Aussie Ford
Hard-core CEG'er
I traded off my 97 Dodge Dakota 4x4 in 02 w/147k on it and nothing other than regular maintenance..... no issues at all.
Just be aware that Toyota being the biggest auto manufacturer now is also facing all the headaches the US auto manufacturers used to face.... When I buy my new truck this fall, we will probably do the same thing and it will most likely be a Tundra. ...
Anyway owning a Contour is an adventure, you know I heard that after you have owned one for three years you can, if you apply for it, get an associates degree in automotive technology at your local community college..... LOL :laugh: J/K
You know, it might be a bit off topic, but consider. The salary you earn is your actual take home pay. Income taxes, Soc Sec, etc are paid by your employer. For an auto worker, the employer essentially pays up to a 100% incremental sales tax on wages. The "value" of any product in a free market is the total value of the labor content necessary for the most efficient producer to create that product, except for scarce materials like gold. Competition will not allow a higher price. Japan has a small income tax. If Ford sells into Japan, The cost of the Ford is "labor + big income tax + VAT". The cost of the Toyota is "labor + Small Income Tax + VAT". If the car is sold in the U.S., the cost of the Ford is "Labor + Big Income Tax". The cost of the Toyota is Labor + Small Income Tax. American labor costs a lot more than labor in other developed counties due to income tax, which increases the cost of producing the car. Toyota can put a lot more labor/resources into creating a squeak free car and happy customers than Ford can at a given price point. Ford exports much of it's assembly operations to other countries to compensate for this, but Ford is at a significant disadvantage. A progressive income tax means the low paying jobs will tend to stay here because the tax rate is lower on burger flippin jobs, about 20%, but high paying jobs will have to be outsourced overseas for Ford or other businesses to remain competitive. Something to consider when you decide which name to punch on the next election ballot, unless the youngsters in the listening audience actually enjoy flippin burgers.:crazy:
I will say however that I've had really good luck with the Datsun 510.
That's Datsun, not Nissan. I believe the company went through a morphing
when the name was changed in the USA.
I've owned 5 of 510s. Even owned the same car twice (long story).
And my dad owned one that seemed to last forever. Inexpensive, light
weight, and a dream to work on. Not the safest car to ride in I'll admit.
Its the only car I have ever owned that
could do a U-turn on a narrow side street without backing up.