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?

Investigating 'resale value' in cars is a good way to judge auto quality.

The fact is, an automobile is a machine, and machines break down and wear out as well as may come with some defects here and there.

The truth is Chrysler and Ford both have reputations of cutting corners. In some areas they may use plastic parts where a stonger alloy is a better idea. Besides, the american government has such low standards these days when it comes to auto manufacturing and some manufacturers just simply only do what is necessary to get the car on the market.

Look at what we went through in the 80's and 90's with recalls. My god, it seemed almost every american labeled car would be recalled immediatly after they were put on dealers lots.

How about the fact that Volvo is now on almost nobodys list of got to have cars since Ford took them over. A whole lot of trouble with them now, it's ridiculous.

Daimler found out what an albotross chrysler is and wants to unload it (if it hasen't already, I have not been following lately).

It's Daimler, and yes, they already have.

It's funny that you mention low standards:

Many American cars are not allowed in Germany because of security issues and the high level petrol consumption.

Who cares about consumption, when you can get POWER? My roommates (Lincoln Mark VIII and Buick Park Avenue) make fun of the weeniness of my engine (Acura 1.6 EL) all the time. I make fun of them for spending $80 on a tank of gas. I guess it depends on your priorities.

As to the low standards, I've heard that even cars that are a collaboration between auto makers can differ due to quality control in the factories (for example, Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix). If that's true, then it would seem to legitimatize the higher resale value of imports.

I don't see the use in buying such a power monster? What for? To cruise around the city and show everyone how loud your engine can be? You can't even drive as fast as you want in the US.

But that wasn't my point in the first place. Many European or Japanese cars have the same power but have less consumption and pass the strict tests. They are often based on old technology and therefore are not allowed to be sold anymore.

Toyota, Mercedes or Citroën are more state of the art when it comes to security, the engine and emissions.

I'm not saying all American cars are bad, not in the least, but many are.

I like pre-1980s American cars because they're easier to work on yourself than anything else. Trucks lasted until the late 80s before they got hard to work on. Parts are cheap too. But it was in the 80s that the problems rj mentioned kinda got started. I really don't much care for American cars after that.

Strange that you say that Ford has quality issues. Ford Europe must be a completely different animal... Ever since the Ford Focus MKI Ford Europe have been making some of the best cars. They are not popular because they have a serious brand image problem but there is nothing wrong with their quality.

I change cars every 3 years, So I have driven a lot of cars in my time. Also I get almost free chose of what I have so I take my time looking at new cars.

My current car is a Ford Focus C-Max Zetec 16v 1.6l variable valve timing.

It's a small MPV for our American cousins.

The thing that impressed me the most is the quality, of the build, design and materials used to make it.

Well, there is always the possibility of a company turning things around. I hope you are right and Ford is being more responsible as a manufacturer. I am under the impression that European countries are more strict about certain quality control issues.

It will take a long time for me to trust Ford because of all the issues regarding the explorer that went ignored intentionally for so many years.

As a person who had spent some years in the automotive industry, I have had to call it as I have seen it.

The problem with Ford in the UK is that resale value is terrible. A brand new £16k Mondeo will be worth, what, £4k in 4 years or so. Compare that to most other manufacturers and the usual resale is closer to £8k.

Also, looking at power - what is the point of cars that have such powerful engines, but the only thing you can do with them is drive up and down straight, flat, roads. The first corner and you have understeer problems, and the first pothole and your spine is shattered.

Compare that to something simple, say, a Ford Focus ST - the car is as fast as most of your large engined fuel gobbling machines, but is lighter, better handling and easier of the fuel. Or if you want to go a bit more expensive, try a BMW M5 - same thing.

Fords are far cheaper to repair than other cars, a new pair of brake discs for a ford sierra was £40, a pair of brake discs for a same size honda civic was £260, ford parts are dirt cheap, though. as i saw rjwood saying above, that might be because they use cheap parts to begin with.
Personally i dont find fords too bad, the latest mondeos look pretty damn good, the black horse of cars round here is traditionally the skoda (cue many bad jokes), though theyve improved a lot in recent years.

The problem with American cars is unions.

That's the only problem? Amazing how labor retirement costs also forces them to design crappy cars that market to momentary trends, rather than taking the long view. Amazing how organized labor single-handedly causes bad design and bad engineering.

There's that too.

It's like any other thing. Take a treadmill for example. If you buy one at a discount store, replacement parts will be less expensive than they would be had you purchased it at an exclusive exercise place. Of course, you are probably getting a better quality machine from the speciality store.