Should You Buy American Cars or Imported Cars? (Part 2)

Benefits of Buying Imported Cars

When considering whether or not to buy imported cars there are several key benefits to take note of. One of the biggest benefits of buying imported cars lies in the wider variety of luxury models. While this benefit is only applicable to people who are in the market for a luxury vehicle, it is something worth considering.

Another benefit of buying imported cars is their resale price is often higher. This means if someone wants to purchase a new car and plans on trading it in or reselling in the near future they will suffer from less devaluation than if they bought a domestically manufactured vehicle.

Anyone in the market for a compact car will typically look at buying imported cars first. This is because American manufacturers have the luxury of building much more spacious cabins for their sedans and midrange vehicles. As a result, they are overall interior design of compact cars is often lacking compared to the imported alternatives. Additionally, imported compact cars are often lighter which means better gas mileage.

A final benefit of purchasing imported cars is the ability to modify them easily. Body mods or mod kits are typically more readily available for imported cars. There are a variety of reasons for this but one of the most notable reasons is imported car manufacturers often develop their overall design with the understanding that multiple body mod kits will be made available as well.

Drawbacks of Buying Imported Cars

While there are a number of benefits there are certain drawbacks of buying imported cars to consider as well. While they are built lighter, which means getting better gas mileage, they are also less powerful. In terms of overall horsepower and acceleration capabilities, imported cars typically lag behind domestically manufactured alternatives. The obvious exception to this is the large number of sports cars developed internationally which emphasized power and maneuverability.

Another potential drawback of buying imported cars is the long-term parts and maintenance fees. While the overall maintenance costs have been decreasing over the last decade, it is still more expensive to perform general maintenance and purchase parts for imported vehicles. This is particularly important to consider for people who want to buy an imported car and plan on keeping it for 5+ years.

The final drawback of buying an imported car is the miscellaneous fees and costs built into the price. As a result, the initial purchase price of imported cars are often higher than their domestically manufactured equivalent.

Overall

Overall, it is difficult to say that either domestically manufactured or imported car should always be considered the best option. There are a number of variables which go into the decision of purchasing a vehicle as everyone is looking for something a little different. Based upon your specific preferences it should be clear which option is best for you by simply

Should You Buy American Cars or Imported Cars? (Part 1)

One of the first questions car buyers must answer is whether they want to buy American cars or imported cars. There are a variety of potential benefits and drawbacks to both options. The key is considering what your priorities are and select a vehicle which best fits them. It is important to note that all of the benefits and drawbacks of buying American or imported cars are broad-based issues which are generally true but may vary from one make and model to another.

Benefits of Buying American Cars

There are several notable benefits of buying American cars. One of the most obvious benefits is they are significantly larger and more spacious. The width of roads and highways in America is far wider than in many other countries. This has afforded American manufacturers the luxury of building a wider cars with more spacious interiors. Not only does this make cars more comfortable but provides specific advantages for sedans and luxury cars. It is also why many of the best SUVs are American-made.

Another benefit of buying American cars is the insurance rates are moderately lower than many imported cars. While this will vary from one model to another to equivalent cars, one American-made in one imported, may have differing insurance rates based upon where they are manufactured. While this is not necessarily a direct causal link there have been several studies noting domestically manufactured cars are often less expensive to insure.

A subtle benefit of buying American cars, especially if you are buying a new car, is the long-term financing. Domestic manufacturers go to greater lengths to provide consistent, long-term financing for new car buyers. While this benefit rarely extends to the secondary market, it is something to consider if you are purchasing a new car.

Drawbacks of Buying American Cars

There are two primary drawbacks of buying American cars. The first is they devalue faster on the secondary market. For people who buy new cars and want to trade the man in several years a domestic car returns a lower bang for your buck. On the other hand, if you are in the market for a used car than American cars typically offer better savings opportunities.

A well-known issue of American manufactured cars, especially over the past few years, is the significant number of recalls from Detroit automakers. This bad press is often considered a drawback from purchasing domestic cars, however several studies of noted that the total number of recalls over any given 10 year period are fairly similar between domestic and international manufacturers.