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American Car Or Imported Car?
BrodeurBoy30
Member Posts: 44 ✭✭
Which do you think is better?
Which do you think are more reliable?
Which do you think has the biggest variety?
Lil Eric
Which do you think are more reliable?
Which do you think has the biggest variety?
Lil Eric
Comments
1-American
2-American
3-American
81st FA BN WWII...Thanks Dad
U!S!A! ALL THE WAY!!
American: They are easier to work on, get parts for, and they support OUR economy. NOT because I think we are better then any other country.
U.S.A. as far as it can take us.
Michael
Paranoid keeps you alive, worry just gives you stomach problems.
sound
Reliable? Slight(very slight)nod to a few German and Jap cars. Some seem to run a little longer without repairs but boy talk about rape charges when you need repairs and parts.
Biggest variety? Imports but that would be combined for all Countries vs USA.
I have driven but am proud to say I have never purchased or plan to purchase a foreign car. I rate GM above most else but have owned a Taurus and a Cougar XR7. Dodge, once but never again.
I wondered whether the Japanese auto workers were better than US auto workers, or whether the quality difference was due to something else. Eventually, the Japanese built auto plants in the US, and they are now producing millions of cars here, using US auto workers----and guess what? The cars are every bit as good as those made in Japan. So, I now understand that the poor quality of US cars is due to the greed of corporate managers; they COULD produce betters cars, but choose not to.
I don't even feel guilty. Most Japanese cars sold in the US are built by US auto workers, sold by US dealers, & serviced by US mechanics. Plus, the styling of the Japanese cars is even better than that of most US cars.
Decide for yourself what is best for your needs.
Neal
Michael
Paranoid keeps you alive, worry just gives you stomach problems.
sound
EvilDr235
Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Been in debt ever since my first car, most likly everybody else too.
The American & Jap cars are all high quality these days.
Parts and repair prices are higher on imports, American cars are up there too.
Korean cars cheap throw aways, long warrantys, no resale values.
Buy what you can afford and like.
Wana buy a dragster?
Walte
2001 Chevy Tahoe 4X4 w/BamBam Doors
Gun control is a steady hand
1974 Mercedes
Both serve the purpose they were intended for, the Sub is for Commuting and the Mercedes sits in the garage.
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun has!
Marco My neighbor Shootinbuddy has a 74 Mercedes. One of those 2 seaters with the removable hard top. He keeps it in the garage also.
TOOLS
General TOOLS RRG
Don't go blaming the beer. Hank Hill
So much Ice, So much Beer. So little time. Shooter4
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.
1. Anything General Motors.
2. Anything Ford.
3. Anything Chrysler/Dodge.
Never foreign. Ever.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
I prefer the American name plates, but the variety of foreign cars is unmatched. My younger daughter has an Eagle Talon, which is a Mitsubishi in disguise that was badged as an Eagle and sold by Chrysler, but it is a turbo-charged all-wheel-drive rocket with lots of neat features. (We must have all-wheel-drive in anything we buy.) When my wife went shopping recently for an all-wheel-drive car (the Town & Country is all-wheel-drive, but she did not want another mini-van even though we are keeping the T&C for its unmatched utility), the only choices were foreign. Since we as a family are still smarting from that WWI and WWII thing, we shun the cars from the enemy, which removes from consideration the German and Japanese all-wheel-drive cars. That left us with one choice, a Jaguar X-Type. Since Ford owns Jaguar (and hopefully has improved the quality as much as has been reported), I consider it about as American as the Mexican Durango and Canadian Town & Country.
I'm an American. I believe in competition. I believe that competition brings the best products and services to the table. I am a conservative who thinks that it is on the shoulders of the American auto industry to make a vehicle that can compete with it's foreign competitors. It's THEIR job to keep their people employed by doing so. Not me.
Over the last few years I've driven several vehicles for work. I've driven Dodges and Chryslers and Fords and Chevy's. I'd prefer an American truck but Dodge/Ford/Chevy couldn't offer me what Toyota offered me with regards to quality and reliability attached to a price tag that nobody could touch. Therefore, I bought a Toyota Tacoma in 1999 as my first new vehicle. It served me well and I traded it for a sedan. I was looking for something economical with good gas mileage with a reputation for reliability. I was hard-pressed to find anything that could touch the 2003 Honda that I now own. Sorry, I'm not buying a Taurus or anything with Dodge/Chrysler or Chevy on any kind of name plate or logo when it comes to a sedan. If I can afford it, I'll buy a domestic truck all day long but the "domestic" manufacturers just couldn't (or wouldn't) compete with Toyota. I enjoyed the heck out of that truck and Honda matched the current market value for a PRIVATE SALE when I traded it in. They made $300 when they sold it to its current owner. Oh yeah, it was manufactured in the United States.
Here's how I see things. There are two kinds of people that make money when you buy a vehicle. You have the wealthy corporate types and you have the American auto worker who puts the thing together at the plant. Who cares what country the rich corporate types are from? They are few. It's the Ameriacan auto manufacturer that truly matters. When so many "domestic" vehicles are being manufactured abroad and when my Honda was manufactured right here in the USA, need I say more?
That goes for crotch rockets versus Hardleys too (stir, stir)[:o)].
420
2. More Reliable? Japanese, hands down. Honda and Toyota.
3. Biggest variety, american, because they have so many companies that branch off of others... for example,
GM: Chevy, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Hummer, own a portion of saab and opel too
Chrysler: Geo, Jeep, Eagle, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler
Ford: Mercury, Lincoln, portions of mazda, jaguar, land rover, aston martin, and volvo.
...and like nmyers said, most japanese 'imports' are actually made in the US. Honda for example makes pretty much all of their us-sold cars right in ohio.
________________
Heston for prez.
My younger daughter has an Eagle Talon, which is a Mitsubishi in disguise that was badged as an Eagle and sold by Chrysler, but it is a turbo-charged all-wheel-drive rocket with lots of neat features.
Must be a talon tsi (turbo AWD sooo sweeeeeet), but its not really a "mitsubushi". Mitsubushi and chrylser collaborated to build "Diamond Star Motors", a plant in Illinois. The DSM plant put out the Eagle Talon, the Plymouth Laser, the Eclipse, the Galant VR4, the 3000gt and the Dodge Stealth.
...
quote:Originally posted by nunn
I would buy in this order:
1. Anything General Motors.
2. Anything Ford.
3. Anything Chrysler/Dodge.
Never foreign. Ever.
Interesting.. you say anything general motors, but nothing foreign. What about the Pontiac Vibe.. same drivtrain, frame, and basic body parts as a Toyota Matrix.
Or the older geo prisms, same car as the older toyota corollas.
Plymouth Laser = Mitsu Eclipse = Eagle Talon
Dodge Stealth = Mitsu 3000gt
The Chevy Cavalier, is the TOYOTA cavalier in japan.
Chevy Tracker is the Suzuki Vitara.
92 and earlier ford probes, made by mazda.
Isuzu Hombre is a chevy s-10, Isuzu Avenger is a chevy trailblazer.
Many car companies share platforms and what not, even the new Porsche Cayenne and Volkwagen Toureg use the same frame and basic structure.
Hello, I am an American so I will answer your question this way.
American: They are easier to work on, get parts for, and they support OUR economy. NOT because I think we are better then any other country.
U.S.A. as far as it can take us.
Japanese cars are rated these days as more reliable than American made. Parts are not hard to get or more expensive and they are eazy to work on. (I know from personal experience) Now all Japanese manufacturers produce cars on American soil, more jobs for us, so they are American made. We no longer live in a one nation world, what goes on in one nation affects the economy of all nations. It's a global economy.
When you wrestle a 'gator, there ain't no good end!!
"Molon Labe!" Spartan General-King Leonidas
'03 Toyota Solara for momma
The toyota was make in the USA.
Just sold her '95 Toyota Camry, only regular mtce, never a problem.
The dodge already replaced the lower ball joints, front stabilizer and a couple of other front end parts, had to replace drums, rotors and all shoes/pads last year at 50K miles. Replaced the battery 2 years ago.
But, I was broadsided by a honda a couple of years ago. Truck took cosmetic damage only, killed the honda on the spot. Lost all its body fluids right there, where it bounced off the truck.
Don't think the Toyotas will fend that well.
As high as gas is the most important factor would be gas milege.
Idsman75-well said.
"It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once"
-David Hume
Troy
All the cars made today are basically put together using the same robotics and computer aided design systems.
The best engineered in my opinion is Mercedes Benz...sure it costs more, but they consistantly lead the auto industry in design and innovative advancements. They are the Wilson Combat of autos. [:D]
Second, during the 1970s gas crisis, we bought several Hondas new. Not one of them made it past 50,000 before major engine problems. We then bought a 1980 Subaru 4x4 and it ran to about 100,000 before engine failure. We then bought a 1985 Subaru 4x4 and its engine failed at about 15,000. It took six months of fighting to get it repaired because I change my own oil and Subaru alleged the car was not properly maintained. It ran to about 110,000 and we got rid of it because it was burning oil.
We then bought a 1988 Ford Tempo All-Wheel-Drive, which is still in the extended family with about 280,000 miles on it with an untouched engine and transmission, and still using no oil. We then bought a 1990 Dodge B350 15-passenger Maxiwagon that was converted to 4x4 by Quigly. It has about 190,000 on it with no major repairs except a fuel pump and an air conditioner compressor. We then bought a 1991 Ford Tempo AWD (1991 was the last year for the AWD Tempo) that is also still in the extended family with about 200,000 on it with the original engine and transmission in good shape. We then bought a 1997 Chrysler Town & Country AWD that now has 220,000 miles on it with an untouched engine and transmission. It has had only tie-rod ends and a water pump. It still has the original plugs in it. I doubt that the new Jaguar will do as well, but we shall see. I hope we do not wish we had waited for the coming Ford 500 sedan, which will be available in AWD.
I read the long-term tests in the various automobile magazines and if an American car had the troubles of some of the premium import brands, there would be class-action lawsuits filed. While the fit and finish on American cars may not reach the level of the imports, I do not think you can beat American products for long-term duribility under hard service. At least that has been my experience.
I'm with you...they keep on tickin'. Just wish they would use bigger displacement engines, even though I understand why they don't.
420
"This is in stark contrast to the results of the first VDS, conducted in 1990, when Mercedes-Benz led the industry."
"At the other end of the spectrum is Mercedes-Benz, which experiences the largest quality gap between initial quality and long-term quality measurements. Also deteriorating more rapidly than the average vehicle are Audi and Volvo."
http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2003050
My daughter turned 16 a few months ago and wanted ..of all things..a Pontiac Trans Am...She got It (yes she is spoiled) . In preparation for the arrival of the car i went out and bought a set of SAE wrenches...a waste of money...the damn thing is metric and made in Canada. Compared to everything else I have owned (including the MG) the Pontiac is made like crap, Blocks of styrofoam under trim panels!!! Only redeeming feature it has is T Tops
if i didnt do my own work i would probably stick with American Iron due to costs of parts only....I needed a new exhaust system on BMW ..my cost $950.00 just for parts..Buddy had a Lincoln with dual exhausts, needed replacement..total cost. including labor was under $300.00..thats when i decided the BMW had to go...
Only car I ever bought new was the Mini Cooper I am driving now
Buy what you want. The name doesn't mean a thing.
How old are you guys? 10?
Its funny though, cuz it shows buick having not many problems at all, but it shows other gm's such as pontiac with quite a few more problems. Pontiacs and Buick's share many of the same parts and frames. I know the bonneville is used in the buick line, forgot which model though.
And I own an 88 accord, which was made in ohio, and I believe most if not all of the parts were made in the u.s. too, because every part i have taken out of that thing has said made in the usa on it.
Speaker, speaker grille, air intake box, power window module, i havent seen a part yet on my car thats been made in a different country, but ill keep looking. But some of the accords from that year were made in japan, it all depends on what the VIN starts with.
________________
Heston for prez.
I found that all makes of trucks were thoroughly feminized and designed for the the suburban/urban metrosexual man market with all the standard (luxury) features. No roll down windows, no wing vent window on the doors, no manual 4WD hubs, and no way the average guy can repair them without an electrical engineering degree[:(].
It may have been my personal preference but I found the American made vehicles more appealing in construction and seating comfort.
My new truck came down to a neck to neck race between the Chevy and Ford. The Ford F-150 4x4 won out due to seating comfort and ride otherwise found them to be pretty equal.
Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.<BR>
The J. D. Power comment about how the foreign luxury brands, particularly Eurpoean brands, age poorly fits with my observations. I had a client who bought a new Audi 5000 when things were good for him, and he was forced to keep it for more than a decade when things turned bad for him. The Audi was very unreliable as it aged, and eventually he parked it, where it still sits today. My nephew also had an Audi that required a lot of expensive maintenence. I remember a starter was about $800! Audis (Audies?) seem to be among the most expensive to repair, probably typical for German cars.
While the door handle may fall off the traditional American product (Big Three), it will run if you can get the door open!
P.S. Driving an American care doesn't make you an American just as
driving a Japanese car doesn't make you less American. I am as
patriotic as they come and my pocket is full of keys to Toyotas
Mazdas etc...
I think that must be how Buick got such a high Power ranking. My father-in-law drove Buicks for years before he moved to Cadillacs later in his life. (He felt he had "earned" a Cadillac, and he was right, he had.) He thought his Buicks were great, when I thought they were very flawed. I think many Buick owners are elderly (does anybody think Tiger Woods actually drives one?) and remember when cars were less reliable, so when their Buick moves when they want it to, they are fully satisfied. They do not notice the flaws that others notice, so give their car high marks.
idsman, I believe Hondas to have improved a lot since we had ours. (They would have had to!) There is a fellow who works at the local hospital who commutes about 140 miles a day, and ran a 1990s Civic 300,000 without major problems, and his son is still driving the car. Of course, they were smooth highway miles, which are the easiest on a vehicle.
Still it beats walking.
The percentage of cars on American roads from Germany is very small, probably well under 10% including the most common make, Volkswagen. Therefore, you are at least ten times more likely to see a non-German car stalled along the road than a German car. Of course, market penetration varies by region so that can also affect the percentage seen. Out here in the Heartland, one rarely sees exotics like one might see in Southern California, and all European cars are relatively scarce as well.
- how components were attached (one time plastic clips that would break when serviced, or bolted)
- fit, and finish (consistent door & hood gaps)
- Paint coverage in hidden places.
- There was time when much of the sheetmetal, radiator supports, doors, etc with shims to compensate for sloppy tolerances.
- Carpet and trim panels that were over-or-under sized, lack of sound proofing.
- Accessibility in the engine compartment for service later.
- attachment of mouldings & trim
- badly designed pockets for future rust traps.
- do you have to disassemble 1/2 the vehicle to get to a spark plug or bolt
...this may not be the most scientific method of evaluating a vehicle, but it's the standard I've adopted for myself. Better quality vehicles tend to meet the criteria...European cars seem to do better than the US made vehicles...I still am partial to how Mercedes is put together.