Should you buy an American car? It’s a tough question. While there are some reasons why you might, there are also a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t.
In this post, we take a look at some of the pros and cons of both American cars, and those from other parts of the world.
Pros Of American-Made Vehicles
They Make Luxury Affordable
Mercedes and BMW both make great luxury vehicles. Everyone wants one. But, of course, they’re extremely expensive, particularly if you import. You’re paying around double the price of a regular sedan if you want one of these beauties in your garage.
However, if you opt for Ford, Buick or Chevrolet, you get a lot more for your money. The experience is similar to what you’d get inside a European luxury car, but without the excessive price tag. Granted, you might not have the same level of prestige, but that’s okay. Your wallet will thank you.
They Support American Workers
Many people spend thousands of dollars on foreign cars without a second thought. It’s just another product in the marketplace. Who cares where it came from?
However, when you buy a US car, you’re actually supporting American workers. You’re circulating money in the national economy and providing people with a livelihood. Doing this is particularly important in America where the rust belt has left millions without a good income.
They’re Best For Some Vehicle Classes
American-made vehicles are better than their European and Japanese rivals in some classes, particularly trucks and SUVs. The US was the first country to really nail the format and everyone else has been playing catchup ever since.Take pickups, for example. The US dominates the list, with all of the top ten selling vehicles in the world being American-made. The Japanese, particularly Nissan, come in second place – but it’s a distant second. Their vehicles simply aren’t on par with those that you can get in the states.
They Offer Low Cost Parts
Getting a European luxury car repaired is expensive, even if you live in Europe, let alone America. Parts and labor are both expensive. And mechanics often need expensive tools and machinery to do work according to manufacturer requirements.
The same isn’t true to the same extent in the US. The parts manufacturing and distribution system is quite advanced, and vehicles tend to be simpler, on the whole.
The Cons Of US-Made Vehicles
They Don’t Offer The Best Fuel Efficiency
Of course, it’s not all butterflies and roses. There are also some serious drawbacks to purchasing an American-made vehicle. One is that you simply don’t get the same kind of fuel economy that you get when you purchase a European or Japanese car. Many American vehicles guzzle a lot of gas, partly because fuel prices remain relatively low compared to the rest of the world.
They Are Often Less Reliable
Chevy vehicles can have problems. As can cars from other US manufacturers. Automakers in the country don’t operate to the same high level as companies that compete more internationally. Remember, to succeed, BMW must sell cars outside Germany. The internal automarket simply isn’t big enough. Similarly, to be profitable, Toyota has to appeal to consumers across the world. Japan simply doesn’t offer it enough buyers (even though it is a large and wealthy country).
The US, though, is different. It has a huge internal market, so American car brands can rely on domestic citizens purchasing its vehicles. Unfortunately, this means that it isn’t exposed to the same force of international competition. And that means that quality is often lower. That’s changed a little in recent years with the rise of Tesla, but the EV startup is still a relative newcomer and only has a small market share.
They Get Bad Reviews
American cars might look great, but they don’t always get the best reviews. In fact, sometimes, editors can be scathing of them.
According to most major car review websites, American-made vehicles struggle in the brand rankings. They simply can’t compete with their international rivals in terms of customer satisfaction. Lincoln is an exception to the rule, but it is virtually the only one.
You Don’t Get As Much Choice
Lastly, while US automakers are great at making pickups and SUVs, if you want another type of vehicle – say a city supermini – you don’t have a lot of choice. While Chevy does make some small vehicles, that’s not what it’s known for. Over 90 percent of car sales of the big American brands are either SUVs or pickups, so that’s what they focus on.
