Kevin Alexander

Now don't get mad, and yes, I admit that there are some American vehicle models that seem to hold their own. To be honest though, there are only a handful of American vehicles that I would really want to make a 5 year investment in. IMO, the worst of the big 3 automakers is Chrysler/Dodge. They are the epitome of "style over substance". To me, Chrysler has the boldest styling and aggressive marketing, but if you buy their product, you'd be wise to invest in an extended warranty because they WILL break down prematurely. As many of you know, I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota that I purchased new and rarely drive. It has 36000 miles on it and already I have replaced the radiator ($1100), alternator ($260), brake module ($700 w/ dealer discount because I complained), and now the clutch ($700). And these aren't isolated cases either. I frequent the Dodge Dakota forums at www.dodgedakotas.com and I find topic after topic of people like me who are fed up w/ problem after problem and will never buy another one. Again, bold on "styling", weak on "substance". And another thing - why does everything break just miles (or days) out of warranty? My brake module failed just one month after 3 years. Do you think Chrysler/Dodge cared that this expensive part that shouldn't fail so soon did? Not one bit. Ford and GM (while not as bad) could be much, much better. None of them are up to par w/ the more reliable foreign counterparts (Honda, Toyota, Nissan). What are some of your experiences w/ the big 3 American automakers? Personally, I'm through w/ them. My next truck will be a Nissan Titan.

"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)

Andrew Pezzo

When I got out of college in 1999 I almost bought a Neon. My senses got the better of me and I bought a Honda Civic Coupe. Its now six years and 150,000 miles later (I have always had a long commute to work - 90 miles round trip) and the only problem I have had was the muffler had to be replaced. Since I live in the North-East that is more a product of the weather than the manufacturing. I have been diligent with maintenance (oil changes tune-ups, etc) which has no doubt helped. I can guarantee the Neon would not have yielded the same results, not even close.

On the other hand my mom has always bought American (Buicks and then Chevys) and I swear its like they break down on a monthly basis. She finally saw the light and just bought a Honda Accord.

Based on my experiences I would never buy American, Honda all the way. Or at least until I can afford a BMW.

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LDfan

I used to blame the people putting them together as being careless but considering most japanese and some german cars are built here in the US the problem has to be with crap engineering and the quality of the parts. However considering GM's financial problems I guess they have to skimp on something.
It's a shame that the US builds some of the best military equipment in the world but can't apply that same idea to an automobile.


Jeff

Chris Lockwood

> the worst of the big 3 automakers is Chrysler/Dodge

You mean the German company Daimler/Chrysler.

Brian Harnish

I've had a 9 year old (1996) Honda Civic Sedan (63,000 miles at the time I purchased it) for well over a year without any problems whatsoever and I even took a round trip to Vegas and back once. And that's without any tune-ups! Of course, I did have a tune-up/oil change/filter change/etc. done after I got back.

In contrast, my first car was an old 1988 Mercury Sable LS and the engine would stop right in the middle of an intersection if the weather was hot or cold enough! I had so many problems with that car (which ended when the LCD that showed the speedometer using digital numbers rather than a dial started fading to the point of not being able to read it) that I saw the light and bought an old Honda Civic Sedan as that was one of the only cars I could afford at the time.

It's a GREAT car without ANY problems whatsoever. I swear by Hondas, and once I make enough to pay for one, I'll buy a Honda Accord coupe (or a Toyota Truck)...haven't decided yet.

- Brian

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RobertR

It's been common knowledge for decades that the big 3 automakers are inferior to the Japanese makers in quality. As long as we can buy what we want, we don't have to put up with it.

Todd Hochard

Correction- won't. Won't apply the same idea, not can't.

Having owned several GMs, and three Hondas/Acuras over the last 15 years, you'll be hard-pressed to get me out of Honda. I like my TL so much, I'm literally thinking of getting a 2nd one.

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Kevin Alexander

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it Chrysler who bought Daimler? Even if it's the other way around, when will some of that famed German engineering finally begin to trickle it's way into their cars and trucks?

"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)

Adam Barratt

I imagine it's a consequence of vehicle turnover. In much of the rest of the world cars are regarded as expensive long-term ownership items. The average lifespan of a car in Asia, Europe or the Middle East may be well over a decade because that's how often people are willing to buy them. Most of my American friends, on the other hand, buy a new car every 1-3 years and regard cars as disposable commodities. There's no real incentive for the manufacturers to build cars that will last for 10 or more years for these buyers.

Adam

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Todd Hochard

You are mistaken.