I’m politically incorrect like Julia. I would definitely buy American. And, it would be another SUV. My husband and I just did that a couple of months ago. Both his car and mine are Fords. And, buying them now, we got a huge discount. In fact, that $40,000 would have almost paid for both vehicles. And, like Julia —they were both used —both fully loaded.

My husban and I both have Toyota now and love them. We have both had Subaru’s, Pontiacs, and Fords and were not happy with them. Why would I invest in a car company who for the last 20years have ignored what people want so bad that they are almost out of business? I’m not blaiming the just workers but the CEO’s and everyone there who have kept doing what was not working for a long time. Our son has a used Audi and loves it! I have to admit it’s very nice to drive. BTW I hear Toyota is cutting jobs to to keep up with the cars not selling gosh it didn’t take them as long did it.

I would never spend $40,000 on a car in this economy. I drive a Subaru AWD with 120,000 miles on it and have never had a major problem. So I have no need for a new car. If the 40K came with the stipulation that I had to spend it on a car, I’d by a beat up Toyota pick-up (with a great engine) for dump runs and spend the rest on another used Subaru for my daughter.

Sounds as if someone doesn’t realize that this is a world economy now. It’s not like the “olden times.”

I’m totally stupid about cars. But I’m all for the UAW, so yeah. I’d probably buy American. Or, I’d tell whoever was handing me the money, “You want me to have a car? Then you go buy me a car…I’m stupid about cars. That pretty deep turquoise color would be nice. Nothing red or white. Maybe a beige interior. Oh, and I prefer a manual transmission, if they still make that. Just do it. You can keep the change.” I’ve been driving an ‘89 Plymouth Colt (with a Mitsubishi engine, I think) for the past eight years. It’s supernatural, really, the way it always gets me where I’m going. So I really to hate to give it up. But a new one, just for show, would be okay I guess.

If someone gave us $40 grand to buy an American car, we would buy American. If someone gave us $40 grand to buy a Japanese car, we would buy Japanese. If someone gave us $40 grand to buy a German car, we would buy German and have to add a little extra to the pot. If someone gave us $40 grand to buy Korean, we would buy two. If there were no strings attached, we would start our research with Consumer’s Report. We would not feel obligated to buy American. Why? Because we did that the last time we bought new cars… and Detroit is still in trouble. “Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me”.

Drive U.S. cars now - a Chevy & a Mercury - quite ancient - but running - Guess I would look for an American hybrid - I find that US cars are easier to service…

I have a Lincoln Mark VIIII,bought it new 1998,it was the last year that Lincoln made this car,it still looks new,I still love it but was disappointed to learn it was made in Canada,all this time I thought I had an American made car. I probably would not buy another (made-in-America?) car,as much as I love my Lincoln,the workmanship on detail leaves a lot to be desired,almost from the beginning the rear window seal started to buckle,my Lincoln dealer told me nothing could be done about it,it still only has 25000 miles on it but at 20000 miles I was told the tires needed replacing,Goodyear tires too,aren’t they an American company? I noticed more and more small but noticeable flaws,seams that are not equal on both sides of the car,enough said!!! I think Asian car makers put a lot more pride in detail and workmanship but that’s only my opinion!! CarolAnn

I’m with Joan….I would remodel my kitchen with the $40,000.00. I have an Acura that runs like a charm….fired right off this week when left outside for the night (I was housesitting) and it was -20. Also, my husband bought an American made truck….and it was “assembled” in America with parts from Canada and Mexico. That’s okay???

I think Julia Reed is hipper than she thinks. First buying American is the coolist. Then what’s wrong with a pre-owned car? It’s smart. I’ve owned several pre owned and they were great buys and great cars. Right now I’d put the $40,000 [safely] away, but if I were forced to spend it on a car it would be a pre owned American .

Inasmuch as I would like to say I’d buy American, I don’t think I would. I have had a few American cars, a Ford Capri and 2 Jeep Grand Cherokees, all of which were poorly made cars and spent more time in the shop than I spent in them. But, I also had a Ford Escape that, along with my driving skills, saved my life when a wrong way driver hit me head on at 80-90 miles per hour. Since then, I have had nothing but nightmares and will only drive the safest cars to crash in and none of them are American. I want a good, sturdy, strong, well-built car, and have only had BMW’s and a Mercedes since then. Until an American car is made to feel and ride and protect like the German/Japanese cars (I would like the Lexus 400h next time), I will have to continue buying European. I do like the Prius but am afraid of it’s small, squashable size. American cars are just not good anymore.

I have driven mostly foreign cars but this time around i would buy an American car. This would require me to do thorough research to find a safe, fuel efficient and well made car. We all need to support our economy.

I just retired a Buick LeSabre a with almost 350,000 on it and bought a new vehicle. My latest is not American because none of the big three offered any real discounts even though cars were not selling. One GM dealership told me to come back with my husband because they wanted to talk to the man of the house. The salesman refused to let me test drive anything. I visited every place from Toyota to Volvo and test drove everything from a minivan to a subcompact. I bought a Hyundai because the dealership encouraged me to test drive any vehicle saying that the feel and handling varied from car to car. I narrowed down my selection to four different vehicles at various dealerships that my husband test drove with me. We ended up with a Hyundai Santa Fe because it would hold a walker or wheelchair for my father-in-law plus four adults with enough head and leg room not to feel cramped. I paid five thousand less than a comparable American vehicle with a far better warranty. I get decent gas mileage and I’m pretty sure the dealership will be there five years from now.