Terrific post. I personally have tended to drive imports but have a lot of respect for certain domestic designs, for example the GM 3.8l V6 that has done so well in so many cars, the Ecotec engines, that seem overall very good in many ways (not up there in terms of NVH, by the way), a lot of the work GM has obviously done to improve fuel efficiency across the board, which is largely un-noticed, and the excellent technology put into the Corvette.
At the same time I find fault where fault is due with the imports, for example Nissan's apparent slide in overall quality over the years, the unfortunate problems that Honda has had with many of their auto trannies and the even more unfortunate problems Toyota seems to be experiencing in quality in many of their vehicles (Tundra, Camry V6, possibly Tacoma).
We have a fairly level playing field now between the Japanese, US and European manufacturers, and really nobody has a any good excuses for making a car that is less than very, very good. I still see the domestic manufacturers' biggest problem not being quality and reliability so much as product appeal: they seem unwilling to make vehicles that are absolutely the best possible, without compromise, whereas that seems to be the driving force behind the world's best car companies, which in my humble opinion would be BMW, Honda, Toyota, Porsche and maybe a few others.
That is not bashing and nor was anything you've said, JB. If some thin-skinned people want to take offense at my observations of what I perceive to be the truth, that is their problem. Just remember, the domestic industry will not thrive because of people who automatically buy American, it will thrive (if it does) because of people who were willing to buy the best, therefore forcing them to compete at that level.
Especially with the weak dollar, the US industry will have the best chance, in the next few years, to compete that they have in my adult lifetime, and I really hope they don't mess it up.
As for the original topic here, the LSx seems to have been an unbelievably good engine, an excellent example of what the domestics can do right. I still hate to read comparison tests where the 'Vette is always said to be less of a driver's car than its major competition, and I know it's true. The British used to have a saying: "Big engine, big tires, big deal." But the Corvette is undeniably a world class performance car and kudos to GM for it.
