Yes, I'm a traitor- I bought a foreign auto

[AOII_LB93]

My first car was an '84 Honda Civic hatchback..when I got it it had 104K(in 1992) on it, when I sold it it had 200K(in '99). The only problem I ever had was replacing the clutch once. In '99 I got the Civic EX. I've got 135K on it now, and will drive it until I need a new car. Never had one problem with it. I love my hondas, too bad the new ones just aren't nice looking.

My husband has driven American(Chevy El Camino, and 2 Ford Exploders- yeah yeah, Explorer, but whatever) until his most recent car, a Toyota 4-Runner LTD. I asked him if he would ever buy another American car and he said "No way, German or Japanese engineering from here on out."

My mom also has had ridiculous problems with every American car she has owned (Chevy Citation, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Ford T-bird, Pontiac whatever it is). The only car she ever truly enjoyed and had few problems with was her BMW. She liked her Toyota a ton too...she's had it with American cars.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I bought my '99 Honda Civic new in Dec. 1998 and will be celebrating its 10th birthday this year. It's finally coming up on 100,000 miles and it drives almost like it's brand new. AND even the exterior and interior are in practically the same condition as when I bought it, despite the car spending almost two years in sea-salty Malibu and plenty more uncovered in rainy/blustery/sunny/snowy Seattle. The only work I've had to have done on it is routine maintenence, other than the exhaust manifold cracking at around 65k miles which the dealership covered under the standard warranty! The back brakes still have 60% left on them, and I just replaced the timing belt at 96k miles just because I didn't want to chance it. I will drive that car until it no longer drives, which will likely be another 100k miles. I always took it to the dealership up until the 80k miles mark, because I knew various systems were covered under the Honda warranty up to that point.

By contrast, my boyfriend, who grew up in Michigan, interned at Ford, and got his engineering degree from U. of M., drives a '99 Ford Mustang, which he bought because he had a sentimental attachment to it (it was the first car he ever learned to repair). Though our cars are the same age, you would never know it. His dashboard is coming loose, his driver seat came off the tracks a while ago, and now the knob that controls the back of his seat broke, so his seat reclines flat unpredictably. And it's had all kinds of mechanical problems. It is a pathetic excuse for a vehicle, and it costs a fortune to have the shop do work on it because of how poorly everything is laid out under the hood. He marvels at how clever Honda's engineering is. He is deciding now on whether to buy a Honda or Toyota and has decided he will never again buy an American car, even though he grew up in GM's/Ford's backyard. His first car was a Toyota, but he wanted to give Ford a chance, and they blew it.

We stopped at a Honda dealership the other day because we wanted to check out the new Accord and Pilot, and I looked up where the Pilot was made - 100% assembled in ALABAMA. The salesman told us that almost all Hondas sold in the U.S. now are majority assembled in the U.S.

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by JennRN

I always had American cars until 2 years ago, when I bought my BMW.
Call me a traitor, I do not care! I love my German engineering. LOVE IT.

That's what I am talking about

[EtaPhiZTA]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

We stopped at a Honda dealership the other day because we wanted to check out the new Accord and Pilot, and I looked up where the Pilot was made - 100% assembled in ALABAMA. The salesman told us that almost all Hondas sold in the U.S. now are majority assembled in the U.S.

I LOVE my Honda Pilot. I bought my first one three years ago. Last Memorial Day, my husband and I went to the Honda dealership to see what changes had been made to the Pilot, and we ended up driving a new one home.

This is my third Honda; we have become loyal customers ever since my MIL survived a horrible roll-over accident where the police officer told us the Accord's construction was what saved her life.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Welcome to the dark side. Where you rarely have to speak to your mechanic again!!!

The only American car I've ever owned was such a lemon, I traded it in with only 26,000 miles on it - mostly back and forth from the dealership. I even had a technician come in from Detroit to show him that the transmission was horrible. We drove around in it, of course the car didn't act up, and then we pulled up to the dealers' again, with him saying, "I told you the transmission was in perfect shape!" He put it in park, the car went into reverse and hit four other cars! That was THE day I knew I was trading that car in ASAP!

I went back to Subaru and haven't had trouble since.

[aephi alum]

When I was growing up, my parents went through a string of Oldsmobiles. There was the Delta 88, the Omega, and then the Ninety-Eight From Hell. We took said Ninety-Eight on a cross-country drive. In Oklahoma City on the way out, the transmission completely crapped out. We finished our planned itinerary, but only after five more pit stops - I swear that car was held together by spit, baling wire, and a whole lot of prayer by the time we limped back into New York. My dad immediately swore off American cars and made a beeline for the nearest Acura dealership.

I inherited my mom's Acura Vigor when she gave up driving. It had nearly 100K miles on it when it finally crapped out. I replaced it with a TL (which was made in a plant in the US). DH drives a Nissan Murano.

Until there are American cars that I feel comfortable driving into the ground (must last at least 100K miles), I'll stick with Japanese cars.

[DeltAlum]

I've had a bunch of American and a bunch of foreign cars, and my experience has been that the foreign ones have been more dependable, lasted longer (more miles) and needed less major services. My dad was a Chevy mechanic most of his career.

At the moment, we have an Olds Alero and a Mitsibushi Eclipse.

Truth is that with all of the cross-ownership between foreign and domestic companies and outsourcing of parts as well as foreign companies opening assembly plants in the US, I'm really not sure how much difference it makes.

The only company I stay away from is Chrysler because I've owned three of their products and have not had good luck with them at all.

It was a little strange when I moved to Detroit some years ago. We had an MGB and a Lincoln Mercury Capri (imported and sold by Ford, but built in England and Germany). While there, we bought a "new" Capri which was by then built in the US. That last Capri came to Denver with us along with a Ford station wagon.

You can bet I wouldn't have parked the MG at Solidarity House -- the headquarters of the UAW.

Here's our list or our cars, as best as I can remember...in close to chronological order...

Austin Healy Sprite (British) in high school.
Triupmh TR3 (British) in College
Chevy Corvair US)
Mercury Capri 4 Cyl. (Anglo German)
Mercury Capri V-6 (Anglo German)
MGB (British)
Mercury Capri (US)
MGB (British)
Ford Station Wagon (US)
Ford Sedan (US)
Dodge Caravan (US)
Dodge Sedan (US)
Mazda Protogee (Japan)
Mazda Miata (Japan)
Saturn Sedan (US)
Olds Alero (US)
Mitsibushi Eclipse (Japan)

Generally speaking, I've driven the smaller (roadster) cars and Mrs. DA has driven the bigger sedans, etc. The two that lasted the longest (mileage), by far were the Triumph (140K) and the Miata (170K).

[AGDee]

My mom's first car (which she got when I was 6) was a Corvair convertible..used, with a hole in the floor in the backseat. It was by far the coolest car she ever had (even with the hole).After that she had a Vega (ACK!) then a Chevette (Double ACK!) and she finally put her foot down with my dad and said "no more of this crappy cars!" and she got a Camaro. That elevated my cool factor tenfold when cruising Gratiot in it, but it wasn't quite as cool as that Corvair!

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Welcome to the dark side. Where you rarely have to speak to your mechanic again!!!

Yeah that!
I drive a Honda Civic
DH got rid of his Grand Am (lemon) and drives a Toyota Tundra
He just got his son a VW Jetta

I understand driving American but I also understand having a dependable ride and not going broke with repairs

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

My mom's first car (which she got when I was 6) was a Corvair convertible..used, with a hole in the floor in the backseat. It was by far the coolest car she ever had (even with the hole).After that she had a Vega (ACK!) then a Chevette (Double ACK!) and she finally put her foot down with my dad and said "no more of this crappy cars!" and she got a Camaro. That elevated my cool factor tenfold when cruising Gratiot in it, but it wasn't quite as cool as that Corvair!

Why don't they make Corvairs anymore?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Why don't they make Corvairs anymore?

I'm pretty sure there was a major safety flaw in them.. either roll overs or exploding gas tanks, but I don't remember which.

[EEKappa]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Why don't they make Corvairs anymore?

LOL! You might want to ask Ralph Nader about that. He was signing books at the Las Vegas Airport Barnes and Noble when I flew out last time. There wasn't a line, and I was tempted to tell him, "My parents brought me home from the hospital when I was born in a three year old Corvair, and finally sold it when I was 8. And here I am, living to tell about it!"

DH has always driven Chevy trucks, and his family business has always used them as well. He got a Grand Cherokee two years ago, and has had so many problems that he can't wait to get rid of it and go back to GMC. Too bad, since it's a really great vehicle otherwise.

[Scully]

I have never and will never drive a foreign car! I guess it has just been instilled in me since birth. My family has only owned American autos - Oldsmobiles, Chevrolets, Jeeps and a majority were/are Mercury and Ford. I don't believe I'll ever change. We've taken care of our cars and in turn they take care of us. We own - we don't lease. They've lasted well into the 130, 150 and 180k mile mark. We just drive 'em til they die

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by EEKappa

I was born in a three year old Corvair

They didn't make it to the hospital?

[EEKappa]

Originally Posted by nate2512

They didn't make it to the hospital?

You're right, that wasn't the best-composed sentence. Allow me to restructure:

"When I was born my parents brought me home from the hospital in a three year old Corvair..."

Ralph Nader's book Unsafe At Any Speed was published the year I was born. My parents hadn't had the opportunity to read it and the learn about the dangers of the rear engine in the Corvair. And there are photos of me riding in a car carrier that looked like a mini death-trap. It's a wonder any of us born before the introduction of the Graco Snug-Ride lived to see first grade.

/hijack