21st Apr 2008, 15:03

No qualifications are needed to know that U.S. auto manufacturers are making inferior vehicles compared to Japan auto mfgs. Ford, GM, and Chrysler have been making poor quality vehicles for 25 years now, and show no sign of changing that trend. It's obvious they don't care about the consumers desires for quality, and it will cost them. Soon the "big 3" will all be Japanese. That will be a great day.

24th Apr 2008, 12:40

In our area there have been public demonstrations and class-action suits against Toyota for failing to honor their warranty and for cheating their customers. A court ruled that some customers were due damages. I guess that is another great example of Toyota's excellent customer service. Our GM dealer has performed minor repairs on our GM cars after they were out of warranty at no cost to us.

When someone says "no qualifications are needed to know that U.S. auto manufacturers are making inferior vehicles" it basically means "There is not a shred of evidence to back up my statement and I've never even driven a domestic".

25th Apr 2008, 10:31

Currently gas prices are through the roof and it seems like individuals are looking how far per tank vs. doing their homework. Going cheap and expecting quality throughout has not been my personal experience with imports. There is more than MPG; unfortunately long term ownership costs might take a back seat to immediate gratification at the pump. It has been cheaper at least in our family to buy domestics the past 5 years than imports.

I do not enjoy going in with low mileage transmission/engine concerns. Even with the brief warranty, if you keep it beyond, it's not worth the risk.

This is speculation, but what happens when the high mpg Prius warranty expires and you are attempting to service its electronic/battery system? I wouldn't know where to start, and yet I know a good bit on vehicle repairs.

I'll take a new domestic sedan with a V8; easily serviced and actually the highway mpg are pretty impressive anymore. I haven't been to the dealer whatsoever with any major issues with domestics, and they won the business entirely from having at least one new import in our driveway. We owned them for many years and switched over service.

25th Apr 2008, 22:09

12:40 Well, I've driven and owned several domestics, which is exactly why I don't drive or own them anymore. Too many breakdowns, too much money going out in repairs, and worth nothing on the trade-in. I switched to Toyota 15 years ago and probably wouldn't drive a domestic now if you paid me to. I haven't had a single problem in the last 15 years with any of the three, and the domestics just don't measure up in any way to Toyota quality; 15 years ago or today.

26th Apr 2008, 07:45

We switched entirely to domestics in 2004.

15 years ago I would agree with you, and maybe as late as 2000, that imports were fine. If you did buy them all new and cared for each one as we have done, you track a consistent history. All our vehicles are garage kept and immaculate. Import or domestic, I have seen exact same models that I can accurately comment upon.

I have owned, being conservative, at least 30 cars over the years many new. That is just myself. My wife has owned at least 10 new Hondas; got hooked on them and she knows the track record on her end. She isn't driving one today.

The past few years I have seen the new GM models become outstanding and I have owned some nice imports that previously had the level of quality I have now. If you buy as much as we have, you know.

I am not discussing cars or trucks someone else owned prior and may have inherited bad maintenance. I know 100% of my new vehicle's track record, every drop of oil, filter, every dealer maintained service interval and I keep our vehicles garaged and immaculate. If issues develop I am not bashful I will speak out.

Maybe older imports were fine, but I could not believe how it changed for us. I remember when a new import was an import; less were made and I remember some never going back in the warranty period. I think the domestic manufacturers are geared better for high volume, and the many of the imports are being bought because of fuel pricing, but time will tell if they improve mechanically.

I just saw the first quarter in America; 38% of the vehicles sold were 4 cylinders!... I am not buying one; even our imports were always at least V6 models.

26th Apr 2008, 15:22

I do not know what resale you are seeing on over 100,000 miles, but late used 80's Camry's I am seeing advertised on the web with pics $750-1000 Late 90's around $3,000... I would rather select something fun to drive first, long warranty as I would not want a 36000 mile import warranty expired with common resale such as above. If you are driving 150,000-200,000 miles or even higher, plus spending repairs, what impressive resale would you expect to see?

27th Apr 2008, 06:06

22:09 Well you should buy a 2008 Silverado, which has better trade in and lower cost of ownership over 5 years... see the latest ads.

Since you keep your vehicles a long time, it would make sense to have a better 100,000 mile warranty and save money 5 years from now as it the long term ownership cost buying a GM will be less. If you keep vehicles a long time and drive them, it seems like excellent financial sense to save money and have a better warranty, would it not?

27th Apr 2008, 20:47

0606: If any of that were accurate, you'd be right. But since I DO keep vehicles a long time, I will certainly stay away from the domestics. A 100,000 mile warranty does you no good after 100,000 miles. I put on that many in a little over 4 years. That's not a long time.

Experience with owning domestics has taught me that they fall apart soon after that, so I think I'll stick with Toyota's, which I can keep for twice that long and still not make any repairs, and worst case, minor ones like an occasional starter or alternator. Seems to me that beats having a head gasket or transmission in a GM blow up 5000 miles after the warranty has expired, which is par for the course with a GM.

GM can keep their 2008 Silverado's, as well as anything else they make. I don't waste money on vehicles that break down like those do. I have a Toyota, which surpasses it in every way.

28th Apr 2008, 15:19

I thought you only had 90,000 miles on your Tacoma truck... so this truck does not have 150,000, 200,000 miles or even greater. I assume you will just drive it til its worthless as far as Blue Book.

There are a lot of cheap high mileage Tundras I have found if you buy used vehicles. Then you will eventually need an even greater amount set aside for a new replacement vehicle.

The fact is over 5 years of ownership, the Tundra costs more to own, drive and resale. To be honest, so does a Ford, but for value retained its GM full size trucks for 2008.

I have had no problems whatsover with my last 2004, which with over 75,000 miles was issue free other than filter changes, tires and brakes. I could have kept it but stepped up. I drive a lot as well and hard towing.

Before 100,000 I sell, but I suspect the durability to exceed the lighter duty Toyota trucks frame, capacities and towing capability.

Mine easily lopes along rather than max out its duty cycle over time. If I was just an interstate commuter going empty, a light small 4 cyl or 6 cyl truck would suffice. I cannot risk the chance, especially towing a boat more valuable than any import or even domestic truck currently being discussed. I'll go with a heavier duty 3/4 ton superior domestic truck with no compromises.