Just build reliable cars/SUVs that are nice to drive. Waited 25 years after college to an all-American GM Yukon, replacing my old Z-car which was solid mechanically for 200K miles, but breaking down electrically. Yukon started off seemingly nice, with its Vette 350 V8 engine and handled well with add-on stiff sway bar. At 80K the tranny failed. At 120K the tranny Flex-plate failed circumferentially (should never crack, as steel flex plate ought be “designed” for infinite life), At 140K the rear-end locked up (cracked differential cradle). Sold at 150K. Vette engine locked up for good at 160K. Those were the major ones I can recall, plus the usual water pumps, alternators, starters, etc failing. Basic drive-train stuff not designed to last more than 100K. Since then, Acura and Nissan for reliability. I don’t trust current vintage GM/Detroit products are any better. Its not the tariffs that hurt GM sales. Buick sales in China are declining? Wonder why, proven reliability?
“At 80K the tranny failed”
Setting you back what, $5K for the replacement?
GM reliability is far better now then it ever was, but they still don’t get it: planned obsolecsence doesn’t make people buy more of their cars, they simply stop buying them altogether.