I have worked on the process- quality side of steel production. When the
> heat (a ladle of steel) is bound for Toyota or Honda- there are stricter
> practices enforced. The rejection criteria are much broader for US
> automakers than transplants.
> There is no doubt whatsoever that US car producers are more careless and
> sleepy compared to the "foreign" companies.
>
> > Do people find the following features as annoying as I do?
> >
> > 1) The rattles and shakes. Even little bump I encounter, I get these
> > funky sounds from all over the car. It is so damn annoying. Can any
> > claim that their American car does not rattle or doesn't have
> > torsional shakes when encountering potholes? Obviously almost every
> > car has some sort of rattle and shakes but bad as American Cars? > >
> > 2) Cheeziest interiors. American Cars have the worst design interior
> > of any brands. Everything from choice of materials to design of
> > gauges. Ergonomics are a nightmare. (Only notible exception is the > > Aurora)
> >
> > 3) Poor fit & finish. My mother once looked at a new LH and I sat in
> > the back and examine the roof. Poof! Off comes the paneling. I
> > initially thought it must be just this car, got into another LH and
> > same problem. The worst fit and finish problem with American cars is
> > the wind and road noise. Can the American Manufacturer's produce a
> > car that has proper sealing doors and windows?
> >
> > 4) Americans cars are the uglist cars on the planet today (except the
> > cars produced in the former Eastern Bloc countries). Everything from
> > panel spacing to design. Roadmaster, Caprice Classic, Lumina,
> > Cadillacs, to name a few of the uglies. There was a time when
> > American Cars set the standard for styling, but that time has passed
> > along with Disco and Bell-bottoms.
> >
> > 5) Driver feedback. Yucky Steering and Brake feel. There is about a
> > 1 inch dead zone on my Jeep Cherokee where the steering wheel moves
> > but the car does not. It is difficult to know when brakes will lock up
> > give the spongy feel of American brakes. Also very difficult to know
> > when you rear-end will slide out since the only feedback from your
> > butt and back is the vibration from the lousy chassis.
> >
> > 6) Lack of driver reward. I have never recalled feeling giddy coming
> > up to a winding road when driving an American car. Driving one of
> > these things is completely devoid of pleasure and reward.
> >
> > I currently own only one American car, a 1994 Pontiac Grand AM. I
> > have own a couple other American cars. I have had experience with
> > Corvettes Camaros, Fieros, Cutlasses, GMC trucks / Vans, Dodge products
> > etc. I own two European cars both of which are free of the things I
> > described above.
> >
> > I am willing to buy another American car if they can produce something
> > worth buying. I will wait...hopefully for a short time.
> >
> > I am interested in people's views on American cars and whether they
> > see them in a bad light as I do. I do not intend to start a flame
> > war, I am truly interested. It is my opinion that once a person buys
> > a Jap or European car, they tend not to go back to American cars. IF
> > this is true, how will American Cars attract this market back? > >
> > I look forward to see if anyone shares my opinions.
>
>