bias against American cars
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Why don't you just buy some aftermarket differential covers?
He very easily could. But why should he have to? The Toyota engineers thought of their customers, and making their customer's lives easier. The Chrysler engineers either didn't give their customers a second thought, or perhaps worse, did, and still decided to install a cheaper stamping, minus an easy-to-use drain plug.quote:
Originally posted by Jelly:
Why don't you just buy some aftermarket differential covers?
Agree.
That sounds like a bean-counter cost cutting measure. Likely the engineers had nothing to do with it.
Still, what kinda **** -*** differential needs a fluid change every 15K???
[/qb][/QUOTE]
Still, what kinda **** -*** differential needs a fluid change every 15K??? [/QB][/QUOTE]
That's a good point. I would do my Landcruiser every 30K miles with synthetic just because I'm a like nutty about taking care of my vehicle. I want to make sure that the next buyer gets a good vehicle
Still, what kinda **** -*** differential needs a fluid change every 15K??? [/QB][/QUOTE]
That's a good point. I would do my Landcruiser every 30K miles with synthetic just because I'm a like nutty about taking care of my vehicle. I want to make sure that the next buyer gets a good vehicle
I'd say my '98 neon has done extremely well for an american car. 116k miles on the original starter, alternator, ac compressor, power steering system, ball joints, etc.
Come to think of it, the only major repair that has been done to the car was the cylinder head gasket, which fortunately coincided with the timing belt change, so it wasn't a whole lot more effort to go ahead and change it.
But I'm just rambling and not really getting anywhere. I'm sure someone will chime in about their sister/daughter's neon that blew up leaving the showroom floor or something.
Come to think of it, the only major repair that has been done to the car was the cylinder head gasket, which fortunately coincided with the timing belt change, so it wasn't a whole lot more effort to go ahead and change it.
But I'm just rambling and not really getting anywhere. I'm sure someone will chime in about their sister/daughter's neon that blew up leaving the showroom floor or something.
Head Gasket is a major repair (if you pay for repair) and should not go at such an early age in a car.
Early Neon's are not known for stellular reliablity. The thing that no one states on this board is really a less reliable vehicle does not mean every one is actually going to be less reliable or vice versa high reliable always reliable its just your likely hood of problems.
Neon story of a 97 model, demure special ed teacher, mellow driver, two transmissions under 100k and two head gaskets and various strange sounds emitting from car. Fortunately my friends father is an XSS and had most repairs completed for free or partial cost by dealer.
A counterpoint to this is the typically reliable Civic and the post about two auto transmissions under 10k miles.
Hasn't been a problem since chrysler switched over to the multilayer steel type gaskets in november '98. My headgasket was done in mid-2000 with 60k on it before i bought the car and i fully expect to never have to worry about it again. I've never heard of a 2000 or newer neon with a headgasket problem.
Absolutely, but it's mostly centered around the headgasket. Because the revised gasket wasn't released until November of '99, someone who bought their neon in September of '94 would have to get over 5 years out of their headgasket, so many people went through a couple of them.
I drive a manual, and I could honestly care less about problems people may or may not have had with the automatic transmission. Any automatic transmisison for that matter. Those types of problems usually seem center around folks not having the fluid changed nearly as often as required.
[ May 31, 2004, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: Neonmike22 ]
Yes, changing the oil in the current Dodge axle is a pain in the butt, and more than a few people have wondered about the maintenance schedule. I'll guess that the schedule was a tug of war between marketing and engineering, where there was a desire to keep it simple but still cover worse case conditions. The 15k mile gear oil change is for the severe duty schedule, which in a 3/4 or 1 ton truck could involve hauling 12k lb to 16k lb trailers all the time, and more than few haul a lot heavier. I don't tow anything but the oil in my 11.5in axle at 15k miles was pretty black. Since this is lube forum, I'll add that I used Mobil 1 75-90W. Still, a drain plug would have been nice.
As far as reliability and durability goes the US made Cummins diesel seems to get good marks, and it's why I bought a Dodge truck. In a medium duty application the engine is rated for an average life of 350k miles, in the Dodge pickups 500k miles isn't uncommon, and there are more and more reports of 1 million mile trucks.
As far as reliability and durability goes the US made Cummins diesel seems to get good marks, and it's why I bought a Dodge truck. In a medium duty application the engine is rated for an average life of 350k miles, in the Dodge pickups 500k miles isn't uncommon, and there are more and more reports of 1 million mile trucks.
Both my Dodge trucks were Cummins. I had a 2000 3500QC 4x4 CTD auto. I also had a 2002 3500RC 4x4 HO CTD 6speed. Both were big bad and good looking vehicles. I'm a member of the Turbo diesel registery. I loved the Cummins what a beautiful engine. The thing about Dodge that bugged me was their cheap *** way of leaving off parts that you need. Example because of the lift pump problem on these truck you need to have a fuel pressure guage installed. If you don't have one and you lose the lift pump you can end up losing your injection pump (very expensive $2000). All of this was fixed with the direct injection in 2003. The Dodge 2003 and newer CTD truck in the only American made truck that I now would want to own.
Gene I think you nail it when it comes to what's happening now in the market place.
I haven't ever changed the differential fluid in my 1988 Mustang 5.0 since I got it about 40K miles ago. And I've got no idea when the last time the P.O. changed it.quote:
Originally posted by Pitbull:
That's a good point. I would do my Landcruiser every 30K miles with synthetic just because I'm a like nutty about taking care of my vehicle. I want to make sure that the next buyer gets a good vehicle
'course it has 2.73 gears and I intend to switch them around for 3.27 gears. At that point the fluid will get changed..and the traction-lok stuff will get rebuilt.
I really do believe this to be the case!
The attitude is, "It's a cheap car, why should I maintain it"!! My mechanic confirms it. A customer (usually college-age) has no problem having work done on a 1993 Honda Civic but on a 1993 Ford Escort, screw it, it can go to the junkyard for all they care!
'course the 1993 Honda Civic is oh-so-more fashionable than the 1993 Ford Escort, that's got a fair bit to do with it. The (not so) Fast and Furious mentality at work here.
I maintain my vehicles very well, but if I had the misfortune of having a 93 Escort, I would take the same approach unless I needed it and wasn't allowed to get rid of it.
It goes way beyond fashion, the Civic is good car and the Escort is a soulless POS.
Thank you for proving my point.
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, isn't it? This car is a piece of **** so I'm not going to spend any time or money to maintain it.
OR..This is a great, reliable car, I'd better spend the time and money to maintain it.
You get what you give.
[ May 31, 2004, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: brianl703 ]
They keep going and going and going...I had one I bought (a '91 hatchback) for $200--it had 170,000 miles on it. My brother drove it for a year and then sold it for $400 (it needed a clutch).
As far as people's view of Escorts--I think that's the uninformed view. Those people exist to line other's pockets with their ignorance.
The ISB is a great motor so I bought a 99 Ram with the 24V Cummins thinking I was set. A week after I got the truck when I was doing a fuel filter change, I found out what the lift pump was real fast. Someone should have stepped up and fixed that problem.... not to mention the crappy early VP44's and the #53 block known to crack.
I have not had good luck with any of the Chrysler products I have had. Nothing major, just enough to make me buy something else.
Much happier with the blue oval.
Studies lately have shown the least reliable cars are the Europeans.
American cars are closing the gap with the Japanese and adjusted for maintenance (American cars are still less well maintained than European and Japanese Cars) American cars are barely less reliable than Japanese. Within the margin of error for most studies.
Real World Cost vs Reliability (Assuming your going to keep it forever) the best car you can buy new is a Hyundai Excel GLS. Going street price about $10,500 (They come loaded with power everything). The Koreans have made huge strides in quality in the last few years. It is also a very good used car if you buy a post-2001. Usually available for $3000-4000.
If resale is a concern the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are hard to beat.
Incidently locally a new base Camry w/ Auto or Impala (Auto std) are both going for $15,995.00. You can currently get a new Buick LeSabre for $17,900.00
On the used market a 10 year old Camry is about $4000.00 and a 10 year old Buick LeSabre is about $3000.00. The Buick will require slightly more repairs but at about 60-70% of the parts cost of the Camry. This makes total cost about the same..... Hmmmm... Guess maybe this free market thing works... Hmmmm?
Almost any car you buy today will be mechanically more reliable than the best you could buy 15 years ago. I say mechanically because there are few exceptions when it comes to high end European Cars over the top electronic frippery.
What did I buy?
A new Focus ZX3 Comfort 5spd for $11,358.00.
Because it was more fum to drive and better equiped than the equivelent low end Honda Civic Coupe VP $12,225.00 and $10,990.00 Corolla.
It wasnt as well equiped but more fun to drive than a Hyundai Excel GLS.
ZX3 Comfort came with Tilt/Telescope, Leather Wheel, Cruise, R. Defrost/Wiper, Fog Lights, Tach, 16" Aluminum wheels w/ Pirelli Tires, etc that the low-end Honda and Toyota didnt.
Buy what you like... Life is to short for boring cars.
[ May 31, 2004, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Gene K ]
American cars are closing the gap with the Japanese and adjusted for maintenance (American cars are still less well maintained than European and Japanese Cars) American cars are barely less reliable than Japanese. Within the margin of error for most studies.
Real World Cost vs Reliability (Assuming your going to keep it forever) the best car you can buy new is a Hyundai Excel GLS. Going street price about $10,500 (They come loaded with power everything). The Koreans have made huge strides in quality in the last few years. It is also a very good used car if you buy a post-2001. Usually available for $3000-4000.
If resale is a concern the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are hard to beat.
Incidently locally a new base Camry w/ Auto or Impala (Auto std) are both going for $15,995.00. You can currently get a new Buick LeSabre for $17,900.00
On the used market a 10 year old Camry is about $4000.00 and a 10 year old Buick LeSabre is about $3000.00. The Buick will require slightly more repairs but at about 60-70% of the parts cost of the Camry. This makes total cost about the same..... Hmmmm... Guess maybe this free market thing works... Hmmmm?
Almost any car you buy today will be mechanically more reliable than the best you could buy 15 years ago. I say mechanically because there are few exceptions when it comes to high end European Cars over the top electronic frippery.
What did I buy?
A new Focus ZX3 Comfort 5spd for $11,358.00.
Because it was more fum to drive and better equiped than the equivelent low end Honda Civic Coupe VP $12,225.00 and $10,990.00 Corolla.
It wasnt as well equiped but more fun to drive than a Hyundai Excel GLS.
ZX3 Comfort came with Tilt/Telescope, Leather Wheel, Cruise, R. Defrost/Wiper, Fog Lights, Tach, 16" Aluminum wheels w/ Pirelli Tires, etc that the low-end Honda and Toyota didnt.
Buy what you like... Life is to short for boring cars.
[ May 31, 2004, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Gene K ]
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