American cars aren't bad...really!

[paul]

Interesting little article on American cars and how there reliability compares to other makes.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/23/Auto...ex.htm?cnn=yes

[DiscoMan]

I drive a 1997 black on black Cadillac Eldorado, I'm second owner of. This car has 77plus K miles and has been absolutely trouble free. This car is amazing. It's quiet, luxurious, fast (300 HP), nicely finished etc. etc. When it comes time to replace it I'll buy another Cadillac. I won't even look at anything else. There's no need too.

My wife's '98 Ford Explorer is the same - 115,000 miles of trouble free driving.

This crap about Jap cars being "better" isn't true. If you like rice burners because that's your thing, that's cool but they're no better than anything produced here.

The Euro cars are nice (drove Alfas trouble free for years). I had a Jag. 5.3 XJ-S, which I liked very much. I like Jaguar's product line (top quality rank from S.D. Power) and would own another one in a heartbeat. The kraut cars are nice but they impress me as over-engineered and way over priced and they are certainly not as trouble free as my Cadillac has been. I have friends who own VWs and Audis and they are constantly in the shop.

So my car buying money, henceforth, shall be spent for American wheels exclusively. They've won me back.

Right now I'm looking for a black on black Corvette of C3, C4, or C5 configuration...

[QUINNY]

I drive a 1997 black on black Cadillac Eldorado, I'm second owner of. This car has 77plus K miles and has been absolutely trouble free. This car is amazing. It's quiet, luxurious, fast (300 HP), nicely finished etc. etc. When it comes time to replace it I'll buy another Cadillac. I won't even look at anything else. There's no need too.

My wife's '98 Ford Explorer is the same - 115,000 miles of trouble free driving.

This crap about Jap cars being "better" isn't true. If you like rice burners because that's your thing, that's cool but they're no better than anything produced here.

The Euro cars are nice (drove Alfas trouble free for years). I had a Jag. 5.3 XJ-S, which I liked very much. I like Jaguar's product line (top quality rank from S.D. Power) and would own another one in a heartbeat. The kraut cars are nice but they impress me as over-engineered and way over priced and they are certainly not as trouble free as my Cadillac has been. I have friends who own VWs and Audis and they are constantly in the shop.

So my car buying money, henceforth, shall be spent for American wheels exclusively. They've won me back.

Right now I'm looking for a black on black Corvette of C3, C4, or C5 configuration...

Maybe the Japanese cars aren't as reliable 'cos they're made in the U.S.A. Just stating the obvious. :lol:

So far as I'm concerned, you either strike lucky and buy a good car, or you strike out and buy a dud, regardless of manufacturer.
Having said that, U.S. cars have had lotsa bad press over the years and certainly aren't the most interesting cars on the planet.

I had a Peugeot diesel 309 that did 220,000 miles before it became uneconomical to repair. The engine hardly missed a beat in all those miles, but the body fell to bits. My current Seat (Audi engined) diesel has done 84,000 miles to date with only one problem. The starter in the Seat motor jammed once, but soon fixed with a heavy blow from a 2 pound hammer.

Both consistently returned over 50 MPG, with the Seat averaging around 60 MPG in the summer months. That includes a high proportion of motorway driving at 80 m.p.h.

Question: Why do you need 300 BHP to do 55 m.p.h. (or even 70)? Car manufacturers are wholly irresponsible, don'cha think?

[DiscoMan]

It's the nature of American driving, Quinny. Our interstate's continue straight on for hundreds or thousands of miles and though the speed limits may be 70 many/most American drivers put the hammer down and drive well over 80mph for hours on end.
Little cars can't keep up and your ass gets quite sore and my 54 year old bones ache and my head hits the roof in little cars, so I am dedicated to my Eldorado.

My Alfas (spider, GTV-6, 75/Milano) were great for the country roads of New England but on the interstates here in Florida; traffic would run right over them. Last summer I had an occasion to drive a brand new 2005 4 cylinder Volvo on an interstate in New York (with 4 adults in it). This P.O.S. couldn't get out of it's own way! Trying to pass another car I had my foot right on the floor and that Volvo wasn't moving!

I have been into European cars all of my life - Alfas (drove them exclusively and trouble free for 15 years), Jaguars, MGs, Triumphs.
I was president of the New England chapter (AONE) of the Alfa Owners Cub, belonged to several other European car clubs and am very competent in their maintenance and repair. However a long highway commute encourged me to look elsewhere for wheels - hence the selection of my Eldorado.

So...as far as I'm concerned General Motors built Cadillac is for me.
And my Caddy gets 28.7 mpg at 70 mph from an all aluminum, 300HP 4 cam V-8 - a world class motor!

[paul]

Quinny, asking why we need mega horsepower is like asking why do you want a pretty woman. The ugly ones can cook just as well in the kitchen and bedroom but well, you know the answers here :D
Like Discoman, I just have a love for American cars. I've had and/or drove foreign cars and they're fine. Just my preference.

[Videoskooter]

I owned a few American cars (Buicks). They were GREAT but they swallow too much gallons and they are not really fit to drive and park in Belgian streets :lol:

For recent years I stick to Kraut cars, Mercedes-Benz and at this moment a Brabus which is a tuned Merc. I love that car and it never lets me down. It's a sportscar where also large people fit in and it's a pleasure to drive. Sporty and comfortable! And no, I don't let Nicole drive it, it's too hot to handle for her!