The big 3 only know how to make an average quality car. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/quality-ratings-by-brand
Fired Chrysler dealers are fighting back. http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE54J0EO20090520?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews
How about facts instead of speculation about quality control on popular cars? These are the Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) counts issued by the manufacturer for their cars for 2004 model years. These are out of one of my personal databases for professionals Toyota Camry....30 TSBs Nissan Maxima...59 TSBs Honda Accord.... 74TSBs Buick Century.....60TSBs Chrysler 300M... 28 TSBs Ford Taurus....24 TSBs How about Fit & Finish? Recently I observed a commercial where Lexus (Toyota) was bragging about the fit of the body panels on a new SUV. In the commercial they stated the tolerances would not vary more than 1 mm (.040 ") from specs. Sounds impressive right? GM in 1985 introduced the "N" body chassis and its specs were held to under 1/2 mm (.020")...What the heck took Toyota so long? And they still can't match it! How about computer functionality and monitoring? GM leads the way...GM cars had networked computer systems in 1984 on the Cadillac DeVille with on dash access. GM's computer system has more built in testing capabilities and easier access to the technician than any other manufacturer. GM contributed it's systems nomenclature and methods of testing to the Federal (OBD II) and Euro (OBD II) standards agencies. No other manufacturer had the capabilities mandated in the OBD II except GM. GM also leads the way in CAN protocol. How about other things? Ford was the company that pulled Nissan out of bankruptcy and put it back on track to be healthy, think it was early to mid 1990s Chrysler gave us the minivans and lots of electrical engineering innovations. GM in 1985 instituted a program whereby they wanted the complete fleet to achieve a CALE rating of 250k miles, I understand that was accomplished as a goal in the early 1990's. Are Asian & European Cars really better? VW's Toureg needs new brakes and rotors about every 20k miles. Toyota on several top end cars has tires made by Toyo to Toyota specs so that the ride is good when new. The tires are lucky to last 20k miles. Toyo replacements of same model tire will get over 40k miles. Overheat a Honda Accord engine just a little and you just might need the Piston Rings replaced because they have a high frequency of collapsing with overheating. Nissan Maximas ...when the head gaskets fail on the dual cam engine its almost cheaper to replace the engine than repair the gaskets. Fail to replace the timing belt on almost all asian designed cars at scheduled time and the belt breaks, you probably just bent the valves or destroyed an engine. Toyota Camry outside power remote mirrors are made so cheaply that if a small dead branch (under 1/2 inch diameter) from a tree hits one, it will probably destroy the mirror. But not to worry, Toyota dealers typically stock both left and rights in ALL the colors so your technician can replace it quickly without having to color match the finish. Many years ago, I leased a new Volvo for the wife. I had the car for 7 months, of that time the dealer had it 4 months. The smallest list of problems was over 30 items per visit, incl no A/C, trans not shifting, etc. That car got worse mileage with a mid size v6 than my F250 4X4 w/ 5.7L v8 wrecker hauling a car! Any car can be a good car, and that same car can be a POS...it depends on how it is treated, how it is maintained, etc.
Not sure, I didn't ask him. It sounded as though Chrysler was only honoring the warranties (of the vehicles) for cars sold within the two week period. I would imagine they will do everything they can (probably already determined through contracts) to avoid dealers selling parts to other dealers, because it would affect their sales. Obviously Chrysler knew the entire time they were shoving these vehicles down the dealers' throats, that they would be soon sending them into bankruptcy by revoaking their dealarship and sticking them with all of this excess inventory. I guess that's business though. If you are a powerful union (autos) or lobby (banks), you get bailed by socialism. If you are a small business, you swim with the sharks in the capitalism game. If you're a tax payer, you foot the bill for the bailouts. Just think how pissed you would be knowing that your past, present and future tax dollars would be going to bail out Chrysler, if they had revoaked your franchise and caused you to lose your business.
Long time ago this guy decided to purchase Isuzu and Chrysler franchises. I am sure he made a killing selling substandard product all these years and did not lose any sleep at night. Like most dealers, he allowed high pressure tactics and all kind of unethical ways of pushing overpriced junk to unsuspecting customers. I wonder how many times your employees with your approval fleeced customers and charged them much more than what the price should have been. Hey that is capitalism, you don't know how to negotiate then you overpay. Tough shit! Karma is a bitch ain't it?
When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. Then they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. Then they came for the trade unionists, I did not protest; I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak out; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.
I would buy a Lincoln MKS EcoBoost V-6 Twin Turbo AWD in a second, or the 2010 (refresh) Shelby Mustang GT500 in that dark blue metallic color!!! http://jalopnik.com/5253188/2010-lincoln-mks-ecoboost-first-drive http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/...we-sign?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_autoblog
One is 50K and the other is ugly. Btw. Why is ford copying Viper's painting schemes is beyond me. The double line looks good on a viper .... on a Mustang it looks like it weights a ton. I am no car expert but my mechanic of past 20 years swear by the Hondas and toyotas and swears at Dodges and the big 3. Last time we chi chat he told me that in one of its models Caddy decided to place a starter in such a place that in order to fix it, one had to take apart half the engine which made a $150 job into a $1200 one. BTW I had a slew of different cars including domstics and would not buy anything but metal made by honda/acura or toyota/lexus.