The Toyota Tundra is assembled in Princeton, Indiana (it may also be assembled in Texas). I have several friends that work there and the entire area has grown tremedously since Toyota opened the plant in the late 1990s.

My husband also is big about buying American- but he now considers Toyota to be okay since it employs our friends. I am now trying to convince him Hondas are okay, since some of them are made in Marysville, Ohio and employee several of my relatives...

My issue isn't about American or Foreign. When a Toyota plant starts supporting Detroit, I'll buy them. For now, I'm sticking to Ford/GM/Chrysler. Mainly Ford because my Jeep is a piece of shit and I've had nothing but problems with it.

Many people from Detroit support these companies because most likely they have a connection to someone who works for them.

I agree, CR has good DATA on cars.
Just be very careful on reading what some readers have just about called Editorials in letter written in to them.

Many times it seems as if the writers of the articles do not read the data in their own publication. Or talk to those who are collecting it and writing it.

This year, in fact this month, they wrote a small article saying that the new Accord is great, should be as reliable as past models. This after a very short drive in a brand new model.

The problems with that? Most automotive experts, including theirs, say to try to avoid the first year of new models. And CR's own April data proves that; even with Honda.

And their writers tend over look problems in write ups on Japanese cars that they bring up with US cars.

One that comes to mind is rear view vision. Most cars have very short rears which cause one not to be truly able to see the rear of car or bumper.

They point that out in US cars in a negative way yet brush over it in Japanese cars.

And before one asks, I have been reading CR most of my life and do subscribe to it.

I just take what they say with a grain of salt and gather information from other sources as well.

And having driven by their HQ and seen what is in their parking lot, there is very little wonder why there maybe some (perhaps unconscious) biases in their writing.

I definitely concur, but then again I'm biased as I work for one of their trading subsidiaries! Honda may be a Japanese company but they employ thousands of Americans in cities all over the country and generally treat their employees very well.

I understand supporting American companies but if you're looking at a long-term investment you want the best product your money can buy. Both DH and I used to drive Fords exclusively, but a few lemons in a row really soured us on the brand. I doubt I'd ever spend money on another Ford again, even though I grew up in a town where thousands of people were employed by the Ford Truck plants. I've got a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan and have had to do some maintenance and repairs in the past year, but nothing excessive based on age and mileage. DH currently has a 2001 Mazda 626 and has had zero problems in six years. I wouldn't hesitate to consider another Mazda based on his experiences, whether it was built here or Japan or elsewhere.

I have seen several reports that show the over all compensation packages the workers have at the Japanese plants are LOWER than those working at the US plants. And yes, I am talking about North American plants.

Just one of the reasons the Japaneses have an advantage.

Among others: Newer buildings, younger employees, much lower pension and medical risks, et al.

And I thought about posting links, but some people here seem to prefer to do their own looking and research.;):):D

Even though Mazda is in the "Ford family"? ;) http://www.ford.com/about-ford/compa...le-brands#tab4

And many of the frames and other mechanicals are used by different
members of The Family.

And this is true with many other companies as well.

My Honda, 90% made in America, 100% assembled here.
The Mazda I looked at, Ford family and all, 100% made and assembled in Japan.

Which one had money staying here in a way that mattered? Hint: It's not the money at the top that matters.

Also the Mazda sucked and came with jack squat standard and the 2006 redesign of the Civic is marvelous.

Hubby and I owned matching Chrysler Sebring Convertibles, the same year and everything. REMARKABLY they managed to have the SAME problems at EXACTLY the same mileage. These cars were AWFUL.

I now have a Honda CR-V, and I can't imagine having anything other than a Honda. It's an 06 before they changed the design. I'll trade it in two years, and probably upgrade to the Pilot, because I'd like something slightly bigger when we go camping.