Why are young American adults buying more foreign automobiles, rather than those that are U.S. made?

Because GM makes crappy cars.

@FluffyChicken How accurate is that, really? I’ve never owned a car, but I’ve heard that American cars are crap compared to foreign vehicles my entire life. Is it more stereotype than reality? Are our cars really that bad?

I used to love my old VW Beetles so much that I went to work for VW selling their new cars. I’ve never owned a VW since, what crap.

Scion seems to get the same kind of factory quality control that Toyota gives so the cars are proving well for owners.

I also worked for a store that sold 6 lines of GM cars, again, crap. After riding in hundreds of Subaru, Nissan, Honda and Toyota cars, getting in to the GM’s was a letdown in every way. Surprising to me, Buick sedans and GMC trucks were the most impressive out of the sorry bunch.

My American car is decent, though I just had to replace the engine so that should say something. I do a lot of driving, though, and it’s twelve years old.

The foreign cars last much longer than the American cars. The gas mileage is usually better on a foreign car also.

I’ve had American cars and foreign cars. The American cars I’ve had required repairs often, were hugely expensive to maintain because of that and died horrible deaths at a fairly young age. Of the foreign cars I’ve owned, the soonest I got rid of one was at 90,000 miles because it didn’t have AC and I was in a hot clime. When they start making American cars that are as reliable, I will happily switch over.

What is your definition of “foreign” ?
Is a car made in Indiana by Japanese company foreign, or one made in South Carolina by a German company foreign? (Subaru and BMW)
Most of the “American” cars i.e. Ford & GM have a good percentage of foreign parts and assemblies.

I think Ford would be worth a look these days.
It’s a shame Saturn is getting shut down.

Aren’t VWs made in the USA now? Also, according to another Q&A website the Scion is made exclusively in North America for the North American market.

So it has a foreign “brand”. Meh.

Who has the money to buy a new car, especially those under 27? I’m in my early 40’s and I’ve never owned a new car.

I’ve never driven anything but GM vehicles, my entire life, and I beg to differ that they are “crappy.”

I’m probably just stereotyping. I do know that Hondas freaking rule though.

Where a car is assembled is one thing.

Where the car parts are made is another thing.

What the guidelines for quality control along assembly is another thing, a very important one.

Here’s a story. My ex worked for Toyota many years and took several tours in that time of an American assembly plant that was sharing two brands across it floor that shared similar parts, the other car a Chevy brand. My ex noted that there were teams who’d go to the Toyota car and do checks whereas the twin with the Chevy branding didn’t get the same attention from it’s Chevy assemblers.

I’m sure most people are aware how popular the Toyota Corolla has been through all it’s changes but how many remember the econo’ sedan called Chevy Nova that tried to ride the Toyota Corolla’s shirt tails because it was assembled in the same plant?

I don’t think any car manufacturer makes ‘crappy’ cars (at least I’ve never heard of “Krappy Kars Manufacturing Kompany”).. I think it lies in commercials.. Look at your TV screen.. Notice all the car commercials, note how many are american vs import.. People (especially the young) are mesmerized by commercials, they will buy even when their not in the market to buy.. You get inundated by car commercials, you eventually want to go with the winner and in these cases, the more of a commercial you see the more you think it’s successful. I do not buy imports, only american (dodge in particular) that american cars are made with imported parts is bad enough but otherwise would boost the prices another ten grand or so if parts were exclusively american.

Exactly what @chyna and @JilltheTooth said. Reliabilty, reliability, reliability.

Before we were married, my wife had a (brand new) Mercury and Ford. Both were in and out of the shop more times than I can count. She had to evoke the “lemon law” on the Mercury and the Ford died with 60K miles on it.

Now together, we have had four Hondas. Two Civics, a CR-V and a Pilot. Never been in the shop except for scheduled repairs. Got over 200K on both Civics before trading them in.

As @FluffyChicken said, “Hondas freaking rule”.

As a brand, VW is kind of the Apple Computers of the auto world. Beyond that and the aura of the GTI, I’m not sure why VWs are so popular.

Scion has positioned itself as a relatively cheap and highly customizable car. It does more than sell the bullshit about a car being an extension of your personality. It readily and physically conforms to your personality. Plus, the gas mileage is good.

I’m not in that demographic, but when I shopped for a car a few years ago, I didn’t even consider any American manufacturer (besides Ford), because their reliability ratings with Consumer Reports weren’t at all competitive with Toyota and Honda.

I’ll add that in the ‘70s my parents had a horrific relationship with a VW Rabbit that for a decade or two caused my Dad involuntary vocal consternation at any suggestion of buying foreign.

”because their reliability ratings with Consumer Reports weren’t at all competitive with Toyota and Honda.”

End of the day, that’s all I care about. I’m one of those people that sees a car as a necessary evil and buying one is money I really don’t want to spend.

When I was still in the States I drove a Honda Civic manufactured in the USA. I’m not interested, even a little bit, in the crap GM puts out. I had a Ford Explorer in high school and loved it, but it didn’t last much past 100,000 miles. The Civic was a trooper and I sold it to my little brother. Chevys, GMCs, etc, hold no appeal to me: they’re too big, they don’t get very good mileage.

But more importantly, it’s the little things. I don’t need 8 cupholders, I need a heating/cooling system that works well. Whenever I’ve rented a Chevy or a Dodge, I always feel like it’s full of bells and whistles that just get in the way of my desire to drive from point A to point B.

Because american cars are crap. Those interiors look like something out of a 1950’s Russian shanty town…..nasty.

@ucme How many 1950’s Russian Shanty towns did visit?

Now how many USA American made cars have you owned?

Just asking…..

@Tropical_Willie Way to take a metaphor literally! I’ve not owned any, because they’re crap…

@ucme

I have owned several oil leaking and fried fuse box English cars anyway.

@Tropical_Willie Oh i see, we’re taking this to the playground now are we?
Hey, i’ve no problem with that. Some British cars are rust buckets, not mine, I drive a Lotus.
I stand by my opinion though, largely because i’m right see.

@ucme When I was a teenager, my neighbor dated a guy with a Lotus. Coolest car ever!

@chyna I have an Elise & yeah, very cool. Not very practical though, only room for me really.
Our family car is a big old Citroen, not very cool but does it’s job well.

I driven a Lotus Super 7, Morgan Plus 4, Triumph TR4A, TVR, Humber Super Snipe, Hillman Minx Estate and MG-A and MG-B. Rode in for many miles Aston-Martin DB-5, XK-E and Austin Healy 100–4.

At least I base my option on reality, not opinion.

Tsk….backseat drivers!

At least I’ve been in contact with reality.

Yeah, coz i’m a hologram…..yawn!

Most young adults we see come into our dealerships aren’t interested in the Honda or the Toyota. Their parents bring them in because they’re the one’s co signing or fully financing. Sometimes grandparents bring them in.

Thing is, once they buy one of these then they usually stick with the brand unless a specialty car comes out they can easily afford for style over reliability or practicality.

Most owners of foreign cars that I know cite quality as the reason for their purchases.