8 big or small block I would, but when ever I am in the US and take a look at the gas mileage that is advertised on the window of a car for sale, I don't know if I should laugh or cry for you guys. The average mpg for an American car is 24.5 mils. The average for a European/Japanese car is 40 mpg. Think of the Christmas present you could buy at the end of the year with the petro dollar you saved. Not only that, but us Europeans could only dream of paying what the US driver pays for gas.

Matt

[BMan1113VR]

[quote][quote]

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote][quote][quote]

[eno]

 Please, if you have not already, GO TO JAPAN.  Tell me how many GM vehicles you find on their streets. Next to none?? NOT SUPRIZED This is due to their heavy importation laws and rules.

And due to the fact that Japanise cars are in just about every way superior to American cars.

With the exception of Ford you will rarely see an American car outside the US anywhere in the world.

Thats because out side of North America Chevy=Rebadged Daweoo

Actually, Daewoo is now known as Chevy everywhere. It's called polishing a turd.

It certainly is polishing a turd ..... a disabled friend of mine (who gets a car almost for free on a motorbility scheme) had his Chevy replaced after 3 weeks. During those three weeks the brakes  almost completely failed .... the stering rack was replaced after that  failed on a high speed corner ( the dealer said it was nothing to worry about but we will replace it) he was lucky to make it round the corner and the car was towed back to the dealers. Then to cap it all the brakes caused serious vibration even under light braking.

[kingmarktheaviator]

Who owns Who?

BMW owns:
-BMW
-Mini
-Rolls Royce

The NEW mini isnt a car, it is a piece of LEGO

Mark

[expat]

Who owns Who?

BMW owns:
-BMW
-Mini
-Rolls Royce

The NEW mini isnt a car, it is a piece of LEGO

Mark

No, it is a rollerskate and if you have a Cooper it goes around corners like it is on rails  :D

Matt

[kingmarktheaviator]

Yeah, ex-pat you have a better point there.  LOL.  I never want a new "Mini" ever.  As for your first car elite.....it may be better for insurance to get a smallish, economical diesel care.  build a no claims bonus (if you have that in the usa) and use it on a good car in the future.

Thats what I am doing...just an opinion really,

Mark