[KarlInOhio]

My 1988 Mazda 323 ran through just about everything I threw at it and just didn't break (until I smacked it into a minivan). About the only thing other than standard maintenance was a broken exhaust pipe and a radio that sometimes lost one speaker because of some loose circuit.

My 1996 Saturn cost me many times more in repairs - bad brakes in the first year (under warranty), leaky radiator, leaky sun roof, more brake repairs, bad engine mount, bad ignition switch, a few transmission repairs, broken power window coupling, bad alternator and probably a lot more that I don't remember.

Was the 96 Saturn better than some of the 70s crapmobiles? Yes. But it still wasn't as well put together as a Japanese car from almost 10 years earlier.

If you want me to take American cars seriously, then put a five or more year warranty on it. If the cars are built right, it won't cost the company much in covered repairs. That's how Hyundai started to get over their earlier quality reputation. Build better cars and stand behind them.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Isnt your 88 323 bascially a Ford Probe?

[eraser2005]

"My 1988 Mazda 323 ran through just about everything I threw at it and just didn't break (until I smacked it into a minivan)."

Your Mazda 323 was essentially a re-badged Ford Escort.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Saturn - G.M.'s $3 billion mistake!