American blues.

Both General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have been struggling. GM has shaken up its management twice, announced plans to ask union workers to help cut costs and issued a profit warning. Ford continues to lose market share amid soft sales. While American carmakers have long battled the perception of "foreign is better," the domestic industry may be reaching a crisis point. So the Business Journal asks:

Do you own an American car, or would you consider buying one?

Mindy Bradish

Executive Director/Chief Executive

West Hollywood

Chamber of Commerce

Yes, of course. I have a Pontiac Vibe. It's the second car I've ever owned and they've both been American. I will only buy American. I grew up in Michigan so I saw the devastation that can happen when major car companies have to lay people off, especially nowadays when the quality is the same. It happens the Toyota Matrix is the exact same car as mine. It irks me when I see people driving the Matrix.

Fred Wood

Marketing Vice President

American Kretek Co. LLC

No. Never say never, but I rent a lot of cars, and they're always American and I never like any of them. The last one was a PT Cruiser. I thought the interior instrumentation was ergonomically lacking. You couldn't find anything. Everything was out of reach. Everything felt flimsy. I'm going to have to shop for a car soon and I'm going to go two places: an Acura dealership and a Honda dealership, where I leased my car. I wish American cars were better made. I don't understand what's going on in this country.

Tony Creamer

Bartending Instructor

International Casino Dealers School

I have a Lexus. I'm afraid to say but I think the workmanship (of American cars) is not as exacting as their competitors in other countries. There seems to be a tremendous number of recalls and it makes me leery. But, principally' it was the body style I was looking for and the Lexus Super Coupe had that style I wanted. Cars used to have their own identity and now they all look the same. I wanted something different; I've always been that way about styling of cars.

Daniel Loeb

Freelance Animator

I do not own an American car. I would consider buying one, but there aren't very many that appeal to me. It's just that the design and the build quality of foreign competitors generally strikes me as superior. For the most part I'd look at German and Japanese cars.

Ramiro Castillo

President

REEEL Fuel Transportation

Yes. I feel like they've made progress after 1990. I think they're starting to get a lot better than the quality in the '80s. I have a non-American car also. My wife drives the Infinity. I like American trucks but I prefer imports for cars.

David Grober

Owner

Motion Picture Marine

No I don't, but I would consider buying an American car. I'm not biased; I don't have feelings one way or the other. Since American and European manufacturers have bought out each other I think the product has gotten similar. I've got a Mercedes. There was a four-door convertible and I was looking for that.

Robert Ruiz

President

Environmental Detective Inc.

Yes I do. I think Japanese and German cars are better but I have a 2004 Chevy Impala. I like it. It gets approximately 30 miles per gallon (on the highway). and for a V6 that's pretty good. It gets about 18 miles per gallon in the city. And the price is right. My wile has a Toyota Camry and this car is more luxurious and more roomy for about the same price. I'm buying a Toyota hybrid this year because I want to get into the hybrids.