Hummer!

[basemies]

Originally posted by sphere79
Let's check OEM parts prices:

Lynch Toyota (860)646-4321
1998 Camry 3.0 V6 alternator: $342.26

Ray Seraphin Ford (860)871-0094
1998 Taurus 3.0 V6 alternator: $211.32

Anyone who buys OEM car parts when they are availiable elsewhere isn't very smart. The exception is dealer-only parts, which are also availiable from junkyards. The reason that OEM parts are marked up so much is because people who get their car serviced at a dealership are stupid enough to pay that much.

I've owned several older cars, and the japanese ones have been the most reliable.

One Oldsmobile I had completely died on me after replacing lots of parts, and another still runs (kinda) after replacing several parts, and it only has 130k miles on it.

I bought an 88 Honda Civic for $20 with 160k miles. I replaced the gas tank, cap, rotor and plugs. I got a good 10k miles out of it, and my friend is still driving it, he's put close to 15k miles on it.

I bought a 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S with 130k miles for $500. I put 8k miles on it, and nothing broke unless I broke it. The car can't be driven after being crashed into a guardrail because I thought I was Mr. Drift King. It still runs and drives well, you just can't see through the windshield.

I bought a 1989 Nissan 240sx with 90k miles for $3000. I've opened the hood to change/check/add to the oil and other fluids. I've put 13k miles on it, and not a single thing has gone wrong.

The German cars that I have owned have been a bit less reliable, but they both had 180k miles, which is far past the death of most American cars. I see far more older Japanese/German cars on the road than American cars, unless they are restored muscle cars.

[Dolemite]

You all are just jealous that mommy and daddy never bought YOU $50,000 cars. Whiny bitches.

[sphere79]

Originally posted by basemies
Anyone who buys OEM car parts when they are availiable elsewhere isn't very smart. The exception is dealer-only parts, which are also availiable from junkyards.

My point was that simply that foreign-sourced parts almost always cost more American-sourced, which isn't my opinion so much as it is a fact.

Originally posted by basemies
The reason that OEM parts are marked up so much is because people who get their car serviced at a dealership are stupid enough to pay that much.

What does this have to do with a Toyota alternator costing $340, and a comperable Ford one costing $211? Are you saying Toyota marks up even higher?

Originally posted by basemies
I've owned several older cars, and the japanese ones have been the most reliable.

Well, good for you. I'm not saying that all American cars are wonderful and reliable, it's up to the buyer to make an informed decision, you could have quite possibly also boughten a lemon, or a car that was improperly maintained, etc.

Originally posted by basemies
I bought an 88 Honda Civic for $20 with 160k miles. I replaced the gas tank, cap, rotor and plugs. I got a good 10k miles out of it, and my friend is still driving it, he's put close to 15k miles on it.

Honestly, I think part of the reason some of those older Honda's and Toyota's ( the one's actually from Japan ) might last so long without major engine or tranny problems has something to do with A: Alot of them had standards, which are going to outlast your average automatic anyday of the week and B: The engines in them were like 90 horsepower, therefore there's less wear on the thing in general. How was the body? Christ, I've seen late 90's model Toyota's ( a T-100 ) with a rusthole right through the bumper. The thing wasn't even 5 years old. Since they've started building them here, I'm not sure if they still use the fairly crappy Japanese sheetmetal.

Another thing about cars in America, is the manner in which they are serviced. I'll be the first to tell you, most of the Dodge dealers in this area ( even the 5-stars ) just plain suck. You really need to find a forum with other owners of the vehicle, and you'll find most solutions to problems - one's that dealers may not find / or even fix correctly ( thus the repeated visits for them same damn problem ). I think it has something to do with some long-term contracts Dodge signed in the 80's ( when they were hurting ) with dealers that make them fairly independant. Whereas every Toyota dealership in this area looks EXACTLY the same, and they business-wise are set-up completely differently than Dodge dealers. I've heard several stories from Honda and Toyota owning folk about how they took thier car in for it's 75,000 mile service, and were told it needed a "mandatory" top end rebuild, and then charged $700-1000+ for it. But yet when the things running strong at 150k+ miles it's because of how reliable they are, right? Volvo ( now owned by Ford ) does the same thing, you actually HAVE to have the engine rebuilt at a certain milage. Someone else I work with was told his new Nissan has to have oil changes ( and service work ) done by the dealer or the warranty is voided. I dunno, maybe this way is ultimately better for the car ( and the dealer ) but American dealerships don't seem to use these same kinds of tactics, not that I've seen ( they do horribly overcharge of course ). Me and only me is in charge of servicing my vehicle, no one hounds me or tells me my warranty will be voided.

Originally posted by basemies
The German cars that I have owned have been a bit less reliable, but they both had 180k miles, which is far past the death of most American cars.

What German cars were they, nearly all US Volkswagens ( except wagons ) are assembled in Mexico and have quality ratings below most American and Japanese cars ( see www.myvwlemon.com ), yet unbelievably thier reputation is still intact ( well it isn't one of those crap American cars, it must be good? ). Also Mercedes quality has had problems for years ( www.troublebenz.com www.mercedesproblems.com ), one of thier biggest problems is that they are very inefficient at building cars ( high number of employees vs. automobiles produced ).

As far as how long most American cars last, my '78 Olds ( that I drove in high-school during the early 90's ) had a 100,000 mile speedometer that had rolled twice, but of course the car was well maintained. I once accidentaly dropped the tranny into reverse while doing 50mph, I thought for sure I'd at least lose that gear. Not only was the tranny intact, it went into an old S-10 that had been in a fire and rebuilt and was still running when I traded it in. My 17 year old Dakota ( which I bought for a grand, and it was used and abused ) ran until 145,000 miles, when it overheated ( my fault 'cause I never checked the thermostat, it was probably the goddamn original ) fried the motor and died on me. I just bought a '91 Dakota for $2100 with 109,000 miles on it, only this one was an old man's truck, and well maintaned - it purrs like a kitten. With the 3.9 V6 motor, it's not unheard of to get 200k out of it without a rebuild ( it's from the 318 / 360 family of engines, both proven designs ) and I'm not expecting any major problems. I also had a Chevy Corsica 4 cylinder automatic that I basically NEVER maintained, and the thing just kept going and going. It was running with 140,000 miles on it ( the engine seals were all gone, the coolant mixed with the gas and oil, yet it started, ran and even got good milage! ) when we donated it for a tax break.

One more thing, my original point was that much of what people judge American vs foreign cars on is percieved, I.E. - the Mitsubishi badged version of a car having a higher resale value. Also, the Chevy Prism vs Toyota Corolla example that Wildkat brought up is another good one. Consumer Reports ( an American organization ) actually rated the Chevy version lower, when it's THE SAME DAMN CAR!

[i]Originally posted by Lhadatt [i]It has nothing to do with Americans not wanting to support American products, however; the cause here is Toyota's brand is stronger due to better marketing and better perceived quality.

Why should marketing and percieved quality affect a HANDS ON review of two identical cars, one badged American and one badged Japanese? Is there money being passed behind closed doors?

Anyway, I've had good luck with American cars ( I'm also an informed buyer and maintain my vehicles ) and I'll continue to buy them. And I'll continue to recommend cars such as Saturns ( not my cup of tea but they take a beating ), the new Chevy Malibu ( again, styled for import buyers but another good, inexpensive reliable American car ) and the newer styled Dodge Intrepids to people who value my opinion as to what "good" American car they can buy.

[Contra]

Ugh, there's nothing more repulsive than a highschool kiddie with a 50,000 dollar car.

Get a job, you fucking leech.

[Critical Overdrive]

Originally posted by NApOLm321
As I said before, I'm not the one making the decisions (well.. not all of them) otherwise I would opt for a luxery car. Anyhow, I'm all my parents have and my mom is well... i donno, but im 100% sure she would kill herself if I died, so I guess I can understand why she sais this rubbish.

As far as SUVs not being safe? sure, but the biggest danger is rollovers, and considering that hummers are wider than they are tall, I dont think thats a big danger.

This should have been the tip off that you all are being had.

I smell a conspiracy...

[M]

Originally posted by Dolemite
You all are just jealous that mommy and daddy never bought YOU $50,000 cars. Whiny bitches.

wait wait... a $50,000 dollar car? lemme check this out... umm... try 4100,000... look on the website... you have got to be kidding me. Hey kid, why dont you have your parents give me all that money for college? better investment than this...

you have got to be kidding me... and its an ugly vehicle too...

[bandit]

I think hes on here asking just to brag...what you think?

[M]

i thought guys liked to brag about thier cock sizes not thier expensive, ugly cars that mommy bought them.

give me a break.

[Jeremy]

Maybe he has some some of inferiority complex... that would explain the needless desire to want one of those behemoths.

[Contra]

It's nothing so complicated. He's just an idiot highschooler with parents who 1.) have too much money on their hands and 2.) don't care about things like teaching their kids the value of money.