25th Aug 2008, 21:20

I've owned 7 Mustangs. The last V-8 was a '90 LX 5.0 H.O. It got 15 mpg on the highway and 10-11 in town.

In August of '07 I bought a fully loaded V-6 Mustang. It cost $5000 less than the new V-8, the insurance was about 40% less, and it gets 25 mpg highway and 20-21 in town.

The interior (which is leather) is identical to the V-8, and the ride is much less harsh. It is actually FASTER than my '90 5.0, especially from 0-100. The only modification on it is a cold-air system.

In this day and age I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay 5 grand more, 40% more insurance, and get much worse fuel mileage just so they can boast about having a V-8. You can't even fully use the full potential of a Chevy Aveo legally, so why pay out the wazoo for bragging rights? I'd rather use my hard earned money for something a little more tangible.

26th Aug 2008, 16:53

Some of the comments insist that instead of buying those "imports" that we should be buying "exciting" cars like the Aveo, Focus, or Caliber. All of those were designed overseas, and use imported components or made entirely in another country. I fail to see the difference in buying a non-domestic brand and a domestic brand put together somewhere else.

26th Aug 2008, 18:01

If you spent another grand on your old Mustang Fox body instead, you would up the HP from the slow 215 hp or so. Not a real dramatic claim. Don't forget you don't have to limit yourself to just remaining stock.

28th Aug 2008, 15:44

Funny experience, today I saw a Toyota truck pulling a Dodge truck. The Toyota was much smaller than the Dodge truck. I don't know if it was an older Toyota Tundra or what.

Cosmetically both looked terrible. But I guess Toyota trucks aren't as crappy as people make them. I do think dodges are crap though.

I also saw a Ford pulling a Chevy truck one time. That was a surprise. I don't much care for Fords either.

Before I get labeled as an import fan, I have to let you know I'm a GM person. But I'm not biased toward car reliabilities. Toyota's are very reliable cars, but they come with their faults; my mom owns a corolla, I know.

Domestics aren't as bad as people make them out either, period.

The world is a global market and car manufacturers are going to make cars wherever they are cheaper to make. Face it, almost everything we buy is made from China. If they were made in the USA, we wouldn't be able to afford many things.

People should respect other people's opinion to buy what they want and like what they want.

29th Aug 2008, 07:42

First and foremost, I agree we should respect other people's opinion, and it is good that you provided that reminder on this sometimes contentious thread.

However, I have a huge problem with the "global market" concept you mention. That whole idea is a neocon sceme (not saying this applies to you), pushed by industry groups under the craftily worded (as all neocon schemes are) guise of so-called "free trade," simply to give them access to cheap labor. As a result, American industry is falling apart because nobody here wants to work for less than third world wages. In fact, they cannot even legally do it, because it would amount to people having to work for less than minimum wage.

But, that is what it would take for companies to operate here under current circumstances. Or we could just continue to get illegal aliens to do all the work for those wages, while the government looks the other way. Either way, America suffers and the third world benefits in neocon fantasyland.

If our government would put a protective tariffs on imported goods - which is largely how we used to survive before the income tax was unconstitutionally implemented - and stop taxing/regulating them to death, this would no longer be a problem. We could keep our industry here and maintain our standard of living. But then the neocons would have to admit there whole "free trade" scheme was misguided, and it is obvious they would rather see our whole economy collapse than do that.

29th Aug 2008, 11:55

I could not agree MORE with comment 07:42. It is so well written I can think of little to add except "THANK YOU!!"

31st Aug 2008, 18:54

7:42 sure beats the import total generalization tirade "It's the best, simple as that, and I said so and that makes it true"

1st Sep 2008, 21:26

18:45 Well, despite the 'world market' economics lesson, when it comes to automobiles, the imports generally are better made than anything the Big 3 put together. Practically all of them, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan without a doubt.

Not because I said so, but because they put more thought and effort into the materials they use, the design of those materials, the way they assemble them, and quality control in general. Heck, even my new Hyundai Accent is a better built car than any Ford or Chevy. My Toyota's were all much, MUCH better.

I don't even factor in Dodge anymore; their lineup is so ridiculous that they barely deserve mentioning.

2nd Sep 2008, 06:58

21:26 I feel the complete opposite. When there was low production and true imports, ours were better at the time. But that was over 10 years ago. I have had no problems with domestics the past 5 years since we switched. I am basing that on 2-3 vehicles purchased new and some imports and domestics sharing our garage. We are not commenting om anything other than new Japanese/Domestic vehicles that we tracked new since inception. Not someone else's used vehicles; that is not a clear indicator of proper maintenance.

2nd Sep 2008, 15:56

"28th Aug 2008, 15:44.

Funny experience, today I saw a Toyota truck pulling a Dodge truck. The Toyota was much smaller than the Dodge truck. I don't know if it was an older Toyota Tundra or what.

Cosmetically both looked terrible. But I guess Toyota trucks aren't as crappy as people make them. I do think dodges are crap though."

Well, don't base your opinion on just one observation. My father bought a Toyota motorhome with only 55,000 miles on it because of the supposed "Toyota reliability" of the 22R engine. I had to use my old '85 Dodge Ram to pull him home a good dozen times because the Toyota would die five miles down the road. The Dodge easily pulled the much larger Toyota motorhome, and was a sight to behold -- the old Dodge pulling the dead dog of a Toyota down the road.

You may have reason to think Dodges were junk in the 1990's, but they were the best trucks in the 1970's and 1980's. The Ram 2500 and 3500 series are still great for real, heavy duty work because they are used in the mines as utility vehicles, not just hauling an arbor vitae bush back from Lowe's. I would agree that the light truck Dakota and Durango are too fluffy for actual off-road use.