I have an inlaw who could be a top mechanic if he didn't make such a good living in another endeavor.
His hobby is buying older American cars, spiffing and buffing them up and selling them.
He has said for decades that the so called consumers unions and many of the auto raters/magazines have been in bed with the foriegn auto manufacturers. His proof is when one of these foriegn auto manufacturers comes out with a new model and there is no testing or long term evaluation. Then they go ballistic about the new foriegn model, saying that it is the best thing since sliced bread.
So he is in total agreement with you.
Darn, this is an old thread (American-made, so it lasts)...
I agree with your in-law. I used to get consumer reports & still remember reading an annual report on new cars where a little jap sub-compact's back seat was rated more comfortable than a Lincoln they 'reviewed'. The 3 best cars I've owned ('75 Pinto, '80 Pontiac Phoenix & '88 Escort) were all trashed by CR(ap), but you can bet they highly recommend the latest hyundai or yugo.
Update on the little Ford... yes, I've had my first problem with it. Rear-window defroster switch went bad. Damn american union workers can't make a car that'll go more than 7 years or 135k miles without a major malfunction. Justifies all these FReepers who are just too good to buy American!