Import owners are to blame for the recession

I cannot speak for Mike, but I have owned many import and domestic
vehicles in the last 37 years. Currently in my immediate family, we
own the following vehicles:

2006 Nissan Frontier SE V6 4WD (70,000 miles)
2006 Mustang V6 Coupe (35,000 miles)
2007 Ford Fusion (37,000 miles)
2007 RAV4 (43,000 miles)
2008 RAV4 (7,000 miles)
2008 RAV4 V6 (3,000 miles)
1999 Ranger V6 4WD (farm truck, 60,000 miles)
2005 Ford Freestyle AWD (40,000 miles)
2008 Mazda3 (6,000 miles)

Only the Mustang has ever been back to the dealer for anything
significant, and that was clearly related to abuse (teenage driver,
but still covered by the warranty). In fact, I'd say the V6 Mustang
has been the most impressive car of all, given the treatment of the
driver. The Nissan Frontier has been to the dealer the most, but
nothing particularly serious (3 minor recalls, an unresolved problem
with the rear jump seats, and an occasional problem with the tank vent
solenoid - there is a TSB, but I don't want to pay for the fix, so I
am living with it). The 2007 RAV4 has a couple of issues (wacky cruise
control operation, rear compartment remote seat back latches aren't
connected, port installed back-up sensors are worthless). The Ranger
has had the crap beat out of it, but has had only one repair - an IAC
valve last year to eliminate a noise problem (moosing, if you
understand Ford speak). The Fusion, Freestyle, Mazda3, and two newest
RAV4 are issue / repair free.

Now maybe my experience is non-typical, but I can't see how if
domestic cars are "crap" and "foreign" cars are great, I would not
have seen a bigger difference. On top of these vehicles there is a
half a century of my parents "good luck" with Fords. I suppose they
managed to only get the good ones. But then I guess I am lucky also.
Since 1986, I've owned a umber of other Ford products - 1986 Mercury
Sable, 149,000 miles (CV Joint boots and a couple of heater hoses,
otherwise fine), 1996 Ford Explorer, 36,000 miles (no problems), 1997
Ford Expedition, 150,000 miles (a couple of minor recalls, one coil
pack, one alternator), 2001 Ford Mustang Convertible, 40,000 miles
(minor oil leak covered under warranty), 2003 Ford Expedition, 100k
miles (one power window mechanism, one TSB applied), 2004 Ford
Thunderbird, 32,000 miles (no problems), 1992 Ford 150, 100,000 miles
(owned for 14 years, farm truck, one alternator, one fuel pump).

Over the years, I also owned an Audi Coupe, a Mazda 626, a Toyota
Cressida, several British sports cars, a Datsun 280Z, a couple of
Pintos, a Fiesta, a Plymouth Reliant, a Ford Ranger, a Ford Courier, a
Ford Fairmont and others. Worst car I every owned was the Cressida,
followed by the Reliant. Best car - probably the Fusion, but check
back with me in a couple of years to confirm. Best bang for the bucks
was probably the Pinto. Most fun for the buck was the British sports
cars, but no one would claim they were practical. I really loved the
2004 Thunderbird, but I just had too many cars sitting around and it
was the least practical, so I let it go (but wish I had not).

I think the one thing everyone in my immediate circle can agree on
is - no VW products, no way, no how. We've collectively owned 4 VW
products (two Jettas, a Passat, and a Audi Coupe). I think we all
would agree they were comfortable and fun to drive, but unreliable and
expensive to maintain.

I don't claim Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans are unreliable. And for
sure my Sisters and SO love their RAV4s. But I would claim there is
nothing special about Toyotas either. Some are good, some are bad,
some are just ordinary, and a few are extra ordinary. I have never
seen anything that leads me to believe that they are especially
reliable. It has been my experience that the parts are especially
expensive. It has also been my experience that for similar vehicles,
with similar equipment, that Toyotas are more expensive than domestic
cars. The usual comeback from Toyota fans is that although they may
cost more up front, they are also worth more when you sell them.
Perhaps this is true, but I see this as irrelevant. I think the total
life cycle cost for a Toyota is higher than for a comparable. Ford. I
can't prove it, but I believe it to be true for the sorts of vehicle I
buy and my usage of them. Others may have a different point of view.
That is fine. But I get tired of the incessant, and I believe
unwarranted, claims that Toyotas are especially reliable. It seems to
me that Toyota fanatics always have convenient memories. They forget
how horrible older Toyotas were. They trash domestics for having large
numbers of recalls, but dismissed this statistic as irrelevant when
Toyota lead the pack in recalls in 2006. Toyota has always resisted
recalling vehicles and issuing public TSBs, so I never thought the
this particular statistic was meaningful. However after the SO got a
RAV4, I subscribed to the Toyota Information System and was shocked to
see just how many TSBs Toyota actually issued for what was essentially
a new vehicle. Clearly Toyota has exactly the same sort of problems as
domestic manufacturers, they just do a better job of hiding them.

Ed

 

Well, since I am not an expert on the automobile market, tell me why.
It seems to me that F150 are tailored mostly for people who buy them
as passenger vehicles that can occasionally haul something and
occasionally tow something. Super Duties are targeted to the real work
truck market.

Ed

 

Maybe we move in different worlds. Most that I see are loaded up with tools,
mowers or lumber.

 

And how many first generation Celicas were sold in North Carolina? In
all of the USA? And in all of North America????

VERY few. And what 1970 vehicle did NOT rust away in 8 years? Only
those made and sold in SIGNIFICANT quantities have much of a survivor
base.

My Toyotas cost me less to maintain than my Chrysler products of the
same time period. By a significant percentage. My corolla (1980) had
one body job and I sold it in1992 when I bought my first Ford Aerostar
(a 1989 model) My 1981 Tercel left the fold at about the same time
with 398,000km on it. The guy I sold it to scrapped it 5 years later
with well over 600,000km on it. The rear fenders had been
fibre-glassed back together twice in it's lifetime. (17 years)

I'm 6'2". The corolla and tercel were both snug, but comfortable. More
than I could say for my previous Mitsubishi/Dodge Colt/Gallant..

And the corolla is significantly larger today than the old TE72 was.

Ever check out the legroom in a Chevy Astro Van????

How about the cruise control on a PT Cruiser?????

 

A question.

Why can't Ford, GM, Chrysler just go out and purchase a Toyota, Honda, then
dissect the thing and figure out what makes this car better than ours.

Actually, they've probably done this. So why are American cars still lower
quality?

Labor??

In November Fords sales dropped 30%, Toyota 33%

 

The real difference is in the attitude towards the customer.
Find out what the customers wants, supply it, make sure the customer
is happy.

The GM dealers have a very strange attitude towards their customers
and are mostly to blame for the sinking of GM sales.
GM is to blame for not making sure the dealers make sure the customers
are happy.

This is a fundamental difference and the reason for why GM died.
RIP

 

I wonder why you would use a winky when you call me a liar?

And I'll bet your parts estimates are made up....

 

You're thinking about the Japs. They are the ones who steal our stuff, and
build it as there own. I just don't understand why they steal our good
stuff, and produce garbage.

 

Only one problem with your theory, that being that a large percentage of
American cars are NOT being made in America.

Wes

 

Evidence, please. Show us where the analysis came.

 

Please provide real evidence that the Japanese companies don't pay
taxes in the US.

Jeff

 

GM offers more models that get 30 MPG highway. Toyota sells more
vehicles that get over 30 MPG highway than GM.

Toyota sells more vehicles that get over 40 MPG highway and 30 MPG
city, too.

Toyota sells more cars in the US than GM.

Jeff

 

Actually, the cars are designed by engineers and made by factory
workers.

 

Yet, this year, Toyota sold about 400,000 Camries, and Ford sold about
500,000 F-series trucks. I suspect that Ford actually sold fewer
F-150s than Toyota sold Camries this year.

While it shut down other F-150 plants as well as other plants. The
Michigan 3 are cutting jobs.

Jeff

 

The extended warranties are over-priced insurance policies to make
extra profit for the dealer and automakers. They are a waste of money.

Jeff

 

Can you back your statistics with real evidence? I totally agree that
extended warranties are a waste of money, but I don't beleive your
made-up numbers.

Jeff

 

Nope. None, except the blower resistor and a switch had to be changed
under warranty.

Jeff

 

Obviously you've never know anyone that owned a Corvette.

Also, it's important to distinguish between the different BMW models.
The 3 series is relatively trouble-free, while the X5 is a disaster.

 

Manufacturer's extended warranties (not the after-market rip-off
extended warranties) equalize things somewhat, but at high cost, and
they aren't long enough for those of us that keep vehicles 10+ years.
They also don't help you with resale value. It's still better to buy a
reliable vehicle, than to buy a GM, Ford, or Chrysler vehicle plus an
extended warranty. Which of course is why the big 3 are in so much
trouble to begin with.

Instead of a bailout, why not give out $5000 vouchers for the purchase
of any vehicle manufactured in the U.S., without regard to brand. Of
course the big 3 wouldn't like that kind of a deal because it would
mainly help Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Mercedes, Hyundai, & Nissan.

 

You think the govnerment should give you $5000 to put towards a new Toyota?
Move to Japan.