I am so tired of comparisons between north american and Japanese products. One of my closest friends, a "die hard Pontiac man" all of his life, just told me he has turned down a "phenominal deal" trading his 2000 Grand Prix GTP on a 2003 Bonneville SSEi, just like mine, for a new 2004 Acura TL?????? I just spent an hour with him as he told me everythng wrong with my new Bonneville ( my second, first was a 1997) and how great this little Japanese "sport car" was. Now you have to understand, I strayed from GM and bought two Nissan Maxima'* - a 1989 and a 1995, and I will never go back. The Japanese cars are nice, but in no way do they compare to what I call GM Muscle. When I sold my 1995 Nissan Maxima and bought my 1997 Bonneville, I never for an instant looked back - I loved that car to the day I sold it and only sold it to get my hands on another Bonneville, this time with the "supercharged motor". I am just so sick and tired of everyone saying that Japaniese quality is so much better - I don't care what you say, those Japanese horses are just not the same as north american. I would not trade my 2003 Bonneville SSEi for any Acura which quite frankly, could fit in my trunk!

I am just so disappointed in my friend and my only consolation is perhaps he has to try one, to understand the difference? However, we all have to be concerned that if this trend continues, the Bonneville will be extinct and we will all be reducing our choices - how do you feel about Toyota Corrolla?????????

Sorry I am venting, I am just so frustrated by this unexpected turn of events!

I personally think Europe has some better quality products...Japan makes some quick little cars, but well made? I wouldn't put money down on that.

Japan makes excellent powertrains, but I still love the good ol American torque!

I don't have a problem with "non-american" cars. Personally I am a GM fan, but thats all personal opinion. What pisses me off is the fact that there are so many people out there that think that all american cars are junk and the forign cars are all better, no matter what. American cars suck and nobody should get them. I know quite a few people who think that, and it just blows me away. They can buy a foreign car, I don't care. They can dislike an american car, I don't care, but I do think its really stupid when someone says that all american cars are crap. It just doesn't make sense.

For instance, my best friend'* GF. She drives a Mazda Protege. Nothing wrong with that, good for her. We went somewhere in my GP and she was saying how all American cars are junk, and her mazda is so much better than my car. At that point I was very confused. My car is much bigger, much quieter, much quicker, has a much smoother ride, and has much more options. (even simple stuff like power windows and power seats that her mazda doesn't have) But her car is nicer because it is newer, and it isn't american. I turned on my heat right when we got in the car (because it was cold out and I didn't want to be cold in the car) and I cranked the blower up all the way, and she was like, "turn the heat on." I said it was on, and she said, "no, turn it up higher." So then I said it was up all the way, and she didn't believe me because she couldn't hear the blower in the back seat. Then she was saying that her Mazda was better because the blower for the heat was really loud so it was really easy to tell if it was on. Then I was really confused, because I would think you would want it quieter so it wasn't so bothersome.

But, her car has a better warranty, so if anything goes wrong they will fix it, so its automatically nicer than my car (I don't understand that logic), which cost 1/5 the money and that I have had to dump a whole $300 into repairs the whole time I've had it. (and that was just for the radiator (which rotted out) and the water pump) And my car is 14 years old, hers is like 5 years old.

But, I must just be stupid, I guess all american cars are junk, no matter if they are nicer, bigger, faster, smoother, and have more options. I mean, afterall, they are American cars, that in itself means they MUST be crappy.

Shawn

I bet the girlfreind was blond. I do like the 2004 TL bu when was the last time you saw a rice burner with 200000 miles on it that didnt blow smoke.

A friend of mine in my old speech class gave a speech on how Japanese cars are better than American. So many errors in that speech! Made me so angry!

My brother has a 1985 Honda CRX. It has somewhere between 225,000 and 250,000 miles, doesn't blow smoke and still got up wen't like a bat outa h***. Then he rolled and he had to shut off the engine after he came to rest, oil is leaking from the engine somewhere(not being burned), and still runs. The Japanese know how to make an engine that really will not die.

As previously stated on multiple forums, I know next to nothing about cars...but some thoughts and opinions by me for the fun of it all....

I love my Pontiac. I think GM cars are great, but not without fault. I've been in some foreign cars, and I don't feel that they all have the same get up and go as my bonne, but that'* probably got more to do with which engines. Anyways, the one thing I like about my American car is that it feels "weighty", I can't think of any way better to say it. It just seems to me that there'* more substance to the car, which is a feeling that helps me feel safe. On the other hand, I too think there is something to be said about the fact that some foriegn cars that those motors won't quit if you get a good one (but, alas the same could be said for GM'* motors too--ex: 3800 ). Anyways, I think it'* this "weighty" (which is such a dumb way to explain it, but someone understands don't they?) that makes all the difference. Plus there'* that feeling that you are supporting the good ole U.*. of A.

After being in the autobody repair business for 10 years and working on all types of cars, the japenese are no better or worse than american cars.But there is nothing better than good old Americian pride,Ill still take my bonne over ANY import.

MAZDA isnt a foreign car its owned buy Ford motor company tell her that