I saw an article in todays newspaper. I thought I'd supply a link to it. Topic: Why buy an American car? We've had car threads on here a number of times. I never bothered mentioning mine before because there is nothing special about it. It's a small car. It's nice, and has every button imaginable, but it's old. 10 years old, to be exact. But wait! There IS something special about it. It's American! Come to think about it, it's special in a few other ways as well. I've had it for 10 years. It's carried me 185,000 miles without complaint. It still actually looks new. It acts new, and has tight handling, and a smooth ride. What could be better? It's been to the shop only for routine maintenance, as described in the owners manual. Nothing more. The air is still ice cold. Did I mention it gets between 35-38mpg? It does. Even with the air on. I'll buy another American car. If mine ever stops running. Maybe if it stops shining like new. I'll buy another Ford. I guess this newspaper article upsets me a bit. I don't begrudge people the foreign car that they must have. I just hope they know that an American car can treat them just as well, if not better!
Why American?
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runematic
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Gotta love American iron. My 1995 Suburban has 174,000 on it, our 1997 Ford E-350 delivery truck just turned 200,000, & our 1993 Ford F-150 4X4 has 240,000 miles. My folk's 2001 Suburban has well over 100,000 miles on it. I've got no complaints.
exploder321
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FYI:
Is it a Ford Escort??? If so, the transmisson is a Mazda, the engie is baised off of a Mazda design and there are a number of mazda parts.. It'll run forever
If its a Ford Contour, i am shocked it's still alive
If its a Ford Mustang, i am shocked it's still alive if it's a V6, V8's will go forever
If it's a Ford Taurus it'll last forever...
I know the below picture is blury (taken while driving) but my escort was just shy of 200K miles and was running great, but the transmisson was shot and the pullys and such where going bad, so i traded it for my Ranger, which i don't like because of it's poor reliablity and want to trade back for a mazda or subaru or nissan or Ford Focus (wich have mazda parts on them as well)
Is it a Ford Escort??? If so, the transmisson is a Mazda, the engie is baised off of a Mazda design and there are a number of mazda parts.. It'll run forever
If its a Ford Contour, i am shocked it's still alive
If its a Ford Mustang, i am shocked it's still alive if it's a V6, V8's will go forever
If it's a Ford Taurus it'll last forever...
I know the below picture is blury (taken while driving) but my escort was just shy of 200K miles and was running great, but the transmisson was shot and the pullys and such where going bad, so i traded it for my Ranger, which i don't like because of it's poor reliablity and want to trade back for a mazda or subaru or nissan or Ford Focus (wich have mazda parts on them as well)
exploder321
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Here's an exterior shot..Whish i had fixed it ($1250 to fix) but they gave me $1300 for it in trade
oxydolfan1
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Go by price, and the best quality you can afford.
I am working-class, and have absolutely no allegiance to any American corporation anymore. They are globalists, and have no allegiance, either to this nation or the American worker anymore...
That said, I believe Toyotas are overrated...I favor Honda and Hyundai over them, and I'll be examining the new Chinese models very closely next year.
Each maker seemingly has at least one or two models that distinguish them from the rest of the pack....we as consumers do ourselves a disservice by maintaining brand loyalty to any particular maker or brand, even country of manufacture!
I really like the Pontiac G6, and a few, newer Pontiac models, but it is fear of being stranded that keeps people from buying these cars, that I believe really do appeal to the hearts of the American consumer.
On the other hand, my friend has a 1987 Accord. I remember cackling at her when she bought it...aside from the pop-up headlights, what a crashing bore!
Do you know, she STILL is driving that car? Except for a tiny bit of body rust on one of the panels, it still looks and runs great. Twenty years!
We simply need to mind the fact that the Japanese car of twenty years ago is not the Japanese car of today, even though the name plates remain the same....
In 1988, it was not unheard of to see an old Dodge Dart or Plymouth Valiant on the streets of New York either.
I am working-class, and have absolutely no allegiance to any American corporation anymore. They are globalists, and have no allegiance, either to this nation or the American worker anymore...
That said, I believe Toyotas are overrated...I favor Honda and Hyundai over them, and I'll be examining the new Chinese models very closely next year.
Each maker seemingly has at least one or two models that distinguish them from the rest of the pack....we as consumers do ourselves a disservice by maintaining brand loyalty to any particular maker or brand, even country of manufacture!
I really like the Pontiac G6, and a few, newer Pontiac models, but it is fear of being stranded that keeps people from buying these cars, that I believe really do appeal to the hearts of the American consumer.
On the other hand, my friend has a 1987 Accord. I remember cackling at her when she bought it...aside from the pop-up headlights, what a crashing bore!
Do you know, she STILL is driving that car? Except for a tiny bit of body rust on one of the panels, it still looks and runs great. Twenty years!
We simply need to mind the fact that the Japanese car of twenty years ago is not the Japanese car of today, even though the name plates remain the same....
In 1988, it was not unheard of to see an old Dodge Dart or Plymouth Valiant on the streets of New York either.
I'm very indifferent to new cars anymore. I can't even tell what half or more of them are on the road these days they all look so alike with the exception of the Chryslers. I think they got their act together because you sure see a lot of them on the road, the trucks and the cars, nicely styled cars. Knock on wood we haven't had a problem with the Ram yet.
exploder321
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Honda
Scott here's my thoughts on Honda
Scott here's my thoughts on Honda
exploder321
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Heres the little story..
I would by an Acura if it where pre 1998 TL or pre 2000 RL
simply because acra is far better..Or an Isuzu Oasis..
My brother bought a 1998 Honda Accord LX new..He drove it three years 62K miles with very few issues... He then bought a TOL V6 EX Accord with everything but the kitchen sink.. That car was awful... The transmisson has gone out 6 times, it has needed an EGR valve twice, the thing leaks oil like a sieve, the maf sensor goes out every 30K, the radio didn't work right scince new, the brakes squeek, on and on.. Honda told my brother that they where no longer going to honor the warranty when it was a little over a year old, because he abused it... Whatever... He drives alot because he's an officer with the Navy.. He also babies his cars.. He then filed it under the Lemon Law (fortunatly he just moved to Florida at the time) and after an exhausting 24 month legal battle, Honda had to pay him in full for the car, plus all legal fees, etc..Over 30 grand... His attorney found alot of litigation issues for honda.. I also know my boss has a 2003 Pilot and 2001 Odssey Van and both are crap...
If you do your home work, Honda's are having tons of issues with transmissons and such and Hondas customer service is job none... Our Honda dealer here is a Shark...
Toyota is having issues as well... The new 2007 Camrys are having transmisson issues and some V6 Toyotas have had sludge issues...BUT..Toyota will help with repairs and has been helpful..
My brother just bought a 2007 Hyundai Sonata LX V6 and his Fiancee has a 2006 Santa Fe LX V6..She's a home helth nurse and her last hyundai (a 2000 5-speed elantra wagon) whent 180K with no problems.. Hyundai has great service, good quality and nice cars..a 360 dgree turn from where they where 5 or 8 years ago...
I hate Hondas with a passion.. What they put my brother through was terrible...He had to buy a little car to drive around because his car was so un dependable..That little Cavalier is great and they still have it as a back up..
I will stick with Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Chevy, Subaru or Toyota's...
I would by an Acura if it where pre 1998 TL or pre 2000 RL
simply because acra is far better..Or an Isuzu Oasis..
My brother bought a 1998 Honda Accord LX new..He drove it three years 62K miles with very few issues... He then bought a TOL V6 EX Accord with everything but the kitchen sink.. That car was awful... The transmisson has gone out 6 times, it has needed an EGR valve twice, the thing leaks oil like a sieve, the maf sensor goes out every 30K, the radio didn't work right scince new, the brakes squeek, on and on.. Honda told my brother that they where no longer going to honor the warranty when it was a little over a year old, because he abused it... Whatever... He drives alot because he's an officer with the Navy.. He also babies his cars.. He then filed it under the Lemon Law (fortunatly he just moved to Florida at the time) and after an exhausting 24 month legal battle, Honda had to pay him in full for the car, plus all legal fees, etc..Over 30 grand... His attorney found alot of litigation issues for honda.. I also know my boss has a 2003 Pilot and 2001 Odssey Van and both are crap...
If you do your home work, Honda's are having tons of issues with transmissons and such and Hondas customer service is job none... Our Honda dealer here is a Shark...
Toyota is having issues as well... The new 2007 Camrys are having transmisson issues and some V6 Toyotas have had sludge issues...BUT..Toyota will help with repairs and has been helpful..
My brother just bought a 2007 Hyundai Sonata LX V6 and his Fiancee has a 2006 Santa Fe LX V6..She's a home helth nurse and her last hyundai (a 2000 5-speed elantra wagon) whent 180K with no problems.. Hyundai has great service, good quality and nice cars..a 360 dgree turn from where they where 5 or 8 years ago...
I hate Hondas with a passion.. What they put my brother through was terrible...He had to buy a little car to drive around because his car was so un dependable..That little Cavalier is great and they still have it as a back up..
I will stick with Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Chevy, Subaru or Toyota's...
58limited
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American car companies own large percentages of several foreign car companies, especially Asian companies. They helped to start or resurrect several of those companies after WWII. Due to many factors such as their partial ownership of foreign companies, cheap parts production costs, supply, and financial arrangements, American cars have many, many foreign parts (or are made up almost completely of foreign parts), and some of the cars are even assembled in Mexico.
In college I had a 1987 Chevrolet Spectrum. It was a relabeled Isuzu I-Mark, Isuzu being partially owned by Chevrolet
A truely American car is, for the most part, a myth; and has been since the 80's. Perhaps the term "American Assembled" is more accurate than "American Made"
As far as my opinions on newer model cars, here are the ones I have experience with:
I owned a 1999 Saturn that I loved, was totalled when an idiot ran a red light, the safety features really came through.
I currently drive a 1998 Olds 98 and it gives a great ride and gets good mileage. Not fond of the traction control system or the ABS brakes though - too much maintenance costs.
My 1990 Olds gives an even better ride for slightly less MPG.
I own several classic American cars in various stages of dis-repair: 1958 Buick, 1957 Pontiac wagon, 1968 Ford, 1977 Ford F250. These are true American cars with character, style, and good engineering. I also have a nonrunning 1959 Edsel.
In college I had a 1987 Chevrolet Spectrum. It was a relabeled Isuzu I-Mark, Isuzu being partially owned by Chevrolet
A truely American car is, for the most part, a myth; and has been since the 80's. Perhaps the term "American Assembled" is more accurate than "American Made"
As far as my opinions on newer model cars, here are the ones I have experience with:
I owned a 1999 Saturn that I loved, was totalled when an idiot ran a red light, the safety features really came through.
I currently drive a 1998 Olds 98 and it gives a great ride and gets good mileage. Not fond of the traction control system or the ABS brakes though - too much maintenance costs.
My 1990 Olds gives an even better ride for slightly less MPG.
I own several classic American cars in various stages of dis-repair: 1958 Buick, 1957 Pontiac wagon, 1968 Ford, 1977 Ford F250. These are true American cars with character, style, and good engineering. I also have a nonrunning 1959 Edsel.
oxydolfan1
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Exploder's graphic....lol!!
exploder321
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Thanks..I piss quite a few Honda drivers off... I alos think that alot (not you ritchie, i am sure you can drive) of honda owners can not drive and they are very rude...Esp those driving the vans, pilots and rice burners and young people behind the wheel of any honda
scott55405
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Chad, I have a 99 Mercury Mystique (a/k/a Ford Contour) and it is an excellent car! Very dependable, comfortable and well made. I wouldn't part with it for the world. All I've put is new tires, new brakes and a battery besides regular maintenance. It still looks like the day it came from the dealer. I had two Mercury Tracers, one like the green one you have pictured above, and then the later round one ('97) and they were both excellent as well. I really like the new Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr, but I probably won't be buying another car for some time.
My co-worker has a '99 Accord that barely has 100,000 miles on it and it needs a new transmission. Typically I've had pretty high opinions of these, but that doesn't seem an exceptional life for a transmission. He's not sure if he's going to do it or get rid of it. He's disappointed particularly as this is his first automatic transmission car.
My co-worker has a '99 Accord that barely has 100,000 miles on it and it needs a new transmission. Typically I've had pretty high opinions of these, but that doesn't seem an exceptional life for a transmission. He's not sure if he's going to do it or get rid of it. He's disappointed particularly as this is his first automatic transmission car.
exploder321
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There are some exceptions and what not...
A good buddie of mine had a 1997 Mystique and it was nothing to write home about.. It started falling apart at the 100K intervel
My brother had a 1996 Contour 4 cyl..prior to his 1st accord and that thing was a clunker... His fiancee had a 95 prior to her hyundai and hers was too...
I saw quite a few 1995-1997 countorus and mystiques traded in with alot of mechanicl issues in my days as a car salesman...
A good buddie of mine had a 1997 Mystique and it was nothing to write home about.. It started falling apart at the 100K intervel
My brother had a 1996 Contour 4 cyl..prior to his 1st accord and that thing was a clunker... His fiancee had a 95 prior to her hyundai and hers was too...
I saw quite a few 1995-1997 countorus and mystiques traded in with alot of mechanicl issues in my days as a car salesman...
exploder321
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Scott,
If you hunt around you will see all the issues Hondas had...
If you hunt around you will see all the issues Hondas had...
oxydolfan1
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Oh, I know.....RECENT Hondas.....
At the same time, look how far Hyundai has come.
At the same time, look how far Hyundai has come.
scott55405
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Thanks Chad, it's interesting what you said above about the Accords from the era having transmission issues, will have to mention that to David. I feel bad for him because I think he bought that car thinking it was going to be really dependable and so on. He must have bought it used because he said he just paid it off and now this.
Maybe where the Contour/Mystique was concerned, by '99 they had worked out most of the issues and bugs. My dad always said never buy a car in it's first year or so of production. He always had American cars but now has had two Camry V6s, the most recent being a 2004, that he's been very happy with.
Maybe where the Contour/Mystique was concerned, by '99 they had worked out most of the issues and bugs. My dad always said never buy a car in it's first year or so of production. He always had American cars but now has had two Camry V6s, the most recent being a 2004, that he's been very happy with.
exploder321
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I love my brothers Hyundai (i am at his house tonight btw, its about 5 1/2 hours from here, had a long day..)I will get to spend time with it Tommrow...
He actually told me now that his car was repo'd by Honda Finance because he refused to tag/insure it when it did not run! Honda had to remove this from his credit and they finaly did after a second law suit (he won again)... He said he was paying 19.95% on his sable... He did have a huge down payment..But now all is corrected...
He has spent a little over $10,000 in legal fees...
Never buy a Honda! Never Buy a Honda!
He actually told me now that his car was repo'd by Honda Finance because he refused to tag/insure it when it did not run! Honda had to remove this from his credit and they finaly did after a second law suit (he won again)... He said he was paying 19.95% on his sable... He did have a huge down payment..But now all is corrected...
He has spent a little over $10,000 in legal fees...
Never buy a Honda! Never Buy a Honda!
oxydolfan1
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How do you feel about the new Nissan Versa? (I think I like it!)
I hope they don't publicize the origin of the car's design (by Renault)....
I hope they don't publicize the origin of the car's design (by Renault)....
My late beloved LeBaron
I loved my '87 LeBaron. It ran 200K and protected me in some pretty good accidents before it gave up. If it broke down it was always in front of the house or in the garage. How convenient!
I had a rental Hyundai for three weeks recently. The dash door popped off in my hands and the carpet retainers fell off. It made goofy noises when starting. Had only 4K miles on it. Never liked Hyundai and probably never will. Everyone I know that bought one said the same thing. You'll buy one once but not twice. (I have to admit that I heard that A LOT about the Ford Escort though)..
However, the HERTZ Magellan GPS system included in the rental was fantastic.
Was glad to get my AMERICAN car back. Sure it has foreign parts but at least it was made in the USA and keeps our workers busy and their kids in clothes..
I loved my '87 LeBaron. It ran 200K and protected me in some pretty good accidents before it gave up. If it broke down it was always in front of the house or in the garage. How convenient!
I had a rental Hyundai for three weeks recently. The dash door popped off in my hands and the carpet retainers fell off. It made goofy noises when starting. Had only 4K miles on it. Never liked Hyundai and probably never will. Everyone I know that bought one said the same thing. You'll buy one once but not twice. (I have to admit that I heard that A LOT about the Ford Escort though)..
However, the HERTZ Magellan GPS system included in the rental was fantastic.
Was glad to get my AMERICAN car back. Sure it has foreign parts but at least it was made in the USA and keeps our workers busy and their kids in clothes..
