Imports more reliable than Domestic?

[Eric2.0]

Not a troll thread and I know this is a talked about subject a million times over, but I am considering going to an import. I found a 2001 Honda CRV for sale with 200k and the guy wants 2,200 for it and says it runs awesome, no rust and smooth. Someone told me it's a good deal and CRV's go anywhere and extremely durable and reliable, good for over 400k if taken care of. He said he'd take it over any American comparison. Well that comment was annoying to me and one I've heard many times over, but still have been Domestic faithful with all of my American car and trucks having well over 200k or 300k when I get done with them, minimal problems with all of my American cars. I've never owned an import, but after looking at this CRV I kinda like it and has a roof rack I can use for my new Kayaking hobby.

So straight up, do you think imports are more reliable, better built than any American cars? better resale?

I know this sounds like a flaming, troll thread...lol I know, but hey...it sucks to face the truth, but sometimes we all have to just dive into it.

As fo rme I've had no problems with any of my American cars and I drive them hard. I've had 78 thunderbirds all the way to a Contour, old Ford pick-ups as well....My Old Ford Ranger had 400k on it before I ran into a pole, which bent the front....Still started up and ran smooth. So I don't get why so many people say imports are better and more reliable.... WHY!??

I have to admit that I really like the CRV....it's 4wd, not awd, which is cool and has room for my bicycle inside and Kayak on the roof.

Also if the mods think this is just going to start a flame, then remove...I understand it.

 

[ScotSHO]

I think it was a real thing back in the 80s and 90s. Since the turn of the millenium, I believe the tide turned and the manufacturing methodologies of Ford and Dodge caught up, and the imports cut some corners to continue to improve profits. I firmly believe GM is always behind the times, and their quality may never be on par with the high performers.

I also think there is some confirmation bias going on here, people have to justify spending the extra bucks on the import, of course they are going to say it is the best thing since sliced bread.

If you like the 13 year old CRV, buy it! Figure out the common problems ahead of time and see if they break your bank. Honda replacement parts do seem to run much higher than the Ford Contours and Ranger parts.

 

[BrApple]

I was going to say the same thing as ScotSHO. In the last ten years there has been a shift. However everyone still is holding onto the past in a sense.


I will also comment that every manufacturer has problematic cars. Some are good and some are not. I would think that anything that is well taken care of would last a long time.


And just something else to think about, growing up in the 80's and 90's I recall always hearing about domestic vehicle recalls. Now I hear more recalls for imports that in the past. So this could be attributed to any number of things.






And finally, I think we all remember the car and driver segment that put the 99 SVT Contour against its competitors and they basically said its better and cheaper, but its third behind the Audi and the BMW ....

 

[Eric2.0]

I had a 1978 Thunderbird(loved that car) and gave no problems as far as engine blown up or tranny dropping out....no major problems, always started(even in sub zero temps) this was back in 1998 when I bought the Thunderbird. It had about 287,000 miles on it when I took it to the grave yard....still ran and drivable, but the frame succumbed to the harsh winters....I didn't feel safe in selling it to someone other than the junk yard....I was too afraid someone would try and drive it and get hurt. Perhaps if I washed the frame in the winters it would of lasted a lot longer. It had a 351M big block and driven daily.

My latest car is a 98 Contour and it runs fine except for the annoying low power it seems to have and a more clunkier shifting tranny. My Mystique was the same way, but went it's 287,000 miles without any engine or tranny failure. Still drivable but again....the body got pretty rusted. In California it would of probably lasted longer.

Anyways my point is....I've had American cars from the 70's and late 90's and none of them have ever given me huge trouble or not start.... and had well over 200k when I get rid of them...my Ranger had way over 300k 1997.

I have no complaints about any of my American cars I have owned.

I did end up getting the CRV, went and saw it today and gave the guy 1,500 cash. It runs like new and very minimul rust. Original California car with two NY winters(military guy) He's leaving post and just wants to dump the CRV..... The interior is perfect....looked to be well maintained and tires were decent. For 1,500 I was very happy. It does need some fixing to the muffler and one window doesn't work....but that's just fun stuff I can take my time to fix.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a spare engine and tranny for just in case....the body is nice enough for a transplant IMO. I'll use this for my Kayaking and biking stuff.

 

[BAD SVT]

I also agree with all of the above. In the 80s & 90s, FORD became plastered with the moniker Fix Or Repair Daily because many of the vehicles they built honestly did suck. Much so that few ppl would touch a ford or any other domestic vehicle with 100,000 miles & over. Many would be due for a new/rebuilt tranny around that mile mark....... Like clockwork. And as was brought out already, the domestics have now caught up & are many times even better. So were the imports better built and more reliable in the past? Absolutely.

 

[ScotSHO]

It looks solid from here. Back tire needs some air, must be domestic tires.

 

[Eric2.0]

I also agree with all of the above. In the 80s & 90s, FORD became plastered with the moniker Fix Or Repair Daily because many of the vehicles they built honestly did suck.

I'm assuming then that a 1998 Contour, sucks? SO far it's holding up, but I'm crossing my fingers that the tranny doesn't fail.....at least for the next two years. I've heard the trannys in these are junk and usually quit after under 100,000 miles. I just crossed over the 73,000 mile mark with my 98. My Ranger was a 1997 and that truck was NOT junk....that thing wouldn't quit and it was abused.....Had the 4cl and a 5 speed.....miss that old girl and only a mishap with a shopping cart isle pole, ended it. (hit the pole on the left side head on at 25MPH and bent the entire left front frame, broke steering box ect ect.) I loved that truck. Not sure if you're referring to possibly the early 90's, but my 90's Fords were pretty good. The worst car I had was a 1995 Plymouth Acclaim....what a basket case. I think the car was abused before I got it though...it looked ok, but turned out to be a major lemon and the engine popped under 100,000 miles from a warped Cylinder head. And I take care of stuff, change oil and make sure radiators are flushed.

It looks solid from here. Back tire needs some air, must be domestic tires.

It's pretty good shape, but for 1,500 you can't expect perfection. The pics don't show the scratches and some minor dents and minor rust down below. I am friends with a pro body guy and will most likely have this painted up nice.... The bottom is real nice and al the suspension arms ect ect aren't all yellowed with rust....Shifting is still smooth and I also found out that the engine is a replacement with low miles, but the OD says 200,998?? so...the motor must of blew(the original one). It was definitely a good deal though. The guy is military and we see deals like this all the time at the base I live near. hey just want to dump there old crap so they can move and thy buy new cars. Often these 'old crap' are southern rigs with no rust(case in point my new CRV) and New Yorker boys like me, salivate over them. I know someone who bought a 1981 Camaro Berlinetta for 200.00 at the impound from the Army, due to the owner abandoning it on base before they shipped out. The underneath was like a sheet of paper clean and the car needed nothing....just some new tires because it sat for so long they went flat. He did a nice repspray and put on a new decal kit and takes it to car shows. So this is one of the reasons I keep Craigslist on my home page lol....Military guys are crazy....they drive there rust free beaters up here to NY and end up buying a 4WD rig or new Camaros for the harsh winters here... While guys like me buy their old rust free rigs for pennies. I love it.

 

[elraido]

Replace the timing belt. Honda doesn't use chains on any of their cars. I just sunk about $800 in to our 07 Honda Pilot with 135K miles. New radiator, ac condenser, power steering line. We also replaced the ac compressor late last year (and the one we replaced was an aftermarket one, so it was replaced once before that). In laws have an 05 CRV. The problems they have had with theirs have been brake calipers freezing up (replaced all 4) and one of the head lights keeps burning out every 3 months on clockwork.....and that is a pain in the rear to replace. Over all though, we are both happy with our Hondas. The father in law does like our Pilot a lot more than their CRV though.

 

[BAD SVT]

I'm assuming then that a 1998 Contour, sucks? SO far it's holding up, but I'm crossing my fingers that the tranny doesn't fail.....at least for the next two years. I've heard the trannys in these are junk and usually quit after under 100,000 miles. I just crossed over the 73,000 mile mark with my 98. My Ranger was a 1997 and that truck was NOT junk....that thing wouldn't quit and it was abused.....Had the 4cl and a 5 speed.....miss that old girl and only a mishap with a shopping cart isle pole, ended it. (hit the pole on the left side head on at 25MPH and bent the entire left front frame, broke steering box ect ect.) I loved that truck. Not sure if you're referring to possibly the early 90's, but my 90's Fords were pretty good. The worst car I had was a 1995 Plymouth Acclaim....what a basket case. I think the car was abused before I got it though...it looked ok, but turned out to be a major lemon and the engine popped under 100,000 miles from a warped Cylinder head. And I take care of stuff, change oil and make sure radiators are flushed...

Like i said; "Most". My DD is a 2.3 manual 4 banger ranger. That truck will not quit as well. Almost 200k and still running strong. But ford made the pinto. The taurus as well back in the day was a horrid vehicle. Peruse through the ford aisle in your neighborhood junkyard, & tell me how many tauruses you find there. The automatics were the WORST! The manuals had a much better chance of survival, yes. In fact my old DD was a 95GMC jimmy. The trannies in those things were God awful. I replaced it twice. Auto trannies have come a long way tho. I stand by my comment. I'm a ford guy. But the imports were more reliable than domestics back in the day. Not an ounce of doubt in my mind.

 

[rouar]

I'm assuming then that a 1998 Contour, sucks? SO far it's holding up, but I'm crossing my fingers that the tranny doesn't fail.....at least for the next two years.

Reliability on these cars has always been hit or miss, with more misses than hits. However, these days I think most of the bad ones have already been junked.