Hi all. I'm interested to know what people's opinions are on American cars? I know they generally get a pasting in the UK press, but are they as bad as all that?
I've owned two yank tanks - previously a Ford Explorer and currently a Camaro. Both have pretty rubbish interiors, but as cars, they did/do exactly what they said on the tin. The Explorer (2008 model, so no 'exploder' jibes thanks! 
) went brilliantly off road (mainly dunes and rocks round my way) was very comfortable and had loads of toys. The Camaro is again everything I expected of it i.e. very fast but can actually go around corners. Though it does feel like driving a very agile tank.
So you may think that my experience of American cars has been good, but I driven some really horribel ones. Chevrolet Cruze (2011 model) is a blamange on wheels for example and I wont even try to articulate the horror that is the Dodge Caravan.
So, there's good'uns and wrong'uns. Does that really justify the bad press they still recieve?
19 December 2008
I think once you get past the European obsession with the quality of plastics used i think that American cars are probably at least as good as ours. They appear to be able to cover greater mileage than ours without mechanical failure, perhaps because they tend not to use overstressed small engines etc, but larger unstressed engines, gearboxes with less gears, but less to go wrong etc.
And of course there are poor ones, just like there will be from any location.
I bet you are enjoying the Camaro, its a good looking car, but by all accounts a well sorted one too.
22 June 2008
'I bet you are enjoying the Camaro, its a good looking car, but by all accounts a well sorted one too'
I love the Camaro artill, it's a lot of fun in many silly ways and drives pretty well. But don't think I'd buy one again. It's too heavy really and whilst it has 400+ bhp lacks the instant punch you'd expect, only really gets going over 4000rpm (and redlines at 6000 so the gear box really needs working if you're going for it). I drove a mates' 'Stang the other day with the new 5 litre v8. It weighs a good couple of hundred kg less and you can really feel the difference. Even with it's cart springs it feels more alive. If I ever buy another muscle car it'll be that.
Love the smell of a V8 in the morning.
22 June 2008
'I bet you are enjoying the Camaro, its a good looking car, but by all accounts a well sorted one too'
I love the Camaro artill, it's a lot of fun in many silly ways and drives pretty well. But don't think I'd buy one again. It's too heavy really and whilst it has 400+ bhp lacks the instant punch you'd expect, only really gets going over 4000rpm (and redlines at 6000 so the gear box really needs working if you're going for it). I drove a mates' 'Stang the other day with the new 5 litre v8. It weighs a good couple of hundred kg less and you can really feel the difference. Even with it's cart springs it feels more alive. If I ever buy another muscle car it'll be that.
Just to add. My wife has a Golf GTI, round twisty corners my camaro wouldn't have a hope in hell of keeping up.
Love the smell of a V8 in the morning.
9 March 2012
I think they are getting better but sometimes they spend too much time thinking about power than refinement but as I said they are getting better and I think I can forgive most of the issues people associate with american cars because of the looks of the ponys and the fact that in the us they only cost about £14,000 and after import around £30k so even in the uk they are cheap considering the amount of power you get!
There also brilliant at doing burnouts!
Founder and owner of driverscar.co.uk
29 October 2007
Well, if most Americans buy Japanese in preference to there own, then, yes, most Americans must think there home car industry offerings aren't up to scratch.
Peter Cavellini.
10 April 2009
"Well, if most Americans buy Japanese in preference to there own, then, yes, most Americans must think there home car industry offerings aren't up to scratch."
Americans like to buy American made cars that provide jobs to Americans. Hence BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Mazda etc.. and soon Alfa... American branded cars are better, quality wise, than they were, and are on par with current Renault levels of quality. I've noticed a lot more superminis on the road - the current Fiesta seems to be selling well.
9 March 2012
I've noticed a lot the current Fiesta seems to be selling well.
In America the fiesta is a totaly different car
Founder and owner of driverscar.co.uk
28 July 2008
There's something about the underlying design ethos that is crude. In fact, when I'm over there I often think that America might be the home of bad design. This mars their cars.
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
9 March 2012
Founder and owner of driverscar.co.uk
10 April 2009
a totaly different car
Totaly different? Bumpers, spec, engines, suspension settings? In the same way as a European Fiesta, Middle Eastern Fiesta or South American Fiesta is "totally different"?