American Trucks and the Outdoors
by Steve RemingtonJune 2, 2009
This whole debacle with the American car companies has been pretty hard to stomach if you live in the Midwest like I do. Today marks a very sad day for Detroit and our region. One of the most philanthropic companies in the world will move into bankruptcy, a thought that is still surreal.
As the bankruptcy filing moves through its course, there will be hard losses for many to endure in this process. It will no doubt sting badly for many aspects of the industry. There will be more job losses. Dealerships will close and dealers will lose their life’s hard work. Other businesses will not be able to weather the storm, most likely closing their doors. But when it’s all said and done, I expect General Motors to come out as a stronger company, one that will finally be a healthier and more flexible business.
Even through all of this craziness, Chevy in particular, has remained a strong brand and one that is selling well. I believe that one of the main reasons why Chevy is such a strong and healthy brand is thanks to the community of outdoor enthusiasts in America.
There is something very American about trucks and the outdoors. Whether it is a brand new Silverado or a used Suburban with 250,000 miles on it, America’s trucks have remained the very symbol of American pride and American quality.
The days of foreign advantage are over. The days of a large quality gap are over, as American producers are turning around America’s best cars and trucks.
This is what America has become for the time being. We must all keep our heads up and stay loyal. We should all feel compassion for those in pain and do so as Americans. As a concerned American sportsman, it is my plan to go out and buy American. I believe in supporting those who support us and I will stay loyal to those who support my passion for the outdoors.
Sincerely,
A concerned sportsman
All you mid-westerners are all alike. Devotion to pride in workmanship. There’s
nothing like it.
I pulled in the driveway last night and slammed on the brakes…. I was the fifth
american vehicle and I was comforted by the sight of it. What good friends I have.
I tried the toybuckets once and loved how they run but hated the parts costs so
Chevy, Ford or Dodge and a Buick. Further back, ‘37 Studebaker – anyways,
replacement parts are very reasonable – that’s what is so nice about owning one;
you can afFord it.
I tracked two vehicles, GM, over a ten year period. I did all the maintaining. One
was new, the other was five years old. At the end of ten years, I tallied up and
found both vechicles cost the same to maintain from 1987 to 1997.
At the time, it figured to be about 145 dollars a year to maintain……
but try that with the ‘other’ cars or trucks. Like I said, I did once, and couldn’t afford
it.
A friend just wrecked her rear tail light assembly – 237 dollars. I multiplied by 4
for the other corners of the KIA box and came up with enough for a good used
vehicle, in my mind. “Hey, why don’t you buy American?”, I said, “For the price of
4 of these……”, and so on. Two days later she ditched the KIA for a Ford Explr. ,
what a gal!
My good friends with the american vehicles got a ‘thank you’ that night. I thot they
deserved it. I love my ford. I know they like their Dodge and Jeep (but the other
three in the driveway are Fords).
.