Posted on 01/08/2007 6:15:51 AM PST by Flavius
Audi's "unintended acceleration" problem was the result of a number of things. A small FI glitch that could raise idle levels, a set of pedals located slightly more to the left than on other cars, and idiot drivers who put cars in gear without their foot on the brake pedal, and then pushed the gas pedal as hard as they could to stop the car. Then "60 Minutes" hired a guy to rig up an Audi auto transmission so that internal hydraulic pressure could feed back through the throttle linkage, not something that could ever happen by accident, and passed it off as proof of the problem. More honest reporting from the MSM.
Having said that, I'm not disagreeing that Audis of that time (and maybe even still) were big POS. I remember helping a friend install a car stereo in an Audi 5000 - the freaking battery was under the rear seat. Real handy, huh?
**No more Detroit iron!**
My last (and I do mean last) purchase of an American car was a 1988 Ford Taurus.
Replaced TWO transmissions and a short block before 65K miles.
Now own 2 Toyotas. 1 4WD pickup, and 1 Corolla.
Couldn't be happier.
Oh please!
Like I said, big Americans can't fit right in those cars. The T100 was wedged far inward so the roof itself was narrower than the hip line. Never mind the head room stinks.
As for this so-called reliability, you'll see plenty 20 and 30-yo Fords and Chevies around doing REAL work on farms and stuff, never mind other heavy-duty work.
Working in auto parts for 6 years, it became apparent to me that the main reason Jap cars lasted was because the owners were babying the cars with the "always change the oil" routine (which, BTW, in newer cars should NOT be lower than the old 7500 mi standard). As the old man who worked there used to say "the key to reliability is changing the oil". We as a family didn't with our American cars (I still don't do it every 3000 mi, but every year). But babying these allegedly modern high-tech cars with new oil ever 3000 mi surely puts them in a good situation.
Some cars last despite getting virtually no oil, or no anti-freeze change, or anything. Didn't seem typical of the tiny-car owners.
They're supposed to be putting a MB turbo-diesel in the Jeep Grand Cherokee within a year. We'll wait and see.
Justin Watson sounds like a reasonable guy.
Exactly...perception lags reality. The domestics could be just as good as the imports, and the perception would lag.
Of course, this was a benefit to the Big 3 in the '70's, 80's and '90's, because the perception lagged the reality...and the reality was the Chevy Vega, the cobbled together Detroit Diesel, the Pinto, any given Chrysler product, etc.
LOL. I bet Hertz had that car right back out on the road a few hours later. Something to think about the next time someone suggests buying a used car from a rental company.
I bet you were trying to remember the Cricket, weren't you!!! It's hard to believe the Pinto was the best of those three, until one dark night on an Indiana highway near Elkhart.
The Cummins engine weighs around 1000 pounds all by itself. Not the best choice for lightweight off-road vehicles.
Nothing. What's the relevance of your question?
Bingo. We have a winner.
I will never, ever, ever buy a union-made car again.
Bingo. We have a winner.
I will never, ever, ever buy a union-made car again.
As opposed to a locally made oil burner.
You've lost me. Don't know what the hell you're talking about.
I'll never own a diesel with 100K overhaul cycle (and aluminum heads on a iron block).... that's just a waste of money. Seriously, why spend the xtra 6k on a small duty diesel when you can have a medium duty one that doesn't need an overhaul until 300k???
The Allison is not all that. It has it's fare share of documented issues as well.
my advice.. lay off the marketing gimmicks.
no no ... haven't you seen the posts claiming 20mpg :)
the new 08 tundra will have a 370+ HP 5.7l v8 option....
if they ever build a 3/4 to 1-ton tundra with a turbo diesel... I might just go out and get one
I don't care how "good" people say Japanese branded cars are. My personal experience says otherwise. I've owned GM, Ford, and Nissan branded vehicles. I would rate the Nissan lower than the GM in overall satisfaction. That said, I have been driving Ford trucks since the late 80's and am very satisfied. The Jap cars seem to lack something, charm, character, maybe soul.
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