Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - GM: Won't let "green car stuff" get out of hand

evolutionmovement · 07-22-2009, 01:56 PM

Amazing how long this thread is when we all mostly agree about the industry. I'm also amazed people read my long post! I would've included some of the other points people brought up, but tried to keep it brief(ish). That's why I write novels and not short stories.

Not to keep beating the point (VW—God I hate them so much!), but I think the European cars in their home markets are probably far more reliable than when they arrive in the US. That or the Europeans have a much higher tolerance for blown engines and such. I agree the American cars have traditionally been poorly made, but perceived quality and reliability are two different things. My friend's second nightmare Audi A4 (he's finally learned and is buying something else) looks nice, the door shuts with a solid thump, and the interior is a great place to sit ... on the side of the road awaiting a tow truck to take you to a dealer that will say the 1.8T is toast with 55k miles due to a poorly designer oil pickup, and no, it won't be covered as it's out of warranty. Easily three-quarters of the cars on the side of the road I see are VWs built since the mid-nineties (including 2, yes 2 that burned up in the breakdown lane—New Beetle and recent Jetta). I painted a VW badge on the fire extinguisher I carry because of that. On the other hand, I've known plenty of clapped-out trashed American cars that look like refugees from a Hollywood chase movie that still, somehow, get their owners need to go. Sure, you don't want to drive it or even look at it except to laugh, but it works. Hell, some of them could still embarrass better cars in a straight line ... until the door opens up on you and you spill out onto the highway because the bench seat bends towards the pavement and the seat belts are unusable decoration (an old friend's Nova, though I never actually fully fell out).

I am partly playing Devil's advocate here—I'm a guy who bought the Subaru Legacy with the Japan VIN over a US one. My sister had a US one and there really was a difference in perceived quality and solidity.

07-22-2009, 01:56 PM	#33 (permalink)
evolutionmovement EcoModding Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 216 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Amazing how long this thread is when we all mostly agree about the industry. I'm also amazed people read my long post! I would've included some of the other points people brought up, but tried to keep it brief(ish). That's why I write novels and not short stories. Not to keep beating the point (VW—God I hate them so much!), but I think the European cars in their home markets are probably far more reliable than when they arrive in the US. That or the Europeans have a much higher tolerance for blown engines and such. I agree the American cars have traditionally been poorly made, but perceived quality and reliability are two different things. My friend's second nightmare Audi A4 (he's finally learned and is buying something else) looks nice, the door shuts with a solid thump, and the interior is a great place to sit ... on the side of the road awaiting a tow truck to take you to a dealer that will say the 1.8T is toast with 55k miles due to a poorly designer oil pickup, and no, it won't be covered as it's out of warranty. Easily three-quarters of the cars on the side of the road I see are VWs built since the mid-nineties (including 2, yes 2 that burned up in the breakdown lane—New Beetle and recent Jetta). I painted a VW badge on the fire extinguisher I carry because of that. On the other hand, I've known plenty of clapped-out trashed American cars that look like refugees from a Hollywood chase movie that still, somehow, get their owners need to go. Sure, you don't want to drive it or even look at it except to laugh, but it works. Hell, some of them could still embarrass better cars in a straight line ... until the door opens up on you and you spill out onto the highway because the bench seat bends towards the pavement and the seat belts are unusable decoration (an old friend's Nova, though I never actually fully fell out). I am partly playing Devil's advocate here—I'm a guy who bought the Subaru Legacy with the Japan VIN over a US one. My sister had a US one and there really was a difference in perceived quality and solidity.