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Forum: General Talk
02-19-2010, 11:32 AM
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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.
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Forum: General Talk
02-18-2010, 11:11 AM
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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.
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