American car (big 3) lovers.

[Papa Bear]

I believe that without the import cars the Big 3 wouldn't have been "prompted" to improve their quality.
That said, there are many Big 3 vehicles that I could live quite comfortably with today.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I own a 300 with over 50k miles and never a lick of trouble. Been to road courses, drags, and the Florida Mile just last Sunday. One of Chrysler's best cars ever.

But I love the Fords, they are the sharpest interiors in the car biz, very slick.

BTW, I like the 2010 Stang, I'm about to buy one. But the GT500 in my book is everything WRONG. Too heavy, the weight is distributed like an FWD, and a solid rear axle at 50K plus pricing?

The new Vette flat ran away with Car and Driver's comparo!

 

[StevieC]

I have always liked the Chrysler 300. They are

I would buy one but I just can't bring myself to.

 

[wander2039]

Favorite new model.. hmmm almost all from the Ford stable. Love to have a Mustang, Taurus SHO, or the Raptor. Like the sportier models from Chevy and Chrysler but won't own one.

 

[tangojetta]

Ditto with Taurus SHO and Raptor. Current big 3 ride is a 06 Ford Freestyle with 84,000 mostly trouble free miles.

 

[PT1]

Favorite Detroit 3 (they are no longer the Big 3) vehicles:

#1 Ford Mustang for sure
#2 Ford Taurus SHO
#3 Corvette even GM hasn't been able to wreck this car yet.
#4 used Chrysler 300

 

[StormRider]

My family has always owned American cars. Outside of the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger cars which are awesome I like:
Ford Taurus
Ford Fusion
Chevy Cobalt
Chevy Caprice (hopefully it comes out as a civilian version)
Mercury Grand Marquis

Current Rides:
2009 Ford Escape FWD V6
2007 Mercury Montego Luxury FWD
1976 Chevy K-10

Past Rides:
2002 Camaro SS 6spd
1998 Chevy K1500 Ext Cab Z71
1992 Ford Taurus GL Vulcan
1996 Chevy Tahoe LT
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7L 4X4

 

[eljefino]

I'd get an Impala 3.9 for its insane power, room, and economy or, if they made it, an Astra diesel. American brand at least.

SHO ecoboost looks nice but I'd wait a year for teething issues.

 

[Falcon_LS]

1) Ford Panther Platform (Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis/Lincoln Town Car). Suppose this platform is more Canadian than American though.

2) GM GMT900 Platform (Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban/GMC Yukon/Cadillac Escalade)

 

[Popinski]

I'm enjoying this thread very much. THanks for the posts, guys.

 

[tig1]

I have owned Fords for many years. My first one was a 2 door Hard top 69 Fairlane. Went well over 100,000 miles before selling. Just bought the 07 Fusion and am very impressed with the ride and handling. I personally have never owned a car better. Will have to see about longivity.

 

[Benzadmiral]

With the exception of the Volvo 164 I had in early '85 which burned up while I was driving it, and the decade I spent with used Mercedes, I've always been an American car buyer.

Loved my first car, the '75 Ford Maverick.
The '65 Mercury Park Lane was impressive to drive and easy to work on.
We'll skip any discussion of the '84 Ford Escort, thankyouverymuch.
The '89 and '94 Olds Cutlasses were a pleasure to drive -- the '94, the "Goldsmobile," was a delight to look at too -- and never expensive to fix.

With my 2003 Buick Park Avenue, I find myself saying, "I should have gone Buick before." Gorgeous to look at, a pleasure to pilot over the nasty streets here and to cruise in at 70 on the highway, it's been cheap to maintain compared to my Benzes. Cadillac/Benz quality at Chevrolet money.

What current American cars would I go for?
Chevy Malibu or Impala
Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln MKS
Lincoln Town Car or Mercury Grand Marquis

Future cars? The 2010 LaCrosse and maybe the Ford Taurus (though I've always disliked that name. Why not resurrect the old Galaxie nameplate?).

And though I've never been ultra-impressed with the Chrysler 300 since the gangbangers adopted them, I love G-Man's black model with the properly sized tires.

 

[HM12460]

mustang, focus, ranger. possibly an impala or a cobalt, buick lucerne.

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I'd get an Impala 3.9 for its insane power, room, and economy or, if they made it, an Astra diesel. American brand at least.


I love this engine in my 2006 Monte Carlo. It's smooth, quiet, but has a nice rush of power when you put your foot down.

I used to really be in love with the GM W-cars. I've had three of them, and all have been great. I bought a used Jeep Cherokee two years ago and have loved it, and now that I'm living in the city I'm looking to sell my Monte Carlo. Even when I do sell it, I'll still love them and miss it.

If there is anything I'm disappointed by, it's a fitting replacement for the Jeep Cherokee. The new Jeeps seem nice enough, but if I could buy a new Jeep with the rugged simplicity of the classic Cherokee, with a big torquey engine, simple exterior design, and functional interior, I'd be at the dealer tomorrow.

If I were to buy a new sporty car, and had a nice safe place to keep it, I'd be hard pressed to choose between the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger. I love them all. I'd probably lean towards the Camaro, I think it's the best balance. The Mustang has an awesome interior and I love the glass roof, and the Challenger has an awesome exterior, and the interior is comfortable but a bit uninspired.

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
With my 2003 Buick Park Avenue, I find myself saying, "I should have gone Buick before." Gorgeous to look at, a pleasure to pilot over the nasty streets here and to cruise in at 70 on the highway, it's been cheap to maintain compared to my Benzes. Cadillac/Benz quality at Chevrolet money.

And though I've never been ultra-impressed with the Chrysler 300 since the gangbangers adopted them, I love G-Man's black model with the properly sized tires.


I came very close to getting an 07 Buick Lucerne, which is the successor to your Park Avenue. These are really, really nice cars. But once I drove an 07 300 with the 3.5 and 5-speed transmission, I knew that's what I had to have. Much more room and a completely different driving dynamic from the FWD Buick. And the way you describe your Buick ("Gorgeous to look at, a pleasure to pilot over the nasty streets here and to cruise in at 70 on the highway.") is also the way I would describe my 300. I'm enjoying this car far more than I ever did my 300M.

As for "proper" size tires, I actually think the higher profile 17" wheels/tires on the V6 300s look better than the low profile 18" ones that come on the Hemi models. And when these clowns put ridiculous 22" to 24" wheels on 300s it turns a striking car with presence into a cartoon caricature.

The only car I think actually looks "correct" with 21" tires is the Rolls-Royce--and the reason is that even though the rims are 21", the tires are not low profile: there is still a 5" sidewall so the car doesn't look like it's riding around on just the rims.

 

[GMFan]

If I were a rich man I would get myself a fully loaded Chevy Avalanche (minus leather since I hate leather) in Black for camping/outdoor/man stuff/daily driver. I'd also consider a fully loaded Tahoe (minus the leather as well) in silver for a highway cruiser/weekend vehicle.

I'd be very happy with those two vehicles for quite a while.
:cool

The Saturn will have to do for now

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

I have never ever owned a foreign car in my life and have no intentions at this point to start...The best car I ever owned was a 88 Lincoln Town Car...Put over 300K miles with very little issues...I drove it from New York-Miami at least 15 times.

If I were to buy new it be a Town Car...I would just have to pull strings at a fleet dealer.

I had others cars [Grand Marquis and Crown Victorias] and liked them all...I liked the 302 engine as much as the 4.6...My entire family owns nothing but Fords now.

I drove a friends 08 Mustang not long ago [with the 4.6] and it was a great car to drive...I also drove a 03 Expedition [5.4] from Miami to Atlanta a few months ago and that great truck to drive...That truck had over 200K miles on it.

 

[wirelessF]

I owned a mix of domestic and foreign nameplates, and none of them disappoint me. 1 GM car (forgot the name, but it was a very nice turd though,) 3 Ford F250 trucks, and 1 Chrysler vehicle (rebadged Mitsu). Foreign nameplates I have/had are Nissan, Mitsu (Chrysler), Toyota.

I really like the new Fords (all), some of GM's (Malibu, Impala, Camaro, some others) and very little of Chrysler (Charger, Ram).

I'm not a big fan of the big 3 or foreign brands, but what's with all the bashing? I'm sure all brands are good.

 

[dishdude]

I've owned mainly Chrysler/GM vehicles and have always had great luck with them. I do keep up with the oil changes, maintenance, etc and have never been let down.

My favorite car recently was a 2008 Saturn Aura, I only had it for a year and a half. I sold it when I got tranferred cross country, and regret it...should have kept it but realized I would need a pickup after the move anyway. I picked up a 2004 GMC Canyon which I like, but not as much as my Aura!

I have owned a Cobalt, Cavalier, S-10, Neon, Stratus Coupe and actually liked them all.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
I have never ever owned a foreign car in my life and have no intentions at this point to start...The best car I ever owned was a 88 Lincoln Town Car...Put over 300K miles with very little issues...I drove it from New York-Miami at least 15 times.

If I were to buy new it be a Town Car...I would just have to pull strings at a fleet dealer.

I had others cars [Grand Marquis and Crown Victorias] and liked them all...I liked the 302 engine as much as the 4.6...My entire family owns nothing but Fords now.

I drove a friends 08 Mustang not long ago [with the 4.6] and it was a great car to drive...I also drove a 03 Expedition [5.4] from Miami to Atlanta a few months ago and that great truck to drive...That truck had over 200K miles on it.


Go drive a Taurus SHO it will turn your head. If I didn't have kiddies to haul off to colege I would have one.