I work in the automotive sector. I have seen spec sheets for companies like Ford, GM, Honda and Toyota. Most North American automotive companies have specs that are sometimes more than twice the tolerance than Japanese. Now call me crazy but that seems to me that the Japanese autos would be better built than N.A. But to look at one peice of the puzzle is no way to see the full picture. The reason I bought my Mystique was because it was good value for the money, good shape and low on klicks. You wouldnt believe the backlash I got for buyin a Ford. Now I know youll all might bash me for saying this but the next car I buy (hopefully it will be when I want to) will most likely be a Honda. For me they just make better products. Personally I think the whole made in US or made in Japan fight is pretty lame. Big companies will take the money and keep it for themselves. Even if a company is based in the US. That money doesnt go into the US. It just goes into stockholders pockets. The only thing Id really look at is how many people are employed by that company and where they work. I live in Canada. We make parts that are shipped to Illinois and N. Carolina. There they are assembled with other components (ie transmissions) and then shipped back to Canada to be assembled into the finished car. So am I silly to say I shouldnt by a Japanese car? The only thing that wasnt made in North America was the raw steel which was shipped from Japan.
