American Cars

[Ren]

I'm moving to TX later this year and while looking at some cars online i can't help but notice how cheap American cars are there (obviously) and it looks like you get a lot more value for money when compared to say a Nissan or Toyota.

So i guess my question is are they any good?

I really like how the new Ford Fusion looks but Ford got a pretty bad reputation here for not being very reliable

 

[Yeagermeister]

I have a Ford Escape and my wife has a Focus and we haven't had any issues with either.

 

[Sarge]

I have a Ford Escape and my wife has a Focus and we haven't had any issues with either.

You're fulla baloney!

 

[WoodysGirl]

I'm a Honda car girl and Chevy truck girl.

I've never driven a Chevy car, but the Cruze and Malibus look real nice. And if they were a touch cheaper when I was trying to buy again, I would've gotten the Cruze.

I have a Chevy trailblazer and I had a S-10 before that. Really like their trucks and how they drive.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I only buy American cars and have never had an issue.

I'm currently driving a brand new Dodge Dart. It's great. It's fun to drive, you can just pack it with features for not a lot of cash, and it gets good gas mileage.

Before I got the Dart, I drove a Ford Mustang. Never an issue there either. I also have a Ford F150 in the driveway with 150k miles on it. Again, never an issue.

 

[visionary]

I'm moving to TX later this year and while looking at some cars online i can't help but notice how cheap American cars are there (obviously) and it looks like you get a lot more value for money when compared to say a Nissan or Toyota.

So i guess my question is are they any good?

I really like how the new Ford Fusion looks but Ford got a pretty bad reputation here for not being very reliable

just personal opinion

if you plan to own the car for 3 years and 50K miles, american is fine

if you plan to own it long term up to 100K or even more, go with honda or toyota

if cost is not an issue and you are looking for driving experience, go with BMW, porche, audi, or high end japanese

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I've had the same Ford Explorer for over ten years. Bought it new, paid cash. Outside of normal maintenance (oil, new tires, etc), it has never once been in for repairs or reworking. It has towed boats, lumber, sod, gravel and lived in three different states from D.C. to Corpus Christi, TX. Needless to say, when the time comes, I will buy a new Ford.

I'm sure there are vehicles that can be just as good, but one has not been parked in my garage.

 

[Vtwin]

I'm moving to TX later this year and while looking at some cars online i can't help but notice how cheap American cars are there (obviously) and it looks like you get a lot more value for money when compared to say a Nissan or Toyota.

So i guess my question is are they any good?

I really like how the new Ford Fusion looks but Ford got a pretty bad reputation here for not being very reliable

Ford has a good reputation around here.

I drove my first Ford pickup for 13 years and 150+K miles. My second for 11 years and 120K. On my third now and it's the best of the three by a large margin.

A few years ago we bought a ten year old high mileage Escort wagon and used it as an economical commuter to over 250K.

We have a 7 year old Toyota Rav4 now which we purchased new. It's been a good vehicle but I see no reason to rate it any higher than any of the Fords I have owned. I've also had a 69 Fairlane Torino GT and a 72 Mustang over the years.

We also had a couple Subaru's in the mix and I will never buy another one of those overrated pieces of junk.

I wanted to go Ford when we bought the RAV but my wife wanted the RAV.

 

[WoodysGirl]

just personal opinion

if you plan to own the car for 3 years and 50K miles, american is fine

if you plan to own it long term up to 100K or even more, go with honda or toyota

if cost is not an issue and you are looking for driving experience, go with BMW, porche, audi, or high end japanese

I think it's all about maintenance. Both my Chevys were 100k+. Only reason I gave up the one, was because I had a wreck and insurance "totaled it."

I still have the SUV and it drives just fine and I'm over 100k.

Basically, I think Chevy make better trucks than cars, but having said that I don't know how the newer cars run.

 

[Yeagermeister]

You're fulla baloney!

Put the PBR down

 

[Yeagermeister]

I think it's all about maintenance. Both my Chevys were 100k+. Only reason I gave up the one, was because I had a wreck and insurance "totaled it."

I still have the SUV and it drives just fine and I'm over 100k.

Basically, I think Chevy make better trucks than cars, but having said that I don't know how the newer cars run.

Should have used duct tape :laugh2:

 

[WoodysGirl]

Should have used duct tape :laugh2:

Nah, unfortunately you can't duct tape the frame. Kinda what happens when you spin out on ice into a median. Boohoo!

I loved that little car, too. When the little one gets older, I'm probably gonna get another one. I love 2-door cars.

 

[RS12]

I'm moving to TX later this year and while looking at some cars online i can't help but notice how cheap American cars are there (obviously) and it looks like you get a lot more value for money when compared to say a Nissan or Toyota.

Reliability and holding their resale much better is why they are popular.

 

[Ren]

Reliability and holding their resale much better is why they are popular.

I have a 09 Maxima right now and i love it never had any problems, had a Toyota Corrola before that which other then some oli changes never had to be taken to service the 8 years i had it so i know what i get if i buy that.

Thing is getting another Maxima new in the US is about 40k while i can get a similar sized American car for about 25k and actually get more features.

The Maxima is probably not the best car to use as a comparison since you can get a basic Altima for about 25k but that's as basic as it gets if you put it next to say a 2013 fusion which is about the same.

I'm leaning towards a another Maxima or a Infiniti G37 but you do seem to get more value for your money if you buy American and some look really nice

 

[CowboyGil]

Had a Murano for a little while. It drove nice. Currently we have two Camaros ('01 & '02)and a VW Routan (really a Dodge Caravan outfitted for VW).

 

[Supercowboy1986]

I've only owner Chevy and Cadillac. If you want a nice car go cadillac. I'd recommend the CTS XTS OR ATS. People really like the STS but I'm not a fan of that model.

And I've never had any issues with either my Chevy silverado is a real trooper and I love driving my cts

 

[jimmy40]

All brands brake down, show me a new car lot that has a repair shop that's not busy all the time. I think the days are long gone when it makes that much difference which brand you go with, not like back in the 70s/80s when anyone who bought a Dodge pickup had to be a complete idiot.

 

[Nomad]

I think the reputation that American cars break down easily is outdated or a stereotype. They may have earned it at one point and it is hard to shake off.

They also over exaggerate the supposed quality of foreign cars when selling to Americans to justify the extra cost.

I'm very loyal to Ford and don't ever have any problems out of the ordinary.

Get a Ford F-150 when you move to Texas and you will fit right in.(I'm slightly kidding we don't all drive trucks).

 

[Tabascocat]

It all depends on what you want to spend. I have always owned trucks for the most part. Living in Texas, go with a Chevy 1500 of some sort if you go that direction. I am not a fan of cars but pick something reliable with good reviews. Also, check to see what the cost of the important(major) repairs would be if it breaks down, i.e. transmission, gasket leaks even minor ones like water/fuel pump.

Like someone mentioned, depends on how long you will keep it too. If only for a few years, go cheap with good gas mileage and stay away from the expensive cars/SUV's.

One of my cars is a BMW X5, a very nice ride and we plan on having it for awhile. If I had a redo, I am not sure I would get it again. We love it, but very, very expensive when something goes down. Even an on-board computer glitch can cost around 1k to fix it. I am the moron who thought we would not need the extended drivetrain warranty to save a few bucks

Whatever direction you go, make sure you get a good warranty, especially if it is a used car.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I was a car salesman for many of my young adult years. I would say it's a pretty noticeable difference. If we're talking trucks, it's a no brainer. We got you beat. But the japanese do it better than us with cars for some reason. That's the whole reason they're worth more.