out of the three, you selected the most unsafe and unreliable. ford is proven to make better cars than kia or hundyai. also, my dad drives a taurus with over 200k on it, still running strong, my moms buick has over 100k and hasnt had any problems besides normal maintainence. my firebird never had problems and was running strong till i traded it in. and cadillacs can hold value, just depends what kinds.

Actually, I do get 40 mpg overall...fair mixture of city/highway. I'ts a 1.6L 103-hp 5speed. I'm not saying they're all safe and inefficient - but there isn't one that is safe AND efficient like my car.

I was in 3 accidents in a 1992 Protege, none of which were my fault, and my car was hardly damaged while I saw a Mustang and an Escort get wrecked. The Civic in the 3rd one was fine.

Had another collision, my fault unfortunately, in a parking lot with a Marquis, it had $300 damage, I had a 3-inch scratch.

I'm thrilled with Mazda's value and I can see no reason to spend more and get less with an American car.

You know Mazda is redoing its entire line of cars? No more 626
:( When the boyfriend decided to get a new car he was looking at the 626 but was wary of it because they're getting rid of it.

He got one of those sexy new Altimas instead. I love Nissans - they are practically indestructible. His 89 Maxima went 220K miles and 12 years before it got traded - its probably still running somewhere.

Yeah, it is the "6" now, it doesn't look too bad but definitely isn't the same as the 626...my dad has one and it's decent. We have a Tribute as well.

The only real complaint that I have with my 626 is that the battery poles are reversed from most cars, thus making it a bit more difficult to find a battery. Other than that, its a great car :)

Juniorgrrl - I'd take a Caddy over a BMW any day of the week and TWICE on Sundays (especially the Cadillac Roadster that's coming out, that's just a hot car). The 3 series BMWs are TRULY for the 'nouveau riche wannabees'. That's just my opinion, people.

Za

PS: Ford owns Jaguar and Aston Martin, and I don't know anyone who would pass up one of those.

C'est Vrai! Thank-you. If you plan to shell-out 30-40k on a lower-level luxury car go for the audi A4 or Saab 9 3....

sorry, i forget who said that Hyundai/Kia and safer than Ford...wow, i don't know about you but i don't see many older models of the former sill on the road...

Maybe its just the fact that they still owed 15K on their other car (when it was worth less than that) because she HAD to have a Caddy. Why? Because her son needed a new car and bought a shiny new Alitma. (The black interior on that thing is *sexy*). They're just all about spending money to look good, and everyone else thinks they're a joke. Yet, she had the nerve to utter (in reference to a possible engagement ring for me) "I suppose she wants platinum" as if to say that I'm a princess who is wanting way too much. :rolleyes:

Wanting platinum doesn't make you a princess, that just means you have good taste, chick! :) lol

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

Jaguar SLK is the way to go.

kt, bro, if you get the element man, it's cool, just don't throw a crest sticker on that ugly riceburner ;)

Just kidding man :D

I've driven 3 Fords in my life and i've had my share of troubles with them, but i'm still a Ford man. Incidentally, my F-150 was made in the USA, in a plant in Missouri believe.

I can't remember my family ever having owned anything that wasn't Ford, GM or Dodge. From my mom's Dodge Mommy-vans, to my dad's Silverado 2500, it's always been American.

BTW ZetaAce, i'm with you on the Escalade. I WILL have one someday. You can bet on that ;)

Kitso
KS 361 x 100 = miles i've drivin in Fords

Ever since my bad experience with my 88 S-10 Blazer (which was without a doubt well maintained). I've been a little down on American cars. My 4-Runner has been great. I'm just ready for something that gets better than 14MPG.

I'll definitely be sporting a crest on that car though... Sorry Kitso:D

I love the Escalade too- I'm always amazed that a car so big has so much power and style. It's only #3 on my cars I'm gonna have one day list though :) lol

ZA