

Ford lives up to the hype with the Fusion Hybrid







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RE: Nice
By afkrotch on 12/23/2008 1:09:28 PM , Rating: 2
European....American. They're the fcking same. All those companies seem to be in bed together one way or another.

I'm currently driving a 96 Opel Tigra. Worst mistake I've made. Oh...if you didn't know. Opel = GM.

I'll keep buying my Japanese cars and never have to even contemplate about "is this a good car or not." My old 96 Impreza back in the states is still purring like a kitten and I've beaten it up a hell of a lot more than this Tigra.

RE: Nice
By UNHchabo on 12/23/2008 1:48:28 PM , Rating: 2
Once again, you're driving an American car made before 2000. I don't doubt that's it's crap. Try an American car made in the past 8 years before continuing to spout hate.

RE: Nice
By Gzus666 on 12/23/2008 2:16:30 PM , Rating: 2
Been there, they are still junk compared to Japanese vehicles.

RE: Nice
By The0ne on 12/23/2008 7:17:28 PM , Rating: 2
Certain US vehicles are poor just as certain Japanese vehicles are poor. You statement is from a lack of experience in the industry. Just because you keep reading praises of Japanese automakers doesn't mean all of them nor all of their vehicle line-up enjoys the same quality treatment.

RE: Nice
By Gzus666 on 12/23/2008 8:47:20 PM , Rating: 2

That would be true if I wasn't an ASE master ex-mechanic. On top of that I currently work in an underwriting department for an extended warranty company which allows me to run losses on vehicles by make model or any other mix. I can tell you there is a reason we charge considerably more for American cars than Japanese and we charge considerably more for most European cars than either excluding VW. But you're right, you clearly are the one with all the information here.

RE: Nice
By whirabomber on 12/24/2008 8:27:58 AM , Rating: 1
On average don't Japanese cars come with longer manufacturer warranties (5 years vs 3 for American cars)? If so, I can see why the extended warranties would be cheaper for Japanese cars. I had one on my Dodge Ram 2500 that was written in a way that the extended warranty took over after 3 years despite the Ram at that time having a 70k power train warranty.

My assumption was that if I had been able to keep (lost job, got a lower paying one, gas prices jumped $0.75/gal) past the initial 3 years that if anything went wrong engine/transmission wise the extended warranty company would just say that is covered under the 70k power train warranty and have the dealer fix it. So essentially with the longer Japanese warranties and funny extended warranty "coverage" wording, I can see how Japanese cars cause less of a loss for such companies.

I never had an American car I didn't like. I had 2 Japanese cars I didn't: 2k1 Honda Civic which had a factory bug that wasn't going to be fixed - the gas gauge would randomly peg past empty and past full, and a rear window that kept fogging up and required acid washing to remove via a reluctant dealer. The second car was a 90's Nissan Sentra that belonged to my ex. She got what she paid for - tin foil thin body panels, an engine a tad larger than my dad's riding lawn mower (I had to turn the AC off to make speed on exit ramps), and tires that claimed a 60k life but had to be replaced at 25k because they wouldn't stick in the rain (slid sideways down an exit ramp when I hit it going an exceptionally fast 15mph and it was just a spring misting).

Of course Japanese cars aren't without their defects and when chronic defects emerge the press gets oddly quiet. For instance the not overly publicized issues with the 2003 Lexus RX330 AWD (not 100% on the year and model) electrical systems requiring several factory recalls, my 2k1 Civic EX "Honda known issue" fuel gauge issue, etc. The media is pretty quite when the Japanese car companies screw up.

The media and myself are at odds when it comes to Japanese cars anyways. Every Japanese car I've looked at have boxy boring sterile interiors that lacked any character that are made of materials that reminded me of cheap plastic silverware. Even the "high end" cars like Lexus (woo cheesy wood grain like materials add to the crappy Toyota interiors). The American cars have warm cozy interiors (96 Sunfire's reminded me of a luxury jet fighter interior, 2003 Cougar's was a work of art, and my current ride PT has just enough throw-back design to keep me from getting bored). I guess I just like interesting interiors so that I can enjoy the ride as opposed to the super linear import design (my EX had more straight interior lines than a stack of cardboard boxes).

Exterior-wise my views are pretty much the same - all Japanese cars look exactly the same. A 4 Japanese compact looks just like any other 4 door Japanese compact. I don't know how people choose which one to get. My estimate is they just buy from the dealer that has the color they want in stock (Toyota has the shade of blue I want so I'll just buy a Toyota).

If I were to commit a crime, I would get a Japanese car to do it. All I would need to do is shave off all the tags, paint it black, and no one could give the police an accurate make or model of the get-away car.

American cars I could not get away in. A Chevy looks like a Chevy. A ford looks like a ford. A Chrysler looks like a Chrysler. I couldn't blend in with as well. Each manufacturer and car has enough character to be identified (mostly as the Edge looks like a Lexus SUV clone) as an American car of a specific model. A charger looks like a charger and not like a Taurus or Impala.

I'll keep my American fanboy tag and wear it proud.

RE: Nice
By The0ne on 12/26/2008 11:18:24 AM , Rating: 2
Don't get upset because you made such a stupid comment about the big 3. I don't know everything and I don't like them as much as you do but at least I have the common sense to see see that not ALL of their vehicles are poor in workmanship and quality. Your frustration and or hatred towards their vehicles probably runs too deep, in which case I would suggest meditation or attending tons of lean/six sigma seminars where the auto-industry are used as examples.

Been there, they are still junk compared to Japanese vehicles.

This plain comment you've made is why being an ASE master ex-mechinic is a joke. If this isn't an indication of fanboy or another I don't know what. Clearly, if you had more common sense you would at least had to agree that there are a few vehicles are well made and there are a few vehicles from the foreign makers that are not.

For example, Mitsubishi isn't failing because of the crisis at hand. They've been failing because of poor workmanship and quality issues over last few years. They're fortunate they haven't retreated to being only in Japan, yet.

I wouldn't be surprise if you tell me Hyundai sucks as well then I would have to explain why they aren't. But hey, whatever floats your boat in your safe place there. If common sense isn't going to change your point on view here I HIGHLY suggest you don't respond to ANY articles related to auto's. Why? Because you already "know" the big 3 vehicles sucks no matter what. There is not discussion, much like your other posts telling people to "get over it and move on", because you "don't care about anyone."

You see a tread with your responses here on Daily Tech or are you truly blind to your own comments?

RE: Nice
By hashish2020 on 12/24/2008 11:40:36 PM , Rating: 1
Personally, I'd rather have an American car where a plastic panel falls off than a Toyota with engine sludge (yea, remember when the guy who runs Toyota's consumer car division apologized for quality issues in Toyotas?) or a Honda where the five-speed auto tranny locks up at highway speeds. Not to mention, Nissan and Mitsu are in no way reliable and Mazdas and Fords are the same

You are the kind of person who will buy a Toyota Matrix for 2 grand more than a Pontiac Vibe...

RE: Nice
By hypocrisyforever on 12/23/2008 5:27:36 PM , Rating: 2
Hmm....I have a 1996 pontiac grand am, 6cyl w/ 220k miles on it. original engine and trans, I have replaced the waterpump, radiator, and belts.......that is pretty much it besides obvious things like springs/struts/tires. That being said I've never understood where american cars get unreliability reps from. I feel like people don't take care of their cars whatsoever (average tercel owner) and then cry when the high tech machinery fails. "MY ENGINE MADE OF 1000'S OF PARTS HAS FAILED, THIS CAR SUCKS", meanwhile, they don't change their oil, wash salt off the car, or do anything else that is common sense. Furthermore oil has come a super long ways in regards to viscosity. These crazy new synthetics can go 25k miles before the viscosity starts failing......that doesnt mean you should change your oil every 10k miles. Carbon builds up in the engine and scores the cylinder walls and damages 100's of other should still be changing your oil every 3k-5k miles to get rid of the particulate that builds up from the constant fire/pressure :-)

RE: Nice
By kmmatney on 12/23/2008 11:13:12 PM , Rating: 2
I have a 2000 Dodge Grand caravan (all-wheel Drive) with 140K miles, and have changed the oil every 10K miles. Overall, it's been a good car - still have original engine, transmission, etc.. It has needed some work over the years, but overall it's served us well and I would buy one again if they still made the AWD model.


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