1980 Corvette
1980 Corvette
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 1980 Corvette Vintage Road Race Car IMSA GTO US $6,000.00 |
 1979 1980 CHEVROELT CORVETTE CAUTION FAN COOLING DECAL  US $7.99
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 1980 Chevrolet Corvette Postcard US $4.99
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 1980 Chevrolet Corvette SALES BROCHURE Chevy US $19.95
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 Chevrolet Corvette Chevty Corvette Custom Street Machine 1980 Corvette Antique Street Machine 355 CI Tunnel Ram Duel Carbs A T P S P W US $13,000.00 |
Car Shopping - Import Or Domestic
Okay, it's time to buy that new car. You need it. The beater you've been nursing for the last five years has finally gone to that great automotive beyond in the sky, so it is high time to start looking for a suitable replacement. So where do you start?
One of the first and most obvious decisions people make is whether they are going to buy a foreign car or a domestic one, and many people have almost polarizing convictions on the subject. The common wisdom is that imports, particularly those made in Japan (or Germany), are of better quality, more fuel efficient, and will outlive their domestic cousins by at least a hundred thousand miles (and possibly more). Domestic cars are notorious for shoddy workmanship, lousy performance, and for earning the name "gas guzzler". The question is, are these descriptions on the mark?
There is little doubt that this was exactly the case in the 1980s, when Hondas and Toyotas ruled the sales floors, routinely beating their homegrown opponents on almost every front. By contrast, American workmanship, particularly with General Motors, left much to be desired. This author bought a brand new Chevrolet Camaro in 1985 which was squeaking, rattling, and generally behaving like a much older car within 30,000 miles or so. Very depressing, especially for those of us who are convinced that Detroit can make better cars if they just choose to do so..
So how do we separate the automotive myth from fact? In today's automotive market, there are pluses and minuses to buying both. A few examples:
Foreign cars earned the reputation for lasting longer than their American counterparts, and they came by it honestly. With an average lifespan of around 250,000 miles if properly maintained, it is a point for which there is little argument. In addition, Consumer Reports recently completed a study which determined that foreign cars experience fewer manufacturer related problems than domestic. Count the number of cars you see on the road that are older than twenty years, and the imports will beat the domestics by a considerable margin.
Foreign cars will usually cost you less money over time when it comes to repairs, upkeep, and gas. Also, the resale value of foreign cars, particularly Hondas and Toyotas, remains very high. Resale values for American cars drop steadily almost from the moment you drive it off the lot.
Of course not every foreign car purchase means a great experience. Mitsubishi has probably the worst reputation of the Japanese car companies, known for oil leaks and transmission problems beginning around 60,000 miles, as well as other mechanical and quality control problems. Toyota also made less than flattering news a year ago with massive recalls on their Avalon, Camry, Corolla, and Sienna models (among others). The recalls resulted in disappointing sales numbers for 2009.
Back across the pond, the American automotive industry has come back in a big way in the last 20 years. The days of slipshod workmanship that permeated GM and Chrysler ranks in the 80s are gone. Many newer cars are more than competing with their foreign cousins in performance and reliability tests, most notably the Chevrolet Malibu (which beat the Toyota Camry and equaled the Honda Accord in many performance tests). J.D. Power concluded that several Ford vehicles now rival the best that Japan has to offer, and General Motors' Buick division tied with Jaguar for the top spot, besting both Toyota and Lexus offerings.
Domestic automakers also offer more to choose from in their vehicle lineups, ranging from smaller economy cars, to mid and full sized vehicles, not to mention specialty "niche" cars such as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, and Dodge Challenger, for which there is no credible Japanese counterpart. The distinct American styling of these vehicles is an element which has never been successfully copied by foreign automakers.
Detroit knows it has a difficult battle ahead when it comes to beating the imports in sales, so American cars are usually more attractively priced, or they have aggressive financing options available, or both. The Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are all priced about the same, and have similar quality control ratings, but while Ford offered rebates up to $3500, and Chevy offered 0% financing, Toyota only offered a $1500 discount on the Camry, and Honda offered no incentives at all on the Accord.
When the dust settles though, the question of import versus domestic may be a moot point, with GM cars (such as the new Camaro) being built on Australian platforms, and the Ford Fusion and Chevy HHR being assembled in Mexico. Similarly, the iconic Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Mazda 6 (among many others) are assembled right here in the United States. It does blur the line when it comes to determining what makes a car domestic or foreign.
So at the end of the day, the car you choose largely depends on your personal needs, budget, and to a degree, your dreams. Forget the automotive myths of yesterday. Japan may still have the edge on quality, but American cars are certainly more than worthy of consideration.
About the Author
Billy D Ritchie is the Director Of Content for LeadsByFone, LLC, a lead generation company servicing the water damage and flood cleaning industry.
When not writing and educating folks about the perils of water damage, he is also a freelance writer, sometime actor, and formerly professional musician. He also enjoys spending his weekends building and flying model rockets
Visit him online at http://www.waterdamagelocal.com
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Corvette $15.99 Corvette |
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1980 $10.49 1980 |
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1980 Chevrolet Corvette Carpet Kit AutoCustomCarpets Chevrolet Carpet Kit 16712-80-CU-801 $284.09 b acc molded carpet kit cutpile black /b br br make your vehicle s interior look and smell new with this great deal custom-manufactured automotive carpet that perfectly fits the exact make model and year of your vehicle. auto custom carpets offers the largest automotive interior product line with different styles to choose from all of which are available in their original material and color. br br b features: /b ul li made of 100 percent 14 oz. dupont yarn tufted on a 0.13 gauge machine to give it a plush look and feel /li li tested for ozone humidity fading and light /li li custom-designed to perfectly fit vehicle flooring and greatly exceeds oem specifications /li li easy installation /li li this custom carpet kit is made to order specifically for your vehicle /li /ul br br . auto parts warehouse has extensive autocustomcarpets carpet kit catalogs.we are now offering free shipping on all autocustomcarpets carpet kit orders over $50.00. our secure autocustomcarpets carpet kit catalog is available every hour of everyday. shop with confidence for all your autocustomcarpets carpet kit needs. autocustomcarpets carpet kit are in stock and available today. save upto 60% off dealer price on your next autocustomcarpets carpet kit purchase. our online catalog contains a wide selection of the oem and aftermarket parts you need at unbeatable prices |
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Chevrolet Corvette $6 Chevrolet Corvette |
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Corvette C6 $6 Corvette C6 |
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1974 - 1980 $11.49 1974 - 1980 |
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Biomathematics in 1980 $210 Biomathematics in 1980 |
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Corvette Chart $17.99 Corvette Chart - Poster |
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Corvette Summer $7.99 Corvette Summer - Photo |
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Corvette Engine $24.99 Corvette Engine - Photographic Print |
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Corvette Monster $1.49 Corvette Monster Button Monster driving a hot rod Corvette |
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Corvette 1957 $59.99 Corvette 1957 - Stretched Canvas Print |
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Corvette 1958 $299.99 Corvette 1958 - Stretched Canvas Print |
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1980 Chevrolet Corvette Carpet Kit AutoCustomCarpets Chevrolet Carpet Kit 16712-80-CU-8023 80 $336.36 ACC MOLDED CARPET KIT, CUTPILE, GRAYMake your vehicle's interior look and smell new with this great deal custom-manufactured automotive carpet that perfectly fits the exact make, model, and year of your vehicle. Auto Custom Carpets offers the largest automotive interior product line with different styles to choose from, all of which are available in their original material and color.Features:Made of 100 percent, 14 oz. DuPont yarn tufted on a 0.13 gauge machine to give it a plush look and feelTested for ozone humidity, fading, and lightCustom-designed to perfectly fit vehicle flooring and greatly exceeds OEM specificationsEasy installationThis custom carpet kit is made to order specifically for your vehicle. Auto Parts Warehouse has extensive AutoCustomCarpets Carpet Kit catalogs.We are now offering FREE shipping on all AutoCustomCarpets Carpet Kit orders over $50.00. Our secure autocustomcarpets carpet kit catalog is available every hour of everyday. Shop with confidence for all your autocustomcarpets carpet kit needs. AutoCustomCarpets Carpet Kit are In Stock and available today. Save up to 60% off dealer price on your next AutoCustomCarpets Carpet Kit purchase. Our online catalog contains a wide selection of the OEM and aftermarket parts you need at unbeatable prices |
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Chevrolet Corvette Side $10 Chevrolet Corvette Side |
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Corvette, 1958 with Diner $17.99 Corvette, 1958 with Diner - Poster |
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Untitled, 1980 $109.99 George Green Untitled, 1980 - Framed Art Print |
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The Megatherium, 1980 $34.99 English School The Megatherium, 1980 - Giclee Print |
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FIAC, 1980 $27.99 Richard Lindner FIAC, 1980 - Collectable Print |
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Volcano, 1980 $19.99 Brett Weston Volcano, 1980 - Photographic Print |
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