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A technician's view...the best buying advice I can give you.Feb 22 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Import cars and higher-level domestic cars are MUCH better than most domestic cars. A car's condition matters more than mileage, because cars are designed much differently nowdays.
As an automotive technician, I see many buying mistakes and mis-conceptions that people have about cars. Here is the truth: Import cars are engineered, domestic cars are marketed. Let me explain... The import car companies are based in countries that do not have nearly as large of a "home market" as compared to the potential foreign markets for their cars. The import manufacturers mindset is: 'we must be competitive with the world's best'.. Because, for an "import" company, their "domestic competitors" are not only GM, etc. in the U.S., but Seat, Skoda, Renault, etc. in Europe, various other companies it Asia, Australia, etc. For domestic companies, their mindset is: 'marketing first, quality/engineering if the customer base for that car demands it'. Many domestic cars are not sold in most other countries. Think about that... For example: a Cadillac Escalade is basically a Chevy/GMC Suburban with more luxury parts. A Suburban is basically a Chevy/GMC full-size pickup. The Chevy/GMC full-size pickup has not had a complete re-design between 1988 - 1998. Even if a Cadillac Escalade is rarely sold, it's a $50k vehicle whose design is already paid for by all the pickups/Suburbans you see. The Escalade is NOT sold in most other countries. So, where is the incentive to make a superior quality vehicle? Quality and reliability varies a LOT between different domestic models. Many Cadillacs, Corvettes, and Lincolns had high-tech, high-quality designs 10-12 years ago that some of the economy/family domestic cars still don't have. GM, Ford, and Chrysler know that the high-level (luxury) car customers are very discerning, and that's where the design money goes. If you buy a domestic car, buy an older, luxury one, not a newer, cheap one. Unfortunately, this can be difficult for young buyers to do, because the financers/insurance companies want young people to buy new cheap cars, and pay massive insurance premiums... The advertisements say a lot... Domestic car ads show customer 'lifestyles' and rarely say much about the cars themselves. Saturn ION: (ad shows high-schoolers and says:) "specifically engineered for whatever's next" Chevy Impala: (lady hanging out car window, ad says:) "let's go for a drive" Foreign car ads usually talk about the car itself: Mazda 6: ad talks about transmission, handling, shows overhead view of car sliding on road forming number "6". Toyota 4Runner: ad talks about engine, suspension, shows vehicle climbing hills, etc. Captive imports: let me explain what this is... From about 1976 - 1996 American car companies knew that they had a shortage of high-quality, reliable small cars. So, they bought some from Japanese and Korean companies, and either put a domestic name on it, or a different body. These cars can be great deals, because the domestic name drops the resale value down, the parts are cheaper because there are more cars of that same design on the road, and you can get parts at 2 different dealers. Here is a list: (not 100 percent complete, the Geo name died after 1997) Ford Probe = Mazda MX-6 1990+ Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer = Mazda Protege Mercury Villager = Nissan Quest Chrysler Conquest = Mitsubishi Starion Eagle Summit = Mitsubishi Mirage Eagle Talon/1990+ Plymouth Laser = Mitsubishi Eclipse Dodge Stealth = Mitsubishi 3000GT Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista = Mitsubishi Expo Dodge D50/Ram 50/Plymouth Arrow = Mitsubishi Mighty Max Dodge Raider = Mitsubishi Montero 1984-1988 Chevy Nova = Toyota Corolla FWD Geo/Chevy Prizm = Toyota Corolla (Sprinter body) Geo/Chevy Tracker = Suzuki Sidekick Geo/Chevy Metro = Suzuki Swift Geo Storm = Isuzu Impulse Some people make a big deal about where a car is 'built'. Cars are not 'built' anymore. Alternators, starters, fuel pumps, water pumps, steering racks etc. are not re-built in an auto repair shop anymore. Many times, they are replaced with brand-new parts because it is cheaper to do so. Not much is hand-done in a car factory either. Cars are engineered and assembled. All that really matters is who did the engineering. An Import car assembled in America is just as good as one assembled in Japan. Another important difference between modern cars and older cars is the longevity. A lot of people still have the mindset that you'd better get rid of a car before it hits 100,000 miles, or it will fall apart. This was true in the 1970's and earlier. Nowdays, a well-maintained, high-quality car can go to 200,000+ easily. My dad wanted to buy a 1997 Camaro because it was cheap and had low mileage. (and because he is attached to American brands) I strongly suggested a 1995 Honda Accord, and got him to test drive it. He bought the Camaro instead. Now about 1 year later, at 48,000 miles it needed a new fuel pump ($800 repair), and a new wheel speed sensor (repair not done yet). Another VERY important thing: Read every page of your owner's manual. Do ALL the maintainence it says to, when it says to. This is FAR more important than what brand of gas or oil you use, or what brand of replacement parts you use.  |
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