Automotive Forums

Everyone of the makers has problems. Period. You abuse it and it will break, its only a machine. But lets look at what you want to do with it before you decide its junk. How would you like a foreign truck over domestic for running the farm? Believe me when I tell you the american truck wins hands down. Lets move on to grandma getting the groceries every sunday. She could get an american car and it would work just fine, low maintance, or a import, the gas milage would be of some help. She probably wont ever need to do any major work on either. Well now you have a 13 year old boy who feel he needs the fastest car at school to learn with. Domestic or import? Wow he will probably run the tires off it and dent every fender before he gets home. Import might look like something that you should buy just so he wont get stuck broke down huh? What a minute that suspension is awfully weak, it might break when he hits a pothole at 120. Hum perhaps an american car would be better. They are pretty tough. Oh but lets not forget about dad, he need something fast for when he needs to merge.   But the interior needs to make his coworkers jeoulous. Should he get the lexus or some other import? Wow some of them even park themselves. Oh the burdens of parking have finally been eliminated. Sorry dad still no flying cars.   You could wait for the challanger and maybe buy two just in case one breaks down. The thing is what floats your boat. Treat it well and it will last, drive it like hard and it wont last much longer than 100k. Ive seen then both import and domestic and one persons 1990 will be thrashed and anothers will be golden. It doesn't matter were it was built, it matters whos driving.  

I have a little problem with all this... newer US made vehicles  are not EZ to work on.. not with out prom readers and electronic crap.. the big 3 hhave sold us all down the OPEC river for the sake of profit ... I just want an economical, well designed, low maint, affordable ride...I don't care who makes it or where .. enuf of the ***  

ENUF bitchin ...does anyone out there know if there is any way to improve MPG on FORD products .IE 3 and 3.8 v-6s  

Want a cheap car?  Dissolve the unions, remove the EPA's jurisdiction over automobiles, and get rid of all those pesky safety features the government requires.

If cars weren't required to have catalytic converters, EVAP systems, ABS brake systems, stability control, low-speed impact systems, composite construction, tire pressure monitors, OBDII computers, CAN data bus systems, crumple zone construction, high intensity lighting systems, etc... they would be alot cheaper - and with more money to spend on the drivetrain, they'd be more powerful & reliable, too.  

yes they do, in my opinion, they're bulky, unsophisticated, lack taste, and fuel inefficient.  

If yoiu are going to make a comparison that makes sense then align the choices by price, class, and type. On that basis- comparable vehicles look a lot better on this side of the pond in every area except- perception. We gotta change that- and American flagships, at least, are working overtime. Viper, Corvette, Cadillac XLR, and even Lincoln MKZ.
Steve  

I'm replying to a year old post BUt I have to interject some facts. American cars or Japanese or European cars in protectionist markets outside each country of origin isn't going to be seen often. There are Germans driving American cars. just not very many because of extremely high tariffs for importing a new U.S. made car there. Same thing for either a U.S. made or European made car in Japan.
Steve  

Americans are free to make ignorant comments such as the ones qouted. American servicemen from WWII ;i.e., vets brought back British and German sports cars they had been exposed to. Guess they were the grandaddys of the "traitors" buying foreign today huh? Or is it they earned the right to choose what their blood, sweat, and tears paid for. If people are going to rattle the drums and blow the bugles of "patriotism" practice what you preach in living your life through what you buy in everything you buy. Not just cars. Or be silent, you look less the fool that way.
   If you want American workers to have jobs have them sit down to the table with management and strike agreements  for health care and benefit packages that compete with the competition so that per unit costs are actually competitive. Get rid of the overcompensated weenies at the top and educate the exectives in between to be car people, not short sheet economists. Study the past. Look at AMC's( of course, they had car people working there- and the transfer in talent in great part accounts for Chrysler's relative rosy picture ) history to appreciate what is happening to Ford and GM today.
Steve  

I hope American Car companies are reading some of these posts. It would behoove them too. Great read..  

This is all a personal decision.  I for one can't afford a new car from ANY car company.  That being said.  I still prefer american cars over others.  I just like the way american cars look.  Ford... they are slipping.  The Mustang I like.  I dont like the new Taurus (Disguised Five Hundred)  The Focus has been butt ugly.  I could get into the Fusion if they would bring out a 2 door version.  Of all the foreign makes, Mazda has the most that would interest me.  I like the looks of the Mazda 3 and the Mazda 6 sport wagons.  Why can't Ford bring back an updated rear wheel drive Pinto??  The best car I've ever owned was a '79 Pinto. It would start every time.  Drive through the deepest snow that would scare the front wheelers.  I miss the good old cars.  

GM=Performance (Corvette 5.7,7.0,Camaro) (Small Block or Big Block V8!!)
Honda/Toyota=Reliability (4cly, Man trans)
BMW/Mercedes=Refinement (Interior, Fit/Finish)
Ford=Ugly!,Waste of Money (Taurus??, Focus??, F150?? why so ugly?!)  

Lets combine all these companies:
GM can make the Performance Cars and Trucks
Hond/Toy can make the Economy Cars
BMW/Merc can make the luxury cars
Ford can make cars for people who enjoy something on the hideous/frumpy/weak looking side.
and we'll all be happy!