Poll: more Americans now believe US makes better-quality cars than Asia

[artds]

Never thought I'd see the day...

By Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON [[AP) -- America's love affair with the automobile has a new spark -- a renewed affection for U.S.-made cars after a long dalliance with foreign automakers.

Slightly more Americans now say the United States makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38 percent saying U.S. cars are best and 33 percent naming autos made by Asian countries, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll.

Highlighting the changing attitudes, 15 percent in the March poll said Toyota makes the best cars, down from 25 percent who said so in 2006. Moving in the opposite direction was Ford, cited as tops by just 9 percent in 2006 but by 18 percent last month.

more...

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...p-asian-autos/

[Jimaz]

Thanks, Toyota!

[Hermod]

Possibly we should wait until the 2010 annual sales figures are in before we break out in waves of "irrational exuberance".

[artds]

Thanks, Toyota!

The US auto makers have definitely benefited from Toyota's blunders, but I don't think you're giving Ford its due credit.

Ford began putting tremendous effort towards increasing the quality of its products a few years ago, and this is shown in the survey by the fact 2x the number of people beleive that Ford makes the best quality vehicles compared to just a few years ago.

[LeannaM]

Honestly, whether it's foreign or domestic doesn't really make a big difference to me. I want something reliable and affordable.

We have 3 fords and a chevy.

I'm glad Americans are regaining trust in American cars. People spending money on American products is always a good thing. I think the American car companies have had better press lately, and it's been recently bad for Toyota.

[Jimaz]

Yeah, I was half kidding. I have a Ford too and I love it!

[maxx]

The US auto makers have definitely benefited from Toyota's blunders, but I don't think you're giving Ford its due credit.

Ford began putting tremendous effort towards increasing the quality of its products a few years ago, and this is shown in the survey by the fact 2x the number of people beleive that Ford makes the best quality vehicles compared to just a few years ago.

I have a 1996 Honda Accord which has only needed maintenance and replacement of a couple parts. We also have a 2003 Mustang which we have sunk at least $3K in repairs to including a new clutch and transmission parts on top of maintenance. Maybe there are some good American-made
cars, but I have never owned one.

[Russix]

I have a 1996 Honda Accord which has only needed maintenance and replacement of a couple parts. We also have a 2003 Mustang which we have sunk at least $3K in repairs to including a new clutch and transmission parts on top of maintenance. Maybe there are some good American-made
cars, but I have never owned one.

It's a nice comparison, but you don’t mention anything about miles or driving style. So it’s perfectly equivalent for me to say that my Model T, which I only drive to church on Sunday in the summer, is fine but since my newer Honda Civic, which I take to the track every weekend, has problems so therefore: Ford Good, Honda Bad.

[mpf]

I have a 1996 Honda Accord which has only needed maintenance and replacement of a couple parts. We also have a 2003 Mustang which we have sunk at least $3K in repairs to including a new clutch and transmission parts on top of maintenance. Maybe there are some good American-made
cars, but I have never owned one.

I bought a Mustang, new, in 1979 [[fox-body). Drove it for 20 years! Took 3 days to sell it! Imagine a 96 honda in 2016...
I've had a bunch of japanese iron, but no more...in the long haul, USA is better.

[wash_man]

Maybe it has something to do with the work ethics of the workers producing them. Afterall, the extemely popular Ford Fusion isn't built in the U.S., but the now-troublesome Toyota Camry IS! Just sayin...

[Fury13]

I bought a Mustang, new, in 1979 [[fox-body). Drove it for 20 years! Took 3 days to sell it! Imagine a 96 honda in 2016...

I'm imagining an '04 Focus in 2024... hmmm...

Yeah, that'll really be a collector's item.

[Buy American]

WHAT YOU DRIVE, DRIVES AMERICA!
OUT OF A JOB YET? KEEP BUYING FOREIGN.

Detroit needs some good news for a change.

[East Detroit]

I'm imagining an '04 Focus in 2024... hmmm...

Yeah, that'll really be a collector's item.

Apparently, your posts couldn't say something positive about Detroit, ever.

And your posts unfaltering support of Toyota, who deceived the public, as a result are directly responsible for deaths and injuries of Americans and paid a HUGE fine to the government for their deceptive practices.... all too telling.

All too telling.

Seems to really irk you that Ford is now #1 in quality [[not to mention that Fusion mpg difference with the Camry).

Back to the ignore list your posts go. The obvious bias makes your posts not worth reading.

[Retroit]

Did the respondents to this poll base their judgment on perception [[drummed up by the recent Toyota dilemma) and experience [[of the very few cars they have owned) or did they actually do a comprehensive analysis [[of course not!)?

Which leads me to disqualify this poll [[even though the report is positive) because it is precisely this type of rushing to unfounded conclusions that has hurt the U.S. auto industry so much in recent years.

[East Detroit]

So, the fact that people now know with proof that Toyota quality is horrible should not be factored into their responses?

Did they receive that huge fine based on perception?

Sell that TM.

[Retroit]

So, the fact that people now know with proof that Toyota quality is horrible should not be factored into their responses?

Did they receive that huge fine based on perception?

Sell that TM.

One part of Toyota's cars are "horrible" [[the gas pedal). True, it is a critical part, but there are thousands of other parts on their cars that may actually be of better quality than their American counterparts. [[I'm not saying they are, just that they may be.)

[Fury13]

Apparently, your posts couldn't say something positive about Detroit, ever.

And your posts unfaltering support of Toyota, who deceived the public, as a result are directly responsible for deaths and injuries of Americans and paid a HUGE fine to the government for their deceptive practices.... all too telling.

All too telling.

Seems to really irk you that Ford is now #1 in quality [[not to mention that Fusion mpg difference with the Camry).

Back to the ignore list your posts go. The obvious bias makes your posts not worth reading.

Whatever. I'm tired of the pile-on and lack of balance in threads like these. And if you had ever even read my posts, you would have noticed that I never supported Toyota's behavior in camouflaging the accelerator issue. What Toyota did was wrong. But I've said that before.

No, it doesn't irk me that Ford has improved its quality. I've remarked positively on that before too. Good for Ford.

Those who know me, know that I say plenty of positive things about Detroit. I also believe that while the automakers are generally good for the area, it has made us too dependent on one industry. So I don't equate Detroit solely with the auto industry. There is more to Detroit than just cars, and that will be more evident as we continue to diversify.

But back to the issue at hand. The fact is, there are "keepers" among both import and domestic cars of the past. For every '69 Mustang Mach I at the Dream Cruise, there's a Datsun 240Z or an old VW Beetle that someone wants to restore. And for every '96 Corolla sedan that's just a Point-A to Point-B gofer car, there's an '04 Ford Focus wagon that has just as little status.

I was simply pointing out the fallacy of the argument that was being made. But please, go jump in the lake anyway.

[Buy American]

I also believe that while the automakers are generally good for the area, it has made us too dependent on one industry. So I don't equate Detroit solely with the auto industry. There is more to Detroit than just cars, and that will be more evident as we continue to diversify.

I would love to address these few sentences from your last post Fury13. I have no beef with you and I would like to address this in a civil way.

Did you know that one autoworker job supports 9 U.S. workers?
That our automakers invest in the economy?
Ford, GM and Chrysler support jobs because they do much of their research, design, engineering and assembly work here. Those are just a few statistics from The Level Field Institute.

Detroit is the Motor City Capital, that's a fact. Yes, Detroit and the surrounding areas have been very dependent on the auto industry, after all, the auto industry is the driving force in Detroit and Michigan. Thousands upon thousands of people depend on the auto industry for their livlihood here in Michigan. You don't equate Detroit solely with the auto industry because Detroit is more than just cars...please enlighten me as to what Detroit has to offer. As you can see, without the auto industry, Detroit is floundering. GM and Chrysler are still in Detroit and without their taxes and business, Detroit would be just another abandoned city. Is Detroit more than just cars? Maybe..a couple of movies made in Detroit...a few battery companies may be built, more casinos. Cars are the lifeblood for Detroit...without it, Detroit will most definitely die.

In my lifetime, I won't see the turnaround that you and many people are counting on...I won't see the "different" industries that may come in to Detroit and make it a viable city again. My kids and probably my grandchildren won't see it because it will take many years for this to happen. I hope some people stick around to see these dreams happen, but don't count on it. When there is no work, people leave. Please tell me just what are people supposed to do while this big diversification takes place.

WHAT YOU DRIVE, DRIVES AMERICA!
OUT OF A JOB YET? KEEP BUYING FOREIGN.

[hudkina]

For the past 10 years, the domestic brands started catching up with Asian brands when it came to quality, though the highest quality vehicles tended to be trucks and SUVs. While the Asian brands still tended to dominate quality studies, especially with small and midsize cars, the domestic brands were never really far behind. In the past few years [[especially since about 2008) Ford and GM have seen vast improvements with their smaller cars and crossovers, thanks in large part to their European/Asian divisions. Chrysler is the lone Big 3 company that is considerably behind when it comes to certain quality studies, but hopefully Fiat's expertise will help that.

Today Ford get's a lot more press for it's quality jump, but a lot of the "bump" is really only due to the fact that it didn't go through bankruptcy and take government loans. Not only do both GM and Ford have a lot of REALLY great cars they are fairing very well in quality studies.

[Hermod]

Chrysler is the lone Big 3 company that is considerably behind when it comes to certain quality studies, but hopefully Fiat's expertise will help that.

FIAT [[Fix It Again, Tony) sure did a great job in their last foreign venture [[Yugo). Maybe they can work the same magic on Chrysler.

[ejames01]

Make sure you guys don't forget to thank President Bush and President Obama for saving the Big 3.

[Detroitej72]

How do all the cons feel now that GM paid back their loan, with interest? That shatters the myth of a "government takeover" of the company.

Once they take the stock public,[[many economists think within a year) the tax payers should thank their government for making such a wise business move.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Make sure you guys don't forget to thank President Bush and President Obama for saving the Big 3.

F_ck a Bush. He was very reluctant to help them at all. Obama deserves the credit for saving them. And he saved just 2 of the 3, Ford has managed just fine. Bush was only concerned about giving Wall Street a handout.

[pffft]

Wow Fury,

I didn't realize you had such contempt for the Focus wagon. I think I even mentioned it to you not long ago.

[pffft]

Speaking of balance, waiting to hear more positive from you on something other than Asian cars...