Hot topic - Domestic cars V.S. Imports.

This is a hot topic. I see more and more people (myself included) considering purchasing an imported car (European, Japanese, or Korean) as first option when making a decision making a purchase. I know, it's a free country, everyone buys what they want, but I just wanted to see what makes you consider purchasing an import? What American cars don't have that imports have. maybe if domestic automakers would ask that question, they wouldn't be in such a terrible shape.

So, back to the topic, what do you value the most? what are you afraid of the most???
Is is the depreciation value? Is it reliability/quality build? is it expensive maintaince? styling? Fuel economy? safety?
I'll start myself, I favor imported cars (particularly Japanese), because they are quality built, very reliable, just run, and run, and run; don't brake as often as domestic, inexpensive to maintain (comparing to european cars), and have good resale value. Fuel economy is pretty good too.

Looking at domestic cars lately got me thinking of maybe getting one. I was looking at Dodge Challenger, and loved it! I know that Chrysler quality isn't the best, especially comparing to Japanese, but still looking at that beautiful classic got me thinking.

Of course, I don't want a car to brea, "so our technisians will have a job". It doesn't work with me...

Anyway, what's your reason switching to imports???

 

My Corvette Z06 Vs My Lamborghini Gallardo:

Performance - Goes to Z06

Cost - Z06 cost about 2.5 times less then the Gallardo

Problems - In the same time frame I have not had a problem with the Z06 and did have problems with the Gallardo.

Dealerships - Getting the Lambo fix the first time correctly the first time has been a big problem and hasle. Since I have not had problems with the Z06 I would have to base my experience with Chevrolet dealers based on my old vette. I would have to give the better experience to the Chevrolet deallers.

Looks - The Gallardo is much more exotic because you don't see many of them and you see a lot of Corvettes and the Z06 does not look much different then a regular Corvette. I think if you saw both cars for the first time they would be equally attractive.

Interior Finish - The Gallardo wins hands down. Everytime is done 1st class. I guess you should get something for spending over $100,000 more for the car. The Z06 does have more features and I love the Heads Up Display.

Overall I think the Z06 is the better car. I think I could completely have the interior redone first class for much less the $100,000.

 

Japanese def for me... Very efficient, alot of aftermarket support, fuel economy, and they look better and fast, although i dont hate american cars, i just prefer japanese over domestic.

 

I own three American vehicles, but they two trucks and one SUV.

The steering boxes failed on both of my Dodges and on both of them my front end is creaking. On my '97, I had to have the tranny dropped and the seals kept on leaking. Had some AC problems as well. I like the interior on my '04 Dodge, but it's all a bit plasticky. For a $42K truck, the quality of the stereo is sub par. I had to have the steering wheel replaced after 20K miles because the "leather" was peeling off. Speaking about leather, I have leather interior but it's only the fronts of the seats. The rest isn't real leather. Also, the u-joints and balljoints have already had to be replaced. Annoys me to no end. The Explorer has been good as well, even though it has had more issues than the Dodges combined. It's been in the shop many times and it creaks and squeels like a dying pig. The fit and finish in the Explorer is dreadful. Everything is made of cheap and thin plastic. Horrible.

I am in the only one in my family with American vehicles, the rest of our cars are all European. For example, my brother's second car is a '96 Volvo 850R and the build quality of that vehicle is bar none. It's 12 years old and everything still functions like it did on day one.

I would never ever EVER consider buying an American car. Well, apart from the Viper!

The big three are in big trouble, just like the American economy, and I hope they are able to turn it around rather than into the ground.

 

i didnt want to mention what you said above.. but it is true and i totally agree.. ive only owned japanese cars except driving my grandpa's Plymouth valiant 60's model.. not sure what year but its still in very mint condition.. I was looking at the Jeep trucks but I settled with Subaru Tribeca 08 which is 255hp AWD and uses regular gas, i just hit 5k miles and oh boy the MPG went up from 15mpg to 24mpg average... the only thing that i regret getting is the NAVIGATION cause its so confusing and only 2D...but thats about it, I love everything about it. and my toy cars include: Nissan 240sx 1993 hatchback, Nissan 240sx 1996 240sx coupe and Mazda miata 1993LE. I love Japs and maybe in the future, Ill look into EURO cars... but as of now, my mom's new BMW X5 sucks.. the exhaust started leaking and had to change the whole catback exhaust, always nonstop electrical problem and mind you she owned another BMW X5 before and got lured on getting another one after all the problem she also had on that one... URGH, why cant she just get new Acura MDX.. that is ballin or the NEW Toyota Landcruiser...

 

I think things started going wrong when the big 3 started making FWD cars. I honestly can't say there are a ton of American cars that I want. The ones I do want have an 8 in the front and are RWD. Up and down my street almost everyone owns a Corvette. Most of them are pretty reliable. I would never buy something like a chevy cobalt or anything like that, because they feel just isnt there. I had to take my advanced road test in a Cobalt, and I HATED the seats. Impalas have seats they cut off the circulation to my legs, the taurus my family rented didn't start one day. Mind you this Ford was in California maybe 22C outside. The car should start!! The started didn't turn, but the battery was fine. The car only had 23,000 Miles on it, and was a 2007. My 2003 Accord has 87,000 miles runs better, drives better and starts everytime. The feel of the car was horrible too! My dad used to buy domestic cars...but never again! We actually had a 1990 taurus has the same interior...the only thing that changed is they added a CD player. Same with the latest generation. They didn't redesign a thing, they just re badged the slow selling Five Hundred and the Freestyle. Personally when I buy a car I want to be surprised by the build quality, by the feel of the car. I can say most American cars have disappointed me. Once in a while I find something impressive and smart, like the Grand Prix MPH--> KPH speedo. Simple, smart and well thought out. Call me a Honda fan boy, but there is a very good reason why my family has had 9 Hondas. One of my first cars was a 300ZX TT. It was just a great car, reliable fun car. I was putting high 300's to the wheels reliably on pump gas. One last rant is the interiors of a lot of GM cars. It just sucks.... I really don't know why 70% off all their cars have to have the same interior. It is the same old same old.
Aveo

G5

Malibu

..etc, we have all seen this interior used 1000 times in tons of different cars that are all the same. Personally when I shell out big bucks for a car, I want it to be different than some other carbon copy. :sorry: Just haven't had good luck with domestic cars. Right now I would be willing to drive a Korean car before another domestic. Sure Kia and Hyndai have bad connotations attached to them, but I tihnk that they have made HUGE improvements over the last few years. They seem to have pretty good warranties attached to them and most of all they are cheap.

 

It's a toss up for me, right now I have a Subaru, a Dodge, a Mitsubishi and a Ford...

 

wow you guys bring up some great points, as for me. I grew up with nothing but imports, it was nothing but Toyota and Honda in our family.

So for me I don't even bother looking at the American vehicles. But to be honest that's just the way I was raised up, as to are American vehicles good looking? In my mind they are not...I'm talking about sedans, little sports vehicle and the SUV though.

It really comes down to personal choice though everyone has different taste but for me American vehicles just don't cut it :shrug:

That's just my opinion.

 

I dont even buy Imports that are built in the US!

 

The main reason I'm into Japanese cars is because that's what I grew up around. My family has had nothing but Japanese cars. I do love European and American cars, but there's just something that places Japanese cars above the others for me. I must be crazy for loving the Skyline GT-R over even exotics lol. Don't get me wrong, I love exotics. What I wish to have in the future is one Japanese car, one Euro, one American, and an exotic (big wishful thinking on that). What I love about cars is that there's something out there for everyone. Yes, people take it too seriously when it comes to imports vs domestic, etc, but if U.S. was only allowed to have domestic vehicles, then people wouldn't have as many choices.

 

japanese imports for me.

moderately priced, great quality for what you pay. extremely reliable, most have great looks.

perfect example of this is the mazdaspeed3
best bang for buck. cheaper than the wrx, nicer interior than it too, better quality than the caliber srt4, as well as handles better as well, functional because its a wagon. and it doesnt have that look at me boy racer look like the evo does. if you didnt konw what you were looking for, youd think the speed3 is just any other 3.

american vehicles just dont cut it for me. why pay to sit in a car with the interior feels cheap. at the sd auto show, i sat in many domestic vehicles, and the interior pieces felt like they would break off in my hand. not to mention the monotony of many of their interiors as well.

another thing that bothers me is the srt8 charger.

why not give it a 6 spd manual? i dont get it. why would you give that car all that power, and make it automatic?

another thing that bothers me is chrysler dodge.

how does a company release several cars under dodge, chrysler, and jeep, and they all share chassis and engines? that just makes stupid inner competition between the cars. the nitro is possibly the ugliest car on the road today, yet it shares everything with one of jeeps many carbon copies (i cant remember which one) the sebring and the avenger are the exact same freakin car as well.

american cars just dont get me excited.

 

Asian cars > realiable cars
european cars> sporty kind of cars
USA cars> good for hallin ass

 

I'm an equal opportunity buyer. Only thing I haven't bought is a Euro car. Lessee...GSX then Mustang GT and now Mazdaspeed3.

Looks like the next one's gonna be a Domestic! I'd LOVE to have one of the new Dodge Challengers.

 

We own a Honda and a Toyota both J-Spec, actually made in Japan. They do what they are supposed to, do it economically, and don't break.
And to think when I was a kid if something said "Made In Japan" it was junk! My, how things have changed.

 

Heh, such a random flashback...I remember a picture of me and my dad on the driveway standing next to the cars. On one side was the huge 197x Lincoln Mark V and on the other the 1978 or 79 silver Honda accord with the semi-auto transmission. I'm pretty sure the Mark V's passenger side door weighed more than the whole Accord, LOL.

 

i bought my civic and noted it was built in the US. very very POOR quality. alignment was off. trims were off. seals were coming off. MPG bullsh*t. Runs like a 4 cylinder and eats gas like v6. Sorry americans no offense.. i always looked into japanese cars because like japanese people who's driven on perfection, their products are delivered perfect.

 

Thanks everyone who participated. Perhaps the big three will listen to what people need, and might start making...

 

Hopefully they will.


I think both my Accords were built in the USA. The 03 has rattles when it is cold and you are idling, but really no other complaints. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a North American made Japanese car, I think it is the engineering that accounts for most of it. I would buy a Corolla that is made in Canada. My Aunt had her 89 Corolla until last year, and it had over 410,000KMs on it. It was a good car, lacking in the power department, but over the life span of that car, it never gave her a single problem. She now drives an 06 Corolla. She could afford something better, but she refuses to get something else but a Corolla hahaha. Thats build quality and brand loyalty for you. I think the biggest thing is reliability. It is just frustrating when there is something wrong with your car when you need it. My dad used to buy ONLY ford cars, after being let down time after time he got his first Accord.....we have owned ever generation since then! I wonder when he will drive anything other than a Honda/ Acura. Hell, I think he is just in love with the 2003 Accord again. He doesn't really like my 2008 V6 Accord...he says his 2003 (haha used to be my car) feels more nimble and exciting. :bla2:

 

aaaaaand here comes someone who is VERY american in most of the cars he will and has own. I've had my 02 F150, my 2000 SVT Contour, all american made. My 2006 Corvette is awesome, looks stunning, goes like mad. Yet it has a nice interior with the full leather package, can cruise quietly along at 120+ and be relaxing to drive too. My dads development company has had 100's of GM trucks over the years and they have lasted VERY well. I can't say so much for the past two new Toyota Tundras that they've bought and the cranks broke on within 6k kms(they weren't even towing or anything!!!). My next truck will be a GMC Sierra 2500HD with the duramax and allison, and i know it'll last forever, be easy to repair when there IS an issue.

 

jeez what a yankee