quick poll - american cars

My last American vehicle was a Jeep Comanche. For the first 2 years it was a real nice truck. It seemed it had a self destruct mode when the hobbs meter read exactly 2 years and one second. And it wasn't a quick painless death either. A new piece of the truck would fail on a pretty consistent basis. Over the next year, out of warranty of course, it probably cost me an average of $300 a month in random repairs. Some of the failures I can remember: The rear view mirror just fell off the windshield at a stop light, the gear shift knob broke off in my hand, both window cranks broke. It was a

4 speed and did not have a cable for the clutch. Instead it was a hydraulic unit that would blow seals about every other month. That meant speed shifting while under way and doing powerstarts at red lights. The starter failed, that meant parking on hills so I can do a rolling start. Money was tight then so after a month of parking at the top of a hill it became a difficult habit to shake. One time the carburetor coughed some fire and some rubber ignited, I was in my driveway blowing on the flames to no avail. Luckily there was a Builders Emporium across the street, I sprinted into the store grabbing a fire extinguisher and tossing my wallet at the cashier. Shortly after that the clutch imploded on in itself and after that repair it just didn't seem right. I had to go to a Toyota dealer to pick up a part for my wife's Toyota, and a salesman said "Hey buddy wanna trade that truck in?" I didn't even have to think about it. I've been stuck on Toyota's ever since. My current truck is a '98 Tacoma and at 190,000+ it's just getting broken in. Nope, I won't buy the junk passed off as vehicles that Detroit is responsible for in this lifetime.

I know people who've had nothing but troubles with Toyota's and will never buy another.

I've been driving American cars for thirty years and have had only a couple problems which weren't related to normal wear and tear in all that time. The problems were with electrical harness routing on a 95 Ranger, were fixed under warranty, and they never returned.

I work with a guy who swears Honda's far outlast American cars despite his high mileage vehicles being in the shop every other month for wheel bearings, cv joints, tie rod ends, ball joints, struts, slipping transmissions, leaky seals, etc. Sure doesn't sound like they outlast American cars to me.

The problem with Honda, Toyota, Acura, etc. is that the cylinder head has so little material in it that if you experience even a momentary overheating problem such as would be caused with say a fan switch failure you're looking at a very expensive cylinder head rebuild. Other manufactures have more material in the head and their heads can often handle a brief over heating situation... not so with Honda, Toyota or Acura. This FACT makes automotive repair shops tons of money.

Do Honda, Toyota and Acura have advantages... certainly they do. They have a much better fit and finish and I believe they hold their suppliers to tighter tolerances.

I've had two Honda's. Both had cylinder head problems. I'd never buy another Honda again.

A classic Saab 900 Turbo is a much better designed and engineered car. The classic Saab 900 uses double wishbone for it's front suspension. The only major weakness of the Saab 900 Turbo is a gearbox that can't handle over 300 hp without being babied. The engine can easily be made to output 450 hp. It's a far better car in every possible way compared to a Honda... better ride, better handling, more room, better engine, etc.

Jon Banquer San Diego, CA

Only problem with the Saab 900 is that they quit manufacturing it in

93....

Take a look at the Honda S-2000... This little "honey" is a 4 banger that can be souped up beyond belief....

And yeah, the Cr is a rear wheel drive.... I don't get much of a thrill seeing a car smoldering it's front tires during a "Burn Out"...

This guy is awesome.... You got questions about your Honda/Acura..... He's got the answers...

Sage advice, that...