So, I went car shopping today. Jeeze.

[Howard]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: freebee
Can't go wrong with the Mazda 3, great little car. New Ford focus also an excellent car, styling is a bit more american, but otherwise very similar. Or try the new Volvo s40 (bit more european, somewhat different engine, etc.)...also very nice.

GM also has a nice approach (been discussed here) with platform sharing of saab and subaru. You can get two flavors of basically the same car, depending on the various demographics, etc.

Funny but Volvo, Mazda and Ford are all just divisions of the Ford Motor Co....amazing how they can make you think you are getting away from buying "Domestic"

I do believe that domestic influence has improved the cars, but unforunately import companies can't have the same influence on domestic companies. Thats all that I'm saying. For example, I love how domestic influence has filtered out those high pitched pos asian engines.

High-pitched POS engines?

 

[XZeroII]

I bought an 03 GrandAm last year and love it. Granted, but buttons look a bit big and plastic at first, but after a month, I have grown to like it better than most others. The lighting is awesome and looks very impressive. I might take a pic sometime when it warms up outside of what the interior looks like at night. For the money, I love it.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: freebee
Can't go wrong with the Mazda 3, great little car. New Ford focus also an excellent car, styling is a bit more american, but otherwise very similar. Or try the new Volvo s40 (bit more european, somewhat different engine, etc.)...also very nice.

GM also has a nice approach (been discussed here) with platform sharing of saab and subaru. You can get two flavors of basically the same car, depending on the various demographics, etc.

Funny but Volvo, Mazda and Ford are all just divisions of the Ford Motor Co....amazing how they can make you think you are getting away from buying "Domestic"

I do believe that domestic influence has improved the cars, but unforunately import companies can't have the same influence on domestic companies. Thats all that I'm saying. For example, I love how domestic influence has filtered out those high pitched pos asian engines.

High-pitched POS engines?

The lawnmower engines. Seriously, I was walking outside school one day with a friend and I think it was a honda, comes zipping by. We both stop and look at each other. It sounded EXACTLY like a lawn mower just flew by. I would not drive that thing around if someone paid me. I have no idea why people put those stupid mufflers on. They make the car sound so pathetic.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Howard
High-pitched POS engines?

I'll take my "high-pitched POS engine" over any American 4 banger thank you very much

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Howard
High-pitched POS engines?

I'll take my "high-pitched POS engine" over any American 4 banger thank you very much

I'll take my American V8 Muscle over your foreign 4 banger "high-pitched POS" .

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Howard
High-pitched POS engines?

I'll take my "high-pitched POS engine" over any American 4 banger thank you very much

I'll take my American V8 Muscle over your foreign 4 banger "high-pitched POS" .

Yep, complete apple- to-apples comparison there

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: freebee
Can't go wrong with the Mazda 3, great little car. New Ford focus also an excellent car, styling is a bit more american, but otherwise very similar. Or try the new Volvo s40 (bit more european, somewhat different engine, etc.)...also very nice.

GM also has a nice approach (been discussed here) with platform sharing of saab and subaru. You can get two flavors of basically the same car, depending on the various demographics, etc.

Funny but Volvo, Mazda and Ford are all just divisions of the Ford Motor Co....amazing how they can make you think you are getting away from buying "Domestic"

I do believe that domestic influence has improved the cars, but unforunately import companies can't have the same influence on domestic companies. Thats all that I'm saying. For example, I love how domestic influence has filtered out those high pitched pos asian engines.

Dont generalize everything just because of those fvcking ricers. Those fvcking POS high pitched engines are damn efficient for what they were fvcking designed for.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Howard
High-pitched POS engines?

I'll take my "high-pitched POS engine" over any American 4 banger thank you very much

I'll take my American V8 Muscle over your foreign 4 banger "high-pitched POS" .

Yep, complete apple- to-apples comparison there

Exactly . Have a :beer: on me, domestic of course .

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Howard
High-pitched POS engines?

I'll take my "high-pitched POS engine" over any American 4 banger thank you very much

I'll take my American V8 Muscle over your foreign 4 banger "high-pitched POS" .

Yep, complete apple- to-apples comparison there

While we're at... i'll take my double-wishbone suspension over your "carbon fiber leaf springs".

 

[rh71]

America, the beautiful. The cars? Not so much.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara
Uh, no they aren't technically domestic cars. And they are part of ford, not divisions. Technically for them to be divisions ford would have to own the entire company, which they don't. Instead they are simply majority share holders.

Majority shareholders that have the authority to cross brand frames and componenets?? you might want to check your facts...either way, Ford still has a controlling say in the actions of said companies..

You might want to check this link....

http://www.ford.com/en/company/about/brands/default.htm

Seems pretty cut and dry there....all of the brands listed on that page are essentially Ford...

With re. Domestic cars, it really depends on how you want to look at it, personally I see all of the original brands as being dead, they died when ford bought them out...now all we have left is an excercise in marketing by Ford...they buy all of these brands, take the best from all of them and use that in every model and then keep the old brand label and charge accordingly....thus they get to offer a wide variety of products at different price ranges and really don't have to be that original as all they are doing is stealing someone elses history.

The sheer fact that the 3, a Volvo and also an Escort share the same platform would be a major turnoff to me if looking at a 3 or Volvo but a big plus if looking at the lowest end car....if that statement is true that is.

 

[mdcrab]

The Acura TSX looks nice on the exterior, but the interior will blow you away. It is one of the nicest I have seen.

mdcrab

 

I do believe that domestic influence has improved the cars, but unforunately import companies can't have the same influence on domestic companies. Thats all that I'm saying. For example, I love how domestic influence has filtered out those high pitched pos asian engines.

If by POS you mean, more efficient, longer laster, smaller, lighther and more output per liter than by all means, they are such a POS!

The typical low to mid range domestic car is rather crappy. The interior is one of the biggest problems. Not being able to easily install a new deck is a major let down. Also the lack of manual transmissions as a readily available option in domesitcs keeps me away.

The bang for the buck just isn't in a domestic.

Also, can't the local guys here learn from their foreign counterparts and mabey make a more efficient v8 rather than just a huge one?

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Xionide
I agree. middle low end us cars=suck

I beg to differ.

I have driven a 13.5 y/o Sable for 4 years (give or take a few months).

In the entire time that I have owned it, I have only pu about 100 dollers of repairs into it.

In its life before Me, it has not had any major mechanical issues with the exception of a lemon tranny that got replaced under warrantee.

To top that off, I personally really like the looks of the 1991 year Sables, its all black, its got that crazy bar of lights in place of the grill, its got a ROOMY interior, and this is a must as I am 6'5".

The bench seats rock. I don't know why anyone would ever not get them. They are so perfect for everything. Sixth passenger (but only for short journeys), wedging tapes (before I had the CD player put in) in between the seats to hold them, wedging cell phones for easy access, sticking CD's there to hold them, but only if they are not mine or in a slip/case.

And the new Sables are also sharp looking, but they can't hold a candle to the Maurader. That is a nice looking car.

And one american car you can't argue with is a Crown Vic with the police interceptor package. You can probably pick one up for the same price as a 1999 mustang. It won't win any sprints, but you can cruise indefinatly on the highway at top speeds, and it will accelerate decently. Not only that, but you get bench seats, a HUGE backseat (for carrying 8 people . . . or other activities). Huge trunk, you get a nice spotlight thingy that you can mess around with.

I think I will get one as soon as I have a real job and such.

 

[OS]

I've more or less given up on american passenger cars. Every couple years you hear one of the big 2.5 trying a "things have changed", "we're different now" ad campaign when it's still the same old sh*t. Half the time their own management and engineers admit foreign cars are just flat out better.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Also, can't the local guys here learn from their foreign counterparts and mabey make a more efficient v8 rather than just a huge one?

the V8 in the LS is only 3.9L, how much smaller do you want?

 

[LongCoolMother]

couldnt agree more. american cars<european+japanese cars. in almost every except power imo. i do think american power is more brute though, while the european and japanese counterparts have more refined power. v8? who wants a gas gurgler when you're spending only 20k on a car?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
couldnt agree more. american cars<european+japanese cars. in almost every except power imo. i do think american power is more brute though, while the european and japanese counterparts have more refined power. v8? who wants a gas gurgler when you're spending only 20k on a car?

why is it that people automatically think a V8 is a gas guzzler?

 

[xizor]

Bought a TSX last month and love it.

For the import/domestic debate check consumer reports list of most reliable brands link

The top 6 are asian imports, and no asian company was below average.

 

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: SampSon

Also, can't the local guys here learn from their foreign counterparts and mabey make a more efficient v8 rather than just a huge one?

the V8 in the LS is only 3.9L, how much smaller do you want?

That is a nice engine. More companies should implement such powerplants.
Including Lincoln. The towncar is using a 4.6l v8 which makes less horsepower and only 1ft-lb of torque more than the 3.8l.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: freebee
Can't go wrong with the Mazda 3, great little car. New Ford focus also an excellent car, styling is a bit more american, but otherwise very similar. Or try the new Volvo s40 (bit more european, somewhat different engine, etc.)...also very nice.

GM also has a nice approach (been discussed here) with platform sharing of saab and subaru. You can get two flavors of basically the same car, depending on the various demographics, etc.

Funny but Volvo, Mazda and Ford are all just divisions of the Ford Motor Co....amazing how they can make you think you are getting away from buying "Domestic"

It's amazing how people suddenly see Volvo as a domestic just because they own a majority of the company and therefore make it = crap. You need to get a grip on reality. The benefit Volvo has in this deal (even if I think it sucks) is that Volvo/Ford share the costs of developing a new platform. It does not mean Volvo = Ford. They use the same platforms but they are far from identical. In the case of SAAB and Subaru. The only thing I have to say is that it is embarrasing. It's a rebadged Subaru with less than 5% SAAB. Pathetic.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUserIt's amazing how people suddenly see Volvo as a domestic just because they own a majority of the company and therefore make it = crap. You need to get a grip on reality. The benefit Volvo has in this deal (even if I think it sucks) is that Volvo/Ford share the costs of developing a new platform. It does not mean Volvo = Ford. They use the same platforms but they are far from identical. In the case of SAAB and Subaru. The only thing I have to say is that it is embarrasing. It's a rebadged Subaru with less than 5% SAAB. Pathetic.

I agree about Volvo. I would buy one in a second today if I needed one. I could easily see myself cruising with the family in a V70 or S80. They're great cars and with the exception of the 40 series is competely devoid of Ford's interference. Volvos have been good cars for a long time. I've seen nothing to change my opinion.

 

[StageLeft]

Domestics are often overpriced. Of course BMWs are too, but I think that "Buy american" mentality allows a lot of domestic manufacturers to get away with selling a lesser product for the same as an import. Of course the silly loyalty programs and low interest rates attract a lot of people who are more concerned with the now than the future.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: SampSon

Also, can't the local guys here learn from their foreign counterparts and mabey make a more efficient v8 rather than just a huge one?

the V8 in the LS is only 3.9L, how much smaller do you want?

That is a nice engine. More companies should implement such powerplants.
Including Lincoln. The towncar is using a 4.6l v8 which makes less horsepower and only 1ft-lb of torque more than the 3.8l.

at a higher rpm too :Q

though the towncar gets slightly better highway mileage, the same city mileage, and weighs 700lbs more. i'm guessin the 3.9's torque curve doesn't go as far down as the 4.6's does. is that the same 4.6 in the mustang? one would think so. makes a ton more power and a respectable amount more torque in the mustang.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It's amazing how people suddenly see Volvo as a domestic just because they own a majority of the company and therefore make it = crap. You need to get a grip on reality. The benefit Volvo has in this deal (even if I think it sucks) is that Volvo/Ford share the costs of developing a new platform. It does not mean Volvo = Ford. They use the same platforms but they are far from identical. In the case of SAAB and Subaru. The only thing I have to say is that it is embarrasing. It's a rebadged Subaru with less than 5% SAAB. Pathetic.

Thank you! Somebody with some common sense.