Originally posted by bxd20: Everyone loves to point out that Camrys and Accords are built in the US. But what does that really mean? The majority of the parts come from Japan. The vast majority of the engineering, marketing, sales support, etc. was done in Japan. And finally, the majority of the profits go back over there too.
Pretty much all an "American built" Accord gives to our country's economy is the wage of the person that assembles it. And if I'm not mistaken, assembling a vehicle is a drop in the bucket when you compare the materials costs, engineering, and general overhead. I would bet we're talking 1% of the car's sticker price (though I've often wondered the exact amount and have never seen a number. should be easy enough, just take the total value of cars produced and contrast to the salary of the assembly line workers in the plant).
So don't take this as "racist", you should feel free to buy whatever you want in a free market economy. But PLEASE do not KID yourself that an Accord is MORE AMERICAN than a Mexican assembled Contour.
Brian 99 SVT
Go to your Honda or Toyota dealer and look at the Window Sticker. Listed will be the American Parts Content, this will be listed as a percentage. Then go look at the Focus and check the American parts Content. You will see that an Accord is MORE American than that focus.
In addition, your statement regarding engineering, marketing and such for Japanese cars being done in Japan. The engineering for the Contour and Focus was done in Europe. Porsche and Cosworth designed, engineered, and tuned the SVT engine and transmission as well as the suspension. How much money went from hot dogs to kraut there?
In regards to marketing; this is done on a regional basis, never global. Honda is not going to hire an Advertising firm located in Tokyo to create ads for the US market, instead will hire a US ad agency, or multiple US ad agencies (as is usually the case) for all US marketing.
Once you boil everything down to its core, nothing in America is purely "American", but rather a hodge-podge or "boiling pot" of product and labor from around the world. Much like this great Country's culture and people. Unlessit's an indeginous plant, show me one thing that is truly, purely 100% American.
