In response to the recent letter regarding “buying only American cars,” I would like to respond. I own a Mitsubishi Lancer and once received an uncomplimentary note placed under my windshield wiper from an American veteran chiding me for buying such a car. I talked with someone knowledgeable in the automobile industry, someone I deemed to be honest and forthright, and he told me that many so-called “foreign cars” are actually made by American labor. These foreign companies own factories in our country and hire American workers.
In addition, I used to own a Ford Fairmont Futura which I enjoyed until it was totally demolished by another driver. I was at one time sent a letter by the Ford Motor Co. that mine was part of a series of cars that possibly had a serious flaw which could result in death. The car could suddenly lurch backward from a parked position. (Because of some strange events, I believed my car could possibly have had this defect.)
But what did Ford do about this? They did not recall these cars as they should have. They simply issued a self-stick label which I had to apply to my dashboard that warned of possible sudden backward movement while in a park or neutral position. I had to henceforth warn everyone who drove my car about this possible flaw.
So don’t think just because it’s American, everything is hunky dory. Not always, but sometimes, money and greed turn the big wheels of industry, whether it be Japanese, Chinese or American.
Cheryl Senter
Bristol, Tenn.
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