Posted on 09/11/2006 9:22:16 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
If soul was a requirement to sell automobiles, Lexus would have been out of business long ago. They're not; in fact, they are wildly successful.
Some people (not yours truly) just want a transportation appliance, and that's what the base models of the Civic are. That said, the Civic Si models can be pretty fun to drive, whereas some models of the pre-S197 Mustang can be pretty soulless or plain scary to drive because of their poor handling and even worse brakes. Do not mistake "character" for "design errors".
For starters, why should you be forced to have subframe connectors welded on to get the thing to stop moving around like a wet noodle when cornering?
They already did that. Look into the Work Truck variants from all three. The base Dodge 2500/3500 w/ CTD, for example.
And that's what contractors are buying, not older trucks. At least, not the smart ones.
After having bought over 40 different cars in my life, I finally came up with a plan.
Decided on what size I wanted and necessities I required.
Drove the cheapest thing I could find and the most expensive I could find.
Found the "extras" I wanted and how much each company charged for them.
Narrowed it down to three choices and then drove each one over different roads, different speeds, different weather.
Came up with a hands down winner and bought it. Have had no issues after initial 70K miles on first size. Am now looking at another size for Mrs. Theknow.
BTW - the first size was a full-size SUV with 4 wheel drive. Ford, Lincoln, GMC, Cadillac and Chevy didn't make the initial cut. Chrysler had nothing to fit the need.
The search is now on for something Mrs. Theknow says she wants to be able to fit in my glove compartment.
Did you know that Toyota has more recalled vehicles than Daimler Chrysler?
Why was Hyundai the first non-domestic producer to offer a 10 yr./100k warranty.
Because they have a reputation for crap and are trying to change it.
---...and we laugh at them every friday night at the drag strip.---
You laugh. Meantime these kids build those memories and attachments that may well last a lifetime, to Honda...
Correction - almost every vehicle available on the market today will last 100,000 miles without significant problems, IF it is maintained properly.
"As for Jap cars, statistics indicate their longevity exceeds domestic. And you may want to understand that Ford owns 40% of Mazda, 100% of Jaguar, some per cent of Rover, GM owns part of Saab, and a partner with an Australian firm to build Pontic GTOs..."
Actually, Ford owns 33.4% of Mazda, 100% of Jaguar, 100% of Land Rover, 0% of Rover, GM owns 100% of Saab, and GM doesn't partner with an Australian firm for the GTO - it is designed by Holden, which is GM's division in Australia. Saying that they partner with an Australian firm is like saying that Ford partnered with a Swedish company to produce the Ford 500.
As much as people hate to admit it, the difference in reliability among most major brands is very small anymore. Japanese cars do not have a significantly longer lifespan anymore. Styling/refinement is another issue...
"Did you know that Toyota has more recalled vehicles than Daimler Chrysler?"
Last year, they not only recalled more, but as a % of vehicles on the road, Toyota recalled 4 TIMES as many cars as DCX. They're going for records again this year, with more open investigations than any other manufacturer last I saw.
Of course, recalls aren't always bad. If you do them properly, it isn't necessarily an issue. My Taurus was recalled twice. Neither time cost me any loss of use of the vehicle (one recall done during normal service and one was actually just a manual misprint), nor caused me any problems. Nor were either an indicator of poor reliability to come. It has been VERY reliable.
What?! An American car that is reliable?! That can't possibly happen!
/sarcasm
It is unfortunate that so many believe the hype about Toyota quality still today. The same media that spins for the liberals spins for the Japanese.
It can happen . . . just don't drive it anywhere.
I travel for a living -- I rent probably 30-40 rentals cars a year (Forrest Gump was wrong -- life is like RENTING A CAR: you never know what you'll get).
I assure you, Detroit iron sucks massive weinies. Even the new Mustang (supposedly Ford's flagship car) stunk up the joint -- too loud, too squeaking, engine is rough and inelegant.
I assure you, I PRAY for a Japanese car every time. Tight, comfortable, engine and size well-matched, quiet, ergonomic.
It amazes me tht Detroit can't seem to learn.
May I ask how many American cars and Japanense cars you have driven more than around the block?
Well, soul can be defined as the car's ability to communicate the feel of the road to the driver. Lexus cars are deliberately designed to abstract away that feedback from the road - it's not that they lack something, it's done intentionally. It's not a bug, it's a feature...
And in an era of less skilled drivers and highway maintenance funds being channeled away from buying asphalt into government sinecures for loyal party activists, it's good to feel isolated from all of those potholes - meaning cars incorporating the Lexus feel will likely gain market share over the "sport suspension" oriented competitors in the US. Driving the Autobahn in Germany? Yeah, maybe there the BMW is a better choice. ;)
"I assure you, Detroit iron sucks massive weinies."
Very nice. How old are you, exactly?
Old enough to have done my first professional programming on a card punch onto 80-column cards.
Howzabout you?
Yes, except for Jaguar somehow managed to do both - isolate from potholes yet communicate everything important - from 1968 to 2003. :)
There is nothing in this world that rides like a large Jaguar sedan. I'm very happy I have mine, and very sad that Ford has now gone and ruined it. Their new air suspension screws it all up.
Old enough to have been hired as a consultant in quality control at most major auto companies, and to actually know and understand the reliability information that exists.
None of which proves or even suggests that domestics "suck weenies".
I have rented well over 300 vehicles of all makes and models in the last 10 years -- I have 2 million air miles and am Platinum Elite Marriott, President's Circle Hertz and Exec Platinum AA.
I am speaking from experience. How many cars have you driven more than around the block?
And "old enough to be hired as a Consultant" means you are beyond college age. Got something a little more concrete? I gave you a fair way to establish my age range.
Old enough to have programmed spacecraft using 8" floppy disks (80 kB capacity). But who cares? That isn't what gives me info on automotive reliability. Its years of experience working on quality control issues that tell me that.
As for cars driven around the block? Dozens. Sure - it isn't 300, but here's a key difference: I only very rarely rent. When I drive a car, it isn't just around the block or around town for a weekend. It is for 12+ years.
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