Why Can't America Make Decent Cars?

[Lordbenny]

I'll be honest with you, I like American cars (Well, some of them!) I like the muscely looks, the chrome & the noise but, that's about it. Yes, I've seen Bullet & The Dukes Of Hazzard & American Graffiti & I drooled over Corvette Stingrays in the 70's....when I was 10 but let face it the Yanks can't make cars! The AC Cobra was English albeit with a yank motor so don't go there and the cars I mentioned earlier were iconic but that's all. I'm sure alot of people will be upset reading this but....you know I'm right!

[ewenm]

Depends on your personal definition of a "decent" car <shrug>

[Flintstone]

Been a while since the last anti-yank car thread but I'm sure this will go the same way as the others

[itz_baseline]

[eldar]

Lordbenny said:

I'll be honest with you, I like American cars (Well, some of them!) I like the muscely looks, the chrome & the noise but, that's about it. Yes, I've seen Bullet & The Dukes Of Hazzard & American Graffiti & I drooled over Corvette Stingrays in the 70's....when I was 10 but let face it the Yanks can't make cars! The AC Cobra was English albeit with a yank motor so don't go there and the cars I mentioned earlier were iconic but that's all. I'm sure alot of people will be upset reading this but....you know I'm right!

Early 60's. Ford USA make the GT40. Ford GT make the Anglia.

Who wants a car only 40" tall?

[BeeRoad]

You might've had a point in 1975 or even 1995, but not before or after those dates. They make some good cars these days and even a few excellent ones.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

<<<<<<<<<<< gets a can and waits for 300 and Lusifer

[Papa Hotel]

I'd had thought the OP had been around long enough and seen enough of Pistonheads to know this thread could cause a ststorm... Cynical, me? No. No, the thread wasn't designed to troll at all, oh no.

300bhl/tonne come in, your thread has arrived.

[Garlick]

Please see all the other topics on the same subject

[shovelheadrob]

As said define decent, I have owned dozens of American cars over the last 30 years. Some didn't handle particularly well, some didn't stop as well as the latest product from "Vorch sprung durch der technik", some had dubious build quality. But they all have one thing in common, bucketfulls of torque & an equal amount of character.
If you are talking sports/performance then the latest Corvettes can run with the best of them, factor in the value for money & it all starts to make sense. Most of the things we take for granted on a modern motor such as power steering, power brakes, electric windows, central locking etc were only available on top end european/japanese cars untill the last 20 years. American cars had most of these features back in the fifties. JMO

[BeeRoad]

Papa Hotel said:

I'd had thought the OP had been around long enough and seen enough of Pistonheads to know this thread could cause a ststorm... Cynical, me? No. No, the thread wasn't designed to troll at all, oh no.

Especially when you notice the only decent car in his garage is made by General Motors. . . . . .

[AnotherClarkey]

I quite like my Jeep Cherokee (Liberty - the newer, blobby, one) - I wanted 3rd world engineering simplicity and durability. I view it like a series Landrover that is quiet, comfortable and doesn't go wrong all the time.

[Lordbenny]

Papa Hotel said:

I'd had thought the OP had been around long enough and seen enough of Pistonheads to know this thread could cause a ststorm... Cynical, me? No. No, the thread wasn't designed to troll at all, oh no.

300bhl/tonne come in, your thread has arrived.

Blimey, I've never been called a troll before, (I've just Googled troll!!!) Sorry if I've offended anyone I thought I was just stating a fact!

[loose cannon]

yes but those early american cars were designed for american roads, i.e you drive in a straight line for 3 hours at 50 mph and the tumble weed and horizon ahead looks the same as it did 3 hours previously,

[greggy50]

Delete this thread now please lol

[ewenm]

loose cannon said:

yes but those early american cars were designed for american roads, i.e you drive in a straight line for 3 hours at 50 mph and the tumble weed and horizon ahead looks the same as it did 3 hours previously,

A 60s Mustang is entertaining on British and European roads too. Not amazingly quick, but a huge amount of fun which is my main measure of "decent".

[randomwalk]

The Corvettes and Vipers are brilliant, exciting cars, however I do find American interior trim is always a let down both in quality and design, why can't they get it right?

[kambites]

randomwalk said:

The Corvettes and Vipers are brilliant, exciting cars, however I do find American interior trim is always a let down both in quality and design, why can't they get it right?

Personally, I like the fact that American performance car makers spend their money on, well, performance; rather than pretty interiors.

[Lordbenny]

randomwalk said:

The Corvettes and Vipers are brilliant,

If you're definition of brilliant is sh**ing yourself every time the road goes left or right!

[Papa Hotel]

Lordbenny said:

Papa Hotel said:

I'd had thought the OP had been around long enough and seen enough of Pistonheads to know this thread could cause a ststorm... Cynical, me? No. No, the thread wasn't designed to troll at all, oh no.

300bhl/tonne come in, your thread has arrived.

Blimey, I've never been called a troll before, (I've just Googled troll!!!) Sorry if I've offended anyone I thought I was just stating a fact!

Oh come off it.