Yes, there's some nice models out there, but for every CTS-V & G8 GXP out there, there's 18 more slow, boring, uninspired rental/taxi/police sleds.Denise Douglas wrote:Perhaps you have not driven one in the last 40 years? GM, Ford, and Chrysler have brought their quality levels way up, they have put some very nice models out there if you take the time to go look at them rather than relying on the mainstream media's hype that they don't build quality vehicles.Michelle Miller wrote:Truth or not, it doesn't make up for the fact that 90% of american cars made in the last 40 years are numb, bloated, wallowy, undersuspended, uninspiring oxcarts with no redeeming qualities about their driving manners or interior quality in terms of materials or ergonomics.
and yes, I'm channeling Jeremy Clarkson here.
So, where did that great suspension & handling come from?What manufacturer currently offers the most models with 30+ mpg? Nope, not Toyota, not Honda, not Nissan, it's GM! Have a look at the new Camaro, 300HP direct injection V6 that gets 29mpg, great suspension and handling, outstanding good looks, etc.
The Camaro's based on a similar platform to the CTS, both of which(the Zeta and Sigma chassis) weren't designed or primarily made for the american market originally, they both have roots in Australia's Holden division of GM. Simply put, while Holden and most of the rest of the world were building better cars, we were plodding along with boring, uninspired rental sleds.
Again, they've gotten better, but it's got almost nothing to do with what most american carmakers were shoveling out to the car buying public just a decade ago. They might have come a long way since panel gaps you could slide hot dogs though, or cheap, dreary hard plastic interior materials that wouldn't look out of place on kids' outdoor play equipment, but they've got a LONG way to go before they're up to say an AUDI/VW level in terms of overall quality & craftsmanship.I've had nothing but GM vehicles for the last 25 years, with nothing but routine maintainence they have all easily gone way over 200k miles before I sell them (and still running well), I have an '88 Blazer in the driveway right now with 331,000 miles on the original engine with not a bit of blue smoke when you start it. And profits from GM and Ford stay here rather than going to Japan, Germany, Korea, or wherever. Don't take my word for the quality of new cars from the US automakers, go read some of the reviews from knowledgeable automotive reviewers, they won't hesitate to tell you that many of the new models are world class products.
DeniseD
You don't want profits going overseas? Well, you can knock all that jazz about the Camaro off, seeing as it's just a re-skinned Holden Commodore, tarted up in a retro-fied macho sheetmetal suit. Scratch out most of Ford's small cars, as they share a lot of major components with Mazda & Volvo's cars. Chrysler? Mercedes Benz saved their bacon for a while with an E-Class chassis they could build on as a foundation for their midsize sedans.
My point is this. For americans to build a good car, they usually have to have someone else do it for them, or at the least, get them a start on it.
You say your Blazer's got 300K+ on it? Great. That still doesn't change the fact that it's a cheaply made pickup truck with a couple of extra seats & doors on it. For it to be 'as good' as a say a 4-Runner, it's got a LONG way to go in terms of interior quality and overall refinement.
