JCE
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,714
- Location
- DFW Texas
- Car(s)
- 2016 Dodge Charger RT / 2015 Jeep Renegade
Hey there, How's it going?
I certainly can't argue with you on the pacific rim front, you're totally correct and I'd take the same choice as you!
Please don't think I'm trying to be totally negative about the US car industry, the big US makers do make some decent cars, it's just sad thet they're few and far between and the big makers can't pull their collective fingers out and give the US public what they want. I'm not some dumb brit who hasn't ever driven american cars either, I spent ten years through my late teens and early 20's in calaforinia and learned to drive there. I got to drive a great many american cars though my dad job at a car distributor.
I certainly can't argue with you on the engine reliability front for some of the older cars, my first car was a 1988 GMC Jimmy, the 5.7 V8 in it had over 190000 miles on it and was still going strong.... until the chassis and body rotted away. Not sure how that happens in southern calafornia. :?
My main problem with the US car industry is that the current line up from the big car makers is STILL heavily dependent on big SUV's, if you look at ford's lineup this year there are as many SUV's and "trucks" as there are sedans and hatchbacks. The sedans and the hatchbacks are for the most part cheap and nasty with the Focus and Fusion being notable exceptions, however the focus is just an Americanised version of the Ford Europe car of the same name. Ford Europe does a pretty good job of producing a decent lineup of visually and technically interesting cars, that have good handling and good yet relatively economical engines.
I have to say as well that I find Japanese cars to be for the most part bullet proof in terms of both chassis and engine, I've owned a few Jap cars and have had immense fun with them, they may be bland to look at but a turbo charged impreza on a back lane at night is awe inspireing!!
I'm fine and you? My main problem with the US automakers is the lack of real design and interior build quality. I agree with you that the big three in the US are mostly reliant on SUVs and more importantly pickup trucks. But a model here and there hs creeped into the light from each of the big three that is actually quite good. The new Ford Edge, Ford Fusion, Ford Freestyle (aka Taurus X), Chevy Cobalt SS, Cadillac CTS, the new Chevy Trailblazer SS, the new Chevy Camaro, Dodge Charger R/T & SRT-8, Dodge Magnum (V8 models only), and the new Dodge Challenger doesn't look that bad. God I just realized most of my list were muscle cars...lol.
Most pre-1993~1995 Japanese cars ARE bulletproof minus a few things here or there. Old American engines last forever no matter how you beat them into the ground. And the old Japanese engines will last forever if you take care of the regular maintience. But, I've seen alot of older Japanese cars where the electric windows, radio, lights, turn signals, and etc either worked sometime or not at all. Thankfully my electric windows in my Camaro still work. Either way I think they could find at least one American car a week to give a "not bad" review to go with the 3 "rubbish" reviews. :lol: