[Parallax]

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOfdJM5lsY4[/YT]


__________

[reeftool]

Funny. Looks like Toyota is getting still getting heat. Every manufacturer has had issues in the past and will have some issues in the future. None of them are immune. The incorrect assumption that Japanese autos are perfect and trouble free has finally been broken.

Funny. Looks like Toyota is getting still getting heat. Every manufacturer has had issues in the past and will have some issues in the future. None of them are immune. The incorrect assumption that Japanese autos are perfect and trouble free has finally been broken.

Just that toyoda seems to have quite a few in a relatively short period of time. And I never said japcrap was perfect.

[Wheatfield]

The problems with Japanese cars is that they are now designed and built in North America.
My 1981 Honda (Japan build) came to me with one very minor flaw (the rear seat latch on one side had been maladjusted by about 1/8", so that the seat wouldn't lock).
Other than that, it was perfect out of the box and stayed that way for 250,000km until it got whacked by a Chevy and written off.
My next car was a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am.
It was never problem free, and at one point was going into the shop every other day for something or other.
The engine fell apart at 22,000km and the car never worked right after.
My brother had a 1990 Nissan Axxess, made in Smyrna Tennessee. It was an OK car, but rusted out prematurely and spent more time in the shop than he cared for.
My 1990 Axxess was a little upscale from his, had a all wheel drive system and came out of a factory in Japan.
It came to me flawless and stayed that way for some 200,000km until it got whacked by a Ford Explorer and was written off.
I had an Isuzu Trooper that, while made in Japan, had a GM transmission. The car was good, but the tranny cost me just under 3K when it fell apart at 60,000km.
I now have a Nissan Titan (designed and built in the USA), which is about as good as I would expect a domestic truck to be.
Which is a pity because when I bought it I was hoping for Japanese quality, not North American built crap.

[mithrandir]

Now you've got me worried about the airbags on my Honda Lawnmower.

[res3567]

Now you've got me worried about the airbags on my Honda Lawnmower.

Just use your seatbelts as you failsafe default backup.........

[lithos]

Just that toyoda seems to have quite a few in a relatively short period of time. And I never said japcrap was perfect.

Japanese cameras are shithouse, too, compared to their American counterparts. Canon's nearly dead, Nikon's pretty much gone, don't get me started on Pentax.

Bell & Howell and Argus are going gangbusters, but. And all those DSLRs Kodak built, without a single scrap of help from a non-American source!

Just like the American car companies, too. America's cars are the most popular in the world, noted for things such as build quality, fuel efficiency and safety. Detroit's the number one place in the world two live, with a thriving economy built on the auto industry, low crime rate, and virtually zero urban decay. In fact, it's been Detroit's success in the last few years that got the US through economic crisis unscathed.

[Parallax]

Japanese cameras are shithouse, too, compared to their American counterparts. Canon's nearly dead, Nikon's pretty much gone, don't get me started on Pentax.

Bell & Howell and Argus are going gangbusters, but. And all those DSLRs Kodak built, without a single scrap of help from a non-American source!

Just like the American car companies, too. America's cars are the most popular in the world, noted for things such as build quality, fuel efficiency and safety. Detroit's the number one place in the world two live, with a thriving economy built on the auto industry, low crime rate, and virtually zero urban decay. In fact, it's been Detroit's success in the last few years that got the US through economic crisis unscathed.

I think I detect a note of sarcasm there.

I think I detect a note of sarcasm there.

No! Really? All I know is I have three American vehicles that have done very well for me. Especially since I rarely take care of them. None of them are below 100,000 miles and none are newer than a 2002. So yeah. I think American cars are pretty damn good. I pretty much always bought new. And a car has to last me at least nine years.

[Wheatfield]

No! Really? All I know is I have three American vehicles that have done very well for me. Especially since I rarely take care of them. None of them are below 100,000 miles and none are newer than a 2002. So yeah. I think American cars are pretty damn good. I pretty much always bought new. And a car has to last me at least nine years.

Try driving them in a harsh climate some time.

[pingflood]

Try driving them in a harsh climate some time.

Like around Democrats?

[Parallax]

Try driving them in a harsh climate some time.

You know I don't like to be contrary, but I have driven American made vehicles almost exclusively for 36 years and all but two of those were in South Dakota and Alaska. I am not saying there has never been anything wrong with any of them, but the few foreign brands I had weren't perfect either.

Try driving them in a harsh climate some time.

Well they've been thru snow/cold/heat/water/saltwater.

My van (1989) I use to drive through the water when my house flooded. And I'd leave it parked in the water and it never failed to start, so is that enough? And it's been sitting in the barn for 2 months. Went Sunday and started it ran like a champ. Is that enough?

[reeftool]

I have owned cars built in various places around the world. I commute a good distance and rack up a lot of miles every year and also live in a rather harsh climate where the cars are exposed to road salt and other corrosive ice melt chemicals. My experiences through the years:

Mid 70's Datsuns/Nissans. I had 2. The engines had head gasket issues and the bodies rusted out.

71 Chevy Nova. I ran that until 1986 and had 220,00 miles on it. It was beginning to rust out but still ran well. I sold it.

81 VW Rabbit. Was given to me. USA built. Had 240,000 miles when the floor rusted through. I used some parts to repair a 81 Audi 4000, also a freebie. German built. A piece of crap. Lots of electrical issues. I called it Hitler's Revenge.

82 Toyota Tercel. Decent running. Another rustbucket. It was my wifes. A bearing siezed on the transmission input shaft at 170,00 miles. Junked it.

86 Ford Escort. Bought it new. Very good car with few repairs. Totaled in an accident with 118,000 miles, one month before the final pament.

81 Mercury Cougar. Bought it for my wife after the Esocrt. It was the oddball 4 door model, similar to the Marquis in looks. Bought it from a retired couple with 20K miles. Ran it to 170,000 miles with few repairs. The engine (V8) began burning oil badly.

86 Chevy S10 Pickup. Ran very well with few issues. Biggest rustbucket I ever owned. Had 260,000 miles when I retired it. I gave it to a local kid. He made a flatbed out of it and I still see it around town. I replaced it with my current truck, a 96 Isuzu Hombre, also a rustbucket. The Hombre and S10 are identical, made in USA. Still running at 206,000 miles.

96 Ford Escort. Bought it new. Excellent car. Pretty much trouble free until 187,000 when an exhaust valve broke and took out the #4 piston and punched a hole in the cylinder wall. I replaced it with a boneyard motor and ran it until 2008 with 270,000 miles appox. I replaced it with a new 2008 Honda Civic.

93 Plymouth Acclaim. Bought it for my kid. Ranks with the Audi as one of the worse cars I ever owned. Radiator let go, the head cracked, gas tank leaked, and parts difficult to find. Replaced it with a 99 Chevy Cavilier, still running well with 165,000 miles.

In my experience, where a car is made has had no bearing on the overall quality of the vehicle. I have owned quite a few more, I'm not going to give my lifes history. My overall opinions are that Japanese cars tend to rust out faster while still run good. Chevy trucks run good and long but also rust away quickly. Ford builds the best bodies but their engines don't hold up. In this climate, I prefer a better built body. Replacing an engine isn't a big deal to me. I would have bought another Ford and considered a Chevy last year also but I have issues with the local dealerships and bought the Honda based on the good reputation the dealership has and so far I am a satisfied customer. I'm also a mechanic for a living (heavy trucks and refrigerated trailers) and do all my own maintanence.

What's maintenance?