Most people I know buy japanese cars because they will run for a long
> time without any real maintenance and now American cars are much the > same way.
>
Yes, I know cases of American cars with virtually no mechanical problems. But there is an inherent peace of mind knowing one is buying a proven product and taking less chances. A car in this case, but the same goes for everything else. Best of breed, as Cramer says.
Once you do start actually having your jap car worked on the cost
> rises sharply. As was pointed out to me here, they require special
> knowlege and lots of special tools along with very expensive parts. >
That could be the case, but as someone said already on this thread, the odds of something going wrong are much less and so are the related expenses. Plus the downtime one avoids by not having to service the car, which can also be translated into money.
BTW anyone who thinks of a car as an investment is an idiot.
:) I couldn't agree more. What I meant is you get your money's worth by buying a reliable car, maintaining it and keeping it for a long time, as opposed as leasing. Most people lease to drive a better car than they could afford normally. Check