Import vs American?

[Skamakaze]

Just a simple question, which do you like better... import cars? or american made cars? I myself love them good ole' american muscle cars.

My fav car has to be 67' Dodge Charger by far....

The car I'm getting when I graduate is also American made, 1992 Ford Mustang baby! ;)

I do like some imports though, such as Toyota Supras, I dont know much about imports though so I cant go into detail...

[O.D.S]

Well i personally prefer European cars.

[Skamakaze]

Would that fall under import? Forgive me if im stupid lol

Oh yea, I do like Italian made cars also...

[Viper]

Corvette followed by the classic muscle cars. Guess that makes me a domestic.

[Omega]

Any car can be an import depending on where you live in the world.

[ILuMINiTE]

hmmmm id havta say german or japanese so im all import then after that it would be american

[cpiasminc]

Mmmm... I suppose it depends on the category. I mean, for various types of cars (including things I'd look at from a fun perspective, or a luxury perspective), there's some American cars that fit in there. However, I'd have to say that no matter the category, there'd be imports that fit into those categories. I happen to like Mustangs, but chances are slim that I'd ever end up buying one.

Most anything I'd like exists in some form or other in a Japanese auto. And that's why I own one now. And no, I'm not about to say it's the finest car in the world, but it's about the best I could do for the money.

[tazz3]

american cars are better and faster.
and the muscle cars rule even to days muscle cars rule.
they will run in the high 12's and low 13's.
no import car will run that unless u dump 5 grad in the motor.
plus all these honda civis are slow and they have no soul

[The Dude]

american cars are better and faster.
and the muscle cars rule even to days muscle cars rule.
they will run in the high 12's and low 13's.
no import car will run that unless u dump 5 grad in the motor.
plus all these honda civis are slow and they have no soul


oh good god. You can take a 1990-1999 Talon/Eclipse/Laser and with just a home made boost controller and exhaust run 13's all day for under $500. You apparently know very little about boosted 4 bangers let alone cars in general.

I love all cars.
I love the board power band of a supercharged V8
I love reving up to 11k in a light weight well tuned honda
I love the scream of the open wastegate of the turbocharged flat 4
I love the perfect handling of the Mazda rotary cars
I love ripping off the line in an awd monster

I am a car guy first and a 4g63 fanboy second

[SuperLuigiBros]

Australian cars rule.

http://www.motorcities.com/media/image/full/05GOF252328797A/2006-Holden-Monaro-CV8-Z-Last-Hurrah-for-Aussie-GTO-A-full.jpeg
http://www.motorcities.com/media/image/full/05GOF252328797B/2006-Holden-Monaro-CV8-Z-Last-Hurrah-for-Aussie-GTO-B-full.jpeg
http://www.motorcities.com/media/image/full/05GOF252328797C/2006-Holden-Monaro-CV8-Z-Last-Hurrah-for-Aussie-GTO-C-full.jpeg

[Xer0]

american cars are better and faster.
and the muscle cars rule even to days muscle cars rule.
they will run in the high 12's and low 13's.


And then you try to turn......


Personally I like the German and Japanesse makes more, but i can give credit to the Americans when they deserve it. I mean come on, the Ford GT is freakin God and the Vette is amazing. But i would have to take an NSX over all, don't ask why, there is just something about it.

[cpiasminc]

Well, if nothing else, it is true that Europeans and Japanese automakers can get more power out of less displacement than any American automaker. But in counter to that, American automakers typically have a devil-may-care attitude about displacement.

The main thing that is cool is that unlike the Japanese or Germans, American manufacturers are putting their big engines in models across the board. For instance, the Cobalt SS -- it's not necessarily a firebreathing beast that handles like a dream or anything like that... but the fact that a supercharged 4-banger is making into an otherwise entry-level compact car as opposed to a ragtop sportster or luxury sedan is something.

Where I really have to laud Honda is there transmissions. A smooth, snick-snick shifter on probably the quietest transmissions in automotive history is something they always have, and no American manufacturer has ever come close.

[Sendok]

Depends, I like my truck...but my next car might be a honda due to how good it gets on gas.

[Silent Warrior]

i like both...

american cars and trucks
import trucks

you can beat the living shit out of a toyota and it will still run. a toyota truck that is.

[Rizon]

i like both...

american cars and trucks
import trucks

you can beat the living shit out of a toyota and it will still run. a toyota truck that is.

Ahhh the toyota hi-lux pick up. like the most invincable truck ever to be created. Top Gear (uk tv programme) put one to the test, and its never broke down.
I so want one.

[NoZ]

^ That episode was cool and funny. That thing got fucked up so much and it still had the strength to run. Hit by a dozer, lost at sea, set on fire, ehh smashed into alot of shit, etc

[Xer0]

Well, if nothing else, it is true that Europeans and Japanese automakers can get more power out of less displacement than any American automaker.


To be fair American Automakers also use the OHV motor which alows for more displacment in less space then a comparible OHC engine. Thats one of the reason that a 7 litter "only" gets 500 hp. Their OHC offerings are pretty comparable to hp/litter of the imports however.

[DankHero]

i like my little accord, it gets good gas mileage, and its been banged around, it just doesnt make it up my hill in the winter.

[Helios]

I guess it really depends on which category. Far as power im split down the middle American/European. Whether its the FV10 in thFe Z06 or the 53Ihp V12 in the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. I just love the look to Euro brands, most especially the sleek look to the Lamborghini Diablo that just fits it so well with its monster of an engine. Japanese brands just do much for me in either category. Maybe for looks if you're into the ricer thing.

As for trucks american brands take it hands down.

----

In case you wanted to know I drive a 73' vette stingray. My new favorite automobile(calling it a car is an insult) is the Bugatti Veyron. (http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/bugatti2.htm) At a V16, 1001hp and electronically limited to 250 this is nothing short of a fuckin beast. Not to mention it looks pretty damn good.

[Viper]

FV10 in thFe Z06
Are you referring to the Vette Z06? If so, that's still a V8. The Viper has a V10 though.

[cpiasminc]

To be fair American Automakers also use the OHV motor which alows for more displacment in less space then a comparible OHC engine. Thats one of the reason that a 7 litter "only" gets 500 hp. Their OHC offerings are pretty comparable to hp/litter of the imports however.
Ah, yes... pushrods... I understand the whole nostalgia factor if you're trying to restore an old vehicle or something, but in a modern one? Now I know why the 21st century doesn't have flying cars -- Americans still want pushrod 8-cylinders and flathead 6s. People still want carbeurated crate motors.

Well, all joking aside, I should also add to your statemtn that a lot of the S/DOHC powertrains in American cars happen to be built by foreign manufacturers. GM has loads of models that use Honda and Toyota underpinnings. Ford, for instance, has a large interest in Mazda, and the two of them share a lot of parts both ways. Although I still find it funny how Mazda can make a car that uses a Ford engine and transmission and still make it shift smoother and cleaner than it does in any Ford counterpart.

I'm sure there are genuine American-made drivetrains that are up on the state of the art in engineering, but that begs the question of why aren't these innovations being applied to models across the board like the imports are doing? Why are American models getting redesigns on a necessity basis only while import manufacturers are going through it regularly? I can look at something like the Ford Taurus, and I can't help but draw parallels to the Amiga.

[tazz3]

oh good god. You can take a 1990-1999 Talon/Eclipse/Laser and with just a home made boost controller and exhaust run 13's all day for under $500. You apparently know very little about boosted 4 bangers let alone cars in general.

yeah ok and at the end of the day u would have to junk the motor.
tell me another story.

have any of you guys ever been in a car that can get the front wheels off the gorund.
with st tires. i dont think so.
my couins nova could get the front wheels off the gorund with a small block chevy

[cpiasminc]

yeah ok and at the end of the day u would have to junk the motor.
Overdoing it on the boost settings requires stupidity, and inability to read up on manufacturer's specs. And larger exhaust decreases back pressure, so there's no way it's going to do any harm to the engine. As long as you keep things within spec of every link in the drivetrain, there's no way you can break the drivetrain in a day. If you exceed specs, you'll probably break something in a single effort.

have any of you guys ever been in a car that can get the front wheels off the gorund.
So it's a good thing to lose the ability to steer a vehicle? Most any vehicle off the showroom floor these days are FWD, so to lose front traction means never moving at all.

my couins nova could get the front wheels off the gorund with a small block chevy
And that defines all there is about the automotive world? Sorry that I don't happen to think that a 1/4-mile strip is the sole determinant of what it means to drive.

[The Dude]

yeah ok and at the end of the day u would have to junk the motor.
tell me another story.


WOW! apparently you know nothing of low compression high boost motors, before you rip on something why don't you do a little reseach first? These motors (4g63/EJ20) can handle over 20psi of boost on stock internals daily driven. I know, I have owned 2 of them (DSM's)



have any of you guys ever been in a car that can get the front wheels off the gorund.
with st tires. i dont think so.
my couins nova could get the front wheels off the gorund with a small block chevy


Why yes actually I have. Your the type of person that makes me embarrassed to be a car guy.

[Xer0]

Ah, yes... pushrods... I understand the whole nostalgia factor if you're trying to restore an old vehicle or something, but in a modern one? Now I know why the 21st century doesn't have flying cars -- Americans still want pushrod 8-cylinders and flathead 6s. People still want carbeurated crate motors.

Dated, yes. However they are still competitive and either way are slowly being phased out so its not like its that big of a problem.

Well, all joking aside, I should also add to your statemtn that a lot of the S/DOHC powertrains in American cars happen to be built by foreign manufacturers.

However not all. The 4.6l northstar along with the 3.6l and 2.8l are all GM designed. The 4.6 in the Mustang is all Ford. The only S/DOHC that are made by the foreign manufacturers are the I-4 cause lets be honest, no one makes an I-4 like the japanese for some reason.

GM has loads of models that use Honda and Toyota underpinnings.

I count one Honda, and thats just an engine and transmision in the Vue, and two Toyotas which isn't a huge deal.

Ford, for instance, has a large interest in Mazda, and the two of them share a lot of parts both ways. Although I still find it funny how Mazda can make a car that uses a Ford engine and transmission and still make it shift smoother and cleaner than it does in any Ford counterpart.

Strange isn't it? Honestly i have nothing to say but agree. However at the end of the day its all part of FoMoCo anyway so its still available for Ford to use should it want it, like the Fusion triplets.

I'm sure there are genuine American-made drivetrains that are up on the state of the art in engineering, but that begs the question of why aren't these innovations being applied to models across the board like the imports are doing? Why are American models getting redesigns on a necessity basis only while import manufacturers are going through it regularly? I can look at something like the Ford Taurus, and I can't help but draw parallels to the Amiga.

And thats also the problem that got them to have the worst percieved everything in the American eye and personally they deserved it. Still they are learning from it and quality keeps on going up thankfully. Well i should rephrase that, Cadilac and Ford have learned and are changing. GM sadly still has no clue what its doing for the most part but lets not turn this into a GM thread, to many problems to go into.

[cpiasminc]

However not all. The 4.6l northstar along with the 3.6l and 2.8l are all GM designed. The 4.6 in the Mustang is all Ford.
Yeah, those are certainly good examples. I'd just like to see a Northstar V-6 in some sort of entry-level mid-size sedan outside of Cadillac in addition to everything else. Mustang... well, again it's a nice powertrain, though I can say the same thing again about its technology.

I also don't particularly mind the modern Hemis insofar as how they shut off half the cylinders to save gas while cruising. Though the actual idea behind the Hemi itself (hemispherical head ceiling) has long been superceded, and it's now nothing more than a name that is canonically pronounced with a redneck accent.

I count one Honda, and thats just an engine and transmision in the Vue, and two Toyotas which isn't a huge deal.
I was actually including smaller stuff like sway bar assemblies and steering systems made by companies owned by the very same Japanese manufacturers. IIRC, there were a few US plants joint-owned by Toyota and GM. To be more specific, when I said "Honda and Toyota", I was actually trying to hint at foreign manufacturers in general (Honda and Toyota being the first ones to come to mind). So that also includes things like having a rebadged Subaru. Eh, whatever.

However at the end of the day its all part of FoMoCo anyway so its still available for Ford to use should it want it, like the Fusion triplets.
True, and that's always a good thing. Given some of the future products they were proposing at Detroit, I see some good things in the pipeline. Most people were falling over with shock when they learned that my previous car was a '93 Ford coupe that lived to cover 220,000 miles. Maybe that'll change with more recent models.