Buy American!

Okay, I've got to admit it; I'm a big "buy American" guy, but not for reasons of patriotism or even economics.

American goods are as good or better than their foreign counterparts most of the time and, if you know what you're doing, they cost less to buy as well!

In 2003, I bought a 23' bay boat. The dealer that I bought it from recommended a Yamaha outboard, but they also sold Honda and Mercury. I told the guy I wanted the 150 Merc on my boat, so he grudgingly had one put on. In the 6 years since, I've replaced the spark plugs one time, AND THAT'S IT!! Today, after sitting for nearly a year, I cranked it in my flush tub and it fired right up! So, not only has the Merc been everything I could have hoped for in an outboard motor for my boat, IT WAS $1500 LESS THAN THE YAMAHA!!!!

Take that, foreign equipment honks!

I didn't bother to tell the guy, but once upon a time, I worked in a job where spill response was part of the gig. We had a large spill boat with a 175 Yamaha on it and, every time we went to crank it up, it failed to start. It wasn't THAT much older than my 150 Merc, so I know it wasn't some sort of revolutionary advance in technology or something; the Merc's just a better engine! I wasn't about to tell the guy that the Yamaha is a piece of garbage, but I think he knew what my opinion of them was after I absolutely INSISTED he put a Merc on the boat.

I've already gone into some detail in previous posts about trouble we had trying to buy a Civic, but here's the bottom line on that. We got a GREAT deal on a Ford Focus and it gets just as good fuel economy as the Civic, so, here you go; Dear Honda - stick your Civic where the paint won't fade from the sun! I'm driving American!

I could go on and on, but the crux of the matter is clear; buy American, save money, and support the American economy!