Official '11 Mustang GT vs 370z Thread

[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.