Official '11 Mustang GT vs 370z Thread

[jaedub]

I know my comment sounds sorta ignorant but.....dont american cars have alot of problems? Japanese cars are so reliable, Im pretty sure our Zs can hit 100k without any problems. But American cars, as well as european cars, tends to give so much problem for the long term use. And I personally think American cars doesnt look as nice as other cars. This is why I wouldnt want to own a American made car. And again, this is my personal opinon and based on my experience. No offence to any American car owners

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by jaedub

I know my comment sounds sorta ignorant but.....dont american cars have alot of problems? Japanese cars are so reliable, Im pretty sure our Zs can hit 100k without any problems. But American cars, as well as european cars, tends to give so much problem for the long term use. And I personally think American cars doesnt look as nice as other cars. This is why I wouldnt want to own a American made car. And again, this is my personal opinon and based on my experience. No offence to any American car owners

The short answer is no.

The long answer...

People always say they break down all the time but that simply isn't the case. Even the old ones. What really doomed the American car company's image was that awful period from the late 70s / early 80s to the mid/late 90s where they used to have the crappiest interiors you could ever imagine. Mechanically, though, they have always been very sound, especially if you maintain them properly.

Nowadays there is no difference in quality or reliability across really all of the mainstream car makes. Manufacturing tolerances are so close these days you can expect just about any car to live a long and happy life so long as you keep up with regular maintenance.

These days it's all hyperbole. A Ford is no more or less reliable than a Nissan which is no more or less reliable than a Mercedes which is no more or less reliable than a Honda... etc. Now some might be more expensive to repair, but that's another story.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The short answer is no.

The long answer...

People always say they break down all the time but that simply isn't the case. Even the old ones. What really doomed the American car company's image was that awful period from the late 70s / early 80s to the mid/late 90s where they used to have the crappiest interiors you could ever imagine. Mechanically, though, they have always been very sound, especially if you maintain them properly.

Nowadays there is no difference in quality or reliability across really all of the mainstream car makes. Manufacturing tolerances are so close these days you can expect just about any car to live a long and happy life so long as you keep up with regular maintenance.

These days it's all hyperbole. A Ford is no more or less reliable than a Nissan which is no more or less reliable than a Mercedes which is no more or less reliable than a Honda... etc. Now some might be more expensive to repair, but that's another story.

Go into a low-rent part of town and what do you see? A bunch of 70's and 80's Nissan's cruising around? NO. You see Monte Carlos, Crown Vic's, Delta 88's, etc. You won't find many of the 80's imports still alive on the maintenance (or lack) they receive there. Those old American cars may not be refined, but damned if they don't still get from A to B.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by jaedub

I know my comment sounds sorta ignorant but.....dont american cars have alot of problems? Japanese cars are so reliable, Im pretty sure our Zs can hit 100k without any problems. But American cars, as well as european cars, tends to give so much problem for the long term use. And I personally think American cars doesnt look as nice as other cars. This is why I wouldnt want to own a American made car. And again, this is my personal opinon and based on my experience. No offence to any American car owners

If you had said that in 2001, I would have give you props for it. However, there are a few things that have changed.

The driveline in American cars is second to none. They have very good transmissions now (always had good standards, took a while to get a good auto), and the engines are something import owners dream of, both in power and reliability. I have NEVER! owned an American car where the engine didn't go 150K+ or more, and that was only because I sold the car. I have owned/been a part of a family that has owned at least 2 dozen American engine powered cars while I have been alive. NONE! of them died under 200K miles unless they ingested water or something.

The suspension has been a down-fall for quite some time, however, cars like the corvette, and others are decent. The mustang is hanging on to old technology, but the results are hard to argue with on the track. The mores sophisticate suspension under most imports does win out on the street, though.

The interior and "fitment" of imports in the early 2000's and before blew American cars away. Now, it still edges them out, but the compromise is a junk driveline in most imports. You take your pick. Stellar engine/transmission and so-so interior (which isn't bad, really), or a stellar interior and a so-so engine/transmission (which is a lot better than it used to be).

All-in-all, everyone makes a lemon, it just depends on what you want your lemon to taste like if you get one. The thing about American cars is that when they break, they are cheaper to work on/fix. It equals out even IF they broke more. However, American cars are just as reliable as their import equivalents in my opinion. My Infiniti has had as much trouble as my domestics at this point ,at the same mileage, and it has been driven much "softer" I think, considering the person who owned my '95 TA grenaded the tq converter and snapped an axle (neutral-drops at 6K?).

Anyway, nah, I don't think "It's more reliable" is a reason to buy import now. It's just interior in SOME cases, and preference.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The mores sophisticate suspension under most imports does win out on the street, though.

That's not really even true anymore. The SRA in the 5.0 handles bumpy roads just like the Z's IRS does. I have no idea how they did it, but Ford really, really tuned this thing well. I can't wait to see what happens when they finally switch to IRS (next generation).

Though my Brembo car is a lot stiffer than my Sport/Touring was. The seats are more comfortable but the car itself is rougher on long trips. I'd say it's as stiff as a NISMO, maybe even a little stiffer.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

That's not really even true anymore. The SRA in the 5.0 handles bumpy roads just like the Z's IRS does. I have no idea how they did it, but Ford really, really tuned this thing well. I can't wait to see what happens when they finally switch to IRS (next generation).

Though my Brembo car is a lot stiffer than my Sport/Touring was. The seats are more comfortable but the car itself is rougher on long trips. I'd say it's as stiff as a NISMO, maybe even a little stiffer.

That is physically impossible. When one tire dips into a bump, the other's contact patch will change and be inferior to what it could have been, had it not been married to the other. It may feel the same inside the car, but it's not. There is no way it could be.

I'm not knocking it, it works darn well, and yes, I am splitting hairs, but if it WEREN'T better, why would Ford be planning to add IRS for the 2014 redesign? Why did they not use SRA on their Ford GT Supercar?

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

That is physically impossible. When one tire dips into a bump, the other's contact patch will change and be inferior to what it could have been, had it not been married to the other. It may feel the same inside the car, but it's not. There is no way it could be.

I'm not knocking it, it works darn well, and yes, I am splitting hairs, but if it WEREN'T better, why would Ford be planning to add IRS for the 2014 redesign? Why did they not use SRA on their Ford GT Supercar?

Because they are going to sell the car in Europe.

And I'm just telling you what I feel. The car is just as good over the bumps as the Z was. Though neither are anywhere near as composed as the Cayman S on a bumpy road.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Because they are going to sell the car in Europe.

And I'm just telling you what I feel. The car is just as good over the bumps as the Z was. Though neither are anywhere near as composed as the Cayman S on a bumpy road.

How many Ford GT's were exported to Europe?

[370zsport09]

I think the Z to keep up with competition should have a TT or SC (even if it wasn't KRAZY power but just bump up the performance 75-100 for normal driving reliability and competitive price) atleast the plumbing would be their for upgrades if one wished; on the style department...u would think if they added some freakin' working Fender Vents such as the ones MRworks have and even rear side quarter panel Ventz stylin' it would look incredible....I do give PROPS to the 2011 Mustang commercial Black and freakin' menacing....I give a A++++ to the redesign front end I think the 2005 looked alil on the FAT side :P

[Educ8r]

Spend some time reading through the threads.

Originally Posted by jaedub

I know my comment sounds sorta ignorant but.....dont american cars have alot of problems? Japanese cars are so reliable, Im pretty sure our Zs can hit 100k without any problems. But American cars, as well as european cars, tends to give so much problem for the long term use. And I personally think American cars doesnt look as nice as other cars. This is why I wouldnt want to own a American made car. And again, this is my personal opinon and based on my experience. No offence to any American car owners