Ask the Car People.SM


Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?

18078 messages,  Last post on May 15, 2013 at 9:27 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

What is this discussion about? Car Buying

With parts coming from everywhere, does "Buying American" have much meaning anymore? Is quality and price the bottom line?

Messages Page 1645 of 1808

#16438 of 18078 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by uplanderguy

Jan 17, 2013 (9:50 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 9:38 am)
No one questions the Dodges having trans issues, only the Hondas.

#16439 of 18078 Re: American cars [uplanderguy] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (9:57 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 17, 2013 9:50 am)
I was skeptical when I heard about the Ridgeline upgrade, too, but then the ratings steadily improved from 2004 and on.
 
The problem now is different - they're ugly!

#16440 of 18078 Re: American cars [uplanderguy] by keystonecarfan

Jan 17, 2013 (10:14 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 17, 2013 8:31 am)
There was a serious problem with complete transmission failure in all V-6 equipped Hondas and Acuras built between 1999 and 2004. Honda Odysseys and Acura TLs were the worst, probably because they put the most strain on the transmission.
 
This flaw (which, if I recall correctly, involved insufficient lubrication of a key component), was corrected after 2004. But 2005-07 Odysseys did have problems with the torque converter, which can be solved with a software reflash.
 
The oil consumption issues are with the variable-displacement V-6s. It is my understanding that there was a flaw in the castings for the cylinders that leads to high oil consumption.

#16441 of 18078 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by dieselone

Jan 17, 2013 (10:25 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 9:38 am)
They're not perfect, but they're much better than before.
 
And the Odyssey is good at being what it's suppose to be, am minivan. If only GM or Ford could have made a minivan remotely as nice. Ford's last minivan wasn't reliable, wasn't good looking, and was nasty on the inside too.
 
GM hasn't been much better. The parents of my daughter's best friend have an 08 or so Uplander and I've been in it and see it all the time. YUCK! Only one reason to buy one of those is price IMO. Probably why they're not made anymore.

#16442 of 18078 Re: American cars [dieselone] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (10:50 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Jan 17, 2013 10:25 am)
Ford's was safe, though. Their real problem was rust.
 
GM built the Lambdas instead, a strong effort. Not a van, but at least a good vehicle resulted.

#16443 of 18078 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by dieselone

Jan 17, 2013 (10:57 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:50 am)
GM built the Lambdas instead, a strong effort. Not a van, but at least a good vehicle resulted.
 
True, I read originally GM considered a minivan variant off the lambda platform.

#16444 of 18078 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by dieselone

Jan 17, 2013 (10:58 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:50 am)
Ford's was safe, though. Their real problem was rust.
 
Yeah, I know someone that had a Windstar under the rear axle/frame rust recall. His was so bad Ford bought the van from him instead of trying to fix it.

#16445 of 18078 Re: American cars [uplanderguy] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:08 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 17, 2013 8:59 am)
As if total number of posts about the model in general has anything to do with anything. You know that.
 
Yet you (or somebody here) is always citing "how many" posts there are about Hondas.
 
So are we all agreeing once and for all that the number of complaint posts on any vehicle is not really evidence of much?

#16446 of 18078 Re: American cars [keystonecarfan] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:10 am)

Replying to: keystonecarfan (Jan 17, 2013 10:14 am)
There was a serious problem with complete transmission failure in all V-6 equipped Hondas and Acuras built between 1999 and 2004. Honda Odysseys and Acura TLs were the worst, probably because they put the most strain on the transmission.
 
Well my Acura TL was built in 2004 and is at 130K with no transmission problems. But it is an '05 model.

#16447 of 18078 Re: American cars [ateixeira] by tlong

Jan 17, 2013 (11:13 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:50 am)
GM built the Lambdas instead, a strong effort. Not a van, but at least a good vehicle resulted.
 
I've driven a Traverse as a rental. I'm sure it wasn't a very high line model, but I was unimpressed. It was large yet seemed not to have a ton of storage for its size (perhaps I'm used to our older Odyssey). The dash and door plastics were chintzy.

Messages Page 1645 of 1808

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement