Of course, I'm not sure we have data that indicates WHY the 21% is off the road, but I'm sure accidents claim them in similar numbers, save for maybe Honda Civics with the "Park Bench" aerodynamics package
The reliability hoax...
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According to GM, Chevy has the most dependable, longest lasting trucks on the road. According to Ford, they have more trucks with over 200K miles than anyone else. Haven't heard any import companies contesting. Most recent Toyota commercial I saw was bragging about the jobs they create for Americans, but the fact is they don't create as many as what goes away.
http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/MI-plants.htm
If you choose trucks, that's valid data.
I don't drive trucks, unless I'm borrowing my neighbors
Like I said, if domestic jobs are your number one priority, then choose GM, Ford, or DC. Right now, my best experiences have been with Toyota.
Oilbabe here is saying the same thing. I would ask her about her Taurus, but she seems happy now, and I don't want to change that
I don't drive trucks, unless I'm borrowing my neighbors
Like I said, if domestic jobs are your number one priority, then choose GM, Ford, or DC. Right now, my best experiences have been with Toyota.
Oilbabe here is saying the same thing. I would ask her about her Taurus, but she seems happy now, and I don't want to change that
I'll pull out the owners manuals for my Prizm, the Scion, Oilbabe's 02 Camry and I believe I have a PDF of my Contour to compare.
I don't think there is much different in the schedules. I know both the Contour and the Prizm need timing belt changes, while the Camry and tC don't when we look at 4 cylinder engines.
I do recall that the Toyota three speed automatic has a seperate differential that required a seperate fluid change from the ATF fluid change, but the four speed automatic doesn't require this seperate change.
But I'm taking the tribe shopping, so I'll have to address the details later.
I don't think there is much different in the schedules. I know both the Contour and the Prizm need timing belt changes, while the Camry and tC don't when we look at 4 cylinder engines.
I do recall that the Toyota three speed automatic has a seperate differential that required a seperate fluid change from the ATF fluid change, but the four speed automatic doesn't require this seperate change.
But I'm taking the tribe shopping, so I'll have to address the details later.
^^^ Keeping good jobs in America should be high on everyone's priority list.
Ford did not specify a timing belt interval for the 1995 or 1996 Contour, as I recall. I don't have the maintenance schedule to confirm since I no longer have a Contour.
Just more "dumbing down" of the maintenance requirements to appeal to the cheap #@$%! who buy and neglect those cars.
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By the way, here's the recent new cars my family owns:
2005 Ford Escape 3.0L: With 44K it has had one warranty repair--the cruise control switch on the steering wheel stopped working so you couldn't turn cruise control on. I bet the kids had something to do with this.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic 2.2L: With 31K it has had one warranty repair--the left front strut mount was making noise. A TSB exists for the problem. The dealership repaired the right side, too, without me asking even though it wasn't making any noise. They did both sides and a VA safety inspection in less than 2 hours on a snowy Friday morning. It was purchased used with 15,800 miles and there is no record of any warranty repairs prior to that time, I had a dealership check the VIN.
(Both of the above vehicles have already had one transmission fluid change).
2006 Saab 93 2.0T: In 4K it has had one warranty repair and it is quite minor: It was built with black door handles and it was supposed to have body colored (silver) door handles. Apparently this problem only effected some European Delivery Saab 93s and mine was one of them. Black door handles are a standard feature on the Euro-spec 93s. The dealership changed them and did a great job.
2005 Ford Escape 3.0L: With 44K it has had one warranty repair--the cruise control switch on the steering wheel stopped working so you couldn't turn cruise control on. I bet the kids had something to do with this.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic 2.2L: With 31K it has had one warranty repair--the left front strut mount was making noise. A TSB exists for the problem. The dealership repaired the right side, too, without me asking even though it wasn't making any noise. They did both sides and a VA safety inspection in less than 2 hours on a snowy Friday morning. It was purchased used with 15,800 miles and there is no record of any warranty repairs prior to that time, I had a dealership check the VIN.
(Both of the above vehicles have already had one transmission fluid change).
2006 Saab 93 2.0T: In 4K it has had one warranty repair and it is quite minor: It was built with black door handles and it was supposed to have body colored (silver) door handles. Apparently this problem only effected some European Delivery Saab 93s and mine was one of them. Black door handles are a standard feature on the Euro-spec 93s. The dealership changed them and did a great job.
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This gets back to the fact that most have had bad experiences with US dealerships than they have with asian brand dealerships. We're conditioned to think that a US brand dealer is there to rip us off ..which is a mixed bag of truth and perception. Sure they charge a fortune, but they've also got an expensive enterprise to maintain. So do the asian dealers ..but they've had less time, in the sense of our aging demographics, to leave a bad taste in consumer's mouths. Far more have bitten the domestic sour apple and found worms. Now that total manufacturing is about equal ...domestics many ..Asians few :shrug:
So, you get the blind devotion to "I hear if you maintain your Honda it will last forever" type dogma ..while, as you said, every trip to the domestic dealer feels like taking a dip in shark infested waters with a bleeding wound. In reality, they're both essentially the same experience.
I still think it comes down to the passe~ nature of US offerings. You're still satisfied ...pleased probably ..with the appointments on your BMW. If I still had my 78 320i and managed to keep it looking nice, I'm sure that the interior appointments ..the seats ..and whatnot would still deliver the comfort/utility that they did when new (assuming I kept up with it). The only thing about my evolution of Euro alloy was that it was, relatively, high maintenance. It meant nothing to how long you could keep the vehicle and have it provide a satisfying driving experience.
It's hard to say that about anything of domestic design unless you can attach some type of "pleasurable masochism" to the nostalgic notion. What has a domestic design car have to offer other then its "newness"? They're still driven/designed/conceived to be a disposable item that will be exchanged for a newer one in a few years. They're in a trap that isn't easily escaped from.
Even though many imports are being made in North America now, what about the parts in them? Where are they made? When they need parts replaced (don't #@$%! me that they won't) where are the replacement parts made? When I get parts for my 1980's GM's the parts are almost always from Canada or U.S.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...;gonew=1#UNREAD
This is interesting. Perhaps we could get a little more detail from this.
Yes, I know I promised service interval details. Oilbabe has the Camry out on a 150 mile round tripper today, so it will be later. I have to get some things done around here since her and my kiddos are gone.
Spending the Lowes gift cards to redo the bedroom during this week off.
This is interesting. Perhaps we could get a little more detail from this.
Yes, I know I promised service interval details. Oilbabe has the Camry out on a 150 mile round tripper today, so it will be later. I have to get some things done around here since her and my kiddos are gone.
Spending the Lowes gift cards to redo the bedroom during this week off.
I bought a fuel filter (Purolator) and it was made in China. Last time I bought one it was made in the USA.
^^^I got a NAPA one for my Cavalier and it was made in China (Wix filter I think), so I got a Purolator and is was US made. You really have to check the label these days because there's no telling where it's made.
Most people won't care. We're supposed to be conditioned to ignore that.
So that's why I just buy the cheapest electronics out there. Why pay extra for a Sony when the noname is made in the same factory in China?
See, this can work against them.
So that's why I just buy the cheapest electronics out there. Why pay extra for a Sony when the noname is made in the same factory in China?
See, this can work against them.
Our 87 Civic was toast at about 120k miles, while our 93 Taurus made it to 210k miles. The transmission in the 99 Taurus went out at just over 100k miles, probably due to a recall for the transmission that was never put in by the dealer (the autos in both vehicles went out within a few thousand miles after an AutoRx treatment, and while so far I'm considering it coincidence I'm also checking into it).
We drove the 93 hard. It was used for vacation trips for several years, 5 to 6 in the car, full trunk, luggage carrier, lots of short trips up and down the hill that we live on, etc. My wife and I don't remember seeing Accords or Camrys loaded like that at the campgrounds, and while I expect that they are we just didn't see any that we can recall.
We drove the 93 hard. It was used for vacation trips for several years, 5 to 6 in the car, full trunk, luggage carrier, lots of short trips up and down the hill that we live on, etc. My wife and I don't remember seeing Accords or Camrys loaded like that at the campgrounds, and while I expect that they are we just didn't see any that we can recall.
Cavaliers are the most rust prone junk I've ever owned. I'm going to try to get another car in a couple years, but never again will I get a throwaway chevy econobox. I'd think about a G6 or a Fusion maybe. Time and (lack of) money will tell.
That's not true. In Rochester and Buffalo, NY, a 10 year old Cavalier looks better than a 5 year old Lexus. That's a real test of how well a car will hold up to salt as the snow season is very long there. Once again, you get good value by buying American.
I live in salty New England. I have to disagree on your blanket statement of "American" vs the rest of the world. Rust of vehicle varies widely not just by individual car maker but car model. It also depends on owner care or lack thereof. My parents own everything (Subaru, Volvo, GMC, Lexus(older)) and I don't think any are better than the other.
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