19th Jul 2009, 13:39

"The VERY FEW that actually make over 200,000 miles are flukes."

What a very uninformed and biased opinion this is. From my experience it would be the other way around. My GM lasted 225K miles before the motor blew out. The Nissan lasted 352K until it was totalled so please re-examine your logic. Its flawed.

19th Jul 2009, 17:40

"I do not plan on any more issues with new Hondas."

Me either. After our last Honda totally disintegrated right after the puny warranty expired, we switched to Ford and GM. I DEFINITELY don't plan on any more problems with Honda!!

20th Jul 2009, 17:35

I see in car shows many great old domestic restored trucks that still have great frames, sheet metal that will last many generations. The flimsy import trucks I have seen have severe rusting and not worthy of engine transplants etc. when they commence burning and losing oil.

I just bought a 1998 Corvette C5 Convertible; great drivetrain, fun to drive, bulletproof drivetrain that is like new and just won my first car show in it. I am averaging 21 MPG on my dash display with 28-30 MPG on trips. Pretty astounding with 365 HP on tap... actually closer to 400 with intake change and new stainless exhaust.

I am a big fan of the newest Chevrolet V8's in my Silverado and SUV as well. The SUV gets the worse mileage and the highest insurance rates out of the bunch. The Corvette is now actually the economy car of the 3... on a trip not much less than a Civic!

Insurance $700 a year, no accidents, points, being older and all the safety features. The overdrive barely idles at the limit. I am taking it to Bowling Green to see if the masses there are complaining driving all the newer and older Corvettes from Chevrolet.

I love driving and have never become complacent, focusing on owning nicer driving, fun to own and great durable models. I like the 100,000 mile warranty on new models, and expect little issues if any on my 11 year old well maintained one.

21st Jul 2009, 20:22

Here's a more personal take on how buying Japanese cars hurts U.S. citizens.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-07-20-gmtown_N.htm

This is the THIRD such article about a U.S. owned car plant closing in a major newspaper in the past 7 days. Now what was that about "It doesn't matter if you buy a Japanese car?" I bet it matters to THESE PEOPLE.

22nd Jul 2009, 10:31

I'm sorry these people have lost their jobs. However, when I am making a long-term purchase, I must consider what is best for my pocketbook, not Rick Allison or anyone else's employment status. Sorry. Nice try.

23rd Jul 2009, 11:53

It's a very sad comment on our country when our own citizens brazenly say "I don't care about anyone else, I'm paying $5000 more for an inferior product" and deliberately put our own workers out of work. Enjoy your Honda while it lasts. My Ford will be running for hundreds of thousands of miles after the Honda you sent your money to Japan for is rusting in a junk yard.

23rd Jul 2009, 19:20

10:31 please read the previous comment once again. You commented on only 1 affected and I maintain somewhere you may be affected as well. It may not seem at all significant that you bought a new import. Right now any high ticket order lost for any import product in this economy is a loss.

I wish everyone in America to prosper. Having that attitude enabled me to attain frequent raises, promotions, not ever being downsized and my full pension, employer matching, stock etc. You can buy whatever you want and not have to overextend yourself with housing etc. If you are young today, later you may wish otherwise, and if your 401K alone is enough for you alone, great. I feel bad for many that are affected and may have to work til 75.

If your employer is reducing employees, giving unpaid furlough, required absences, reducing your benefits and eliminating pensions, it's time to reduce 700,000 jobs lost a month.

I bought new domestics came from a time when I made good income for many years and will continue from keeping my employer profitable. I remember in my town there were only a few new car dealers, no internet shopping and everyone locally benefited. The standard of living was good and most were living well. There were also a few used car lots and I mainly ordered new cars and waited. I could live not pulling any internet sale from my town 300 miles away. If you wanted any appliance, you went to a local store. They also serviced them in house. They were repairable not throwaways from mass merchants or internet. There were 2 vacuum models in a store, a Hoover and a Eureka, the rest door to door then. Now there are 50 brands.

Drive around and see all the local industry lost. You could work one company that prospered and retire with a pension. Now it's fast, cheap and immediate. I am wrapping up now with my work career. I may not be around in 30 years to see if my theory proves true. If you think your major import purchase does not matter in this stagnant economy... way it out when you retire. I say it does matter.

24th Jul 2009, 11:53

Please do not misinterpret what others are saying. When or IF I pay $5000 more for a product, it has always been superior. These companies are putting themselves out of work, not the consumer, so I do not feel bad. That Ford of yours can be totaled so you do not know how many miles it will run. Our 1991 Honda lasted 301K before my daughter who had taken it to college let it run slap out of oil. Otherwise, it'd still be on the road. My 1987 Nissan Maxima enjoyed 353K miles until being totaled. My 1996 GMC pickup lasted 225K miles under my ownership. However, you can best believe it was having problems LONG before that. The last 55K or so miles were nothing but trouble, and for some reason even I fail to understand, I kept hanging onto a vehicle that was falling apart as it was on the highway.