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Even so Autolite 4100 series carbs are still widely regarded as some of the best. Better than most aftermarket carbs people replaced them with in fact. That's why they command a high premium in new or fully restored/working condition now.
There's a guy who specializes in rebuilding/modifying them and the business is called Pony Carburetors. No one knows more about Ford carbs than John......he's an expert on them and even corrects minor factory defects with his rebuilds.
I've owned 10 or 12 GM vehicles, one Plymouth, and one Volkswagen in my driving days. Everyone of them, except the Volkswagen was a very reliable vehicle for me.
Some where better than others, but all but one were perfectly acceptable in the reliability department.
The 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit was the only lemon of the bunch....and it was a lemon in ever sense of the word. I had to walk more than once with that car. I rarely went 60 days without it being in the shop for a "non-maintenance" of one sort or another. Blown fuse blocks replaced at least twice, CV joints failed far to early, failed water pump, clogged up catalytic convertor, random rust spots all over the car (except the roof), wing window that had a glued on hinge and it kept coming lose and they never could get it glued on properly so that it stayed glued, alternator went bad far to soon and on and on and on. I think I sold the car when it had just over 100 thousand miles. I was honest with the new buyer.....but I doubt he believed me as to all I had suffered through.
What is the real scoop on the reliability of American cars made today? Have they finally reached on par with Japanese vehicles? I mean if I bought a Ford or Chevy today and religiously maintained could I be 100% confident that I would get at least 150,000 trouble free miles out of it without any issues?
Nope. Better? Yes....but the Japs kept improving......too? Hyundai is now a competent brand (remember them in 1988...egads)......While GM and Ford have steadily improved (the new Malibu FINALLY looks like a car someone wouldn't mind owning...that only took 22 years....) the Civic, Accord, Camry, and Corolla kept right on improving as well......
They are STILL the gold plated standard for value based on reliability, maintenance and overall fit, finish and build competency bar none.....if you KEEP a car for a long time (7 years plus) the Japs have it in spades....if you dump one every time the lease has expired or the warranty runs out, buy the cheapest one for the money (only if you lease) and toss it every 3-4 years (read, American made). Doesn't matter, almost all manufacturers can last to the end of the warranty.....almost....
Nope. Better? Yes....but the Japs kept improving......too? Hyundai is now a competent brand (remember them in 1988...egads)......While GM and Ford have steadily improved (the new Malibu FINALLY looks like a car someone wouldn't mind owning...that only took 22 years....) the Civic, Accord, Camry, and Corolla kept right on improving as well......
They are STILL the gold plated standard for value based on reliability, maintenance and overall fit, finish and build competency bar none.....if you KEEP a car for a long time (7 years plus) the Japs have it in spades....if you dump one every time the lease has expired or the warranty runs out, buy the cheapest one for the money (only if you lease) and toss it every 3-4 years (read, American made). Doesn't matter, almost all manufacturers can last to the end of the warranty.....almost....
Toss every 3-4 years? There are many American cars out there being driven which are much older than that. My Lincoln Town Car is 21 years old.
Quote:
It's your money, why buy misery?
I don't like misery, too. That is why I drive one Lincoln and two Cadillacs.
Reliability is so hard to quantify with real stats.
Consumers Reports does their best, but it's still a small sample. According to their 2015 data, all American manu's were still in the bottom half of reliability ratings. Chrysler, as always, was last.
I remember when Dodge in the 80's just sucked. They had some really interesting cars but the reliability of all were just terrible compared to Ford & GM. While all three of them have made great strides in quality over all & personally think that Ford & GM are better cars then Dodge still in most respects.
I remember when Dodge in the 80's just sucked. They had some really interesting cars but the reliability of all were just terrible compared to Ford & GM. While all three of them have made great strides in quality over all & personally think that Ford & GM are better cars then Dodge still in most respects.
Not true in my case, I switched to Chrysler products after a couple disappointments from GM. I owned six different Chrysler products from 1986 - 1999 and they were all excellent vehicles. I still own two of them and there are a couple I wish I would of held on to.
Today I am pretty comfortable in every brand out there. I think the differences between brands are small and somewhat over blown buy different media sites.
Went to my local salvage yard to find an exterior door handle for my 97 Chevy Tahoe because it broke from the snow/ice storm we just had. The handle is made of cast aluminum so 19 years of stress on it and the freezing temps finally broke it.
Anyway at the salvage yard all the american made cars and trucks are waaay in the back at the top of the hill in the yard. They keep the foreign cars in the front like Honda, Mazda, Toyota you know all that crap... because it's the most sought after. They had only one of my trucks in the yard.
Now if foreign cars are so superior why is it the most popular and busiest section of the salvage yard?
There is another large salvage yard about 2 hours from me the largest on the east coast acres and acres of cars. They have an online inventory so i did a quick scan... they have 90 Honda Civics, 37 Chevy Cavaliers, 21 Chevy Malibus, and 16 Chevy Impalas.
What does that tell you? Three of GMs most popular selling vehicles still can't beat how many POS Honda Civics are in the yard.
Not true in my case, I switched to Chrysler products after a couple disappointments from GM. I owned six different Chrysler products from 1986 - 1999 and they were all excellent vehicles. I still own two of them and there are a couple I wish I would of held on to.
Today I am pretty comfortable in every brand out there. I think the differences between brands are small and somewhat over blown buy different media sites.
I remember my dad bought a brand new Dodge Diplomat I believe it was, it has a 318 in it & less then 50 miles down the road the engine fell out. I drove an 88 I think it was Shelby Dodge Shadow I totally wanted one damn thing was quick with only 175 Hp. I agree with you there are little differences in cars these days. Every once in a while you'll see something like Fords new 350GT Shelby or something of that nature.
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