4th Aug 2008, 12:44

Consumer Reports biased? If you say Consumers Reports is biased against American cars, they must have a reason for it. They report on quality, reliability and owner satisfaction. It must be that owners of American made cars are not completely satisfied with their cars.

BTW, I have owned around 12 cars in total, 10 GM's and 2 Ford's. I have been satisfied with these cars but the newer models just don't have the reliability as Honda's and Toyota's!

The proof is in the slumping sales of American cars.

For example take a look at Oldsmobile, OUT OF BUSINESS.

Look at Buick, they had to rename ALL of their cars to try to convince the public they have better quality now, you know what? Still the same issues of quality.

The same with Pontiac. All the classic nameplates have been replaced with G5, G6, G8.

GM, Ford, Chrysler have all had transmission, engine issues that they don't want to admit have engineering faults.

My 99 Bonneville SLE has the 3.8 litre Series ll engine that has been produced for years with a plastic intake gasket that melts, causing antifreeze to leak into the engine causing it to seize. GM has never compensated any of the owners for this. Transmissions are now a replacement item! GM's 3.1 engine is notorious for intake failures. SO DON'T TELL ME GM, FORD AND CHRYSLER are quality made.

The poster claiming American cars are superior to imports should consult the statistics and every Automobile magazine.

Also, stop blaming Japanese and German car makers for taking away American jobs because if GM, Ford and Chrysler started building quality and reliable cars, they would be producing more and thus more people would still have jobs at those plants!

4th Aug 2008, 16:14

Wish my Honda could have gone to 100,000 miles without 3 transmission replacements. What year is the new Ford Explorer that has 100,000 miles?

4th Aug 2008, 16:18

Well, again we run into typical "import logic". An article reporting on a Ford that goes 488,000 miles somehow shows that it is not as reliable as a Honda that goes only 200,000??

4th Aug 2008, 18:15

15:34 This information in that magazine is a direct result of what actually happens to vehicles that CONSUMERS own and are surveyed about. Which is why they are accurate in stating that imports are more likely to have over 200,000 miles on them than domestics; because THAT is what happens in reality. Just like their lists of 'used cars to avoid', which have always been filled with more Fords and Chevy's than anything else.

I guess we're to rely on YOUR opinion, and NOT the information printed in a major publication?

How is it that every old Civic I see has 2 or 300,000 miles on it, and the Fords don't last that long?

4th Aug 2008, 20:34

I recently went to the local fair in my area, where they had a stand of Toyotas. The new Tundra, Sequoia, and the FJ Cruiser.

I was astonished at the horrid interior quality of all these vehicles. The fake, plastic wood trim on the doors of the Sequoia Limited are flimsy and feel as if they were just set on there.

They creak, flex, and can easily pop out of place on the arm rest. Most of the door, save for a small strip of leather-like-stuff, is hard, cheap, flimsy plastic that flexes when you pull or push. That is totally pathetic.

Trim pieces on the dash were mis-aligned, and once again, poorly assembled, i. e flexing, creaking, etc.

The interior of the Tundra was the same way; after all it is basically the same interior.

My neighbor owns a 2005 Sequoia, and its interior is worlds ahead of that of the new Sequoia in terms of build quality and the materials used. Plush materials, rigid quality, etc. The interior of his Sequoia was impressive.

Even worse, the FJ cruiser. Its interior was even more downgraded and shoddy, with the yellow painted plastic pieces (to match the exterior color) only set in, they move freely in their enclosures. The doors are even thinner, rubbery plastic, that if you push on with your thumb, will recess into the door about an inch, if not more.

The rest of the interior pieces were hard plastic, and rattly as well.

While playing with the climate control knobs, I ended up with one fallen out and in my hand. I quickly put it back on so someone didn't yell at me.

Of course, the representatives there were boasting about these vehicles as if they were Gods of the truck world, I was totally shocked at how they could blatantly up-talk these vehicles, but upon close inspection, they suck.

I walked away totally unimpressed with new Toyota products and their quality. I simply couldn't believe it at first.

I'm no fan or loyal customer of Toyota, but I did have respect for their quality products, a long time ago.

Do yourself a favor and poke and prod around a new Toyota.

This first-hand experience really opened my eyes about the quality of new Toyota vehicles. It's laughable at best.

5th Aug 2008, 05:32

I am still driving my 2001 Dakota Extended Cab V8 company vehicle now touching 190,000 miles. Does not burn oil, ice cold A/C and stops starts many times daily. All original drivetrain. I highly recommend this vehicle.

As it is not mine, I could care less other than to say it how reliable it is. It has a noisy power steering pump still functional. It's annoying to listen to on turns and I will have them fix it soon. It also has a nice ride for a pick up and plenty of power.

I feel reading about company vehicles is the best as brand loyalty means nothing to the user. I am in and out of Jiffy Lube every month, and keep all filters and fluids done on schedule.

5th Aug 2008, 10:26

I've had the same experience as 20:34. I was able to compare different brands at a car expo. The Ford and GM products were much better built, and far higher quality than the shoddy Toyota models on display. The fit and finish on the Ford Fusion is some of the best I've ever seen, as was the Saturn Aura and Chevy Malibu. The Tundra was a joke compared to the Ford F-150 or Silverado.

Obviously those who think import quality is better have never looked at newer models or compared them side by side.

As for long-term reliability, none of our domestic cars or trucks has ever had a mechanical problem.