5th Dec 2008, 15:54

No, the arguments never end because there are a handful of people who are so fanatical in their support of Japanese marques that they will not accept the validity of reviews that truthfully report problems with Toyota and Honda. They also attack anyone who would dare to state that they like their American car. Thankfully, a few folks who recognize how good American cars are feel compelled to set the record straight and defend American cars from such unfounded, vitriolic slander.

5th Dec 2008, 17:28

Yes, but the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry & Corolla are built in the USA, while the Chevrolet Impala & Chrysler 300's are built in Canada. The PT Cruiser is built in Mexico. So just what is YOUR definition of an American car?

6th Dec 2008, 00:50

My mother owns a 2004 Honda Accord, purchased brand new. She has not had a single problem with it other than routine maintenance (oil change, tires, etc.), the car runs the same as it did the day she bought it. Before she owned a 2000 Odyssey and didn't have any problems with it. Japanese vehicles do have bland designs many times but the fit and finish are unbeatable. They are built for the long haul. With American makes, one can expect only a few good years out of it before the problems begin.

Also, no one really knew which cars were the best before the 1970's since domestics were the only ones built. They had little competition and consumers had little choice other than an American offering. True, Japanese makes were cheaply made before the 1970's. They sent engineers and designers over to study the manufacturing process, went home, perfected it and left American manufacturers in the shade at their own game. Since owning my 1987 Nissan Maxima that lasted 20 years with relatively minor problems, I can never see myself owning another American vehicle.

6th Dec 2008, 08:16

That's great, but I can tell the same story, just replace "Honda" with "Mercury" and "Nissan" with "Ford". My 2002 Ford with 100,000 miles has never required a single repair. Not one. How do you beat that for reliability? My parents' 1997 Mercury with 180,000 miles has also never needed a single repair. Tell me, why would I buy Japanese? I honestly don't get it. How do you improve on perfect reliability?

6th Dec 2008, 08:30

No, a FEW Honda Accords, Toyota Camries, and Corollas are ASSEMBLED in the USA from foreign made parts by workers paid half as much as Detroit, and with no benefits besides. That's why the Japanese build plants in economically depressed areas, to attract those desperate enough to work for $12/hour and who will not dare to unionize or complain. They are the Wal-Mart of the auto industry. The manufacturing, design, and profits return to Japan. Do you honestly believe that Nippondenso is an American company?

6th Dec 2008, 13:27

Incorrect. The argument is based on which manufacturers in general build better vehicles. All manufacturers build the occasional bad car or truck. It's just that the big Three build MORE bad cars and trucks than Honda or Toyota, hence their gradual decline in sales and the reason the CEOS of the Big Three are now begging for Congress for my tax dollars. Let them go bankrupt for all I care. They make garbage and everyone knows it.

One last thing - agreed that American car companies make cars in the USA (Along with Honda and Toyota) and those profits go to an American company. But when I watch TV and see that the CEOS of these American companies blow the money on fancy private jets on their way to beg for money... I can think of much better uses for my hard-earned money.

6th Dec 2008, 17:19

To 17:28: Please READ the first paragraph of comment 17:04.

To 00:50: Well, I could likewise say that our experience with our 53 year old Pontiac (totally original and running flawlessly still) and our 32 year old Buick (recently sold, never had a single problem) trumps your one Nissan.

I could also mention our 1975 Ford that was traded at 325,000+ miles (with never a major and very few minor repairs) or our 1990 Dodge that was sold at 240,000 miles with NOTHING but routine maintenance and still running perfectly with no oil usage.

I might also mention our family's 1983 Chevy Silverado that is still in service as a company truck, or our neighbor's 1985 Ford F-150 that was bought new and is still in use.

Then there's my former boss's 1985 Dodge pickup that is still in use (never a problem). Probably the highest mileage vehicle I l know of personally is a co-worker's Plymouth (1963 or '64, I'm not sure which) that made 410,000 miles before being traded.

Then there is the famous 1934 Ford with 1,000,000 plus miles and the 1953 Cadillac taxi that made 1,000,000 miles in CITY TRAFFIC.

Domestic unreliability is a myth. Pure and simple. When I was a kid my dad bought a 1951 Ford Flathead V-8 and was told the speedometer had already tripped TWICE (200,000 miles). We drove the car until it had tripped AGAIN and put another 15,000 miles after that. That adds up to 315,000 miles on a 1951 vehicle. During the last 3 years of its life the oil pressure gauge indicated a mere 3 pounds of oil pressure, yet we never had a problem with the car... at all. Now what was that about reliable IMPORTS??

8th Dec 2008, 03:45

Actually your story does not trump anything. First off, the Nissan was INVOLUNTARILY retired due to an irresponsible, 16-year old inattentive driver. The car had over 360K miles on it anyway. Took the car to my mechanic afterward and he said there was NO problem AT ALL with the engine. Just a minor power steering issue which was unrelated. The car was DRIVEN daily, up to 160 miles half the week until the day it totaled. I would have rather driven that old car rather than ANY new domestic vehicle. Also, I believe the story about the 32-yr. old Buick but do not believe it about the 53-year-old car at all. The car has probably been driven periodically over the last 20 or 30 years. You can keep telling that story and I will keep saying American cars are crap with low resale values.

My aunt had a 1992 Dodge Dynasty LE brand new that constantly stayed in the shop before it was FIVE YEARS OLD. She was such a loyal owner she bought a 2002 Dodge Intrepid SE. guess what? That piece of crap lasted 5 years. Guess what she's driving now? 2007 Nissan Altima, the car has given her absolutely NO problem at all.

My brother is tired of his 1995 Chevy Silverado pickup that has barely reached the 200K mile mark and is pulling his hair out. He has had to replace the engine, head gasket, radiator, fans and belts all within the last FOUR months. I can attest to the fact that domestic vehicles are nothing but useless pieces of crap that don't deserve to be on our precious roads. Taxpayers who don't drive crap should have the option of how their money is being spent. Personally, I'd rather give my money to a favorite charity than to an ailing car company whose best days are far behind. I agree that there are some bad imports of all makes, but that won't stop me from being a faithful owner.