As I just said on another thread.
How about developing cars that last longer than the average financing contract?
That is what attracts most to the “foreign” cars. As an insurance agent, you see a LOT older cars being insured that are Honda, Nissan and Toyota than you do Ford or Chevy.
Just a non-scientific observation.
I never thought about it in terms of longevity, but you’re right. We buy Toytotas and then drive them with nothing more than routine maintenance for 15 years. Our 4Runner is almost 12 years old, looks like a new car, runs like a new car, rides like a new “truck” (that’s the one thing I never liked about the 4-Runner, the ride is stiff, but partly because of the tow package we have on the car.)
We’ve had the same luck with Hondas, and wonderful service from the Honda dealership (better than service we’ve had with any other make of car.)
Before 1984 we bought American made cars, but in 1984 we bought our first Toyota...and since then we’ve never gone back to American made.