Opinion: Vandalism against foreign cars symptomatic of auto industry woes

In today’s Autoblog, Chris Shunk reported that incidents of vandalism against foriegn-made autos have increased in recent weeks, the likely result of the threatened position the Big three find themselves in. The greater Detroit region has become “ground zero” in the war on foreign automotive terrorism, due in no small part to it also being the crucible of the domestic auto industry. Recently, an Michigan appearance by Kentucky Senator and former Detroit Tiger great Jim Bunning was summarily cancelled after Bunning voted down the proposed $14 billion auto bailout bill. 

The latest incident occurred in Woodhaven, Michigan, where several foreign vehicles had their tires slashed and “Buy American” written on them. On one hand, I understand the frustration of the alleged vandals. You’d be pissed off too if the future of an industry that sustains your state and possibly your livelihood was in jeopardy. But here’s a news flash: the Big three aren’t tanking because Toyota and Honda have been churning out good cars.

Last year, I bought and American vehicle for the first time in my adult life. While its true that I derived an understandable rush of Patriotism when I took the keys to the car, I didn’t buy it for that. I bought the car because I liked it, believed it would be reliable, and that it adequately met the needs of my family.

For too long, people have blindly bought American, but ignored the obvious and troublesome signs issues that the domestic auto industry failed to address. My grandfather was one of them. A former steel mill worker, he wouldn’t have been caught dead in a vehicle hailing anywhere outside of Detroit. But I also watched him suffer through a Dodge Charger, Chrysler Cordoba and Pontiac Grand Prix that were plagued with quality and reliability issues.

Don’t be mad at Japan, and certainly don’t be mad mad at your fellow Americans who decided they wanted a vehicle that would retain its value and still crank up on the first sub-zero-day of winter. If the U.S. auto industry survives, and I for one hope they do, part of their success will be due to the incredibly high competitive bar that Japanese and to a lesser extent German automakers have set.

Image courtesy Cardomain.com