I started to post this in the "first cars" thread, but it's not really on topic so I gave it its own.

rjwood commented on how it's a good idea to stay away from Chrysler and that Ford isn't all that hot either. I would extend that by saying that I don't really trust most American cars. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, but on the cheap end of things, I would take a Honda Civic over a Pontiac Sunfire any day (for example). I don't really have much to back this up, other than I've just known more horror stories related to American cars than to Japanese. Thoughts?