10 Cars That Sank Detroit

If the American car companies didn't spend the last couple of decades being insanely greedy bastards then this conversation wouldn't be taking place.

I have always been a true car enthusiast all my life so I'm not biased by what country they are made in. My wife and I will start buying American again because it's the right thing to do for our country. (currently we own Infiniti and Acura).

Of course the fact that the engineering and build quality is much better is the big factor here.

I have owned Japanese, Australian, and American cars so not to mention have been working on cars since the mid 80's.

With the exception of my 2004 Pontiac/Holden GTO I never have been able to reach 100k miles without multiple issues on my American cars. Although I have always been a serious mustang fan (owned 7 so far, Plus an SVT Lightning).

How about those spark plugs blowing out of the cylinder heads on fords.

If you love muscle cars then you accept their lack of technology and refinements. The torque beneath your right foot has a way of taking your mind off the sqeaks, rattles, and poor quality interiors. (my GTO was an exception on the sqeaks and interior comment, very solid car).

It's all about research and development or the lack there of...

Only now that their very survival depends on it they are getting their act together.

I for one agree with Robert about the economic mess part being an issue but ask yourself this.

If you are going to say that American's are traitors for buying foreign cars realize this.

The American car companies have been more then capable of designing cars built to the highest quality and engineering standards. Just look at racing if you doubt this... Even look at our military... Any poorly built fighter jets make the headlines lately?

I believe it's the "big 3's" capitalist and under estimating the American's intelligence that ended their reign at the top.

The "Big 3" were the traitors first... How long do you think Americans would want to deal with poor service, performance, and quality before they just say enough.

I'm sick of companies getting so overblown huge that they forget how they got there. It's all about the consumer...

WE ARE NOT STUPID! Nicely said Rick Newman...

Jonatha of CA 3:53PM December 21, 2010

Re: "The Compass has the same mechanical underpinnings as the Dodge Caliber, which helps illustrate one of Detroit's favorite tricks: Create multiple versions of every product under a bunch of different brand names, hoping that if buyers shun one, they'll take a more favorable view of another. Message to Detroit: Consumers aren't that stupid."

Message to Rick: you just showed how little you know about the auto industry. Creating variants of the same platform is done by almost every automaker in the world and it isn't a "trick". Accura/Honda, Nissan/Infinity, Toyota/Lexus. But I suppose you've never noticed that other manufacturers do it as well. Even your kitchen appliances are built that way!

Also, the Chevy Astro (definitely no gleaming example of high quality - I know, I owned one) was not a "gussied-up" truck-based van. It had its own platform and shared almost nothing with the real truck-based vans from GM. It was it's own vehicle. You said "Before long, GM was effectively out of the minivan segment". Hmmm, the Astro was built for 21 model years ('85-'05). Hardly a "before long" situation.

Anyone that thinks that he's buying American just because he bought a car with an American nameplate is delirious as well. Many of the so-called "American" cars running around on our roads aren't even made here. What's so American about a Ford Focus or a Ford Fusion that was built in Mexico using Mexican made parts and Mexican labor? What's so American about owning a Chevy Camaro, Chevy Impala, Buick Regal or Chevy Equinox built in Canada, again with Canadian made parts and Canadian labor. How about a Pontiac G8 (and now even our police cars!) built in Australia? The last time I checked, Australia, Canada and Mexico were NOT US territories. Even the much talked about Chevy Volt has batteries that are made in Korea. They're assembled in the US but made in Korea by LG. Yes, that's American. How is that any better than buying a Honda that is MADE in the US with US parts and labor? Which company is doing more for the American economy?

Not knowing what "Sebring" is was just about the most automotive ignorant statement you could have made. It couldn't have sounded any worse if you would have asked "Who was this Henry Ford guy?" or "What's that Indy 500 thingy anyway?".

Rick, stick to writing about things you know something about.

Herb Hammons of MI 12:47PM December 21, 2010

Just got through reading your rag dissertation on American autos. I've never owned any of those highly touted & even more highly overrated Japanese, German, or Korean models. I have had extremely good service out of my AMERICAN vehicles, attaining well over 100,000 miles on all of them. I've owned 2 of the vehicles to make your list & have gotten tremendous results with both of them, including a 1974 Ford Pinto that currently shows 286,000 miles. The only thing that gripes me more than seeing this proliferation of overrated Asian vehicles on our roadways is to see them sporting an American Flag decal on the back bumper or rear window. I suppose they think that sporting "Old Glory" on their import vehicle makes them okay, but I consider all of them "Traitor Americans". I realize that the foreign manufacturers have committed vast resources to build some of their product in this country & provide some jobs for Americans, but I think that this "foreign is better" mindset is largely responsible for the economic mess we now have. How about giving our U.S. Manufacturers the credit they deserve? My slogan is & always shall be "Make mine American!!!!"

Robert Rollins of NC 11:59PM December 16, 2010

Carbon is an element, you ignorant jackass. It's a major constituent of every organic toxin on the planet. Look up botulinum toxin. After that, go sit in your car in your garage with the engine running and the door closed and see how the CARBON monoxide treats you! Don't really do that, you'll die.

Bill Hiatt of CO 10:21AM November 17, 2010