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JoeBlow
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2007
15:45:30

Subject: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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It's in the topic. American cars and trucks are poorly built, over priced sh1t. Why is that?



RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2007
06:48:20

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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So you lease or buy again every three years IF
you're luckey enough to get trouble free three
years out of the junk.

I once asked a plumber why there are not large
clean outs on house hold water heaters. His
answer was; "If there was, no more would ever
be sold."

Think about it...................




Kim
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2007
20:54:26

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Poorly built: design to increase the bottom line. Cheaper parts = profit.

Overpriced: built in factories by union-wage workers getting paid piece-work. The faster they build them the more they get paid.

Sum total: it's all about the dollar, not the customer.



Shoe
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8/20/2007
21:21:49

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Actually a lot of the stuff built in so called America is built in Mexico and Canada for a lot less. Japanese and Chinese autos are not much better. They do not pay their workers much and just sell everything cheap because not much was put into it. The reason you do not hear much out of Japanese things is because they did not pay much for it in the first place, so they probably do not care. I never hear anybody complain about a Geo Metro or something to that caliber. The reason people complain so damn much about their other vehicles is because they spent so much money on it that they expect it to last forever, to never break down and to be the best at everything. Get over it. If you do not like American made vehicles then do not buy any.

Finally... a V8. '01 Dodge Dakota RC, 4.7, 5-speed, 3.92 LSD. = R/T Killer.
well at least a stock one

1hotkadota
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2007
21:56:41

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Word Shoe!





kamsa hamnida
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2007
14:11:26

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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That's why I only buy Korean.




deerridge
GenIII
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8/21/2007
14:59:54

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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They're not, fool! My Dakota has held up as well or better than any Toyota, Porsche, Mazda, Subarau and others that I've ever driven. I put 110000 miles on it before anything broke and that was max towing, hauling and farm work not putting around town. The AWD finally gave out, but engine and transmission are still solid as a rock.

Real Horsepower

Kowalski
GenIII
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8/21/2007
15:32:12

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Yup, mine's worked hard and is holding up as well. Going on 8 years with no repairs, except for wear items like brakes.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way

Lee
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2007
16:01:36

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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I certainly can't complain about American trucks. My '93 Toyota 4X4 was very problematic. I had things go wrong from the headliner tearing after a couple years all the way to transmission trouble (manual trans - would not go into third) and major engine failure (blown head gasket - common failure on ALL Toyota truck V6 engines made in the early nineties). One of the front hubs also would not unlock after going into 4WD for the FIRST TIME, requiring replacement of the entire hub assembly. I had it in at the dealer no less than 4 times for the above mentioned third gear problem. I ended up just living with it. The pinion seal on the rear diff went out because the vent clogged with dust - bad design. The water pump, cam shaft seals, and crank shaft seals all went out at 60,000 miles. The sealant (didn't use a gasket) for the water pump housing was leaking at 30,000 miles. All the heater hoses were leaking at 60k.

All the hype says that "Toyotas last forever". Then how come my friends with Fords, GMs and Dodges never seemed to have any trouble with their trucks when mine was giving me grief all the time? The "Toyotas last forever" theme just doesn't work when the truck is always at the dealership getting repaired!

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota I bought new which now has 86,000 miles on it. I have owned it the longest of any vehicle I have ever owned (my third truck), and it has been the most trouble-free. I'm not saying it has been perfect, just that the problems are few, far between, and minor. Just my experience!

Lee



Forseti
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2007
18:01:33

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Hey RadioMan .. Me being a plumber myself I found your comment about water heaters funny how you compare it to crappy American trucks. But this is how its is ..... you DONT NEED a large clean out in a water heater if it is properly maintained just as in an American truck .. I have my '03 R/T for a few years now (78,000 mi) and I haven't had ONE problem with it since I properly maintenance it. I find it funny how people will trash their trucks.. never change their oil and never wash it then complain that it runs bad and the paint is peeling .... TAKE CARE OF YOUR TRUCK AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU



JR
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2007
19:05:07

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Latest JD Powers Customer Satisfaction Survey was #1 Tie Lexus & Buick #2Cadillac #3 Mercury # 4 Honda.Speaks well for American cars I think.



deerridge
GenIII
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8/22/2007
10:17:27

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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This thread title just jerked my chain. I just bought a new Tundra, but certainly not for any quality issue on my Dakota. I just needed a more dependable truck than one with 110k on the clock. Stuff breaks when you wear it out. I'm sure the Tundra will do the same. It should go a little longer with the significantly higher capacity for towing with bigger brakes and more motor, but I'll break it too. Its hard to find a RC SB 4x4 with big brakes and alot of motor. My Dakota has been a great one, I hope the Tundra does as well.

Real Horsepower

mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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8/22/2007
11:38:34

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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Just as an odd observation... from the people I know that own hondas and toyotas (cars not trucks), they seem to hide it when their car breaks down because lets face it, if not for the reliability factor why would anyone want to drive them? I have a 2000 quad cab that has only had a faulty door locking mechanism and it has 108K miles on it. Up until more recently foreign cars were more dependable mainly because they had minimal power options... if you buy a vehicle with manually operated seats, doors, windows, mirrors, etc. they tend to have less trouble than those with an additional 15 mini motors.... just my observations.



deerridge
GenIII
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8/22/2007
13:40:08

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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I've owned alot of forgien cars because there weren't any American cars that were set up the same way, Sports cars in particular. Until the Tundra I've only had American made trucks unless you count a Subaru Brat. All of them will go up to 100,000 miles before stuff breaks, properly maintained anyway. The worst I've had is a Chevy Silverado. The 4x4 and hubs kept breaking. Brakes just sucked. The Dakota is a far better truck in every way. Point being that I haven't seen any appriciable diffrence in actual service between American and forgien made vehicles. The Tundra until the 5.7 was in my opion an overpriced and overweight Dakota trying to compete with bigger trucks. Now its a HD selling as a 1500 truck. Quality shows up at 100,000 miles..we'll see.

Real Horsepower

Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2007
21:31:10

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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my 2 dakotas are/were awesome! I had a 95 CC 4x4 3.9L that i traded in to get my 02 QC 4x4 4.7. The 95 had near 168k miles on it, I saw it driving around town so someone bought it and she's still getting it done.

I had no major problems with the 95, just sensor stuff.

my 02 has almost 82k miles on it, nothing but an evap hose - total cost $1.50 has gone wrong other than normal and preventative maintenance.

I drive my trucks hard. Not speed wise (though I do that from time to time). I do alot of fishing/ camping/stream rehabitalitation, etc in my trucks in some harsh conditions.

The 95 lasted 120k miles in the midwest. Cold, snow, rain, you name it. It was going on 31 days of below 32 for the HIGH when i moved from Indiana to north carolina in 2001. she cranked up every time. Never left me stranded.

My 02 has been to alot of places many people won't consider to go. Driving through streams, runoffs, dirt, dust, gravel dust. Extreme heat (set new record in ATL a couple wees ago of 103 at the airport). My temp guage showed 104 on my drive home that day. I do alot of work in the national forest and wild life management areas here in georgia as a member of Trout Unlimited. The roads are gravel, sometimes very lose. Since it's been so dry (14+ inch below normal this year) theres been a ton of gravel dust. So thick you can barely see a vehicle 20-30 feet in front of you. Dust so thick it's a few mils thick on the back glass of my fiberglass shell. And it doesn't come off driving 70 down the highway.

I really abuse my vehicles driving under some of the conditions I drive in. My dakota's have taken it all and kept going.

There was a recent article about automotive quality and recalls. VW and toyota were at/near the top of the list.

I'll put my american made (dodge city michigan bay-bee) up against a toyota any day. oh yeah, toyota's are made in usa too.

I agree, $30 for unskilled labor is a bit much. A lot of skilled people don't make that kind of money. Do you think the teacher that is teaching your kid makes that kind of cash?

this might be incoherent ramblings but that's ok, I'm back from my TU meeting and all liquored up!

- Dan M



pete
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2007
22:43:11

RE: Why are American cars and trucks crap?
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You get good with bad and same goes with maintenance take care if it takes care of you but every now and then you get a bad apple off the tree, I think its how your assembly line workers are treated with respect might get a better built product for what you could expect out your product i think not just for trucks everything here built in the hardworking USA which we got to get america back to work!



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