So you are saying that foreign cars are cheaper to fix per repair? Even though you say they are more likely to have catastophic engine or electrical problems? The 2 most expensive problems to fix. Do you not see the problem with your argument?
Foreign cars are typically more expensive than domestic to fix the same problem. And you say that Japanese are more likely to have catastrophic and expensive repairs. So naturally they would have higher repair bills. Yet you claim that they have lower ones which result in their higher reliability ratings. What you are saying makes no sense whatsoever.

 

Don't forget that a Contour SVT was a special model and moderately collectible. I KNOW the regular Contour didn't have very good resale.

I also agree on Ford's reliability - never doubted it, in fact. It's the build quality and design that's been crappy until the last few years on a lot of their cars. The trucks have been decent and the SUVs have seen some trickle-down effect (similar dashes, etc, etc) but the cars were sorely lacking. The Focus SVT was a blast to drive but a piece of crap to own. The Focus had THE most recalls of ANY vehicle ever made.

 

 

[QUOTE=NuncoStr8,Nov 20 2009, 11:02 AM]um, aren't you the hypocrite who said he was gonna put me on ignore?

 

Perhaps you knew I hadn't driven the car because I SAID I hadn't driven it? Wow, you're a real Sherlock Holmes :/

Please continue with your list of "cars I've seen from the outside and even got to sit in for a little bit." Fascinating reading. Throw in irrelevant episodes about your father or any other particular experiences you've never had yourself. That would be good reading for us all.

What is particularly entertaining is your constant pigeon-holing. Please, tell me more about me. Yes, yes, I'm all those things you imagine I am because it's easier that actually reading what I write and thinking about it like a rational adult. Once you've done that we can have a discussion.

 

Yet another POS offering from Ford. Its ugly, over-priced, and its performance is lack-luster.

 

You were bashing the Genesis Coupe and how it drove and looked and was built. When I called you out on whether or not you'd been in it or driven it, you finally admitted you hadn't even been in one.

You asked for a list so I gave it. I travel a lot and I'm in the field a lot so I get a nice mix of rental cars (hence crap like the Kia Rondo but also nicer cars like the Fusion and Accord) and work/heavy duty vehicles like the Ram and F-Series (often company trucks).

 

Not forgetting it. I was just saying in my case. Since we are talking build quality, I would say my Contour was as good as the '00 Accords. I think both the Contour and the Accords dropped in build quality between '95 and '00. The Accord's build quality really shot up with the generation that replaced the '00 car I was looking at.

The first year Focus was a recall disaster but the later cars were fine. Even the first year cars weren't bad after the recalls. Most of the things that were actually problems were actually fixed. Of course CR doesn't address points like that so a first year Focus isn't a good used car even though the actual problems are likely long since sorted out.

S2kracka,
Thanks for sharing... nothing.

 

You can look up the methodology of these companies on your own. It's clear you never even thought about it before.

While you are at it, you might consider investigating the validity of research using self-selecting populations. That's when you ask people to send in a survey if they are intereested in participating in a study. You know, like Consumer Reports, among others.

 

I wasn't bashing it. I was agreeing with what others had said, even you, regarding non-subjective elements like how the engine was constructed. You didn't "call me out" from my end, I freely admitted I hadn't driven it because it wasn't on my shopping list. Wow, such hard-hitting investigations you pull off over the internet!

You've only ever owned one RWD car in your life. And it clearly was the fastest car you've ever had. Cars your father has owned are not relevant for what should be obvious reasons - they aren't yours. You've mostly owned FWD inline fours. How do you think that experience, combined with driving a gokart, has really given you the ability to pass judgement on anyone? You've got a very limited resume there, yet one wouldn't know it by the way you go on as if you have direct experience of things you primarily know about second hand or out of a book. That's not to say you have nothing to offer, but tone a it down a bit. The S2000 was the most powerful car you've ever owned. And the only RWD car. You ever think of mixing it up a bit? Living a little? You might learn something and perhaps enjoy yourself if you ever got away from small underpowered FWD cars from Honda. Very big of you to try out a VW and a pickup, but there is more out there.

Rentals are crap, which I'm sure you ought to know by now. They have base everything. And they are beat to hell. Comparing a rental car to ownership experience is like hiring a hooker to see what it's like to be married.