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TRASH then and TRASH now! I would walk before I drove one.
What do you drive now? And why are Japanese cars trash? In many people's experience those foreign cars have been a pleasure to own and drive. Why the vehemence?
I had two grandfathers that worked for the American auto industry their entire lives-- one for Chrysler and one for GM. They both fought in WW2. They both were vehemently opposed to Japanese cars.
I find that I have this same bias, though Japanese cars have been demonstrated time and again to be reliable and affordable to own. When I look at cars, I never even consider Japanese cars. I know this is silly, as many are now made in the US, but I can't shake it. Am I nuts? I also find that I really don't like the design of most cars, and Japanese cars tend to be pretty unimaginative when it comes to that. So I have an aesthetic bias as well.
How do you feel about Japanese cars? Does this even matter anymore in 2014?
Reminds of a friend of mine in college. He was raised to be racist and he knew it was wrong. It held him back from making friends his first 2 years of school.
He eventually came around
I try to by locally in almost everything. Food, clothes (damn you levis for switching!!!), furniture and so on, for both economic and ecological reasons. I have owned three Saturns, loved them. Two are still on the road including a 1994 SL2 with 350K miles on it. But, alas, they are no more. And first and foremost, I want a reliable small SUV, with good gas mileage that will last 10 years. I looked at the Ford Escape, and tried to love it, but couldn't get past the bad reliability. Even the cheap feel didn't put me off (I did drive a Saturn for years) but too many bar reviews. So I got the Mazda. Happy with it, despite it being Japanese.
Reminds of a friend of mine in college. He was raised to be racist and he knew it was wrong. It held him back from making friends his first 2 years of school.
He eventually came around
How is not liking a certain kind of car akin to being a racist? Does everyone who drives a foreign car qualify as un American?
I don't like Mexican or Chinese food, Italian red wines, Swedish furniture from Ikea. Does that mean that I am a racist against all of those groups? I try very hard not to buy things from China, because I worry about what its doing to our economy. So I must really hate the Chinese because I don't like their food or their goods.
Last edited by confusedasusual; 02-19-2014 at 02:09 PM..
What do you drive now? And why are Japanese cars trash? In many people's experience those foreign cars have been a pleasure to own and drive. Why the vehemence?
I also find that I really don't like the design of most cars, and Japanese cars tend to be pretty unimaginative when it comes to that. So I have an aesthetic bias as well.
How do you feel about Japanese cars? Does this even matter anymore in 2014?
Quote:
Originally Posted by confusedasusual
Does anyone have a Japanese car that they think is particularly good looking? And not necessarily a luxury car either-- just a regular old run around vehicle. I am curious to see what people think of the design.
Scion and Honda both have some imaginative and sleek designs, which it sounds like is what you prefer. Honda CRZ is one of the best looking "regular run around vehicles" on the road in my opinion. Brilliant design & looks!
A 2012 car better not be breaking down at all, including the strut bearing. I think your expectations are a lot lower. My wife's 2005 Camry hasn't had any repairs other than brake pads and rotors. Not even the exhaust. Of course there are lemons, but if you're not leasing and you plan to own your car for awhile, Japanese cars still make a lot of sense.
If your talking about a Camry sure (I own one), but if your talking about a Daihatsu or Mitsubishi it makes no sense.
I had two grandfathers that worked for the American auto industry their entire lives-- one for Chrysler and one for GM. They both fought in WW2. They both were vehemently opposed to Japanese cars.
I find that I have this same bias, though Japanese cars have been demonstrated time and again to be reliable and affordable to own. When I look at cars, I never even consider Japanese cars. I know this is silly, as many are now made in the US, but I can't shake it. Am I nuts? I also find that I really don't like the design of most cars, and Japanese cars tend to be pretty unimaginative when it comes to that. So I have an aesthetic bias as well.
How do you feel about Japanese cars? Does this even matter anymore in 2014?
It's funny how it has changed in my mind, and my father's. Growing up(in the 80s) he always told me "Get a Chevy car or a Ford truck" For years all we agreed on was the superiority of American cars and made fun of Japanese cars.
Long story short, I am on my second Honda and he is on his third Nissan. I personally tend to distrust GM cars,after some experiences with them.I did have a 2003 Dodge Stratus and that was a reliable car.And when I was car shopping in November I did consider Ford and Chrysler/Dodge along with Toyota and Honda.So I don't want to say all American cars are bad, and all Japanese cars are good.But I do shop for a Japanese car first.
My least reliable but most comfortable cars were all American. My most uncomfortable but most reliable cars were Japanese. I'd rather know my car will start and run great and be a little uncomfortable than sitting broke down in a comfortable domestic. It's a trade off. My Suzuki has almost 200K with zero major problems.
As far as it being a patriotic thing, that's just stupid. In 2014 most brands are global and interchange parts. I worked in a factory that received parts for a major big 3 (I wont say who) and we were forced to remove the Made In China sticker and replace with "Proudly made in USA" sticker with an American flag on it. We could do that legally because we added 1 wire to it making it finished here in the U.S.
Don't believe your big American pick-up is All-American.
They both were vehemently opposed to Japanese cars.
I find that I have this same bias, though Japanese cars have been demonstrated time and again to be reliable and affordable to own.
How do you feel about Japanese cars?
I was raised in a similar manner. My parents, uncles, and Grandparents were all against foreign cars & they were strictly GM owners. My Father-in-law is like this still to this day. He will ONLY buy Chevy and won't buy Ford because of Henry Fords antisemitism.
My dad was the first to buy a non GM vehicle (Ford) and he was looked upon like an outcast. I remember my brother being interested in a volkswagen & a civic, and my Dad strongly directed him to buy a Ford Taurus. My parents would tell us to not buy a foreign car because all the mechanics in town refuse to work on them. Finally, my other brother (the redneck of the family of all people) really broke the mold & bought a new Toyota Tacoma. He was razzed & ended up selling it for a full size Chevy truck.
Now I think back about all this & laugh. I own a Honda & probably won't ever buy a non Japanese vehicle. But I understand where people like you are coming from.
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