I hate to admit it...

[fishweewee]

But the Nips make damn good cars that blow the American and European makes right out of the water.

Drove around and took a peek at some Jap cars. I forced myself to take a test drive of a few of them.

Competition from the Nips in recent decades has resulted in better quality in the U.S. ...but the twice-nuked bastards are WAAY ahead in mechanical reliability and durability, quality of ride, interior ergonomics, fuel efficiency, as well as customer service. Only shortcomings I can think of are that they might not have the most aesthetically pleasing features (from an American's point of view at least) and you usually pay a premium for the better quality.

Toyota is already eclipsing GM as the largest automotive manufacturer on the planet.

It won't be too long before the Nips take over leading market share in SUV's and full-sized pickup trucks.

Has anyone taken a peak at the Titan? I haven't yet but am compelled to check it out.

This is interesting stuff: http://www.jdpower.com

[Raider Ronnie]

Nips?


I don't think it's so much that the know how to make better cars,
more like they WANT to make better cars!!!
American cars are made to fall apart at about the same time the loan for them is paid off!!!
Could you imagine what the un employment rate in this country would be if American cars were built to last forever
Thats the American way!!!

[CAL]

Remember the slant 6? Chrysler stopped making them cuz they ran forever.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally posted by CAL
Remember the slant 6? Chrysler stopped making them cuz they ran forever.

Exactly!!!

American car makers are more interested in giving you bells & whistles rather than quality!!!
All those bells & whistles drive up the cost and then break in a timely manner, thus you end up spending more $ making MORE repairs!!!
Though, some of the foreign car makers have gradually developed the American way of giving you crap that looks nice!!!

[Clammer]

Cal // your sooooooooo right on that one //IMO that was the best engine ever produced ///////
the 318 wasn,t a bad 8 either ///

[fishaholic18]

Originally posted by CAL
Remember the slant 6? Chrysler stopped making them cuz they ran forever.

The Bent 6, I remember working on them years ago. Couldn't kill 'em.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally posted by fishaholic18
The Bent 6, I remember working on them years ago. Couldn't kill 'em.

They were bullet proof,
But,
Just don't drive through any puddles of water!!!

[Mike P]

The two slant 6's I had were oil burners---but, they were both bought used, and probably abused As long as I threw a quart in every now and then, they ran.

I think that one of the reasons US manufacturers stopped making in-line 6 cylinders was, they ran forever. The one in my Jeep is just getting broken in at 120K miles

My family had very good luck with the two 318s we owned. 68 Fury III, posi rear end, thing was a tank in the snow. Sold it at 144K, they guy who bought it took it all the way to almost 300K before the body rotted away. 69 Coronet, too. Gave it to my cousin and she ran it into the ground. Neither one ever used a drop of oil between changes.

[tynan19]

Weewee my brother has a Titan and the truck is mint. Very practical layout inside and out. A little pricey though.

[fishweewee]

how does it ride offroad?

[Karl F]

own one

[Karl F]

U'd look good sittin here:

[tynan19]

Originally posted by fishweewee
how does it ride offroad?

The only offroading we have done is in the snow pulling our snowmobile trailer. 2 ft. of snow and a trailer and you couldn't even tell we were pulling anything. We could stop and turn around to. It has great 4x4 capabilities and power.

[Maloney]

Yup, Americans chose not to make the same quality.

25,26 years ago they got their arses beat with the gas mileage issue during the oil embargo.Did the US guys learn? Nope. Then the long term durability issue, then the high end " German" wanna be issue? They learn anything? Nope. The US guys have had a long, long time to get it together.

Got a 1997 Cherokee about to break 190,000 miles with the 6. What engine is no longer available?................. Yup.

[Karl F]

I dunno... I got a 98 F150, boss got a 98 Tacoma, I got close to 100K, he's got around 60K, we both got the trucks about the same time, used, turn in lease vehicles, both had right around 28K on them, when we got them. Both of us maintain fairly well.
I have had less thing go wrong, and when I have had a recall issue, or a delaer issue, no harm, no foul, in, then out. His experience has not been the same, over 36K, he was the man with no name at the dealer. Yes, my fuel bill is higher, and I do drive more miles. His annual repair bill has averaged double of mine.
I feel the foriegn and US makers are on a level playing field, hell, most of them are co-mingled corporate wise anyhow. Lot of the "US cars are produced with overseas parts, and a lot of Toyotas, and others, are US manufactured.
One thing for sure I will tell you, a vehicle with 100K on it today, made by anybody, has a lot more life left in it than a vehicle with 100K on it a generation ago. I do think the one thing in common ALL manufacturers have is "Planned Obsolecense".
Like a mechanic friend always answers, when asked what to buy...
"What ya like, thier ALL junk, otherwise, I'd be out of a job."

[Mike P]

Originally posted by Maloney
Yup, Americans chose not to make the same quality.

25,26 years ago they got their arses beat with the gas mileage issue during the oil embargo.Did the US guys learn? Nope. Then the long term durability issue, then the high end " German" wanna be issue? They learn anything? Nope. The US guys have had a long, long time to get it together.

Got a 1997 Cherokee about to break 190,000 miles with the 6. What engine is no longer available?................. Yup.

Yup---but was that the decision of the nominally-American manufacturer, or their German corporate parent? As well as to replace the solid, dependable Cherokee with the fugly POS Liberty

[TheSpecialist]

I have a 97 Ford Expedition, with 137000 on it. I think I would buy another Ford.

[Fishpart]

I wouldn't make a blanket statement about the Japanese being better.

Have a 94 Accord, lots of electrical gremlins. The wipers don't work automaticly below about 50F the headlights don't come on for a "while" when they get turned on below 40F. Power door locks used to keep locking themselves for hours after I walked away from the car (no fuse now), Seal at the end of the cam bearing popped out and I lost a full pan of oil in 5 minutes, I have several body preferations, some of which leak water and add to the mold smell in the car. Electrical problems started showing up around 50K and the oil dump happened at 100K.

Other than that, I run it, put gas in, and run it some more 175K and still kicking. Makes a good work and fishing car. Wife won't ride in it any more because of the mold smell.

[hooked]

Originally posted by Fishpart
I wouldn't make a blanket statement about the Japanese being better.

Ditto, I drove an Isuzu Trooper into the ground and it only took 70K miles to get there.

[fishaholic18]

130K on my '96 Dodge Ram 1500 and no problems.
Can't kill that 318.
Loves gas though.

[Mike P]

Originally posted by hooked
Ditto, I drove an Isuzu Trooper into the ground and it only took 70K miles to get there.

On the other hand, it took me 215,000 to do the same

The charity we donated it to drove it away, too

[Vectorfisher]

I am on my 2nd work van E-250 I buy all V-8's my 93 I sold in April only because I needed a tax writeoff she had 257K on her and only thing major I did was had the tranny rebuilt at 200K the guy next door bought it and drives by every day! It also says something that I sold it to my neighbor!! My current 2001 E 250 has almost 100K and it hasnt required anything. My pickup also Ford 150 has 156K and climbing the truck has towed a 5500K travel trailer to Florida 2X and has been pulling my 7000# boat and trailer for 2 years major parts replaced, ball joints and clutch fan, my wifes ride 99 Merc Villager I literally abuse this van almost to the point it is funny my wife does have the oil and tranny serviced on a regular basis we have replaced the speed sensor on this car in 141K You guys with them jap traps can bark up any tree you'd like just dont bring it in my yard. By the way I also have a freind who was die hard Toyota truck guy, I finally convinced him to go and drive a new Ford he ended up buying a Eddie Bauer Explorer with the 302 and he cannot thank me enough, claims he'll never drive a sheetbox tincan T truck again he's now looking to sell his Camry so he can get the new 150 and hand the wife the keys to the Explorer

[outfished]

Hmmm, I agree about jap motors, not the car. BUT!!!!!! I t-boned a jap car this past weekend in my chevy truck that I just bought in November. Young woman pulls out in front of me as I'm cruising through a green light and WHAM! Nissans don't take a beating very well, totalled her car and just a scratch on my bumper, luckily no injuries. GO AMERICAN for saftey sakes. I just traded in my Toyota Camry for the truck and I think if I'd hit her with that, I may not be here today.

[RIJIMMY]

I think that new Honda RIdgline looks pretty cool

[Joe]

Toy FJ Cruiser
I may trade in my Element for it....I dunno
Its gonna be right around 20K too....