Since American Automobiles are sub-standard quality, gas guzzlers, what other car is a better choice?

Question

Well, wasn't GM and the rest of the big 3 in the news a while back, having shoddy quality and poor market share, because ameican cars are sub-standard? For a short time, american cars started to be on a par with certain top of the line foreign auto makers. But in the last five years, our autos & trucks have been on a negative slide, from a safety and investment perspective.

What are your, preferences - I would like to know, that is if you know any better.

Answer 1

I used to work as a mechanic at a Ford dealership and I have owned my share of Foreign and American cars. All in all American cars are less reliable and all around cheaper. They use inferior materials and even expensive American cars have cheap looking and feeling interiors. A friend of mine had a 2002 Trans Am and it had more cheap plastic inside than a $12,000 Kia. American cars need to work on quality. That being said some American cars are OK. I did own a Ford Escort and like gin and juice said they are reliable...for an American car. I bought this car when it had 30,000 miles on it and sold it with 60,000. At the same time I owned a Honda delsol that was the same year, but I bought it with 60,000 miles on it and today it as 100,000. During the time that I had them both I had to replace the radiator, exhaust, alternator, and the tie rods twice in the escort. To this day I have never done a thing to the Honda except oil changes every 5,000 miles. The escort was a good car, but the Honda is better on gas, more reliable, better qualty, and much more fun to drive. There are some bad foreign cars too, but there is no American car that can touch any Honda or Toyota when it comes to blending fuel efficiency, comfort, and ALWAYAS reliability.

Answer 2

I prefer foreign cars, but honestly, the most domestics are not that far off of the mark anymore. I find Japanese cars to be some of the best made and best engineered cars out there. European cars are finely and some say over engineered, but their build quality tends to be hit or miss. European cars are also very maintenance heavy and if you don't do the maintenance as required, they can be very problematic.

As far as domestic cars, look at the new Saturn Aura sedan or Sky roadster. This is the way GM is heading, which is good. My father in law has a Buick Lucerne that is so far beyond has old Buick LeSabre that I can't believe the Lucerne is a Buick and not a Toyota (for the most part)

If you are thinking of buying a car, do lots of research. Some cars, like the Pontiac Vibe, are actually based on a Toyota. Saturn VUE with a V6 is powered by a Honda V6. Automobiles have parts from all over the world. Chrysler is technically a German company.

Answer 3

Ok, I am a little biased! But do have a little knowledge. I have worked at both GM and Infiniti/Nissan dealerships. I'd pick (personally remember) the Nissan vehicles. Depending on what your looking at the Nissan X-Trail is rated really well with the gas guzzling as is the new Nissan Versa. If your going into SUV's you should know that the Pathfinder gets better gas mileage than a X-Terra. Keep in mind also, it's how you drive and maintain the vehicle also. The better you treat the car, the better it will be to you. I am sure there are websites out there that will give exact mileage specifications for each vehicle but if your shopping...do your homework and ask questions of the sales consultant.

Answer 4

The fact that you asked the question that way says that you are already a fool. There are many american cars that are not great, however......there are also many foreign cars that are just as bad or worse. Some of the best cars made are american, you just have to know which ones. It sounds like your biased opinion and lack of knowledge about cars is going to get you in trouble when you go to buy one. Here are some great american cars.......any GM with the 3.8L engine is bulletproof. Ford Escort is one of the best economy cars there is. Don't buy a Taurus or especially not a Contour. Hondas have a/c problems and their transmissions shift hard in addition to having substandard cv joints and timing belts that have to be replaced all the time. Toyotas have strut mounts that rattle and the same cv joint and timing belt problems. Nissan has timing chains and stronger cv's so if you must buy foreign go with that. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I am a fan of Consumer Reports, they advise that the Honda Accord and Honda Civic are excellent vehicles to buy. There are others, but they are all foreign made, no American car made their top 10, which I find sad.

Answer 6

hey goof alot of american cars are made in canada and alot of japanese cars are made right here in the good ol usa. i've been seeing quite a few import cars in the repair shop. but this cant be since "honda's run forever" true some american cars are lacking in quality but there are others that arent do some research. find out what suits your needs. whatever you do, dont let some idiot on this forum make-up your mind for you. personally i like older stuff. specifically International Harvester Co. Way better build quality than ford or chevy.

Answer 7

Lets get one thing straight,American cars are as well built,if not better than most foreign cars!
Most of the problems cars have is the idiot that owns it is too stupid too maintain it properly or drives it like a tank.Cars today aren't {overbuilt} like they used to be, therefore must at least drive it with a little commen sense.

Answer 8

My mothers car can go pretty far on a tank of gas, it is a Hyundai and it is a v4

Answer 9

A German and Japanese engineered vehicle.