Why do American Cars Suck So Bad?

[JasonC]

Most companys have made throw away cars. And i can't speak for foreign countrys and their habits. But there is a lot of people here in the states that don't take care of their ride and or know how to do basic maintanice to it! I work with a 19yo and don't have a clue to what goes on with his car. His gf knows more then him lol. But he admits it at least.

[redsubdivisions]

Ford has some nice looking cars. Not exactly 100% my cup of tea, but I've always regarded them as my most favorable domestic car manufacturer.

[InuFaye]

I would own and drive a C6 corvette. No shame in that car.

Its just the mass produced stuff around here. No american car company likes to make RWD the base for most of their models because RWD scares alot of people.

The modern car is really focused on everything that's not the experience of driving.

[iamsam]

A quick comparison:

a late 80s honda civic vs a late 80s "equivalent" American car.

Tell me which one is more reliable, more sought after, and still around.


EDIT: Trying to think of "equivalent" American cars of that era:

Chevy celebrity
Chevy Lumina
Chevy Cavalier
Olds 88
Ford Focus/Mercury Tracer
And the best: Ford Tempo!!


awwww yeeeeeah



any more?

[bonobo]

Some good points brought up.
I did not post to preach to the choir or to cause a flame war.
The general public seems to have much less "pride and joy" in their automobile as of late, and car manufacturers have simply responded to the change in demand. It would not be fair to say that American car companies are the only culprits. Even my beloved BMW has done this to some degree. That new 135i would be pretty sweet if I wasn't so insecure about my own sexuality though

[FredK]

Shrug. You think an F30 is focused on the experience of driving as #1? There's no pur sang driver's BMW any more.

[JasonC]

A quick comparison:

a late 80s honda civic vs a late 80s "equivalent" American car.

Tell me which one is more reliable, more sought after, and still around.

Truthfully i see neither one around. And if i do, the Honda is burning oil like crazy and is rusted up. With some baggy pants kid in it thinking its a race car. And the others that i listed below, i see them beat to a pulp driven by a older person. And i have taken note on a few times when driving on the interstate or in town that i see more domsetic cars and trucks on the road then i do foreign ones. They are mostly late 90's though present day cars/trucks.

I'm guessing civic = Chevrolet Celebrity,Dodge Shadow,Ford Topaz?

[iamsam]

Truthfully i see neither one around. And if i do, the Honda is burning oil like crazy and is rusted up. With some baggy pants kid in it thinking its a race car. And the others that i listed below, i see them beat to a pulp driven by a older person.

I'm guessing civic = Chevrolet Celebrity,Dodge Shadow,Ford Topaz?

ha ha true! But I think a Civic that hasn't been beaten up may be more desirable than any of those above cars in similar condition. I know it would be for me, anyway.

[JasonC]

I'd take a Shadow personally. But it's all in personal preference. I did see a really nice Celebrity on a lot one day. It was 2 door with 2.8v6 5 speed black with red int. It actually looked really good!

[Nick_S]

Ehh, alot are crap. The most fun car I've ever owned was American. Before my E30 I had an SVT Focus for 7 years. It was supercharged and a slew of upgrades, but even in stock form it was one of the best driving cars I've still ever driven. Perfect steering feel, powerful brakes, Getrag 6spd, awesome suspension, rigid chassis. Extremely predictable and easy to handle at the limit. It ticked all the enthusiast buttons aside from being FWD. Even with that, it still handled phenomenally. Yes the dash was hard plastic but it didn't bother me. It was a blast to drive and I still miss that car.

[Holland]

Op is stuck in 2004. Has anyone seen what euroland had been putting out lately? Complaining about american car interiors, lol.

[redsubdivisions]

Ehh, alot are crap. The most fun car I've ever owned was American. Before my E30 I had an SVT Focus for 7 years. It was supercharged and a slew of upgrades, but even in stock form it was one of the best driving cars I've still ever driven. Perfect steering feel, powerful brakes, Getrag 6spd, awesome suspension, rigid chassis. Extremely predictable and easy to handle at the limit. It ticked all the enthusiast buttons aside from being FWD. Even with that, it still handled phenomenally. Yes the dash was hard plastic but it didn't bother me. It was a blast to drive and I still miss that car.

The name on that car is American, but it was produced in Europe. Although I would rock one, especially an ST!

[E30_Pare]

I've always wanted a muscle car, but working on many off them is such a pain. They're all rotted out & quality oem replacement parts are expensive. The Chinese stuff is especially crap. I can't count all the Chinese mustang parts I've had to install that was less than subpar.

Maybe one day. I'm a bit of a mopar guy, but I like classic fords

[iamsam]

here ya go:

here is a 1991 Ford Tempo with 78k original miles, 4 cyl auto and a slight dent in the door, asking price is $850.

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/3596600037.html

How much would a 1991 E30 4 cyl auto w/ 78k original miles go for?

Probably upwards $5000.

[kung fu jesus]

Cars are designed and built for profit. Manipulation of the consumer to buy a certain vehicle is intended to make a financial gain for the company that manufactures it. Today's vehicles are specifically center around a certain segment, targeted at a specific buyers. Those consumers are researched, their lives examined, their lifestyles dissected. They don't really have much to do with stoking a passion or emotion beyond the first initial perception. Like other posts allude to above, they are consumable goods. If you perceive a car poorly, it is most likely not intended for you, but rather the meat of the curve of intended consumers.

RWD cars are becoming rare because they are more costly to build. Consider the differences between driving a RWD versus a FWD in an area that has four seasons. RWD take more skill, more attention. Let's face it, Americans are lazy and don't want to do more work than they have to, let alone pay more for a car that requires more skill and attention to drive.

American cars "suck" because they are targeted at the meat of the consumer curve. The typical American car IS an appliance. Most people cycle through their cars in 3-8 years. They don't want to deal with hassles outside of bloated warranties. They either want a) an appliance to get them to and from or b) an appliance that projects an image they wish others to perceive them as. Foreign manufacturers have products designed and intended for different cultures and uses. This has changed over time, but the philosophy is largely the same. Most often, their products were built to last because this mode of transportation isn't the primary source of traveling and ownership is different too (more expensive). Americans also have an ignorant way of looking at their needs.

The rest of us, the gearheads, the shadetrees, the track rats are SOL. Look at some most-often sought after cars for people like us: e30/e36s, Miatas, 240s. Aging, RWD cars built more to a narrow segment of the market that we further modify to suit our needs or personas.

We are no different that our gearheads before us.