1949 Buick Roadmaster Sedanet

My Regal has been a real champ, and I’d love to replace it with the almost identical LaCrosse, but should I ever buy another Big 3 car? Business forecasting bastion Kiplinger considers the obvious question:

Kiplinger: Should You Buy a Detroit Car?

Loyalty to the American carmakers is low and getting lower. When it comes to cars, Americans have a long memory. We remember the Cadillac Cimarron (a Chevy Cavalier masquerading as a luxury car), the Ford Taurus (which languished as a rental lot staple while Detroit focused on trucks), the Hummer H2 (a symbol of Detroit’s myopia).

We remember the years of quality and reliability problems as well as the inept management decisions. We bristle because Detroit neglected fuel-efficient cars, gave expensive perks to the unions, and even paid workers while production lines were idled.

Detroit has made great strides fixing its problems and designing better cars, but it may be too late. As Americans have fled to foreign makes, many of which are made right here in the U.S.A., Detroit’s market share has dwindled to 482% (sic), compared with more than 60% five years ago.

Well, no:

I wish the U.S. carmakers, and the industrial Midwest, all the best. No one wants to see the pain associated with job losses. But although I’d love to play the patriot card and recommend that you support the American carmakers, why take the chance? You have enough problems with your retirement and college funds to risk another hit on your personal finances.