2008 Honda Accord LX 4-door from North America - Off Topic Comments

If the big 3 should go under (hardly likely) my family will never buy an import. We will buy used domestics for the rest of our lives. Considering that my family members have driven a good number of domestics for as long as 30 years with virtually no mechanical problems, I hardly think finding a good used one will be very hard.

After my friend's Camry totally disintegrated at 112,000 miles, he bought a 22-year old Chevy with over 200,000 miles on it. It runs just great and he is still driving it.

When my sister-in-law finally traded her 1975 Ford (for another Ford) in 1993, it had over 300,000 miles and had cost her less in repairs than two payments on an Accord.

Before the late 1970's there were few foreign manufacturers in the U.S. So there stands a reason why more older domestics are on the road than imports.

Also, domestic automakers had relatively little competition before gas prices inflated in the 1970's, thus they were the predominant vehicle seen on the road. Besides, the Japanese just stepped it up in the 1980's. They came and studied the U.S. automakers' system, perfected it and beat them at their own game.

When the U.S. can build a reliable, long-lasting vehicle I will "buy American". Until then, I will buy the most economical and reliable vehicle.

"When my sister-in-law finally traded her 1975 Ford (for another Ford) in 1993, it had over 300,000 miles and had cost her less in repairs than two payments on an Accord." (from comment 20:11)

I guess commenter 01:23 Doesn't regard 300,000 miles as "reliable" or 18 years as "long lasting"??

That was in 1975. The car was bought before there were many foreign makes on the road in the U.S., of course they were reliable, they lacked competition.

Also, the reason most people drive a car 30 years is usually not because they like it, but cannot afford a new one.

"4th Dec 2008, 11:34

That was in 1975. The car was bought before there were many foreign makes on the road in the U.S., of course they were reliable, they lacked competition.

Also, the reason most people drive a car 30 years is usually not because they like it, but cannot afford a new one."

I don't agree with either statement. Why would a car be more reliable just because it lacked competition? Either it's reliable or it's not, and American cars always have been reliable. Japanese cars of the 1970's were notoriously unreliable, but they got market share because they were cheap.

Somebody might drive a 10-year-old car because they can't afford a new one, but if somebody drives a 30-year old car, it is clearly because they like it, since 10-year old cars are very cheap and can be easily acquired for little money.

I drive an early '70s Charger and it's not because I "can't afford" a new car. I'm probably one of the few people who could walk into a dealership and pay cash for whatever I wanted to drive. It just so happens that my Charger is and has always been a good car and I like it, and that is what I want to drive. I agree with the other poster --- I will NEVER buy Japanese. I mean it when I say that if Toyota were the last auto manufacturer on the planet, I would never buy one. I will drive used American cars forever if the Big Three should fail, and since they are built so well, I'm not worried about having one that will last me that long.

"If the big 3 should go under (hardly likely) my family will never buy an import. We will buy used domestics for the rest of our lives."

Too bad roughly 65% of all "domestic" vehicles are actually designed and engineered overseas, not to mention made out of parts from China, Brazil, France, Germany, and a smattering of US components. Ironically, my US-made Toyota is probably more "domestic" then half the Chevys and Fords out there. So even if you outright refuse to buy an import... you will still be driving an import anyway.

"I haven't seen anyone comparing Crown Victorias with Accords. That would be like comparing a Mercedes to a Yugo. The Crown Vic is light years ahead of any Honda. The Accord should be (and has been) compared to the world-class Fusion."

The Crown Vic is no longer made for none other than it's painfully obvious that the car is an aged dinosaur for old people. I don't know a single person under the age of 45 who owns the things except for taxi drivers and police officers.

Secondly, as repeated over and over again, the Fusion is based off of a Japanese car - A Mazda 5, and has a Mazda designed engined with a crank forged in India. The car is assembled in Mexico. The only "domestic" thing about it is the Ford name. Other than that, it's an import. Just like all Ford cars, sure - it'll get GREAT initial quality reports then fall apart in 3-4 years.

My Wife owned a 90' Civic. The thing had 220,000 miles on it and even still looked new. Absolutely zero problems whatsoever. We only sold it because we inherited a car from her parents. My Mom has a new Honda CR-V. The quality and fit and finish are impeccable. There's nothing cheap about it. My Uncle, who always owned Fords bought a Honda Pilot. He loves the thing.

Honda build perhaps one of the best cars out there. Comparing anything Honda builds to Ford is laughable. I'm sure patriotism gets in the way of reality in these comments, but seriously - get real.

"of course they were reliable, they lacked competition" WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!!! Since when does not having competition make a vehicle MORE RELIABLE?? I suppose if the Yugo had been the only car in the world it would have lasted a million miles??

Just to put this up there; 1995 3.8L V6 Buick Century VS a 1990 2.2L I4, which one do you think lasted longer?

"I agree with the other poster --- I will NEVER buy Japanese. I mean it when I say that if Toyota were the last auto manufacturer on the planet, I would never buy one."

If anyone is as confused as I am as to why these "foreign" versus "domestic" arguments never end, the statement above pretty much sums it up. Because the car is Japanese. That's it.

"Secondly, as repeated over and over again, the Fusion is based off of a Japanese car - A Mazda 5, and has a Mazda designed engined with a crank forged in India. The car is assembled in Mexico. The only "domestic" thing about it is the Ford name. Other than that, it's an import. Just like all Ford cars, sure - it'll get GREAT initial quality reports then fall apart in 3-4 years."

I'm confused. So, you're saying that imports are unreliable and will fall apart? Okay, if you say so.

No, the arguments never end because there are a handful of people who are so fanatical in their support of Japanese marques that they will not accept the validity of reviews that truthfully report problems with Toyota and Honda. They also attack anyone who would dare to state that they like their American car. Thankfully, a few folks who recognize how good American cars are feel compelled to set the record straight and defend American cars from such unfounded, vitriolic slander.

Regardless of WHERE a car is assembled, the country of the parent company reaps 90% of the profit and benefits of the sales. The U.S. auto industry employs millions of workers either directly or indirectly. If you WANT a depression, then help kill off the Big Three. Of course you'll be chopping off your nose to spite you face, as such a national depression will have a negative effect on ALL of our citizens (even if you drive an import).

And it seems really strange that people who have never driven or even LOOKED AT a domestic vehicle can so boldly declare that they are "crap" and "unreliable". Many consumer agencies feel differently. That's why the Ford Fusion is ranked higher in reliability and build quality than both Camry and Accord. That's why in its issue on high mileage vehicles, CR's highest mileage vehicle was a Ford Ranger that had gone just shy of a HALF MILLION miles with no problems (the car that had the LOWEST mileage of any in that article was a HONDA). Fully 30% of the "World's 10 Best Cars" are GM. J.D. Powers ranks Mustang ahead of the Toyota Solara, and in 2007 ranked the Pontiac Gran Prix ahead of the Toyota Avalon. The list goes on and on... but this is just an example of how brainwashed the public is to the REAL reliability and build quality of domestic vehicles.

Another major scare tactic being used by import dealers now is the story that "if domestics go bankrupt, you WON'T HAVE A Warranty". NOT SO!! By law even if the companies go bankrupt they HAVE to provide warranty protection and service for the extent of your warranty. That's the LAW.

I've worked on domestic and imported vehicles for 35+ years. I've OWNED imports. I can assure you that no import (even Mercedes) is as inexpensive to drive and maintain as a comparable domestic. Our one Toyota was a pretty decent car, but by no stretch of the imagination any better than any Ford or Chevy or Dodge we've owned. The Honda was one of the most poorly built vehicles we ever were cursed with. It didn't MAKE 100,000 miles. The materials used in it were so under-engineered that the car was LITERALLY falling apart.

If people are going to root for the destruction of our country, then at least they could avail themselves of a tad bit more knowledge before making rash and unfounded statements (like no competition equals more reliable, for instance). All no competition means is DRASTIC price increases for car buyers.

Yes, but the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry & Corolla are built in the USA, while the Chevrolet Impala & Chrysler 300's are built in Canada. The PT Cruiser is built in Mexico. So just what is YOUR definition of an American car?

My mother owns a 2004 Honda Accord, purchased brand new. She has not had a single problem with it other than routine maintenance (oil change, tires, etc.), the car runs the same as it did the day she bought it. Before she owned a 2000 Odyssey and didn't have any problems with it. Japanese vehicles do have bland designs many times but the fit and finish are unbeatable. They are built for the long haul. With American makes, one can expect only a few good years out of it before the problems begin.

Also, no one really knew which cars were the best before the 1970's since domestics were the only ones built. They had little competition and consumers had little choice other than an American offering. True, Japanese makes were cheaply made before the 1970's. They sent engineers and designers over to study the manufacturing process, went home, perfected it and left American manufacturers in the shade at their own game. Since owning my 1987 Nissan Maxima that lasted 20 years with relatively minor problems, I can never see myself owning another American vehicle.