Food For Thought

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: dishdude

I am still puzzled by Americans who won't buy an American car or even consider one. Maybe I am too young to remember the unreliable American cars of the 70's and early 80's. Every American car I owned was after the feedback carb fiascos and they ran just fine.


I shopped the domestics before I bought my Mazda.

I looked at the G6 and it was just too ugly and didn't do anything for me in the driver's seat. The GXP "Batmobile"? dunnah dunnah dunnah dunnah dunnah NO!
The Chevrolet had an interior by Tupperware and an exterior like this:

The Fusion had a few good aspects of the Mazda6 but it seemed like they worked hard to make it less useable and driveable. Plus it was still brand new.
I actually liked the Sebring the best of the domestics, but my perception of the 2.7 V6 as a known sludger prevented me from buying it.

That being said, the current batch of domestics are quite a bit better. It's hard to believe the current Malibu shares a platform with it's G6 and Malibu Maxx predecessors. It's that much better.
The Fusion has come into it's own.
The 200 has better engines now and the interior and exterior are greatly improved.

I would consider any of these cars.

 

[JHZR2]

In the world stage, VW is huge. They are making their move to buy US market share.

Hyundai is highly subsidized by the Korean gov't. Makes it easy to sell cars.

GM was/is subsidized and probably is worthy of being up there for a number of reasons.

Seems about right.

Other than the hybrids, I dont think that Toyota brings much to the table.

Honda is the biggest engine manufacturer in the world, but that does not make them the biggest auto maker.

The Japanese stuff, hybrids aside, is blah to me. I dont think Id buy a hyundai, but their cars are more interesting, IMO.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: dishdude

I am still puzzled by Americans who won't buy an American car or even consider one. Maybe I am too young to remember the unreliable American cars of the 70's and early 80's. Every American car I owned was after the feedback carb fiascos and they ran just fine.


Show me a car that can be set up how I like it and we can talk. I see very few MT vehicles, no diesels, etc.

 

[hattaresguy]

I'm surprised by Toyota, their new cars really are not that impressive.

My friends parents just bought some massive Lexus SUV and its pretty lame compared to what you can get from the Germans for the same money. Plastic fantastic interior, and its slow. The new Camry is also a dog, and seems geared more for Buick's old customer base.

 

[SteveSRT8]

My father-in-laws has a 2010 Avalon, it has never been as impressive as I'd have thought. Completely numb in all respects.

Rode to dinner in my friends new 2011 Sequoia, very similar to the Lexus quoted above, not at all impressed. The thing quivered over rough road like an old pickup!

Every Hyundai owner I meet is more interested in their gadgets and toys than in driving dynamics. Another place for an 'appliance' purchase in my book.

To each his own. Thank god there are lots more choices.

 

[sciphi]

Hyundai makes very reliable cars. I had one, and it was dead nuts reliable. It never left me stranded in traffic like my old Buick did a few times thanks to a $2 battery bolt loosening up.

However, right now some of their cars are exceptionally boring. The old Hyundai Elantra I had was a ball of fun to drive. It had its quirks, but it was a fun to drive car thanks to having a willing engine/transmission, and a chassis that enjoyed turning. The 2012 Elantra I test-drove didn't want to go, and didn't want to turn. It felt like the engine had no guts when it needed them. Every turn, even a minor course correction, the chassis was a half-step behind. The Sonata I looked at was much better about going/turning, and felt better-sorted through the turns. It still drove like an appliance, though. The insurance was much more than my Cruze, so it was crossed off the list.

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

Show me a car that can be set up how I like it and we can talk. I see very few MT vehicles, no diesels, etc.


10% of Cruze buyers are opting for the Eco MT like mine, and more are getting the LS MT. GM even started offering a MT on the LT/LTZ for the 2012 model year. At least in the Cruze, there seems to be a resurgence of DIY shifting. Finding a Hyundai with a MT is next to impossible. I tried, and couldn't.

GM still needs to get their interiors better-sorted before they're truly world-class. I like the design/features/materials of the interior in my Cruze. Too bad the implementation needs work.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Hyundai makes very reliable cars. I had one, and it was dead nuts reliable. It never left me stranded in traffic like my old Buick did a few times thanks to a $2 battery bolt loosening up.


Over how many years/miles for the hyundai? I dont think folks can start to talk until 120k and 8-10 years. IMO that is why folks are still scared of hyundai, some buy them as they dont have a choice to get the price/content they desire... but are the stats REALL there yet?

How could a $2 bolt stand you? Couldnt you tighten it?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Hyundai makes very reliable cars. I had one, and it was dead nuts reliable. It never left me stranded in traffic like my old Buick did a few times thanks to a $2 battery bolt loosening up.


Over how many years/miles for the hyundai? I dont think folks can start to talk until 120k and 8-10 years. IMO that is why folks are still scared of hyundai, some buy them as they dont have a choice to get the price/content they desire... but are the stats REALL there yet?

How could a $2 bolt stand you? Couldnt you tighten it?


We had it until 8 years old and 130k miles when it was totaled in an accident.

The bolt backed off the battery wire connection, leading the engine to not restart. IIRC I was stopped at a 4 minute long traffic light (we timed it on several occasions) and had cut the engine. Towed it back, tightened the bolt at the advice of a passerby, and it worked until it backed off again. This went on until the bolt was replaced with a new one.

 

[The_Jeff]

if you want a GM battery bolt to not back out, get an inch long 3/8" bolt, a nut, and a lock washer. Thread the bolt in like you would a stud, tighten the nut against the lock washer against the cable.

Bonus is you have more metal to grip with jumper cables.

 

[swirlparanoid]

I personally dont have any bad experiences with american vehicles but when someone like my 60yo dad who has never had a vehicle make it past 50k (really) without a major trans, rear, engine failure, and as a child you got to ride around and be stranded a few times in 1-2-3 year old vehicles, heck i think he even said his at the time 3 year old ford van wouldn't start as he was leaving to take my mom to the hospital for my birth lol

ive posted this before but this is his current 02 ram
rear has been replaced 1 time, limited slip 3 times, trans been replaced, driveshaft replaced, engine has sludge in it on 5000 mile intervals on dino, drinks about a quart every 800 miles engine has had other problems i cant remember, one day the trans wouldn't shift unless u let off the gas, power steering rack been replaced 2 times, new rack leaks, power windows don't work in back or pass side, door locks don't work, key fob doesn't work, bed is rusting inside, back fenders are rusting, tailgate almost has holes in the bottom, parking brake wont work it does not release, some mornings it starts 1st time,blower motor is very loud, oh and it has 62000 miles on it with everything done as the manual said.

new stuff it now has 70k on it amazingly,bout a month ago the starter was replaced, rear is vibrating on accelleration again, his previous 96 ram wasn't much better (head gaskets at 30000miles etc) its pretty safe to say a dodge dealer will be avoided next time at least