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本帖最后由 KochFord 于 2010-2-17 22:06 编辑 ( ^" {8 W7 d/ z
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"1. They're Class Leaders
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For a long time, "mid-size sedan" meant two things: Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
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9 ] N: g: p0 _. I" _Not anymore.
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The Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion have changed all that. 7 s: _( t* W3 `( t9 t1 Q# R
; Y. T# X: I6 @$ \7 {% _Both cars are at the top of the U.S. News Midsize Car Rankings, and the Chevrolet Malibu was named North American Car of the Year in 2008, beating the Honda Accord.2 `" y( m9 r* E6 g( }# u
~2 C- A- L- A! J. mThe Saturn Aura took the honors in 2007 (the same year the Toyota Camry and Honda Fit were up for the award).
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; E5 ], E6 z6 p7 Q1 xBut American cars aren't just winning awards, they're also matching imports when it comes to quality.
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. o: Q g" _7 F# q5 WAccording to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Survey, Ford and all GM brands but Saab matched Honda, Nissan, Acura, BMW and Audi in overall initial quality.
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8 v( r) M( O! ?Ford's Mercury brand even earned ratings equal to Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes Benz.: r; Q" K1 s& z7 s; q# V, a
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4 c; K: u4 z/ ]& Q2. You're Covered% U+ t9 T) S" n% F& ?. h( w
0 H6 ~2 m# s" |& EWith all the negative news surrounding the viability of American car companies, buyers may be nervous about buying a domestic car because they worry the company that made it won't be around to honor the warranty.
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That's one worry you can check off your list.
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& T3 Y6 w. [9 k4 _; R* |Even if your car company goes out of business, there will still be plenty of parts and mechanics available to work on it.
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Furthermore, even if your car company closes or sells your car's brand, it is still obligated to uphold the warranty.
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3. You Can Get a Great Deal
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9 S; }* p: ], C: y! n( N. S1 E2 eWhile Honda and Toyota are offering deals on some of their less popular models, domestic manufacturers are going all out to get you into the showroom.
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+ w# t' m, i* A' p; z& {GM is offering zero-percent financing on almost every model it makes, including 2009s.
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) M9 \/ j' T+ o; w9 }Ford is offering zero-percent financing and up to $5,000 cash-back on some of its most popular models.
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If saving money is the name of the game, a domestic showroom may be the best place to play right now.& j* M# a( e! L
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4. You Can Still Go Green/ C: ?' H: M, e) J3 t) N
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Though domestic automakers have developed a bad rap for focusing on large trucks and SUVs, you might be surprised to find out that American car companies also make some pretty good green cars.
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6 d6 s; e0 o; }1 [The Ford Fusion Hybrid has received positive reviews, even when put up against the venerable Toyota Prius and Camry.
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1 W/ K- e* M, v* e# V; r+ S3 Z( v; hThe Chevy Malibu Hybrid offers family-sedan comfort and green driving.
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But what about those big trucks and SUVs? ' Z3 \# d* l v+ I% ]8 `! l5 U1 B
, `3 Q& E6 {* c% j' ]The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid was named 2008 North American Green Car of the Year and offers a nearly 50 percent increase in city fuel economy over the conventional model. 3 n9 b" Q: l. p* ~
- b7 p7 v {( g# R% VGM also offers the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon as hybrids.
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While none are as fuel- < sipping > as the Prius, they do offer more seating and amenities.
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And, along with the Fusion and Malibu Hybrids, they offer domestic buyers a chance to go red, white, blue and green.
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Warren Brown, automotive critic for The Washington Post, confirmed in a recent online chat, "Toyota now has stiff competition in the hybrid category. And, like it or not, Ford and GM are among the companies bringing it."
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5.Import Brands Aren't Any Better Off9 ~8 O7 k3 U9 Q2 V; \: ^+ U, [
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Americans tend to be pretty hardcore capitalists, and we tend not to like companies that we see as losers. ; m5 _8 X3 ^6 O9 ]" P$ U) b* E
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That explains a lot of the anger people are feeling toward American automakers. t# o* h: F/ Z8 M
0 Q- S, C5 j% H* d; v* K( ?& XBut, before you take the anger you might be feeling and head for an import dealership, remember that most car companies are in the same boat. & a* v% f/ t7 P0 Q7 G a
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Honda and Toyota have asked the Japanese government for help, and European governments have been asked to extend money to automakers there as well.9 t, }( [( R) k4 V7 R
' d' h$ K9 a& ]6 D, Y, r) oWhile it's true that American car companies have made mistakes, few car companies -- import or domestic -- appear to be strong enough to get through the downturn without some help. 9 z h% ?. i7 {
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6. Your tax dollars have been given to two of the three (for now). If you want to see that money back it is in your best interest to give them your business" By Jamie Page Deaton |
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楼主: scuba1995
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发表于 2010-2-16 22:54
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发表于 2010-2-17 07:55
发表于 2010-2-18 20:21
