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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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23

Cars Replacing Clunkers Are Mostly Japanese

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(Newser) – The "cash for clunkers" program might be a boon for car dealers, but for American automakers the news isn't so good—four of the five top-selling cars in the program are Japanese. While the Ford Focus is the No. 1 seller, Toyota and Honda occupy the next four spots. The new vehicles get an average of 25.4 miles per gallon, while the traded-in cars—more than 80% of which were trucks and SUVs—get just 15.8 mpg.

Thee showroom of Bay Ridge Toyota in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009.
Thee showroom of Bay Ridge Toyota in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Vehicles traded in as part of the
Vehicles traded in as part of the "cash for clunkers" program are lined up at the Galpin Motors, Inc. Ford dealership in Los Angeles, Monday, Aug. 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Used cars are seen in a dumpster to draw attention to the
Used cars are seen in a dumpster to draw attention to the "Cash for Clunkers" program at Performance Chevrolet in Sacramento, Calif.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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23 comments
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oldgoat
Aug 5, 09 6:06 AM CDT
Even that isn't a total loss since many of the foreign car makers have assembly plants here in the US. Maybe if the rest of the US automakers follow Ford's lead and start advertising their reliability it would help. Reply
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+14
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Aug 5, 09 6:50 AM CDT
Actually Toyota on some models does much better than Ford. A typical Ford truck is constructed in Mexico and only minor details might be done in the US, so if you want to buy American oldgoat, just like you say buy foreign
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
ruserious
Aug 5, 09 1:31 PM CDT
This is exactly what I was going to write. There is a Toyota plant closer to where I live than any other company, and it is a great company for people to work. I would feel like I was supporting a local business by buying Toyota.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Kookey90
Aug 14, 09 5:29 PM CDT
Yes, Japanese cars are better made and get better gas mileage. U.S. auto makers still do not have this down right.
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+1
Adapt-Overcome
Aug 5, 09 6:16 AM CDT
Exactly "oldgoat" In Texas we have a huge Toyota plant that was stalled. Many of my relatives who work there were put out of work, but still getting paid a % of their salary while waiting to open back up. Now they are working again. Always a negative nelly out there looking to stir the pot. We are in the process of trading our gas guzzling truck for an economical American made car, we don't qualify for the clunker program though, but there are American's trading in their gas guzzlers. What do those figures look like? Reply
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+9

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