[Cosmo]

Hmm...another thread? Could it be???????

OOOOOOOORAAAAHHHHHH! Go Pete - go Pete - go Pete!

This is kind of a favorite topic of mine. Being that I'm in the military, I get slammed a lot for "ridin' one of them damn Jap bikes" and "drivin' that damn fourin' car". It doesn't really bother me much anymore, because those are the same folks that bum rides off me to get to the dealership to pick up their wonderful Built-in-the-US of A vehicle. Which has been sitting in the dealers' repair bay for the past two weeks.

I just don't understand it. Why (even in the face of patriotism) would you buy a vehicle that you KNOW isn't dependable. Your Grandaddy had a Ford, your papa had a Ford and now you have a Ford. Coincidentally, both Papaw and Papa both sat in the waiting room of the dealership to get their vehicles repaired! I just dont'see any pride, or brains for that matter in being able to say "well, even if it don't work so good, at least it's an American car". OK, I'll stop now. One more thing, my 1998 Accord has 49,800 miles on it. I've changed the oil/filter every 3k and the air filter 3x. Nothing has ever broken or ceased to work. Not for a single minute. It gets 26-28 mpg, and starts every single time i turn the key. What more can you ask for? Bye.

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Cosmo
"You have some options to choose from: You can lead, you can follow, or you can get out of the way!"

 

[Guest]

I agree that American products, are not really up to Par.. But Love is blind :insert heart here:

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If somebody sounds as though they might know more than you, talk more and louder.

Adam

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cosmo:
One more thing, my 1998 Accord has 49,800 miles on it. I've changed the oil/filter every 3k and the air filter 3x. Nothing has ever broken or ceased to work. Not for a single minute. It gets 26-28 mpg, and starts every single time i turn the key. What more can you ask for?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The first car that my wife and I owned as a married couple was a '91 Honda Accord LX, bought new in '91. We sold it 7.5 years later, for $5,000.00, with 125,000 miles on the odometer. Think my dad's Ford Taurus would net that kind of return, if it ever made it to that mileage at the cost that the Accord did? Not a chance.



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Pete
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."

 

[GreenNinja]

If the American Auto/Cycle Mfrs had it the way the Japanese do.. well.. lets see now... remember the Government bailout of the Chrysler Corp on the early 1980's???

Well The feds would be doing the same thing on a LARGER SCALE to every US Mfr. Think about it... several billion to Ford, several billion to GM, several billion to HD... every year, on a regular basis... imagine the average US Auto Worker taking home, oh.. say $2.00/hour... IMAGINE, if you will, the US Govt. adding unrealistic levees and surcharges to EVERY Japanese product, be it clothes, cars, vcr's or Motorcycles, that enters the US. As a result, imagine paying about $35,000 for that nice new EX500...

Sound unrealistic???? well it is, IF you live in the US.. If you live in Japan, it is a fact of life.

The Japanese have been getting away with too much for too long.. I guess thats the way it is, and thats fine, but beyond a sportbike, which HD refuses to get involved in, they can keep their cars. Id rather feel good about myself than contribute to the sucess of their whacked trade policies. Theyve been getting a virtual free ride for too long now and i am not going to be a part of it.

And as far as US automobiles being so inferior? I honestly can say that is something that is damn near gone. Maybe not completely, but compare things to the 1970's and 1980's and there is a night and day difference in quality.

So buy your "superior" jap car if you will, consumer reports will appreciate you for it.


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Fear Oil.

[This message has been edited by GreenNinja (edited October 13, 2000).]

 

[Guest]

Posted by Pete <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>The first car that my wife and I owned as a married couple was a '91 Honda Accord LX, bought new in '91. We sold it 7.5 years later, for $5,000.00, with 125,000 miles on the odometer. Think my dad's Ford Taurus would net that kind of return, if it ever made it to that mileage at the cost that the Accord did? Not a chance.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I drive a '91 Accord EX-R, 140,000 km, No problems besides rust,and a leaky valve cover(liquid gasket to the rescue ) My neighbor has the same car but 4 door auto 290,000 Kms....



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If somebody sounds as though they might know more than you, talk more and louder.

Adam

 

[Rug Burn]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pete:


I like the notion of buying American automobiles in support of our country's economic well-being,

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I like the notion of American auto makers building a machine that's reliable and has performance and styling that would make me (and other countries for that matter) want to buy them. If they can do that, the economic well-being will take care of itself. I don't think I'd ever buy a product with the country of origin as a factor in that decision. Price, quality, performance, reliability, and styling...that's it.

I never understood the Ford vs. Chevy thing either . Why would you profess brand loyalty to a car manufacturer? I do love the Chevy Corvette--but not because it's a Chevy. Enough rambling...anyone else.

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"I like the water gun idea..."~Will "the mad man" Darton

[This message has been edited by RUG BURN (edited October 13, 2000).]

 

[Rug Burn]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Squidwannabe:

I drive a '91 Accord EX-R, 140,000 km, No problems besides rust,and a leaky valve cover(liquid gasket to the rescue ) My neighbor has the same car but 4 door auto 290,000 Kms....

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is that the TYPE-R version...simply bad ass.

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"I like the water gun idea..."~Will "the mad man" Darton

 

[Guest]

I wanted to say something about this in another thread, but it was too off-topic, so here I am.

I like the notion of buying American automobiles in support of our country's economic well-being, which doesn't mean as much as it used to, considering the American workforce employed by foreign automobile companies assembling their vehicles in plants located here in the States. However, considering my current needs/desires relative to four-wheeled transportation, I cannot justify buying American. (Saying "my" is a little too exclusive; I'm talking mostly about my wife, since my 4 wheel needs are satisfied by American urban assault vehicles.) If she wants a smallish 4 door sedan, what does our country have to offer that bests the Honda Accord for quality, reliability, and styling. As far as I know, nothing. IMO, this same comparison nets similar results across a lot of different automobile categories, not all, but many. If there was an American made vehicle that was on par with her BMW, then we would have bought it. Just like if there was an American made sportbike that was on par with the Japanese bikes, I'd buy it.

So, the next time you slam someone for buying a foreign made vehicle, think about why you aren't riding a Buell.

P.S. That last statement was made somewhat in jest, and not directed at anyone in particular.

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Pete
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."

 

[GreenNinja]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RUG BURN:
I like the notion of American auto makers building a machine that's reliable and has performance and styling that would make me (and other countries for that matter) want to buy them.... Price, quality, performance, reliability, and styling...that's it.

I never understood the Ford vs. Chevy thing either . Why would you profess brand loyalty to a car manufacturer? I do love the Chevy Corvette--but not because it's a Chevy. Enough rambling...anyone else.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I beg to differ. In almost every other country in the world, (with the exception of Canada and the middle east) Anything American is HIGHLY desirable. The problem is, no one can AFFORD the stuff. Taxes, Levees, Surgcharges, put American products so far out of reach that most foreign nations' citizens cannot afford them. (Very similar in scope to a Ferrarri or Lambo.... Exotic through $$)

This goes all the way down the line from Autos to Cigs and Levis.

As far as performance and Styling? The 2000 Mustang is the best selling car in its class. Its got performance and although some dont like them, i think it is one of the sweetest looking cars in the world today... Gee and it is American.. goota be something wrong huh... go ahead and flame it, i think its a great automobile.

Ford-vs-Chevy... pretty sad when its politically incorrect to pick a favorite.

This is really getting silly. I have the right to like what i like and you have the right to like what you like. We all have favorite colors... doesnt mean we are being silly for siding with one color when all light travels at the same speed.



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Fear Oil.

 

[cbrchick]

Uh Pete....

Don't make me send that e-mail to your wife... (incidently, something black and lacey will do, we'll talk)

Aside from car companies... I personally never understood the buy "American" stuff... Growing up in Texas all ma' life, I never suffered one bit because every thing we had wasn't always made in the good old USA... It's not like anyone is really gonna starve in this country, er, that country... It's not like all the good jobs are going over seas and no one can afford to eat do to lack of work... I don't know... I just don't see how fat people in prosperous countries can complain about jobs going over seas... And don't none of ya'll start flaming me cuz everyone here's on a computer so you all can afford to do more than eat so your not suffering either...

I'm just rambling... Let me have it..

KIRSTY!!

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"No, this isn't my boyfriend's bike..."
My web site www.geocities.com/hondahuney

 

[RCjohn]

My Nissan is American made. The Jeep is but my Pontiac wasn't.

The new Mustang is a good looking car and pretty good in performance but they are not as reliable as the so-called Japanese cars and definitely don't hold their value as well. That is okay though since they cost so much less than their comparable Japanese counterparts. Mustangs have been poor in the quality department since the 70s but I do hear that they are improving. Not just the 'stangs though. My Trans Am GTA was a POS after the first 40K miles also. Mechanics didn't have a clue how to fix electronic stuff. I will not buy another American car unless I get wealthy and can buy a new Corvette... my '84 'vette was a good one except for the instrument cluster problem. They got rid of that setup.

Over 35% of the parts on a Harley are foreign. If you removed the foreign parts they wouldn't run or stand up.

Dodge's quality has gone back in the hole like it use to be. Ford quality has never been that great except for their large trucks(F250/350) and Chevy, Ford nor Dodge still can't touch the Japanese in reliability. They have closed the gap considerably though. Japanese stuff is pretty expensive so you have to weigh the pros and cons of each.

All in all, most of the vehicles are fairly reliable if taken care of.

Most Honda, Toyota, and Nissan products are built in the US now I believe.

I also agree that the Japanese have been getting away with too much for too long though. Something has to give somewhere.

It won't matter if Gore is elected. We will all be without our weapons and speaking Chinese anyway.

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John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"

 

[Rug Burn]

Worth a look.. http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-252.html

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"I like the water gun idea..."~Will "the mad man" Darton

 

[GreenNinja]

That has got to be the most lopsided biased article i have ever read about the Japanses Auto Manufacturers. According to the article the Japanese are mere helpless victims of the United States and the American Auto companies.... struggling to do what they can to stay afloat after being raped by western business tactics...

I THINK NOT. They throw around alot of sales numbers and market statistics, but at the same time, every stat that may make the Japanese look bad is visiously attacked and rebuffed. Every stat which points a finger at the US is tenaciously expounded on.

Never do they take a serious LOOK at what the Japanese policy and "safeguards" really entail. And what is still going on with the two systems.

I feel the Clinton administration completely caved in on the trade summit with Japan. If ever there were a chance to fix the trade problems, we blew it.


Some of the numbers and facts in that report are indeed valid, but its a two-way street and the complete exclusion of ANYTHING that was negative toward Japan completely invalidates the integrity of the report.

(Kinda like the Haydens on the airplane huh?)


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Fear Oil.

[This message has been edited by GreenNinja (edited October 13, 2000).]

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cbrchick:
Uh Pete....

Don't make me send that e-mail to your wife... (incidently, something black and lacey will do, we'll talk)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

TOO DAMN FUNNY, Kirsty!!! LOL!!!



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Pete
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."

 

[Joe4speed]

I have an '88 Mustang that I drag race constantly with 165,000 miles on it and the only things I have ever replaced was a power steering rack and a transmission... Besides other obvious wear items... I am very proud of the fact that this American car has this many miles and shows that if you take care of them they last a looong time!

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Joe
1999 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, 4,100 miles, Vance and Hines Titanium slip on, synthetics, more to come soon!!!


1988 Mustang GT
www.joe4speed.com

 

[colin409]

Did you know that Toyota is 40% owned by GM corp., and that Mazda is 100% Ford. I'm not positive on Nissan, but I know someone owns a lrge share of it as well. Buy what you want, a large chunck of the money stays in this country anyway.

As for quality, my 1993 Chevy S-10 Blazer has 85,000 miles on it runs like new (Gets 18mpg city 25mpg highway), and has only been in the shop twice for two days each time. Once was for the recalled ignition module and the other for the recalled ABS unit. Sure two recalls sound bad, but many autos of all makes experience recall problems. Oh, and no, I do not take care of it. It is one neglected vehicle.

As for resale value the only make that has consistently better resale value than Chevy trucks is Honda, and Honda doesn't make any trucks. Honda buys their Passport from Isuzu which incidentely is owned by GM corp as well.

Also on the plus side for Jap cars, my wife's Subaru first saw the shop at 145,000 miles for new CV joints. Plus it consistently gets 30mpg.

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Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

 

[mashuri]

I prefer to vote with my dollar. I let H-D/Buell know that I want them to make something fast, precise and reliable like my R1. Did I mention fast??? I do think the trade situation with Japan is messed up though. This is a global economy and should be treated as such. Keep it free and let the market decide.

As far as Ford vs. Chevy goes, I prefer Chevy. No brand loyalty, per se, I just like what they have released as opposed to Ford. When I got my '96 Z28 my friend with a '90 5.0 and I HAD to race each other at Pomona. It goes without saying...he had a Ford and I had a Chevy. GM and Ford would have had the right to repo our cars had we not raced.

Some of my favorite Ford insults:
Fix Or Repair Daily
Found On Road Dead
F***in' Old Rebuilt Dodge

And my personal favorite:
F***er Only Runs Downhill

Relax Ford fans, I'm just kidding. I like anything that hauls ass and know that the 5.0's are easily made to go real fast.

I've owned 3 Toyotas, 1 Honda, 1 Nissan, 1 Fiat and all my bikes (6 total) have been Japanese. I don't mind buying imports but do feel a little better if what I want (and buy) is American. Thankfully, in many, many ways, my current car is American:

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"You must be fast 'cuz I was haulin' ass when I passed you"

1999 Blue/White YZF-R1: 2 Bros. C4 exhaust, Dynojet jet kit, timing tricker, dyno-tuned by Graves
2000 NBM/Lt Oak int/Blk top C5 Convertible - MN6, Z51, Vortex Rammer, A&A Exhaust, C/R X-pipe, Corsa tips, !CAGS

 

[Guest]

How do you double the value of your ford ?
fill it up

Why do ford's have rear window defrosters ?
they keep your hands warm when pushing it



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If somebody sounds as though they might know more than you, talk more and louder.

Adam

 

[Mojo]

Hey, I can't complain too much about american cars. My Corvette has 192,000 on the odo. It was pretty much trouble free up until about 170k.

 

[xert]

What's Missing?

Have any of you tried to buy a 5.0 Mustang of any year? Get one below $5K and you've made a steal. Not bad for a 5-10 yr old car.

A Mustang in Australia, bone stock, is a $70k car. I did have a friend stationed in Japan a while back, never thought to ask what the street price is for "typical" American car there.

Simple fact:

We give BILLIONS of dollars to Japan every year for support. They subsidize the cars that used to ship, now they build them here and still subsidize the cost via thier government, which we send billions to? Why can't American's build better cars? We continue to buy American crap and like it, why should they improve?

My Mustang had one problem before I totaled it against a F250's rear bumper. Wiring harness hit my header pipe, which poped O2 Sensors. I will never drive a car not
"assembled" in the US. I could care less whose brand is on the front.

Just my $.02, from a Steelworker family member,
Xert