Buying an American car is not all about where it is made, at least to me. Buying an American car is all about buying an idea. Americans have always been about wide open plains, grandiose ideas and doing things our own way and this is reflected in their cars...this will not change. American cars are about style, big and brash because we can and do back it up.
I really do not care where the car is assembled. You can tell me all day how Toyota and Honda have major plants in the states, but they will never be American, ever. Cars fully represent their countries heritage and beliefs as manufacturers from America, Japan, Korea, Germany and Italy will attest.
Consumer Reports imo is a complete farce with their # of defects reporting, does not float my boat in the least as can be proven by the # of Italian cars that I have owned over the years. When I drive American or Italian I become one with the car as they provide all the feedback that I need to make it an enjoyable experience. Two very real and strong mindsets that are totally different but still very enjoyable. When I drive Japanese I get no emotional connection at all and it actually becomes disappointing to me.
At the end of the day if you believe Japanese cars are better then buy them and be happy, they will be very economical and will last you a long long time.
Detroit did have a 30yr period where they produced total crap. They lost plenty of customers as kids were born into families that drove Honda's and now the kids are old enough and what do they know but Honda's.
American vehicles today can once again compete with anyone and they often do it at a lower price point. It's a great time, probably the best time in our history to be an automobile enthusiast.
