So what'll it take to get drivers behind the wheel of an American car?
That's the $20,000 (or more) question after President Obama leaned on Detroit this week to start churning out leaner, meaner and hybrid-happy vehicles as the antidote to plunging sales and financial catastrophe.
Judging from conversations with several dozen drivers at gas stations around town Tuesday, most people want the U.S. auto industry to succeed. But nearly all of those now driving foreign cars said Detroit would have to dazzle if it wanted to win them over.
"People want to buy from General Motors," said Scott Hilchey, 44, as he filled the tank of his BMW. "They want to buy from Ford. They just don't want to have to deal with cars that are unreliable. They want to buy something decent."
That's the U.S. auto industry's biggest hurdle -- the perception, fair or unfair, that GM, Ford and Chrysler turn out inferior vehicles compared with their Asian and European brethren.
"American cars aren't as good," declared Raul Lopez, 37, while gassing the Ford van he drives for work. His personal vehicle, he said, is a Toyota minivan. "Toyotas are better and less expensive," he said.
But ask people how they'd feel about buying American if gas again topped $4 a gallon, and they're suddenly a lot more flexible.
"I'll be looking for the best bang for my buck," said Dayna Ditria, 39, while fueling her Volkswagen. "It's all about the miles per gallon."
According to AAA, the average regular gas price nationwide was $2.048 a gallon Tuesday, up 8.2 cents from a week earlier. The California average was $2.256, up 9.4 cents from a week earlier. And the peak summer driving season hasn't even begun yet.
Kimberly Ashton, 32, drives a Volvo station wagon but also has a Toyota Prius at home. If gas creeps anywhere near $4 a gallon again, she said she'd be in the market for another hybrid.
"I would look at the guys with the proven track record -- Toyota and Honda," she said. "But if there was some kind of incentive, like a tax incentive, that could get me to buy American."
Others say they're prepared to pay top dollar for a state-of-the-art American hybrid, but only if Detroit can stand up to its overseas rivals.
"I'm ready to give the American car industry the benefit of the doubt," said Marc Mertens, 31, as he filled up his Audi. "But they have to convince me that they can make a car that runs as well as a German car."
