4th Mar 2007, 07:19
Living in Detroit, and going on tours of a few factories does not endow you with any level of expertise regarding mechanical engineering. Funny how the young are so opinionated and passionate about their few (yet unfounded) beliefs. We were all that way once, so we understand. But as you get older, you learn the difference between truth, belief and fact. You can believe it with all your heart, but that doesn't make it a fact. You can know a few facts, and still not know the truth. You act as though if your favorite cars are not the best in the world, it takes away your self worth, or something.
Vehicles are all pretty much the same, with the exception of cases like the bad ball joints on some Dodge Durangos, or the soft valve guides on some of the '80s Ford 4 and 6 cylinders. Most of it comes down to how the owner takes care of it. Engines have improved in the aspect of longevity across the board. In 1970, 100,000 miles was considered almost done in. In the 1980's, domestic cars still had lots of life left in them at 150,000 miles. Many people are excited about hitting 200,000 miles because that used to be considered extreme, but the engineering improved so quickly that it surprised people. Now, it seems like every Dodge, Plymouth, Ford, Chevrolet, and Cadillac that we have owned since 1980 has been doing that routinely.
4th Mar 2007, 05:10
Wrong again. I have done much more than just take a brief tour through Detroit's car plants. I take cars from manufacturers all around the world apart with my own two hands to diagnose and fix them, then I put them back together day in and day out for the last 26 years. This is something that I am quite sure you have never experienced judging by the things that you write.