With a college degree and a nice new job in hand, I'm saving up to be in the market for a new car (just a couple months, now!). I fully intend to buy a new Honda Civic coupe when I am ready, because in my position it's simply the best out there. My #2 choice would have been a Ford Focus, except that A) the coupe the offer looks downright odd, not at all like the sleek, sexy Civics which seem to easily go from a coupe to a sedan without looking top-heavy and ungainly, B) as previously mentioned, that American car company only offers its really sporty Focus in Europe for reasons beyond me, and C) the common grille thing looks ugly to my eyes. I used to drive my grandfather's 2001 Focus after he passed away, and they had a nice sleek look to them and the grille. Now they all (Focus, Taurus, Fusion) look like you're driving down the road with Venetian shutters strapped to the front bumper! I don't like it one bit. The quality and reliability of the Focus has improved in the last few years, being competitive with the Civic, but that's not enough when Honda can have all that and look good doing it!
I now drive a '96 Saturn SL. I love that car (except for the rubber fuel line which squirrels have chewed through twice in the last 10 months). However, despite the fact that I think Saturn is one of the few parts of GM actually worth saving (seriously, how many options for big trucks and SUVs do you need from one bankrupt company putting me in deb for the rest of my life?), they've made their mistakes, too. The Ion line that replaced the SL/SL2 was discontinued, and replaced with the European Astra hatchback. Not being one to like hatchbacks anymore than I like big sedans, SUVs or sports cars I can't afford (which is the extent of Saturn's other options), even good old Saturn is out of the picture - for me, and by the end of the year for everyone else, too.
I'm going with Honda. They make what I want and they make it very well, so I'll be giving them my money, because "Honda-San" has earned it and Mr. Detroit has not. I see no reason to pay a subsidy to American car companies, their management, and the UAW as a reward for failing to deliver. That doesn't make me uncaring for American manufacturing jobs. I work in the aerospace industry for an American-owned company making aircraft here in america with American labor, and I'm proud of that. But Boeing delivers, and for the most part these American car companies don't. That makes all the difference.
I do get the impression, though, that i should get that new car as soon as possible. Given the influence of the auto unions in the current administration, I don't see protectionist measures designed to punish me for exercising freedom of choice in what I consume being all that far off, which I want no part of. When that happens, things will tank badly, and i'd like to have some new wheels before then.