9th Oct 2007, 13:59

This isn't a difficult argument folks... I know a few people with a few domestic vehicles who have an insane amount of miles on them, as in 150,200, and 300,000 miles or more. These people tend to be just busting at the seams with pride. Pride because indeed it is unusual for anything domestic to last beyond 120,000 miles.

On the other hand, every person in my family, all my friends, my wife, and my neighbors who own Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans have had almost no problems with our vehicles. That goes for my 96' Tacoma with 220,000 miles, My wife's 91' Civic with 178,000 miles, The neighbor's 84' Toyota Truck with 248,000 miles, My buddy with his 78' Honda Civic with almost 500,000 miles, My mom's old 98' Avalon now owned by my mechanically negligent brother with 210,000 miles, My Aunt and her 92' Camry with 160,000 miles, My mom's old Camry, which when sold had 220,000 miles (and is still being driven by the person who bought it 5 years ago), and lastly, my co-worker's Honda Accord with 230,000 miles.

NONE of these have had any major mechanical problems. None of these have ever been in a shop for none other than little things like brakes and tires. They just run day in, day out with no issues. They just get us around- albeit perhaps not in style, but they do so for sometimes decades.

This is a far cry from the people I know who have (had) domestics... like my house mate's 91 Mercury Sable (Taurus) that blew the head gasket at 98,000 miles, My dad's 94' F-250, which at 104,000 miles somehow cracked the inatke manifold, my brother's 94' Ranger that self-destructed the transmission at 160,000 miles (hey- that one actually made it past 120k!) which was replaced with the 98' Avalon, and The 96' Buick my grandmother owned that was in the shop ALL THE TIME for air conditioner and electrical problems.

Say what you want- Imports are junk and domestics are terrific. But the truth is fairly obvious if you actually talk to people who own the cars.

10th Oct 2007, 05:55

13:59 Everybody knows that the imports are superior. Even the domestic owners all know it, but they'll never admit what is the truth. They just keep writing in about a Dodge truck they once heard tales about that got 300,000 miles, when just about every Honda and Toyota does this; it's to be expected. That's why well-informed people buy them.

It never matters to a domestic owner when you detail Ford or Chevy's horrible track record with cars and trucks. You can't sway them with details like facts and information. They think their Ford is the best; why? No one knows.

I'll still be driving my old Tacoma when most of the new Fords on the sales lots are rotting in the junkyard. "But what about my dad's '84 Chevy truck that he still has?" What about it? It's a piece of crap. It was when it was new, and it still is.

In reply to 10th Oct 2007, 05:55

10th Oct 2007, 08:22

Well sir, what makes that '84 Chevy truck a piece of crap? Where are YOUR facts to back up YOUR statements? This whole comment of yours, proves not one fact, but all to be OPINION.

Seems like you should be the one educating yourself on the difference between fact and opinion.

10th Oct 2007, 16:39

Pretty liberal with the word "everyone" as I know many that have left the import flock. I was one of them many years and reading the posts I see 90's vehicles which I raved about as well, but saw serious difficulties after 2000. I have bought a lot more brand new imports than the average individual and have tracked over time issues. I feel new domestics are far superior... my family has switched as well. If I kept my Legends in the 90's sure I would rave about them, but not the newer imports since. Get tired of reading about 90's vehicles when many own newer

10th Oct 2007, 23:49

I was on a trip with my friend and we towed an eighteen foot trailer with his 2006 F-150, towing a 1960s International 560. The engine seemed okay, but overall the truck did not seemed finished. It was just a bunch of plastic part thrown together and just reminded me of any other Ford car I drove... "fleet! Fleet! Fleet!." It is however better than the 1997 F-150 I drove before... which was a jelly bean with even worse plastic parts.

Everyone has to realize that Toyota is making big strides to make a pickup truck. And darn, after driving this F-150 XLT, I can now see why Ford is losing so much money. Hope the 2009 Ford trucks are better.

BTW I live in St. Paul and Ford is axing the plant that makes the Ranger, so it looks like they are giving up on small trucks like they do with minivans for now.

11th Oct 2007, 15:56

Why is an '84 Chevy truck (or any other year) a piece of crap. Look at it. Listen to it run. We're assuming here that there are a few left that haven't had 2 or 3 engine and transmission replacements or rebuilds, and didn't rot into nothing within the first 5 or 6 years, like most Chevy trucks do. Listen to it run at any rpm over 2500. That should tell you enough.

12th Oct 2007, 17:37

What Toyota has done with the Tundra is to create a significant challenger to Ford, GM & Chrysler. To me, it is remarkable that Toyota has wiped out what should have been a fifty year headstart and is at least dead even with Ford, GM & Chrysler half-ton pickups.

Having looked at all the full-size pick-ups, I think you would have a hard time going wrong with any of them. They are all nice vehicles and they all have their good points, so I think the choice mostly boils down to what you like and don't like about each of them.

The reasons I traded my Chevy Silverado for a Tundra were:

1. The GM pickups, for some inexplicable reason, don't have a driver side assist handle.

2. I thought the gravel shield on the front of the Chevys and Fords looked cheap.

3. I was afraid of the cylinder deactivation feature on the Chevys.

3. I didn't like the gas mileage on the 5.4L Ford engines.

4. I have a thing about roof top antennas, which both the Fords and the Chevys had.

5. I liked the way the tailgate operated on the Tundra, and I liked that it could be locked and unlocked with the ignition key.

6. I liked the acceleration of the 5.7L engine in the Tundra, and I especially liked the six-speed transmission in the Tundra.

7. I was impressed by the rear seat room in the Tundra CrewMax.

8. I was also impressed by all of the storage spaces in the Tundra.

9. I also liked the smooth ride of the Tundra, which was better than the Ford and was probably the equal of the GM's. I was also impressed with how quiet it was inside the Tundra at highway speeds.

10. I liked the overall fit and finish of the Tundra and I especially liked the comfort of the Liquicell seats.

My conclusion was that the Tundra looked like a pick-up, but had some of the qualities of a sports car.

All of this said, I still think the Ford F150 is the best looking of all of the pick-ups, both interior and exterior. I just wish it were more technologically up-to-date. I also like the looks of the new GMC pick-up, but I did not care for the looks of the front end of the new Silverados, and I especially disliked the height of the rear fender wells on both GM models.

I'm also glad the Tundra is built in the states. It shows that American workers can definitely build a quality vehicle. (My Chevy Silverado was built in Canada, and I know both Ford and Chrysler are building pickups in Mexico.)