Cars are better, but in Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue, Honda, Toyota and Subaru have the least problems while Ford GM and Chrysler are near the bottom. Ford is mid-pack.
Why should I spend my hard earned money on a LESSER quality vehicle? That's the real issue.
“Cars are better, but in Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue, Honda, Toyota and Subaru have the least problems while Ford GM and Chrysler are near the bottom. Ford is mid-pack.”
I have to say, I think part of that is due to the impression American cars are crap. I knew people who had major problems with their new Honda, but it was “just a fluke”, as they would say. I cannot imagine them saying that if it was an American car. I think people are harder critics of American cars because any little thing that does go wrong is expected due to their past track record.
< And THERE is the crux of the issue. Yes, American cars have improved, but the foreign competition has improved more. And in many cases, those improved cars are built in American factories, by American labor.
Because you dare not risk having Pat Buchanan call you a traitor. ;)
1. Toyota
2. Mercury
3. Honda
4. Ford
5. Chevrolet
6. Hyundai
7. Pontiac
8. Buick
9. Acura
10.Kia
5 of the top ten name plates are US branded plates, with a Ford product as #2 and GM having 3 of the top 10.
Here's the complete list with the luxury or high end cars included:
1. Porsche
2. Infiniti
3. Lexus
4. Toyota
5. Mercury
6. Honda
7. Ford
8. Jaguar
9. Audi
10. Cadillac
11. Chevrolet
12. Hyundai
13. Pontiac
14. Lincoln
15. Buick
16. Acura
17. Kia
18. Nissan
19. Volvo
20. BMW
21. GMC
22. Mazda
23. Volkswagen
24. HUMMER
25. Subaru
26. Scion
27. Dodge
28. Chrysler
29. Mitsubishi
30. SAAB
31. Suzuki
32. Saturn
33. Land Rover
34. MINI
35. Jeep
That Subaru WRX is an awesome machine.
The only new American car I like is the Corvette and since I am getting robbed to pay for it, I want to go pick one off the lot... the rest of them can rust, I'll never buy one again.
The real issue with American brand cars (Ford, GM & Chrysler not Honda Toyota etc) is that the quality was lower that the “Foreign” brands. My Honda Civic had 358,000 miles on it when I sold it. My new Oldsmobile diesel ran 27 miles before requiring an injection pump rebuild (not replaced with a new one). My mother’s Buick Century( they always bought Buicks) had a warped head at 9,000 miles which she paid to repair. At about 11,000 miles it was warped again in addition to requiring a transmission repair. Buick would not stand behind their product.
When it came time for me to buy another car, what do you think I chose. The Americans brands that I have looked are clearly inferior the the Japanese equivalent brands (not that they are perfect either).
GMC, Chrysler, and Ford have to recognize that they compete globally not just in the US. As such they have to go head to head with Toyoto and Honda and produce a better product. IMHO.
On another level, it is apparent to an outside observer, that their management has made several bad decisions with respect to their product lines and unions. They have caved in to the UAW and expect the customer to pay for their mistakes. I am a firm believer that every employee should get a good days pay for a good day’s labor.
Yes, the article notes:
“The incidence of problems, recalls, etc. is actually lower for some American-brand cars than for Toyota and Honda.”
But that’s comparing certain Big Three vehicle models against the corporate average for Toyota or Honda (Nissan is, sad to say as someone who likes Nissan, not so good). However, I think we can fairly compare Cadillac or Lincoln to Lexus or Acura - A Cadillac is just a Chevy, really, but by the same token a Lexus is really just a Toyota - and they come out pretty well there.
I personally generally prefer the interior fit and finish, and driving characteristics, of Japanese cars, but I think it’s fair to say that at least some vehicle models from the big 3 are as good as, or even better than, their Japanese competition. And some of the models produced by the much-respected Toyota and Honda are pretty miserable. I must admit that I really didn’t give the domestics fair consideration the last time I was car shopping. I mean sure, they built a lot of crap for years, but not so many years ago Hyundais were a joke, and today they build a pretty decent car.