Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsar
If they were completely abandoned they would have gone under before 2008. They simply didn't produce anything that people wanted; or thought it would fall apart.
My step dad had an exploder, engine and tranny went at different times while the car was on a 36 month lease. Do you think my parents were enthusiastic about buying another American car after that? It took me a fair amount of time to convince my mother to look at Caddy's, eventually she did and bought one, but if that thing ever breaks I doubt ANY of the the big 3 will see my parent's money ever again. It only takes ONE screw up for someone not to buy product from you, and the big 3 has done it on more than one occasion.
Me on the other hand; well I can't wait to get my CTS  |
I think the fact that they are American vehicles lends people to give them a lot less rope.
Example:
I know somebody with a Civic Si with the weird shift issue (where you can't push it into 3rd because the trans synchros are poorly designed). He changed the fluid to some form of Amsoil synthetic and is just dealing with the issue. As a matter of fact, a lot of owners of that car are taking it in stride. If it had been an American car there would be a huge deal about how much the manufacturer sucks and how they can't build a good car.
Toyota pickups had a similar deal. I know somebody who owned one of the Tacomas with the frame rust issue. I crawled under it (a '99) and the frame rails looked worse than the ones on my '69 when I first got it. I could push my finger through the frame. But that driver, and many others, still liked the Tacoma and would be willing to buy another one in spite of the fact that it rusted away in less than 10 years.
Both of these are big issues that would have a big impact on brand image and consumer confidence if it wasn't for the fact that these aren't American cars.