american cars suk!!

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Indanite

and used/new car warranties


There is good and bad stories for both foreign and American
but the stats show certain foreigns to rate considerably better on average. Toyota and Honda are tops but none is perfect. Read MikeCCs post...there you go.


I have bought them and will only buy ones from the manufacturer...NO 3rd Party ! And I`d only buy if planning on long term ownership. Its the year or mileage whichever comes first remember.
You figure your mileage and time and buy accordingly. Plus they have a cost and an MSRP which is negotiable.

You can often tell all you need to know by the cost of an extended warranty. They're cheap for a Toyota or Honda and expensive for most domestics.

[Raven]

sometimes you just have to know when to walk away from a project car....you know...the fix or repair daily's vehicles you've owned...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(expanding on FF's request to look for rust)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
one day at the junk yard where i had my 20 year old
"escape california van"
parked for maybe the last time... i walked around it several times thinking time to let her go....there's NO friggan way,,,,
as i stared at LONG gaping rust holes and rot.... EVERYWHERE
24" to 48" and 2 inches wide had rotted away....
and it was on all doors and side panels....ok ---
so much work it was mind boggling and way beyond repair
.....or SO it seemed......

then.....i started to formulate a plan involving a secret organization called HOME DEPOT.... 25 years of fabrication , a lust for tools,
FIXING anything and a sense of nostalgia began to emerge....
i can do this.... just .....imagine it... no dont....i need to do it...

suddenly the theme song to mission impossible started dancing
in my head
and i was off like a shot .....goin'
Dant DANT -dant dant dant dant, dant dant dant....dant.
badda DAHHH Badda Dahhh BADAH.... ZOOOOOOOOOM

at the domed heapo....
i bought several sheets of pre -bent galvanized duct work( sheet metal ) and several tubes of liguid nails, sand paper, fiberglass resin, fiberglass cloth, bondo and several boxes of self tapping hex head screws.
--------------------
i sand back the rust with coarse paper ,prime and slap on a bead of glue and then attach the pre fitted dry sheet metal with the self tapping screws til the next day.... then i back out the screws that show on the body...the ones underneath i leave in... and i grind
down the edge where the sheet metal overlaps the body....and apply a thin coat of hot pink (dry fast) bondo ...which is resin based...
and let that almost dry....where i criss cross score it with a blade.
after thats dry ...i mix up some fiber glass resin and paint it on top
of that seam and add a layer of cloth to cover it all....sometimes
two.... and soon - i had no more gaping rust holes anymore...!!!

i drove that sucka for a few more years....i love no car payments.

[mikecc]

Guys dont for get to figure the Insurance into the cost of ownership.
I looked at a Honda for the wife a year ago. Screw that we could not afford to insure the dam thing. Highest in theft rating & highest insurance rate for $$amount.

[Skitterpop]

Also to consider in cost of ownership:

Had four different models over the years
all over 130K miles (some more) and not one breakdown.


change the oil at 4K, tranny fluid at 30K, timing belts around 100K,
plus the usual wear and tear

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I bought the truck as a "Used Certified Vehicle" with the whole "bumper to bumper 115 point inspection" they brag about.

That's a joke, it's just another word for "Used car". I worked as a tech for Chrysler since '87, they have the kids. that don't have a clue, do the inspections on the Certified vehicles because it is cheaper to pay them to do it rather than having us, higher paid, techs do them. The only difference between used and certified used, is the friggin' checklist, who needs a checklist to check a car out if ya know what the %$#@ your doing?

[TheSpecialist]

I just bought the 06 Honda Pilot 3 months ago for the wife. I got it loaded with leather and navigation, I think the thing is made really well, It came with a 5 year powertrain warranty, so I opted not to buy the extended. It only costs me 200 more a year for full insurance on it, than it does my 97 Ford Expedition, don't ask me why I still have full on it, it's all paid for ..

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

That's a joke, it's just another word for "Used car". I worked as a tech for Chrysler since '87, they have the kids. that don't have a clue, do the inspections on the Certified vehicles because it is cheaper to pay them to do it rather than having us, higher paid, techs do them. The only difference between used and certified used, is the friggin' checklist, who needs a checklist to check a car out if ya know what the %$#@ your doing?

Yep - the $10 per hour guys check them out, not the $15-20 Flat Rate guys... Otherwise the FR guys would be cranking out checklists in 30 minutes a pop (and finding stuff that the Used Car Department would need to fix and pay for)...

One thing to keep in mind - all car makes brake - some more so than others and some more conspicuously than others.

Couple things I noticed in 7 years of working in dealer service departments in the 80s-90s with Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Buick, & Jeep:

American Cars run well despite tune ups inthe sense that it is usually a problem with something that causes a poorly operating car.

Japanese cars are more dependent on tune ups to run well and are more susceptible to run like crap when not tuned up.

Japanese cars will last longer on the engine less so on the body (though that has improved considerably)

American factory paint jobs usually suck (far diffferent environmental regs).

Every manufacture has had BIG problems. some, like Toyota, hide them well, sometimes...

Most Tercels from 86-91 went thru expensive carburetors for years. The carbs would run rich and burn out the catalytic converters increasing the cost. A small handful of exceptional carb mechanics could overhaul them - once - and extend the life by about 18 months...

Most - as in MANY MANY MANY - V6 Toyota trucks, Tacomas, and especially the 4 Runners from 88-93or 94 (when they went from 3 liter to 3.4 liter V6) would blow thru headgaskets at dizzyingly expensive cost to the owners as it often happend a couple years after the warranty expired. This went on for years of 2000 dollar headgasket jobs until Toyota came out with some "fixes" and started buying some of the headgasket jobs

There was a recall on 87-90something Camrys to add a heat sink on the radio. Little problem was the radio would overheat and start a fire. - Happened to my mother's car outside a store in Westwood Mass....

Subarus leak like seives - oil and anti-freeze and often at the same time. Chew thru CV boots and axle shafts like Skoal in W Virginia

GM Quad 4s went thru headgaskets almost as fast as Toyota V6 trucks

GM Iron Duke 2.5L 4 cyls eat timing gears (pull up next to 80s-90s GM small & mid sixe cars sounding like marbles in a coffee can from the engine).

Ford power steering sucks

GM power steering REALLY sucks

Ohhhh could go on and on...

[fishaholic18]

All good points John.
Fingers tired now???

[Flaptail]

Telle something I don't know. Bought a new Honda accord for the wife. lOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! BTW, My insurance did not go up a red cent from the van. Go figure?

[Jimbo]

I notice a lot of you talk about foreign cars but only speak about Toyota and Honda. Makes me think I was right about my wife's decision to get another Nissan Pathfinder. She had one for about 9 years and decided she wanted new. The dealer she got the first one from was top notch, but couldn't meet the price of the dealer she bought the second one from, and that has made all the difference. The newer Nissan is a piece crap. The doors sound like disposable tinfoil pie pans when you close them. Had it in for 30K service recently and I asked them to also check the squeek I was hearing. They call back and say it needs a new fanbelt, but as usual with this place, they don't have it in stock. I say, "The car's barely 2 years old. How can it need a new fanbelt? What caused it to go?" The guy says, "I'm surprised it lasted this long. It's pretty common" WTF! In my mind for anything that's mass produced you'd like to think new means perfect, but no matter the brand you always have lemons. Fortunately for me, I've owned an Escort, a Ranger and and F150 SuperCrew since 1983 and never had a problem with any of them.

[Swimmer]

YUGO never did come out with a 4 x 4 before the factory was bombed did they?

[Gpinder]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

I just bought the 06 Honda Pilot 3 months ago for the wife. I got it loaded with leather and navigation, I think the thing is made really well, It came with a 5 year powertrain warranty, so I opted not to buy the extended. It only costs me 200 more a year for full insurance on it, than it does my 97 Ford Expedition, don't ask me why I still have full on it, it's all paid for ..

She really wants an Odyssey just because all her friends have them but I think the Pilot is a better option. She also thinks the minivan is more kid friendly. That thing just looks so huge! I grew up in Boston and I can't imagine parallel parking that Odyssey.

[Skitterpop]

Yah John!

Originally Posted by JohnR

Yep - the $10 per hour guys check them out, not the $15-20 Flat Rate guys... Otherwise the FR guys would be cranking out checklists in 30 minutes a pop (and finding stuff that the Used Car Department would need to fix and pay for)...

One thing to keep in mind - all car makes brake - some more so than others and some more conspicuously than others.

Couple things I noticed in 7 years of working in dealer service departments in the 80s-90s with Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Buick, & Jeep:

American Cars run well despite tune ups inthe sense that it is usually a problem with something that causes a poorly operating car.

Japanese cars are more dependent on tune ups to run well and are more susceptible to run like crap when not tuned up.

Japanese cars will last longer on the engine less so on the body (though that has improved considerably)

American factory paint jobs usually suck (far diffferent environmental regs).

Every manufacture has had BIG problems. some, like Toyota, hide them well, sometimes...

Most Tercels from 86-91 went thru expensive carburetors for years. The carbs would run rich and burn out the catalytic converters increasing the cost. A small handful of exceptional carb mechanics could overhaul them - once - and extend the life by about 18 months...

Most - as in MANY MANY MANY - V6 Toyota trucks, Tacomas, and especially the 4 Runners from 88-93or 94 (when they went from 3 liter to 3.4 liter V6) would blow thru headgaskets at dizzyingly expensive cost to the owners as it often happend a couple years after the warranty expired. This went on for years of 2000 dollar headgasket jobs until Toyota came out with some "fixes" and started buying some of the headgasket jobs

There was a recall on 87-90something Camrys to add a heat sink on the radio. Little problem was the radio would overheat and start a fire. - Happened to my mother's car outside a store in Westwood Mass....

Subarus leak like seives - oil and anti-freeze and often at the same time. Chew thru CV boots and axle shafts like Skoal in W Virginia

GM Quad 4s went thru headgaskets almost as fast as Toyota V6 trucks

GM Iron Duke 2.5L 4 cyls eat timing gears (pull up next to 80s-90s GM small & mid sixe cars sounding like marbles in a coffee can from the engine).

Ford power steering sucks

GM power steering REALLY sucks

Ohhhh could go on and on...

[Joey G]

I had a 95 k1500 with 286 k great truck ,had to sell her for something with more room. Bought a new 03 xcab k1500 miss the 95 she was mint.

[capesams]

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by capesams

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

If hauling fishing rods, foul smelling fishing gear, and occasional dead fish around counts as work then yes.

[thefishingfreak]

work trucks are hino's and fuso's arround my way.

[Karl F]

hino? fuso?.. oh man.. new code..... wheres my decoder ring?, or do I need new one?



CS. I hauled a chit load of brush and wood with mine, after that big blow on Dec. 9.... got pine pitch ta prove it.....
most of the time tho, its just a go to dump, or go to beach, or that other place.. oh yeah... work ...

[capesams]

one's I see around here are all cab an no bed....bet I couldn't go out tommorrow and find a plain jane without leather seats,power windows, big woofer an boommer,free ad sticker's all over, a reel bumper,ac....dang yuppies.

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by capesams

after reading about trucks[pick-up's] on this thread , does anyone buy a truck for WORK anymore..like putting tools/brush/gravel/garbage/lumber etc. in it...or are they just for show these days?

I just bought a 1500 work truck 8 bed...no frills....and yes....for work!!...just brought home a load of firewood too....might even get to the dump soon ...and it will carry ladders
I dont get why people drive pick ups..unless for work...Id much rather drive a car...I make sure we take the wifes Accord when we go out...its a pleasure to drive after being in the truck all week

[thefishingfreak]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

work trucks are hino's and fuso's arround my way.

mitsubisi hino and fuso or benz.
small diesel cab-over box trucks. no need for the trailer anymore. ladders on the roof.everything else inside.

[kevin d]

I'm kind of partial to the Buicks. My daughter has a 96 Regal with over 130,000 miles on it that hasn't required anything but basic maintainence and wear and tear stuff. The car has been in a wide spectrum of environments: the Arizona desert, New England, DC and now SC. I think the only state on the east coast that it hasn't been in is Maine. Well built car. Same platform as the Monte Carlos and Grand Prix but more comfortable and cheaper for insurance. We also own a 2002 Regal that is doing quite well.

[PurpelNoon]

Thats great to hear. I'm glad someone has had luck with them. My father and neighbor both had Buick Regals and had nothing but major problems with them since the first day they bought them.