Retirement Cars

tell Honda

You should let Honda know, they appear to be past the development stage and have started limited production. I guess their engineers aren't too sharp.
 
bobbee25 said:
You should let Honda know, they appear to be past the development stage and have started limited production. I guess their engineers aren't too sharp.
Click to expand...
You're right. Apparently those clever devils have repealed the laws of thermodynamics. I notice that there are no plans to actually sell these cars, but you can inquire about the potential to reserve the option to get a place in line to get an application to eventually consult further about the process needed to maybe lease the vehicle.

Three things come to mind:
- Public relations vs. real product
- GM Impact electric car reprise
- "Vaporware"
 
Thanks everyone I had the oil and filter changed for $53 and that seemed to help alot. I am going to trying and keep it as long as I can. Maybe I can get a few more years out of it.
 
Last edited:
rec7 said:
Thanks everyone I had the oil and filter changed for $53 and that seemed to help alot. I am going to trying and keep it as long as I can. Maybe I can get a few more years out of it.
Click to expand...

I am surprised the tranny was even working by this time (14 years and 100k miles without a fluid change??).

Regular fluid changes (engine oil, tranny, anti-freeze) are the cheapest preventative maintenance going. Hope it holds up for you.
 
AltaRed said:
Regular fluid changes (engine oil, tranny, anti-freeze) are the cheapest preventative maintenance going.
Click to expand...

As I said, serviced every 3,000 miles, a vehicle with only 100k miles on the odometer is still "new."
 
The '04 Prius I gave to my daughter with 90k plus on it last year now has toward 110k and is still running like a clock. The body is in A1 condition even here in our rust belt climate. I have an '07 and we drive it everywhere leaving my wife's suv in the garage as much as possible. In the warm months, I am getting a little over 50 mpg whereas her suv gets barely 20 mpg. At this rate her car will last 20 years.
 
When the Honda FCX is affordable, I'll get one......:)
 
RonBoyd said:
As I said, serviced every 3,000 miles, a vehicle with only 100k miles on the odometer is still "new."
Click to expand...

Yup. My regularly serviced Subaru has 129k on it and still runs pretty much like it always has. The pounding has taken a bit of a toll on the body, especially nicks in the paint job from stuff kicked up by trucks on I95.
 
Accord with 74k miles on it... I keep up with maintenance and it drives like it's new. Then again, it's an '06 so it should.
 
I have been gritting my teeth reading thru the responses to this post. Never have I seen such a Nippon love-fest. We do still have a domestic auto industry folks, and they are turning out a decent product. Don’t just take my word for it- go look !

I may be an anachronism in this age of enlightenment, but I still firmly believe in “Buy American”

The big three are struggling, no doubt – some of it self-inflicted, but the biggest problem is subsidized imports. The loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs (auto, supply chain, steel, engineering, etc.) is a serious threat to our long term economic well-being. Manufacturing is what built the US economy. (look at what is going on in China, Mexico, India, etc today) I have traveled extensively around the world selling specialized manufacturing machinery, and have observed first-hand how desperate developing countries are to get their products into our market, while simultaneously shielding their domestic market from US imports. Our open-door trade policies are too one-sided, and are eroding the backbone of our long-term economic well-being.

I realize that the Japanese automakers are now “building” cars here- but only to appease the uninformed consumer-primarily with imported parts manufactured in low-cost labor markets. Pouring our hard-earned money into the Japanese (or Korean or Chinese) auto economy isn’t doing a damn thing to help grow the US economy, fund our ever-increasing social programs, or ensure your retirement benefits will be viable over your lifetime.

When your neighbor loses his job because you bought a new Japanese car, who pays his unemployment benefits? Who makes up for the $ he isn’t paying in SS, Medicare, Federal, and State payroll taxes? Who picks up the tab when he defaults on his mortgage, credit cards and quits paying his car insurance? Sure as heck isn’t the folks who brought you the Prius or the Accord. It is you and me, people.

Until the US consumer wakes up and realizes we need to support our own manufacturing economy first, they better hope that Honda and Toyota are going to step in and take care of their kids retirement programs- because an economy based on us selling hamburgers to one another isn’t sustainable over time.

You can’t evaluate a new car purchase strictly with your computer- go test drive a new Chevy, Ford, or Dodge product. Objectively compare it with the imports. You will be surprised how far the US automakers have come- The new Malibu is a case in point-competition is a good thing- buy something with an extended warranty if that gives you sense of financial security. There are some tremendous deals to be had right now- as in rebates, 0% financing, etc. Quit listening to 10 year-old rhetoric from your latte-slurping liberal yuppie neighbors about how they will never buy a US car, blah-blah, blah.
Gee, that poor old Cavalier only lasted 15 years… And I venture to say that many of the people driving imports haven’t objectively compared a US-made product recently.

All that being said, I do have a BMW Z3 convertible for a weekend car- it was manufactured in South Carolina, and I bought it USED. My primary vehicle- which I will buy new when my 1997 F-150 needs replacement will be something from the Big Three. And just so you don't think this post is all Japan -bashing, I did evaluate USED Miata and Honda 2000 convertibles- but alas, they were built offshore, and were a POS compared to the BMW.

Invest in America- we are still the greatest country on Earth.
 
Oh please. How much of the parts content of the big 3 (meaning GM, Ford and Xler, not Toyota, GM and Ford) vehicles is domestic, vs. the Asian and Euro brands? How quickly have the US makers outsourced everything, bought as much as they could from foreign suppliersand shifted as much work as possible to non-unionized suppliers/plants?

I always do comparison shop domestic makes vs. the non-US brands when I buy. I've owned a Ford and a Chevy, as well as a Toyota, a Honda anda Subaru. I would consider the best choice for my needs regardless of brand when I next need a vehicle. But I suspect I will end up buying a non-US make, since the likelihood of Ford or GM offering what I need are pretty slim, seeing as how they are still mostly locked in the "giant truck" business model.
 
bigwonderfulwyoming said:

Until the US consumer wakes up and realizes we need to support our own manufacturing economy first, they better hope that Honda and Toyota are going to step in and take care of their kids retirement programs- because an economy based on us selling hamburgers to one another isn’t sustainable over time.
...

Invest in America- we are still the greatest country on Earth.
Click to expand...
Can you explain to me why it is important that the US is the leader in manufacturing all products? Is it ok to have computers or t-shirts made abroad as long as cars are made domestically? Why is the car industry special? The way I see it, I purchase the goods that are good quality and competitively priced, and I don't worry where the company that makes them is located.

Currently, the US car industry has very large retirement programs that make it difficult for them to offer the lowest prices. I think you'll find the people on this board are very meritocratic, and do not make purchases/investments based on emotional appeals. I'll "invest in America" when I see products worthy of my money.
 
bigwonderfulwyoming said:
I have been gritting my teeth reading thru the responses to this post. Never have I seen such a Nippon love-fest. We do still have a domestic auto industry folks, and they are turning out a decent product. Don’t just take my word for it- go look !
Click to expand...


I've looked, bought several, and PAID a heavy price to "buy American". I now own two Hondas, the FIRST import cars I have bought since 1986........:eek: Know what?, I haven't had any "mysterious" $500-$1000 repairs..........;)

The big three are struggling, no doubt – some of it self-inflicted, but the biggest problem is subsidized imports.
Click to expand...
No, the Big Three decided that the American people were stupid, would buy a subpar product forever, buy a new one every three years on some perceived sense of loyalty, and life would carry on.

The loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs (auto, supply chain, steel, engineering, etc.) is a serious threat to our long term economic well-being. Manufacturing is what built the US economy. (look at what is going on in China, Mexico, India, etc today) I have traveled extensively around the world selling specialized manufacturing machinery, and have observed first-hand how desperate developing countries are to get their products into our market, while simultaneously shielding their domestic market from US imports. Our open-door trade policies are too one-sided, and are eroding the backbone of our long-term economic well-being.
Click to expand...
That could very well be, but from what I understand, the US STILL is the big dog for highly specialized manufactured goods. When is comes to high tolerance, highly complicated manufacturing processes, China, India, Pakistan and Korea can't compete. Granted, the cheap stuff is made overseas, but it's not like there's a bunch of 10-ton gears made in China that Harley-Davidson or GE is going to put in their plants.........;)

I realize that the Japanese automakers are now “building” cars here- but only to appease the uninformed consumer-primarily with imported parts manufactured in low-cost labor markets. Pouring our hard-earned money into the Japanese (or Korean or Chinese) auto economy isn’t doing a damn thing to help grow the US economy, fund our ever-increasing social programs, or ensure your retirement benefits will be viable over your lifetime.
Click to expand...
Fact remains, those cars ARE more reliable than the American cars. I'll give you that EARLY results from the Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu look promising, but Honda and Toyota BUILT their market share through fuel efficient small cars, and it will be difficult to fight back.......

Until the US consumer wakes up and realizes we need to support our own manufacturing economy first, they better hope that Honda and Toyota are going to step in and take care of their kids retirement programs- because an economy based on us selling hamburgers to one another isn’t sustainable over time.
Click to expand...
Tell me HOW it's Toyota and Honda's fault that The Big Threee committed themselves to unsustainable benefit programs for their workers?? :confused::p

You can’t evaluate a new car purchase strictly with your computer- go test drive a new Chevy, Ford, or Dodge product. Objectively compare it with the imports. You will be surprised how far the US automakers have come- The new Malibu is a case in point-competition is a good thing- buy something with an extended warranty if that gives you sense of financial security. There are some tremendous deals to be had right now- as in rebates, 0% financing, etc. Quit listening to 10 year-old rhetoric from your latte-slurping liberal yuppie neighbors about how they will never buy a US car, blah-blah, blah.
Click to expand...
Gee, that poor old Cavalier only lasted 15 years… And I venture to say that many of the people driving imports haven’t objectively compared a US-made product recently.
Click to expand...


I have, and chose the used Hondas anyway. If you think the Dodge Caliber is a world class car, you've been hitting the bottle a little early........:p
 
A friend bought a used rental car when she retired. She brought her mechanic to check it out before buying and has been really happy with it for about three years now.
 
Can you explain to me why it is important that the US is the leader in manufacturing all products?
If you aren't the lead dog the view is always the same... Our service economy is stagnant while the expanding economies around the globe are all investing heavily in manufacturing.

Is it ok to have computers or t-shirts made abroad as long as cars are made domestically? I didn't differentiate- I am an advocate of strong (not exclusive ) domestic manufacturing of all products.

Why is the car industry special? It isn't- the same principle applies to every sector of the manufacturing industry. As for your T-shirt/computer question, we no longer have a textile industry or much of a domestic computer manufacturing industry, either. Containerized shipping and cheap offshore labor have just about killed the US furniture industry- along with a lot of other value- added products.

The way I see it, I purchase the goods that are good quality and competitively priced, and I don't worry where the company that makes them is located. You had better worry, when your grandkids can't find decent paying jobs and are flipping burgers or stocking store shelves with cheap imported products at minimum wage. You should be concerned when your neighbor loses his job and defaults on his mortagage because you and a lot of other peope- "don't worry where the products you buy come from". Who is going to pick up the tab for the myriad of job-failure related social costs?- you and me, my friend, not the companies who are flooding this country with low cost products built with low cost labor in any number of countries. The current mortgage crisis is the tip of the iceberg- what do you think is feeding the affordabilty gap? It shure as he!! isn't high-paying manufacturing jobs. As for US companies moving their manufacturing offshore, it is usually a last-resort matter of survival for labor-intensive manufacturers - $30/hour and $2.50/ mile cannot compete with $30/week and $4000/container no matter how you slice it. Try running FIRECALC with your anticipated retirement savings based on a working lifetime at the wages that many foreign companies are paying their manufacturing workers. Oops- 100% of those cycles will fail...

Currently, the US car industry has very large retirement programs that make it difficult for them to offer the lowest prices. I am sure that there are a lot of retirees (many of them on this board) who are benefitting from these programs, or similar programs in other formerly strong US industries.

I think you'll find the people on this board are very meritocratic, and do not make purchases/investments based on emotional appeals.
Making a concious choice to supprt your country and countrymen is not an "emotional appeal". I see it as social responsibility and patriotism.


I'll "invest in America" when I see products worthy of my money.
Look objectively, instead of listening to the knee-jerk anti-Detroit attitudes that are killing the auto industry. And good luck finding those products, so much of what we buy these days is no longer built in the US- thanks to subsidized imports and the high legacy labor costs that make it possible for many of us to be on this FIRE board.
 
bigwonderfulwyoming said:
Can you explain to me why it is important that the US is the leader in manufacturing all products?
If you aren't the lead dog the view is always the same... Our service economy is stagnant while the expanding economies around the globe are all investing heavily in manufacturing.

Is it ok to have computers or t-shirts made abroad as long as cars are made domestically? I didn't differentiate- I am an advocate of strong (not exclusive ) domestic manufacturing of all products.

Why is the car industry special? It isn't- the same principle applies to every sector of the manufacturing industry. As for your T-shirt/computer question, we no longer have a textile industry or much of a domestic computer manufacturing industry, either. Containerized shipping and cheap offshore labor have just about killed the US furniture industry- along with a lot of other value- added products.

The way I see it, I purchase the goods that are good quality and competitively priced, and I don't worry where the company that makes them is located. You had better worry, when your grandkids can't find decent paying jobs and are flipping burgers or stocking store shelves with cheap imported products at minimum wage. You should be concerned when your neighbor loses his job and defaults on his mortagage because you and a lot of other peope- "don't worry where the products you buy come from". Who is going to pick up the tab for the myriad of job-failure related social costs?- you and me, my friend, not the companies who are flooding this country with low cost products built with low cost labor in any number of countries. The current mortgage crisis is the tip of the iceberg- what do you think is feeding the affordabilty gap? It shure as he!! isn't high-paying manufacturing jobs. As for US companies moving their manufacturing offshore, it is usually a last-resort matter of survival for labor-intensive manufacturers - $30/hour and $2.50/ mile cannot compete with $30/week and $4000/container no matter how you slice it. Try running FIRECALC with your anticipated retirement savings based on a working lifetime at the wages that many foreign companies are paying their manufacturing workers. Oops- 100% of those cycles will fail...

Currently, the US car industry has very large retirement programs that make it difficult for them to offer the lowest prices. I am sure that there are a lot of retirees (many of them on this board) who are benefitting from these programs, or similar programs in other formerly strong US industries.

I think you'll find the people on this board are very meritocratic, and do not make purchases/investments based on emotional appeals.
Making a concious choice to supprt your country and countrymen is not an "emotional appeal". I see it as social responsibility and patriotism.


I'll "invest in America" when I see products worthy of my money.
Look objectively, instead of listening to the knee-jerk anti-Detroit attitudes that are killing the auto industry. And good luck finding those products, so much of what we buy these days is no longer built in the US- thanks to subsidized imports and the high legacy labor costs that make it possible for many of us to be on this FIRE board.
Click to expand...

I see that you skillfully and artfully avoided responding to my post.........

Questioning one's patriotism based on the car someone chooses to drive is pretty shallow..........:p:rolleyes:
 
bigwonderfulwyoming said:
The way I see it, I purchase the goods that are good quality and competitively priced, and I don't worry where the company that makes them is located. You had better worry, when your grandkids can't find decent paying jobs and are flipping burgers or stocking store shelves with cheap imported products at minimum wage. You should be concerned when your neighbor loses his job and defaults on his mortagage because you and a lot of other peope- "don't worry where the products you buy come from". Who is going to pick up the tab for the myriad of job-failure related social costs?- you and me, my friend, not the companies who are flooding this country with low cost products built with low cost labor in any number of countries. The current mortgage crisis is the tip of the iceberg- what do you think is feeding the affordabilty gap? It shure as he!! isn't high-paying manufacturing jobs. As for US companies moving their manufacturing offshore, it is usually a last-resort matter of survival for labor-intensive manufacturers - $30/hour and $2.50/ mile cannot compete with $30/week and $4000/container no matter how you slice it. Try running FIRECALC with your anticipated retirement savings based on a working lifetime at the wages that many foreign companies are paying their manufacturing workers. Oops- 100% of those cycles will fail...
Click to expand...

The likelihood that my grandkids will be working in any kind of manufacturing effort is approximately nil. Nor are they terribly likely to be flipping burgers or stocking shelves. Like most Merkins of their day, they will very likely have advanced degrees and specialized skills that will be used to participate in whatever passes for the service economy at that date.

Here's what I don't get about the "Buy Merkin - its your patriotic duty" adttitude: do these people not understand that most manufacturing jobs are relatively low value-added and relatively open to competition around the globe? We shouldn't want to protect inefficient industries or encourage our labor force to cling to low value-added jobs. We should be encouraging growth of our most productive, most competitive industries and helping our labor force constantly upgrade its skills to stay at the peak of the competition in high value added industries.

If you slip into the protectionist cesspool, the protected companies do the same thing they always do: change little if at all, pump up executive compensation, and focus on milking the protection for excess profits and lobbying against efforts to take the protection away. Instead, the best thing to do is open these industries to competition, since it forces the domestic firms to become efficient/productive, or they close and the resources thus employed become freed up to for use in more productive sectors of the economy.
 
FinanceDude, if you took the time to actually read my reply you would see that I was skillfully and artfully responding to a post by Abreutime...
 
brewer12345 said:
The likelihood that my grandkids will be working in any kind of manufacturing effort is approximately nil. Nor are they terribly likely to be flipping burgers or stocking shelves. Like most Merkins of their day, they will very likely have advanced degrees and specialized skills that will be used to participate in whatever passes for the service economy at that date.

Here's what I don't get about the "Buy Merkin - its your patriotic duty" adttitude: do these people not understand that most manufacturing jobs are relatively low value-added and relatively open to competition around the globe? We shouldn't want to protect inefficient industries or encourage our labor force to cling to low value-added jobs. We should be encouraging growth of our most productive, most competitive industries and helping our labor force constantly upgrade its skills to stay at the peak of the competition in high value added industries.

If you slip into the protectionist cesspool, the protected companies do the same thing they always do: change little if at all, pump up executive compensation, and focus on milking the protection for excess profits and lobbying against efforts to take the protection away. Instead, the best thing to do is open these industries to competition, since it forces the domestic firms to become efficient/productive, or they close and the resources thus employed become freed up to for use in more productive sectors of the economy.
Click to expand...

All good points........I think "bigwonderfulwyoming" has drunk too much Kool-Aid to know. Just about everyone has heard of the West Bend Company (pots, pans, griddles, etc.. They are 20 miles up the road from where I live. They closed a number of years ago because Chinese imports were killing them on price. In the end, around 500 $13-$21 an hour jobs were lost. Did it cripple the town? No, West Bend is booming, without the company. The resources were deployed elsewhere.
 
FinanceDude said:
All good points........I think "bigwonderfulwyoming" has drunk too much Kool-Aid to know. Just about everyone has heard of the West Bend Company (pots, pans, griddles, etc.. They are 20 miles up the road from where I live. They closed a number of years ago because Chinese imports were killing them on price. In the end, around 500 $13-$21 an hour jobs were lost. Did it cripple the town? No, West Bend is booming, without the company. The resources were deployed elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Yup. And I hear that the coal and oil industries actively recruit for labor in the rust belt auto states (MI, OH, IN) becaus ethey are desparate for quality labor and they know that many of the people coming out of the auto industry are top notch (just need some training).
 
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