Why won't Americans buy American cars?

What's the last American made car that you wanted for under $30k. Okay, maybe you like the Mustang or Camaro. Aside from these exceptions to uncool American cars, what else is there???

I mean, have you seen recent tv ads for GM? What's with the "let the better car win" crap? What has GM won in the past decade? Maybe Motor Trend "truck of the year," and lately those Motor Trend awards have been going to foreign cars. Seriously though, why won't Americans buy American cars?

Let's start by breaking down the competition for GM, Ford, and Chrysler. GM offers plenty of cars between $15-30k. Take for instance the Chevy Cobalt starting just under $15k, and the Pontiac G6 starting just under $20k, and the Saturn Aura starting just under $23k. There are plenty more to choose from but the problem is they're all basically the same car and they're not very desirable cars.

So who are these cars for? GM has 42 SUVs and trucks, 18 sedans, 8 coupes, 4 convertibles, 2 wagons and 1 hatchback. That's right 1 hatch! Out of hundreds of cars and trucks to choose from there is 1 hatchback and 8 coupes.

The Saturn Astra is the only hatchback GM has and the Volvo C30 is the only hatch that Ford has to offer (I still don't consider Volvo a Ford). Personally, I like both but would I buy either? The last new cars I was looking at were affordable hatches, coupes, and few (sport) sedans. I had very little choice of American hatches in a sea of VW GTI's/Golfs/Beetles, Mazda 3's, Honda Civic Si's and Mini Coopers.

Which coupes do GM, Ford, and Chrysler have to offer? Okay here goes...So who are these cars for? That's what the GM marketing team needs to ask themselves. What competitor cars are similar but better and possibly cheaper?! Don't get me wrong, I am not just criticizing to hate on the US Auto industry. I want to see it improve and I'm sure there are plenty of Americans out there that would agree.

Ford: Mustang & Focus
Mercury: 0
Lincoln: 0
Chevy: Camaro, Cobalt, Corvette
Pontiac: Solstice, G6
Cadillac: XLR
Saturn: Sky
Buick: 0
GMC: 0
Chrysler: 0
Dodge: Viper, Challenger

Okay, the Corvette, XLR, and Viper are out of my league along with most people. The Focus, Cobalt and G6 are ugly, not very sporty and cheap looking. So I have the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Solstice and Sky to choose from. As much as I like the Camaro, I probably would never buy one because of the price and sheer principal. The day of the muscle car was over 30 years ago. If I want a muscle car I'll go buy a '69 Camaro for the same price and have a piece of automotive history.

I like the Mustang more because ford has incorporated a modern aesthetic that doesn't necessarily into the muscle car category, plus I like the design better than the Camaro aside from gaudy chrome wheels. The Challenger is just too retro for me. And the Solstice & Sky, well they're cool looking cars but what's the difference between the two?

Within my price range I had the Mustang, Camaro, and Soltice/Sky to choose from in the American market. Get ready for the competition now...Audi TT(Germany), VW Eos(Germany), BMW 1-series(Germany), Honda Accord coupe/Civic coupe/S2000(Japan), Nissan Z/Altima coupe(Japan), Hyundia Tiburon/Genesis coupe(Korea), Mazda Miata/RX-8(Japan), Mitsubishi Eclipse(Japan), Scion tc(Japan).....If you increase the budget by $5k there are a mess load of other imported cars to choose from.

I was also looking into a few affordable, sporty sedans. In the American market there are only the Volvo S40 (not American to me) and the Cadillac CTS which costs more than a BMW 3-series.

Some sporty sedans that I was looking at were:

Mitsubishi Lancer

Mazda3
Mazda6
Volkswagen Passat
Acura TSX
Subaru WRX/STi
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan

Why doesn't GM or Ford offer sporty little sedans? Why is there no Audi A4 killer in the American line-up? I think it's pretty simple. Develop a car to compete with the best sellers and sell it for less, believe me GM, Americans will buy it! And sorry, the Chevy Malibu is too Motherly and big for me, and the Ford Fusion is just plain boring.
What happened to cool American cars or just nice cars in general?

Here is my list of cars that GM, Ford, and Chrysler(which is not American owned anymore) need to at least try to compete with in order for Americans to buy:

Toyota FJ-Cruiser: The Ford Flex was a good attempt at creating something new but a completely different car. Not very utilitarian.

Subaru WRX/STi & Mitsubish Lancer EVO: Subari has an image. Rally, sporty, compact. What image does GM or Ford have? Ford offers the Focus RS in Europe but not here. Let's see it!

Mazda Speed3:Pontiac has the vibe...just change the face of it, give it a sport-tuned suspension, add a supercharger and call it a day.

Toyota Prius & Honda Insight: If you noticed, the best selling hybrid in America is the

Toyota Prius. Why not the Fusion Hybrid or the Malibu Hybrid? It's because they are half-assed. The Prius is it's own car as well as the Insight. The Fusion and Malibu are just different versions of what's already available. Give it a whole new name and body and they'll sell a ton. Or if you want to be different, make a hybrid V8 Mustang.

Volkswagen CC: GM and Ford better answer to this as soon as possible because this car is going to

change Volkswagen's position in the United States for good. Volkswagen is going to be the Toyota that everybody wants.
I can think of hundreds more that GM and Ford need to be competing with but this is a great starting point.I want to buy American and I think it's vital for our economy but I don't want the reason I buy one to be that I'm

"patriotic." I'm a human being/consumer that wants the best product I can find for the best price so why settle?

It seems as if GM and Ford (and many other American companies) think the only U.S. consumers are between the ages of 40 and 80, live in the suburbs with 4 kids and a dog and like big, bulky, heavy cars that can't go around a turn without massive balance issues. That may have been true 35 years ago but look at all the imports on the roads these days compared to 35 years ago.

If Volkswagen/Audi, Honda/Acura, Nissan/

Infiniti, Toyota/Lexus/Scion keep making better cars than U.S. auto makers there will be no U.S. auto makers left.

So please GM and Ford...open your eyes and give us something desirable!

And if you think that Ford and GM are incapable of much cooler cars here are models available in other countries that we don't get here.

--M/o

First Step: Tires!

If you remember, the 944 had some rotting tires when I bought it so the first and most important thing to do was to put some good shoes on it. I took it to STS in Fair Lawn, NJ (the town where I bought the car).
I had never been to STS and actually went there just because it was nearby. I dropped the car off during the day and picked it up later that evening.
I chose the Federal SS-657's high-performance and all-weather because this is the type of car that can be driven any time of year (aside from snow).
One great thing about this 944, it came with locks for the lug nuts so the wheels can't be stolen. I left the manager with the keys to a car that I didn't legally own yet and went to get the it registered while I awaited my brand new tires.
The Federals turned out to be a good choice, very little road noise and they fill the wheel well nicely. I've tried hard to get these tires to slip, spin, fishtail but they stick to the road all too well. That combined with the limited-slip differential this car handles like a charm and laughs at curves for even trying.

STS gave me a pretty good deal and some goodies came along with the purchase. I got a 10% discount coupon for my next purchase, free alignment check every 12 months, free flat repair for the life of the tires, and free rotation for the life of the tires. Not a bad deal!

After the car was home and parked safely, I went straight to the sink, filled a bucket with soap and water, and went at the wheels to get them nice and shiny. After drying them off, I applied some Turtle Wax to protect from brake dust and corrosion. It's a good idea to do this before winter to protect your wheels from sand and salt. It will also be easier to clean them later since brake dust and dirt don't stick well on wax.

I threw some Turtle Wax tire shine on the tires and they were good to go. When applying any wax, grease, or slippery liquids, be sure not to get any on the brakes or brake rotors if you'd like your brakes to work.
So the 944 has some new kicks for a grand total of $417.55. That plus the cost of the car I've already spent $2917.55!

Next: tune in for the 944's tune-up!

--M/o

Used Car Buying Tips

Those who have been through the process of buying a used car know there are some sketchy cars out there with some pretty sketchy sellers. In fact there are more sketchy cars than you could imagine. You could say buying a used car is a gamble.

Mileage: Anyone with the know-how can change the mileage on today's cars. A car with 165,000 miles can easily be changed to 65,000 miles and some older cars actually only have 5 spaces on the odometer so the car could have "turned over" multiple times.

Lemons: There are tens of thousands of "lemons" that major auto companies have bought back from buyers and illegally resold in other states.

Theft: In 2006 there were over 1 million cars stolen in the United States. A good percentage of these cars were, and still are, resold illegally.

Water Damage: Hurricane Katrina caused 571,000 vehicles to become "flood-cars" which are being found all over the country after they had been resold with irreparable damage.

Accidents: Cars that have been in accidents which are fixed up and repainted could be a safety hazard, could have damage to critical parts, or they could just not be worth a dime.

Warranties: Many used car dealers will be quick to sell you a warranty to make you feel more confident but it's very likely it won't cover major repairs.

Misuse: Cars are misused by neglect, abuse, and simple ignorance. If the car hasn't been well maintained there will always be problems with it. This can be a very difficult thing to detect since the car will probably be nice and cleaned up for you.

Bad Titles: Some cars have title issues including engine swaps, mismatching mileage, fake titles, and some cars have no title at all.

Inspection: My advice is to stay away from a car without an inspection sticker.

Recalls: Many models have factory recalls that can be fixed by the dealer free of charge, but some owners neglect or forget about the recall and never get it fixed. Failure to take care of recalls can cause serious injury.

Lemons: Many issues with used cars can be resolved with a vehicle history report. The popular websites Carfax.com and Autocheck.com are easy ways to find out if a car has been deemed a lemon, has been in an accident, has flood damage, has been reported stolen, or has title issues.

A much cheaper way to find this information is through a government site called www.add123.com which is available in 28 states and soon to be 11 more. Although they are helpful, history reports cannot tell you everything about the car. For example, the car could have been in an accident but just not reported.

Theft: When it comes to theft, you must check multiple vin numbers on the car to make sure they all match. Stolen car's vin numbers can easily be changed for a clean history report so checking as many vin plates as you can is important.

There's usually one vin number on the front door frame on the driver's side or passenger's side, one on the the dashboard near the windshield, one on the engine itself, one on the car's firewall, one on the left hand inner wheel arch, one on the steering column, and there's one on the radiator support bracket. All numbers should match the number on the title/registration and if they don't it could be an indication that the car has been stolen.

Stay away from cars that need to be started with a screwdriver or that look like the ignition has been tampered with. This could be a sign of a stolen vehicle.

Water Damage: Although a history report can uncover water damage, unfortunately if it hasn't been reported it is difficult to spot because water damage can easily be cleaned up. A car with water damage can have major electrical problems that aren't obvious.

Check the engine bay first for water damage. Look for mold and other residue left behind from dirt and leaves. Do the same inside the car and in the trunk in addition to smelling the interior parts for musty or moldy stenches. Also, check the history report for past locations of the car. If it was shipped from New Orleans in 2005 or 2006 it might be a good idea to steer clear.

Accidents: Again, the history report is a great place to start but all accidents aren't reported. To physically check for accident damage open the hood, doors, and trunk to make sure everything opens and closes properly.

A sticking door can mean the car has been hit. Look down the sides of the car to see how "straight" the panels are. When you open the hood, check to see that the walls of the engine compartment are all straight with no bends or welds that look like they were done recently. See that the front panel of the engine compartment is completely parallel to the side walls. If it isn't, it means it has been in a front end collision.

With newer cars, if it has been repainted it might mean it has been in an accident and the insurance payed for a paint job. Look for "overspray" on rubber seals, gaskets, and boots. Overspray occurs the painter sprayed an area that wasn't supposed to be painted. Areas that frequently get hit with overspray are in the door hinges, around the inside of the engine compartment, under the wheel wells, and in the trunk compartment.

Look to see that all body paint matches. If there are areas that don't match in color it means certain panels of the car were painted or replaced. Snoop around these areas to catch any problems. Another sign of accident damage is mismatching headlamps. If one looks new, it is possible that that side has been hit and replaced.

I'll say this over and over, take the car to a mechanic to be inspected. It will be worth every penny you spend. He will be able to tell you if the car has ever been hit.

Mileage: Unfortunately mileage might be the most difficult of all to diagnose aside from a history report. Cars built before 1982 don't have available history reports and many cars built before this time only had 5 number places on the odometer. So, did the odometer pass 99,999 miles? Once? Twice?

One simple way to judge the approximate mileage on the car is simple wear and tear. In what condition is the interior? If the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob have lots of wear and tear the chances are the car has done a lot of miles.

Again, take the car to a mechanic who will be able to tell the difference between a car that has driven 99,999 and 199,999 miles a matter of minutes.

The same goes for buying more modern used cars, if it doesn't run like a car that only has 60,000 miles on it, chances are that the mileage has been changed. You have to look out for this with dealerships and garages more than private sellers.

Warranties: When buying from a dealership the car salesperson will want to sell you a warranty. Don't waste your money! They'll tell you you need it because if something expensive goes wrong it will cover it. If something expensive goes wrong, chances are it'll still be coming out of your pocket. Warranties only cover certain items so make sure you read every word of the warranty to find out exactly what is and what isn't covered.

Misuse: I could probably write a whole book on car abuse and neglect but I'll keep it short and sweet. Bring it to a mechanic if you think the car may have been misused or not taken care of.

Bad Titles: If you're buying a car for an everyday driver and the car you're looking at has any title issues don't bother looking at it. There are plenty of other cars out there that are the same make/model/color without any title issues.

With all of these issues you should always be prepared. A few things you can do to slim the chances of getting stuck with a car with big problems are;

• Research! Before looking at anything do plenty of research on the car you're looking to buy. Find out problem areas, cost of repairs, general wear and tear, and cost of maintenance. Some cars have high maintenance costs some just have lots of problems. Also research recalls and ask the owner if the recalls have been fixed. If so, does he or she have proof.
• Bring a friend: Having a person with you while looking at a car is a huge benefit. It allows a second pair of eyes and ears to check the car. Have them start the car and rev it for you while you stand at the back and front of the car to listen to the exhaust and engine. You can also have your friend talk to the owner of the car while you pay attention to the car itself. Bring a pad to take notes on and if you're really ambitious, bring a camera.
• Look at more than one: If you have a car in mind, try to look at and test drive as many as possible. Go to a few private sellers and dealers even if the cars are over priced and aren't exactly what you're looking for. This way you'll have something to compare and you'll make the best choice possible.
• Take it to a mechanic: Ask the seller if you can take the car to a mechanic before you buy. If they don't approve then it's your choice, but I would walk away. A local mechanic would be happy to inspect a car for a fee of course, but the fee is well worth it when you think about the amount of money you might be spending on continuous repairs in the future. A mechanic will tell you exactly what's wrong and right with the car.
• Tires: A car should have all the same make and size tires. It is dangerous to drive with mismatching tires.
• Inspection: Make sure the car has an inspection sticker. If it doesn't you could be spending a lump sum to pass inspection. If the seller doesn't have it inspected as him/her to have it inspected this way you'll know what needs to be done.
• Service History: Ask to see the car's service history. Any receipts or proof that the car has been maintained is needed to see exactly what has been done to the car.

If you are patient and take measures to find a great car, you should find a car that is worth buying. Remember, the car is only as good as the previous owner(s) have kept it so if you don't trust the owner don't buy the car. If it doesn't feel, sound, drive, or act right then walk away. Good luck with your next purchase and drive it how it was meant to be driven!

--M/o

1985.5 Porsche 944: Next Steps

Next Steps:

Bringing this car back to 1985 is going to be a challenge to say the least. There is so much to do and so many obstacles that I face. This will be my first restoration plus the biggest challenge is not having a garage. Working on a car in a garage is priceless. Having a warm, locked-off area that shelters you from the elements where you can leave the car and your tools in pieces and not worry about theft, corrosion, and distractions is almost a necessity. But you make due with what you have and what I have is next to nothing, aside from the "drive" for cars, mechanical inclination, and the monetary need to sell this car.

Luckily, I do have a spot in a parking garage with shelter from rain and snow but it is technically still outdoors. So, for the sake of my reputation, my love for classic cars, and for the sake of the buyer, I will not take shortcuts nor short change any part of the car. Whatever this 944 needs to look and drive like new, it will get. Here's what I know it needs in order of priority:

• 4-tires
• front wipers
• windshield
• rear turn signal bulb
• rear side marker bulb
• exhaust
• power steering belt
• 2-hood support struts
• 4-spark plugs
• 5-ignition wires
• distributor rotor
• idle control valve cleaning
• inspection
• rear hatch release switch
• sun visor clip
• some body work
• a paint job
• center arm rest
• leather sunroof bag
• A/C blowing warm air

Following the paint job:

• rear lock seal
• Porsche decal (rear)
• reassembly

On a car this old there will be plenty of things that need attention that you can't predict so be sure to factor this into your budget. Old parts break during procedures, rubber seals need replacing, and things tend to stay hidden until uncovered.

You can never know everything you'll need before starting so it is a good idea to shop around for the best deals. You might be tempted to buy the first few items you find for an okay deal but be patient when it comes to ordering because chances are you'll miss something if you rush and you'll pay more for shipping in the end. Also, during certain procedures, find out if parts need replacement after removal. Sometimes you can't use a part after it has been removed, you'll need to replace brand new such as but not limited to rubber gaskets and rusty nuts and bolts. Normally it's a good idea to replace some parts that may need service during a procedure if they're cheap enough and difficult to get to later.

The good with the bad, I think I bought a good little car for little money and a lot of character. It's a hell of a challenge for my first project and the learning curve is going to be a slap in the face since it is German engineered but who's got the time to learn the right way?
First priority is getting this thing ready for an inspection. All bulbs have to be functioning properly, windshield needs to be flawless, and emissions need to pass so the exhaust is very important. I'll be posting updates periodically so check back soon and wish me luck!

--M/o

1985.5 Porsche 944: The Purchase

The Search: I first spotted this 1985.5 Porsche 944 on Craigslist for $3250, which was over my budget. I had a hand full of cheaper 944s I was looking at, a few BMW 6 Series CSIs, and a VW Corrado. So I saved the internet link to the car for later but had no intentions of going to see it, yet. I went all over New York and New Jersey in search for the right car. A car with a distinguished soul, but a fatigued appearance in need of some TLC.

When you're looking to buy a car make sure you do extensive research and when you think you've done enough, keep going. You may take it lightly, but when it comes to specialized cars the gamble is tenfold. Don't just go out and wing it. Classic cars, or just plain cool cars, will always have online owner forums that are usually free to join and give you great tips that you can't get anywhere else. Type your car's name plus the word forum in a search engine and you'll find plenty of web forums. Read through the posts about troubles, repairs, problems, and parts and you'll soon get a feel for some of the more common problems with the car. This will tell you how easy it is to source parts, get service, and how difficult the car is to work on. Search for repairs that need special care that you might not be able to do on your own. If you feel the need, post your own question about the car possibly asking what to look out for when buying the car and expert owners will most likely be happy to give you advice.

After weeks of research, I decided to go looking. I visited a small dealership in New Jersey to find an '84 944 with tons of engine problems. Then another '84 with less engine trouble but the owner had spray painted the interior red, plus he wanted $2500 for the car and it needed far too many repairs. After seeing a few bad eggs, I kept searching for the right one. I searched everywhere and finally came back to the 944 that was listed for $3250. The owner had reduced the asking price to $3000 even. So I gave him a call and he seemed like a nice guy. He had Porsches from the past and present, including a '97 911 and a Boxster. So I decided to give it a shot.

First Glance: When looking at a car that you're seriously thinking about buying, you need to find your inner detective, especially with older cars. You'll need to get your hands dirty so wear some old clothes! Don't let the owner sway you toward any area of the car. You need to be in control. First, look everywhere for rust. On the body panels, under the fenders, on the pillars, under the car, on the frame, the exhaust, under the driver and passenger carpets, in the trunk under the carpet. These are all places where rust will likely form first. If it's too rotten, walk away. Also, make sure all glass is in good condition, especially on high-end cars or you'll be spending a fortune to replace it.

This Guard's Red '85.5 944 was looking a bit tired when I first approached it. The owner was desperately pumping air into the tires as I walked up to the car. They were dry-rotted and leaking to the point that I almost didn't take it out for a test drive. It had awfully faded paint and had been off the road for some time. The last inspection was 2007 and I could tell...

When I looked closely, there was a crack the size of Germany on the passenger side windshield, and a dent in the front nose panel under the head lamp. It looked as if it was weeping from neglect. It had a bit of rust and a dent by the back wheel well. Around back were some blemishes in the paint that looked like some surface rust forming. This car wasn't looking good, but, it wasn't all bad.

When I opened the driver's door I was surprised by a black leather interior that looked spectacular! For a car that was almost as old as me there was very little wear. And everything inside worked! Well, almost everything. The leather center armrest had a small tear, there was a clip missing for the sun visor and the rear hatch release button was not working, but the key opened it manually so I was hoping it was the switch that was bad and not the release motor. Power sunroof, power windows, power mirrors, power seats....all working. It had a modern CD player and upgraded speakers with a Kenwood amp in the hatch. The dash board had cracks in it which is expected of any '80s 944. But overall, the interior was in good condition.

Other than a few bumps and bruises, the body panels were in good shape and the wheels were perfect phone dials, classic 80's Porsche design. It was impressive how original the car was, from top to bottom. No gaudy 18" chrome rims. No after market wing. No bolted-on body kit. Just a solid, original Porsche.

I opened the hood and the engine compartment was dry and uncleaned, just how I like it. The owner hadn't cleaned under the hood so any leaks or troubled areas would be visible. Good news! There were no leaks, no oil, no fluids, and although it needed a bit of cleaning, it was only a bit of dust.

The finest bit was starting the engine. Suddenly that weeping 4-banger turned into a 2.5 liter sports car that was just asking to be resurrected. The motor sounded healthy and strong but the exhaust was letting it down. It sounded like the muffler had to go.

Test Drive: Apparently the owner had some trust issues because when I asked to take it for a test drive, he wanted to sit in the passenger seat and talk about the car the whole time, which wasn't all that bad. He described the history of the car. How he had bought it years ago, kept it for a while, sold it to a friend, then missed it so much that he bought it back. That was great and all, but I was trying to listen to the engine, transmission, exhaust, suspension and the owner blabbing away at the same time.

I took it for a thorough drive. You want to take a car out for at least 20 minutes to get it to show you its real face. How is the temperature, the oil pressure? Are the clutch and transmission smooth? Can you hear any noises coming from the suspension? How is the steering? Responsive? Loose? How does the engine power feel at different RPMs? Any hesitation? Are the brakes working well? All of these things are "clues" to the things that may need work.

I took it out on the thruway, on back roads, bumpy roads, winding roads, up hills, down hills, slammed the brakes a few times. Everything seemed pretty good, except for that sad exhaust sounded terrible and the rotten tires were misguiding the car all over the place. It became apparent that there was a good car under that aged skin.

If a motor isn't running well, chances are the owner had not taken care of it throughout its life and if that's the case, it will probably never run well. But a car that is this old and is running this well has been properly maintained throughout its 25 years.

I drove the car back to the owner's house, parked it, and took a second look around to catch anything I might have missed. The more you look at the car, the more you'll notice. So I routed around and the owner was being fairly honest about what he thought needed to be done. He mentioned the obvious, new tires, a bit of body work, possibly the idle control valve needed to be cleaned. So after talking with him for a while, and spending some time inside and out of the car, I decided this car might be the best one I could find for the money so I proceeded to make him an offer...

The Purchase: Making an offer on a car can be a slippery slope when it comes to private sellers. Trying to get the best offer possible while still being reasonable is a difficult task, but hey, you give them an offer, if they don't like it, ask how much are they willing to negotiate. An owner is usually happier to take a reasonable price if it means getting the car of their hands. If they aren't willing, then walk away.

My bank account decided that I couldn't pay more than $2500 for the car. I told the owner I really wanted this car but I would have trouble giving him any more than that, plus I needed to research the cost of repair. Usually a proud owner would like to ensure their car is in good hands so he said to me, "If you can't come up with more than $2500, we'll have a deal" After researching parts and repair procedures I bought a Porsche for $2500! It was both an exciting and nerve racking day but I'm hoping it will all be worth it. Next Steps soon to come...

Check out the full slideshow below!

--M/o