From my own personal and professional experience (I work in automobile remarketing), I’m willing to bet these older cars are in fact non-union Japanese manufactored vehicles.
GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles just don’t even measure up to the “imports”.
Generally Fords do very well against the imports, since the mid-90s. They really improved their electrical systems when they began their partnership with mazda.
THeir truck/SUV lines in particular.
Late last summer, I traded in my 1997 Olds Cutlass. 175,000 miles and still operating just fine.
Take good care of a car and it'll last.
Curious is there anything you like about this country or are you just here to bash everything from our cars to our Constitution?
I have a 97 Ford Escort and a 2000 Ranger. between them they have nearly 450,000 miles. I still get 30-35mpg on the Escort and about 23 on the Ranger.