POLL: Do you drive an American Car?

[andrey]

'00 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 with 3.8L engine.

Smokes rice-racers within seconds

 

[MaxDSP]

I drive a '93 Dodge Intrepid with 112,000 miles (had tranny rebuilt at 96K). All the cars we've ever owned have been american cars, including the other 2 we have, an '88 Pontiac Sunbird and '95 Dodge Caravan. My dad keeps buying these crappy cars and spending money on repairs and thinks he's made a wise decision. I've tried to tell him that if he looked at the long term cost, a used Toyota or Honda would save money over the long run if we bought it for a little more up front. At least the car he's gonna purchase tomorrow will hopefully be reliable. It's a '95 Mitsubishi Galant with 68K miles. I've heard that Mitsu's arent too good but maybe we got the exception.

hopefully

 

[pukemon]

<< I drive '90 Toyota Corolla, as good as new, no engine problems, no rust, interior in perfect shape... Toyota's last forever >>



Yeah you see that's my problem, it won't die! I have no excuse to buy a new one Anyways, my Corolla was built somewhere in California at the same place they build Geo/Chevy Prisms (and previously the Chevy Nova in the late 80's)... they're the same car but not really...

 

[Calcio]

2000 Chevy Silverado Z71 and a 1962 Chevy Nova

 

[sdarko]

2002 VW Golf GLS! German all the way. I think that's the way to drive. American cars are totally suck (for the most part). I just don't think that American cars are made with the idea of driving them for ~15 years in mind. I believe in paying a little more for a car that will last me much longer.

Sam

 

[Thrlskr]

I have 4 american made cars. No rice here.

 

[sdarko]

What's up with the "no rice here" or "no ricer" comments? You have something against Asian cars? You must have to use deragatory comments like that. Pull you heads out of your arses and stop the racists slang.

I believe that people are against Japanese cars because when they really became popular the American automotive industry was a big fat bloated giant that, for the most part, manufactured wasteful throw-away cars. Then the Hondas and Toyotas showed them up by being well made and fuel efficient. What's wrong with that? Detroit just couldn't handle the competition after so many years of not having any. So some Americans are resentful. Blarg...

Sam

Edit: Then again maybe I should just be quiet and allow people to believe what they want to believe. It just frustrates me when name-calling is used as a substitute for rational thought.

 

[LAUST]

Well I don't mind Japanese cars at all so know this is not a flame infact I've owned 2 and loved em. But when you look at domestic cars especially, they are just that in many cases "Throw away cars" I've explained the concept many times, but I don't know if you were here then, but there is a need for it in the United States, and the sales numbers back it up is where I'll leave it at. to explain takes about 30 minutes of typing and more brainpower then I'm willing to expend right now, especially since I have to go rebuild a Netfinity right now

 

[Static911]

nope!

I drive an import.

static911

 

[straubs]

sdarko

You're right. I use the "rice" terms myself sometimes, but I don't mean to be racist when I do. My Dad has worked for GM for almost 20 years now, so I am biased in that respect, but I do appreciate all brands of cars. My favorite is Ferrari, followed by BMW. I love the new RSX and my best friend has an 01 Civic, which is a sweet ride. I've never owned an import myself, mainly because I have access to extremely cheap service on GM cars, but I wouldn't have a problem buying one.

I think anyone that limits themself to a certain brand is just being silly. Same goes for clothes for that matter.

 

[CraigRT]

I own American but I absolutely love Japanese..

I drove by the local Nissan dealership today and looked at my SE-R spec-V that I want to get ever so badly...

My Neon R/T is nice and cheap though, that's why I got it.. 0% financing vs nearly 8 saves me ALOT in the long run.

if many cases were like mine, that's why alot of people own american cars.. - for you people who can't figure out why people buy american.

I like the street racing scene which is dominated by Honda/Nissan/Toyota (japanese in general) but I just could not justify spending $7K more (Canadian dollars) On a $3K less Sentra SE 2.0 with monthly payments about 150-200 dollars more when the sticker price was so much lower than my car... ($22K vs $25) BLAH.

 

[NIelkc]

01 VW Jetta 1.8T, Eurpeon, made in Mexico, and Argentina, HA! And to the Focus peeps, you car is made in Mexico too, actully alot of ford cars are made in mexico, same with GM. And to the Honda peeps, check your Vin, if it starts with a J, then it is Japanese. Cant think of any other ones right now.

 

[LAUST]

<< 01 VW Jetta 1.8T, Eurpeon, made in Mexico, and Argentina, HA! And to the Focus peeps, you car is made in Mexico too, actully alot of ford cars are made in mexico, same with GM. And to the Honda peeps, check your Vin, if it starts with a J, then it is Japanese. Cant think of any other ones right now. >>


Mine is a nice 1 Pontiac, MI

 

[Shermanator]

I drive a Pointiac Grand Prix GTP (Black). I really love it. It has great handling and acceleration.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

'92 Mazda MX-3. Japanese brand and japanese built (first VIN letter is 'J').

 

[DannyLove]

yes, Ford Contour

danny~!

 

[Jerboy]

<< '00 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 with 3.8L engine.

Smokes rice-racers within seconds >>



Lets see how often that car has to go to shop for repairs compared to Civic

 

[Migroo]

<< '92 Mazda MX-3. Japanese brand and japanese built (first VIN letter is 'J'). >>



NICE car! Is it the 2.5 V6?

 

[rubenswm]

3rd generation Acura Integra (aka Honda). It's a 1994. I am very happy with it.

I do not have respect for you folks who are big domestic fans and try to "rip apart" foreign cars, and on the same token I do not respect the "ricers" who talk smack about domestic cars.

Lets face it, every company has their strong products. Honda seems to have really hit the sweet spot with their lineup of cars, with the exception of a few rides like the honda passport (their only real nice SUV is the Acura MDX). If you really look at the quality of the product itself, you are getting a much higher quality product with a japenese car. They require much less maintence, other than your oil changes and tuneups.

I would just like to know why some of you people think domestics are the only good cars? Can you name some of their strong points? I've thought of some.. such as their high cost of ownership, poor fuel economy... Japanese cars are efficient, require much less maintenence, and are much easier on the fuel tank. I wouldn't mind owning an american car while its new for the first year or two. After that its downhill. People always complain about honda/bmw foreign car makers taking jobs away from us. The Acura CL and TL made in the USA. Accords, etc.. they are giving jobs to people- they may not be the best jobs but they are jobs for people that may otherwise not have work. While we do this, GM and Ford exploit the canadian and mexican cheap labor markets. Hey, before you b!tch about hondas poor quality jobs, AT LEAST THEY HAVE JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE.

 

[Freejack2]

If I was looking at a car today I'd look at either a Saturn or a Honda.

If I could have afforded it in March I would have bought a Honda Accord. The reason I would have picked an Accord over a Saturn L Series is because they don't make the L300
in a manual transmission and the L200 isn't all the hot in the handling department. Mind you if I could have afforded to buy a midsize model and they made the Saturn L300 in a manual I would have bought it in a heartbeat.

On the civics though it's another story. Honda screwed themselves here by discontinuing the Civic Si for the 2001 model year. Had they not done so I probably would have coughed up the extra for the montly payment on one.
With only the EX as the best Civic model the Saturn SL2 and SC2 blows the EX's away in my opinion. The Civic may have a similar horsepower engine but it's not very impressive in terms of acceleration. Also I feel the interior materials on the Civic look cheap and shoddy compared to the Saturn.
The clincher for me was the Saturn with a 6 year warranty has noticeable lower monthly payments than a Civic with no extended warranty.

It also doesn't hurt that by buying American, the taxes from profits that Saturn made go to the US Government, instead of a foreign governmment.

 

[Bomex]

Any Supra owners?

 

[rubenswm]

Why not look at the Acura RSX, freejack? That would be much better than a Civic Si IMO.

Rubens

 

[imported_vr6]

2000 VW Jetta VR6
1989 Toyota Camry with 180,000 miles!

 

[Relayer]

2001 Chevrolet Silverado

 

[Zoltarc]

I own two Honda's and one track car which I built.

There are only a handful of American cars I would own. GT40 and AC Cobra......we know who designed these don't we?