ALT-1 Why don’t People Buy American Cars Anymore
I am a 47 year old union carpenter and it pains me to admit that I drive a foreign car.I have owned more vehicles than I can count but I remember the one that sent me over the edge.I had a 1995 Chevy 4x4 pickup with a 4.3 V6 that I purchased used. My wife's Chevy Lumina was getting tired so we were searching around for a 4x4 SUV.I live in the Northeast and wanted the added traction for winter months.We looked around and ended up buying a 1997 Chevy Blazer it had the same drive train as my pickup and since I had good luck with that I figured I was safe. What a mistake.
I thought I covered my bases by doing a carfax and bringing it to a mechanic to check it out.The first month was somewhat trouble free but then the gremlins came out.The check engine light would come on and the thing would cough and sputter and I barely made it the garage.My mechanic did a scan on it and of course the computer didn't store any faults, so let the games begin. He started with the basics ,plugs, wires,cap and rotor.
He cleared the computer started it up and off I went. It seemed to run alright but then the same thing happened.This time he changed the fuel filter and again it ran for a little while and died on me once again.Another tow bill and more frustration as the problems couldn't be found. I failed to mention that the door pins kept falling out and that the console self destructed.What really was the frosting on the cake was when I got It back supposedly fixed and when I hit the gas the seat ratchet let go and I was rocketed back and couldn't reach the pedals.I lost track of how many times I had the thing in the garage and how much money I spent on it.
I finally gave up had my mechanic clear the check engine light and had a friend of mine bring it to the auction.I got 900.00 for it and used the money towards a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder with 80K on it. Ive been driving that now for three years and haven't had any problems with it other than routine maintenance.Ive had other friends of mine that have had all sorts of problems with there American made pickups so I didn't dare buy one when the time came to trade in mine.I traded my Chevy in on a 2007 Tundra and its the best vehicle I've ever owned.
I still don't take it to the job-sites though I don't want to offend the buy American crowd in there Mexican built Chevy's.Its a shame they don't build them like they used to. I have a 1964 GMC pickup that I use around the yard and for plowing my driveways and the neighbors.The old workhorse sits out back for most of the year but when I need it all I do is prime it ,make sure the battery has a charge in it and it fires up every time.
