Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
OK....Fair enough ekpolk.
CVFL:
I hope you mean that, seriously. From your postings, I suspect you're not the type of person who'd be easily beaten into submission by the likes of me. FWIW, that would never be my intent either.
Although this dead horse has obviously been pronounced dead for a while, I'll offer this additional bit regarding my perspective. I'm not so self-centered that I think what I think is especially important, but I do jealously guard the integrity of the forum -- that's my job at it's core.
IMO, the domestic makers did allow themselves to fall behind their overseas competition, in a rough window of time starting in the very early 70s and ending somewhere in the range of the mid or late 90s. The times must necessarily be vague since this is such a complex question that times can't be nailed down with any precision. For example, GM automatic transmissions have ALWAYS been a model of mechanical superiority, reliability, and good function. I've loved every one I've owned (though they could have moved on from 3 and 4 speeds a few years earlier...). By contrast, GM switch gear and electric windows were total fecal rubbish for a long, long time.
Anyway, in the last few years, it has become increasingly clear that the domestics have admirably pulled themselves back into the game. Perceptions, however, may be slower in catching up. Much of the pro-import "bias" we see here and everywhere comes from a young generation that has been "conditioned" to the idea that they simply would not entertain buying a domestic. Over on ToyotaNation, you see such youngsters referring to American cars as "duh-mestics". I vehemently oppose such nonsense.
The truth is, IMO, that we have, or are about to, reach a point at which car making has become internationalized (not sure that's a word...), and the classic distinctions between "domestics" and "imports" are beginning to fade out altogether (but it will be a long time before they are totally meaningless). But I still see, notwithstanding my present "fleet" the importance of trying to favor one's neighbors by buying locally made things.
For me, please don't be misled by my signature block. Many see me give the domestics a deserved hit, and coupled with my signature block, assume I'm a domestic hater. I'm not. But somehow, my criticisms of imports seem to go unnoticed. Hey, my Camry has developed an annoying rattle in the driver's side B-pillar. I'm P-O-ed with Toyota about the oil pipe replacement we received for my wife's 07 Avalon. And so on. Please take note.
When I see nonsense or less-than-top quality, I call it -- from wherever it comes.
