Are American Cars Really All That Bad?

S

Sculli

Guest
Fact check: Are American cars really that bad? @ CNN

Peter Valdes-Dapena said:
The answer is that, overall, GM and Ford cars are not that bad at all. In fact, in terms of reliability at least, they've become pretty good.

The problem is that "pretty good" has become "not quite good enough" in a world where quality standards have been raised so high and which many consumers still have bad memories of General Motors and Ford cars that have failed them in the past.
Click to expand...

Surprisingly enough, when you read the article, J.D. only rated Toyota and Honda above most Amerian cars. Subaru and Nissan scored lower than a bunch of US brands, and my beloved VW isn't even on the list. :(
 
I don't think America Cars have ever been bad, they have just always cost more for less perks. Japanese car can do everything an American car can, but the production savings are carried over to the buyer. Amarican Car companies haven't put any good advertising out lately either that doesn't paint them as retarded-extreme-yokells diving off shit and driving offroad, or crybaby-cowboy-sissies.
 
American muscle > all

Love my '96 Trans Am, forget those 4 cylinder burners
 
Sculli said:
and my beloved VW isn't even on the list. :(
Click to expand...

I love my Jetta and I refuse to believe that any Focus rates better. I will always own a German car, I don't care what J.D. says about its American counterparts.
 
Uh... I have a Ford Explorer and.... it's blue.... and it... uh... takes me places.... with an engine that........ runs, and I can... uh.... put gas and CDs in it.....
 
Shaunessy said:
Yeah I'll take my 96 Mustang Cobra over any import. You just can't find a rice burner that sounds like a big american 8.
Click to expand...
Hope you like dust too :P Your engine can make all the noise it wants, but it isnt beating an RX8 off the line.
Rotary Transmission 4tw.
 
ive yet to see an rx8 beat anything worth while
 
Maybe you don't know what the cobra stands for, I'd like to see an RX-8 try. Rx-8's are so over-rated, Ive seen the figures in Car and Driver (or was that Motor Trend...or AutoWeek lol)

Anyway yea, I used to have fun with the ricers at school telling them to name any japanese car and I'd name an american or german car that could top it.

Of course VW wasn't on the list, hell there practically korean cars to me, how can you group VW with BMW, MB, Porsche, and even Audi? I wish they'd anounce there move to japan or something so I can say all german car companys rock.
 
96_Cobra_(exterior)(34).JPG


There ya go, Googled 96 mustang cobra.
 
Take that rotary engine to the local mechanic and see how well he can fix it for ya :P

American ftw!

I spent probably 30 hours of my life last week watching the Barrett-Jackson auto auction. Its what i look forward to every year and im sure ill watch the repeats over and over. Beautiful Chevelles, Shelby Cobras, Cuda's, etc.

The highlight for me was the auction for the new 2007 shelby that went for 600,000$. The guy who won gets to pick his paint color and all options for the car, which was absolutely beautiful. Too bad im stuck with my Monte Carlo until summer 2008, but when i have this puppy paid off, its Shelby allll the way!
 
Marajade said:
Hope you like dust too :P Your engine can make all the noise it wants, but it isnt beating an RX8 off the line.
Rotary Transmission 4tw.
Click to expand...

Please don't insult that RX series by saying its a Rotary Transmission. Its a Wankle Rotary Engine. and the RX8 aren't really that great. I own a 95' RX-7 which is still in the stages of being rebuilt and tricked out. but i also own a piece of american steel which is also restored to near mint. 1970 Dodge Charger with a 440 Hemi ftw. once my chargers done ill race all yall mustangs and i might catch a glimpse of yall in my rear view.
 
Sculli said:
Surprisingly enough, when you read the article, J.D. only rated Toyota and Honda above most Amerian cars. Subaru and Nissan scored lower than a bunch of US brands, and my beloved VW isn't even on the list. :(
Click to expand...

I wouldn't take anything J.D. Power says too seriously. They're nothing more than a marketing firm. If companies want there products to be included in there surveys, they have to cought up serious money.
 
Tim Wakefield said:
Take that rotary engine to the local mechanic and see how well he can fix it for ya :P

American ftw!

I spent probably 30 hours of my life last week watching the Barrett-Jackson auto auction. Its what i look forward to every year and im sure ill watch the repeats over and over. Beautiful Chevelles, Shelby Cobras, Cuda's, etc.

The highlight for me was the auction for the new 2007 shelby that went for 600,000$. The guy who won gets to pick his paint color and all options for the car, which was absolutely beautiful. Too bad im stuck with my Monte Carlo until summer 2008, but when i have this puppy paid off, its Shelby allll the way!
Click to expand...


I agree I love watching that show.

I saw a nice chevelle go for 1.15 mil I think it was I know it was over 1.1mil. Was sweet I love Barrett-Jackson auto auction.
 
The biggest reason I don't buy American cars is because the interior of the import cars are so much nicer, lol.

Nothing grabs your attention more than sitting in a car that looks nice from the inside. Of course this is changing but that is the stigma that American cars do have.

You also tend to get a more complete package at a lower cost.

American cars arn't bad, they just arn't as good as the competition.
 
American manufacturers don't take as much time "detailing" thier cars as most do.

Alot of people have listed off thier favorite muscle cars, and I have owned 2 camaros, 1 ss monte carlo, and 1 ss impala so I know that these are great cars for what they are for. But my ss camaro now sounds like an 80 year old retired lineman getting up from a nap in front of the television when i go over speed bumps. The interior is awkward looking and buttons just sort of show up in the interior.

I recently started working for Acura, and have had a honda in the past, and I know that they take a lot more care as to how things look and fit inside the vehicle, which would lead one to believe the true is the same about the parts of the car you can't see.

I'll always be a muscle car lover, but for my daily driver I can't ever imagine myself getting into a caddy or pontiac or 300, american designers just don't take the time to make them as luxurious and reliable as can be.

BTW Chevy>Ford

I'm a Chevy Man!!!
 
Meeze im with ya on that the old muscle cars didn't really do a whole lot for the interior. On my Charger the only thing that i had to put in that wasn't stock was a Hurst short throw shifter. the rest in done in detail to the original design with the wood and leather inlay. Now on my RX-7 is an entirely different story. everything from the dash, seats, and even to the cup holders is going to be custom fitted for driving comfort and accessibility to gauges and whatnot.
 
You guys have to remember styling was a lot different back in the muscle car days. You never see big open spaces in the dash anymore like on classic muscle cars. I also have to argue the "fit and finish" part, japanese cars are known for cheaply put together cars.
 
Nitram said:
You guys have to remember styling was a lot different back in the muscle car days. You never see big open spaces in the dash anymore like on classic muscle cars. I also have to argue the "fit and finish" part, japanese cars are known for cheaply put together cars.
Click to expand...

play with the buttons on a 5 year old caddy, then on a 5 year old accord and see which one feels cheap. Go look at the chrysler 300, then go look at the lexus IS 350 and check them feature for feature.

Name a car that is made by an american company that can match a japanese or german in styling and comfort.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top