Very OT: My new Camry

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2015: Very OT: My new Camry
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 04:29 am:

Some folks have a grudge against "foreign" cars, though all cars are pretty much international now, with content from several countries. In September the twenty-year-old Camry I had been driving for several years had to go. It was a great car until the fancy automatic electronic crap started going south on me, very expensively, and it was time for a change. I replaced it with a six-year old Camry with about 130,000 miles. So far I've driven it a little over 4000 miles and haven't added a drop of oil. I filled up this afternoon and when I pulled the stick it still showed the oil clean and full. I'm impressed. If this one lasts me a hundred thousand miles before the electronics go haywire, I'll be a happy camper.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad Marchees _____Tax Capital, NY on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 06:32 am:

Steve, I too was against foreign cars all my life. My wife was driving her full size Dodge Ram until about 3 years ago (and killing her on gas) when we bought a 2000 Honda Civic real cheap from one of her co workers that had a real light hit in the back. I fixed it up in a couple days and it has been a great car. I am also truly impressed with it, and she loves it. My only complaint is it is a little hard for me to get in and out of.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Alexander in Albion, Maine on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 07:13 am:

I to am very pleased with my "foreign" car. It gets OK mileage and so far I have had no problems with any of the electronic stuff going hay wire. Sometimes think that folks here in the US need to think a bit more about where their car parts come from before they criticize. Oh, yes, mine is a '29 Canadian model A roadster.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan Danbury, WI on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 07:23 am:

Thanks, but I'll continue to buy American and pay attention to the source of the parts. My '04 Ford Ford Escape has been far more reliable than any of the foreign car makers vehicles that people I know have owned of driven up here. At 195K miles it is still going strong and doesn't use any oil either. The only things I have ever done to it is to replace normal things that wear out (wheel bearings once, brakes once, battery, belts, and a couple of front end parts along with tires) and maintain it regularly. The only item I have ever replaced on the engine besides spark plugs is one failing coil pack. It starts and runs well in all types of weather, gives me 26mpg on the hwy, and is still the best 4X4 I've ever driven in foul winter weather.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 07:23 am:

Steve; you are correct in that it doesn't matter anymore the content of even the "American Brands" is of foreign origins and would be better labelled "Assembled in America" if any one wants a truly American car these days get one pre 70's and do a frame off restoration you will have a much better vehicle that is exactly what you want. as far as the electronics I know what you mean I had a 2000 Nissan frontier windows then distributor then brain then traded-in!:-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 08:29 am:

I have a Chevy made in Mexico and a Pontiac made in Australia... I'm not sure if I should call them foreign or domestic. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 08:44 am:

We do both in my family. For certain vehicles I buy American (trucks) and for regular commuter vehicles I let my wife decide. She usually picks foreign not so much for reliability but styling.

Right now we have two American made vehicles and seven foreign made vehicles if you include my motorcycles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyrone Thomas - Topeka KS on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 08:54 am:

Many people I know say "Buy American." I always point out to them that there is no such thing. Look at the window sticker and you will see what percent of the "American" made car comes for Canada, Mexico, Japan etc. Hells bells, Harley motor cycles are not fully American.

Maybe the vehicles can claim they are assembled here but that's about it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 09:23 am:

Ford Escape = Mazda Tribute.
Apparently Assembled in the US,S-10 = Isuzu Hombre and Colorado-canyon also Isuzu
Trailblazer, Envoy,= Isuzu Ascender, Saab 9-7x,= Buick Rainier

Honda Passport for a while was a Isuzu built vehical also.
Duramax, Isuzu design.
The little dodge ram pickups from years back,I think they were Mitsubishi, yep,the same folks that built the Zero!

For whatever reason when the gas crisis happened in the early 70's the American car companys sold their soles just to get fuel mileage.

Buying American is difficult if not impossible nowadays on most stuff.When stores dont carry it,kinda hard to buy it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 09:35 am:

I realize that I am a square peg in a round hole but I remember in history class that Japan and Germany bombed and killed 1000's of our citizens. And my family always tried to buy American because 1,it did not subsidize the foreign powers that tried to kill us,2,it helped keep jobs for the neighbors.
Why those 2 things stopped mattering to people and the DOLLAR is now the only thing folks think about I dont know.

To explain it another way. Would folks start buying cars built in Afghanistan or Iraq? Considering how the profits would be used ?
To kill us? Same mentality is what people of my family's generation thought of buying Japan made stuff. I had no choice when I bought a used tractor but to get foreign.NO diesel tractors the size I wanted are built here. I bought a used Kubota. Yes, it is a fine tractor. But when my cousin found out I bought a japan built machine I was all but escorted from his house. I had to remind him his new john deere was not American built either. He still resents the fact I bought japan built.I am not proud of that fact myself.But generations before me decided to let everything go overseas,like jobs and manufacturing.Considering that I was left with deciding the lesser of 2 evils. Do without or buy foreign.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince M on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 09:43 am:

Mack,

We do - we buy their oil.


Vince m


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 09:47 am:

As to the topic about oil, it's amazing how clean the oil stays in these new cars.

My car and truck both have an "oil life monitor" and the manufacturer recommends following it.

I changed oil on my truck at 10,000 miles when the monitor said there was 10% oil life remaining. I changed it on my wife's car at 12,000 miles when the monitor said there was 14% remaining. Neither used a drop of oil between changes.

Given the cost of the required DEXOS synthetic oils to keep my warranty, I'm not inclined to change it any more frequently than the truck tells me to.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 10:24 am:

Yes Vince,we do. There again,folks before us decided it was a great idea.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 10:29 am:

If we're going to boycott German and Japanese products because those countries were our enemies in war, I guess we shouldn't buy anything made in Italy, Turkey, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Grenada, Panama, Mexico, Vietnam, France, Britain, and Canada. We've been at war, declared or not, with all those countries at sometime or other. Good luck with that. Avoiding Vietnamese clinchers and Mexican or Canadian agricultural products, especially the latter, may be kind of tough.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:03 am:

Before you buy your next Asian car, go see "Unbroken." Those people haven't changed. They don't allow immigration, and their birth rate is so low their population will be down a third by 2060.

The most expensive repair on our '93 Jaguar Saloon, which we had from 70K miles to 140K miles, was the Japan Sanden a/c compressor.

Think Takata airbags and the thousands of airline seats their country produced with faked flammability tests. You like the way Toyota handled their recalls?

My second brother drives a new Hyundai, but won't touch Jap cars, after his carrier, the Franklin, was bombed by them. My two other brothers won't either. I refused to work on my son's ex-fiance' Toyota.

To them, business is War.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:06 am:

Almost all those responsible for WWII have passed on. Since the end of those hostilities, both Japan and Germany have been at peace with the United States. Can't we forgive them and realize that the current generation is not to blame?
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:13 am:

Buy a Subaru. Smallest service departments of any US dealer because they don't break down much. Number one selling car in Montana, second only to Ford F-150. People here will buy a used Outback and say, "It had less than 300,000 on it so it should be a good car for her for college" or "We kept our old Forester for a second car since it has less than 200,000 on it and got a newer Outback with only 90,000 on it that's two years old and figure we can drive it until it has 250 on it."

I don't like the seats in my 14 Outback but other than that it is a great car. You never see a Subaru broke down beside the road, in the ditch or chained up. They do recommend that you replace the timing belt at 125,000. Our dealership does it for $400.00

I think mine was built in Indiana.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:19 am:

The best selling vehicle in Canada and the U.S. is the Ford F150 (I have one myself). It supposedly has more American content than any other. Being that I'm Canadian, I'm not sure if that makes it domestic or foreign to me. I call it domestic. I usually avoid foreign cars but, if someone wants to buy me a new Bugatti Veyron, I'm afraid my loyalty will be a thing of the past.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:19 am:

This thread is reminding me of what I saw Friday. I had to make a service call to a customer of mine in a small TN town. As I was eating lunch at a burger place I was looking at the building of another customer, or I should say former customer. This building covers 69 acres, 10,000 people worked there making lawnmowers. It is now just a big a$$ warehouse. In the parking lot were maybe 25 cars where thousands used to park. At least half of the 25 cars were imports. Keep on buying that imported stuff and where will your grandkids work? I know, that burger joint where I ate lunch.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Swanson on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:44 am:

350,000 on my 91 honda civic and she aint even breathin hard yet. the salt will kill it before it gets a chance to die a natural death.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 11:55 am:

That's true Dan, but you are preaching to the choir. I had a couple Cadillacs that left me setting by the road waiting for a wrecker, with doors that wouldn't seal and lousy dealer service and support. The minute I rolled it off the lot they didn't care if I ever came back unless I brought money. I had an El Camino that the paint peeled off the hood and they wouldn't fix, a Dodge pickup with seats so bad my chiropractor says he bought a new boat on Dodge pickup seats. And more. I bought a new Datsun. Then a Toyota.

Black and Decker cheapened up their drills to where even K Mart wouldn't sell them so I bought Makita. MTD riding mowers got so bad the frames would bend if anybody over 200 lbs got on them, etc. Don't blame it all on the people who look for value for their money. I take care of the people who take care of me. When Cadillac built cars that wouldn't run and didn't have power enough to pull themselves up a hill I went shopping for something that would. The companies stopping caring about quality and reputation, customer value and loyalty about the time Sears got so cheap they quit putting a full length cord on their drills. Makita had one. So did Metabo. My shop is full of their tools.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:00 pm:

The first person said yesterday i had a turd sandwich! The second man said no reason to brag about it i can smell it on your breath! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:09 pm:

It isn't easy these days to be true to "MADE IN U.S.A." I worked for a U.S. car company, and it would be stupid of me to buy anything but vehicles from that company, as long as they keep paying me my pension. When I bought a pickup, it was made in Mexico, - likewise the small 4 door sedan, that I like very much. The small 4x4 ute was made in the U.S. But, the profits that support the design, testing and development of these vehicles is spent in the U.S., or at least it was until the last merger.
Stan, I also like Subies. My daughter has one and I love it. However, she was able to buy a Forester with a manual transmission and with a diesel engine because she does not live in the U.S. As I understand it, all Subies sold here now have the CVT transmission, and there is no way I'd touch one of those!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:13 pm:

Stan you would like my brother, he only buys Subarus. His 02 Legacy (I think) wagon had over 300K on it when developed a head gasket issue. He never changed the plugs in it since new.

He won't buying anything else.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:26 pm:

Roar, I didn't like the CVT transmission at first but after I got used to it I like it. Mine has the paddle shifters. Last night coming down 6500 ft MacDonald Pass in snow, ice, blowing snow and a little rain along with more snow I shifted it to 3rd and came down the pass at about 35-40 mph until I got to where it levels out a little, shifted to 4th and boogied on home. I like an automatic on slick roads far better than a manual. I have both. I have a couple cars and 5 4 wheel drive pickups. The automatics will go more places than the manuals will.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:30 pm:

Most engines manufactured today should go at least 250,000 miles with regular maintenance, regardless of make.

However, I'm in the same boat Clayton. The road salt kills the body before the car wears out. 15 years seems to be the max for me, regardless of the mileage.

I don't mind paying for regular maintenance and repairs for items that are expected to wear out over time.

However, it's the ancillary items that should never need to be replaced that drive me nuts.

Currently, I'm having problems with the turn signal switch with my fairly low mileage Grand Prix. I've found out that they are notoriously prone to failure. Replacements, even at a discount, are expensive and installing it can be difficult because it may involve removing the steering wheel in order to access the Torx head screws.

Previously, it was the poorly designed ignition switch. Instead of self wiping, rotary contacts, it has multiple open and close contacts which arc and subsequently carbon up over time.

Even when I save money by getting the parts wholesale and doing the work myself, I get tired of spending the money and wasting time.

Dissecting and cleaning contacts on the ACDelco ignition switch at 50,000 miles:
1


Reference photo of wire routing I took while removing ignition switch:
2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:31 pm:

As far as the cars go, any of them, it's just the modern technology that seemingly makes them run forever. We, of all people should realise this. Yeah, there are some bombs and horror stories but on the whole the oldsters can't hold a candle to moderns. Brand loyalty? Sorry I don't see it today. Especially with young-uns' My Dad? Hell yes! I sure don't have it. My modern is a Nissan Rouge and wifey and I both love it. Previous? A Sentra. Prior to that a Saturn which my Son just got rid of. Still running & looking great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Burger in Spokane on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:36 pm:

My DeSoto was built on Wyoming Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The Dodge at Dodge
Main in Hamtramck. The Plymouth is also a Detroiter. Have not dug into the two T's
for origin yet, but I will put money on them not being foreign made.

Whaddyoo guys mean it's hard to buy American made cars ? :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:41 pm:

WOW Look at what Steve started this time! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 12:55 pm:

I really don't think you could pry my wife out of her KIA Sportage. Mostly because of the way she was treated by the dealer (Orange Park) we had bought the car used with 45,000 miles on it and it started running rough I told her to take it to the KIA dealer and get a diagnosis, they told her it had a blown head gasket and was covered under warranty.It had allowed water in the oil pan and the whole engine was replaced, no charge to us and they even got us a rental. I have not had a similar good experience with Big 3 dealers weather their stripes were red white or blue!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 01:06 pm:

I wish I had taken better care of the body on my 1987 Nissan pickup, but to me it was "just a truck". I ended up driving it to the junkyard with over 200,000 miles on it because it had rusted out from under me. It got the same mileage (about 24 mpg) the whole 22 years that I owned it and never used oil.

I replaced it with a 2007 Honda Element that will turn 80,000 miles this week with only one part failure that I had to replace (the rear window washer pump). It's still running all its original plugs, wires, hoses, belts, and brake pads. I have spares for all those parts, but haven't used them yet because the original parts show practically no wear so far.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 01:32 pm:

Our 2001 Corolla was built (assembled?)right here in CA.
After 213,000 miles the shocks may be weak. Not too bad yet but I think it floats a little more than it should.
The car has had front brake pads 3 times and rear shoes once. Also a new ignition cylinder.
But then the best mileage I could ever get out of it was 37 MPG. It usually gets 33.
And it sucks up a quart of oil every 2,000 miles.
My accountant called me this morning, his '95 Chrysler 300 needs shocks again after 4 years of San Francisco driving. The 4th time in 10 years, but he loves the car.
I think it's great to buy American, but I can't be bothered with all the troubles I've seen with American cars. Mainly transmissions.
I know, I remember the Ford F250 on this site about 5 years ago with nearly 3 million miles on it with the original automatic transmission still working great. BS. PURE BS.
I've worked at dealers, even within the last couple of years.
I've changed plastic thermostat housings on leaking Fords, poor tail lights on Chevvys, all kinds of electrical stuff including leaking transmission wire harness grommets on Chryslers, alternators on Fords, etc.
Oh, Saturday I replaced a rebuilt alternator on a 2007 Taurus. It had just over 100,000 miles on the car. Three alternators in 100,000 miles?????
When I told the owner we have over 200,000 on the original alternator on our Toyota he told me has grandfather gave him the car because it was always breaking down. Buy A Ford. Fix Or Repair...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Copeland - Trenton, New Jersey on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 01:58 pm:

Stan, Way back in the early 70's I used a Subado as a field car back on the farm, I was about 10 years old. I didn't have much mercy for that car and drove it places a car should not have gone.. My uncle who was a Pearl Harbour survivor shot it full of holes. It's what I learned standard shift with. After the body wouldn't support itself anymore my dad welded a steel drum to the front wheel and we used it for another five years to run the Buzz rig.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 02:27 pm:

Not to offend anybody's religion, it's just a joke.

You know the difference between a Dodge pickup and a Jehovah's Witness???

You can close the door on a Jehovah's Witness!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Patterson. Moruya, NSW, OZ on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 02:39 pm:

Talk about multi national...
My 2011 Ford Focus is a British managed, German Design. It also has German electrics, a French Engine and Slovakian gearbox. It was assembled in South Africa, sold in Australia and the profits went to the USofA.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Patterson. Moruya, NSW, OZ on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 02:54 pm:

Oh, I forgot this...
I also have a 1993 2.8 liter diesel Toyota Hi-Ace van. Its done 660,000kms and has never had the valve cover removed. The engine, gearbox and rear axle have never needed any work at all. Just regular oil and filter changes.
BUT....its had 2 sets of injectors, the fuel pump overhauled, the alternator rebuilt twice and the starter twice. Its on its 3rd clutch and second set of shockers.
Its been good to me over the years and I have NO wish to trade it in on a later model either.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem - SE Michigan on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 04:11 pm:

Lots of folks here have made comments that rationalize buying cars with foreign brand names. No rationalization seems to be needed for buying cars/trucks with American brand names.

I know all modern vehicles have globally supplied parts. I buy vehicles that wear the badge of the company headquartered 20 minutes from my house. My friends, family and neighbors work there. My dad worked there for almost 40 years. My upbringing and education were funded with dollars earned there. My parents and my health insurance were funded there. So yes, it makes a difference, even if only to me.

Now. If you can say the same about, for instance, a U.S. based Toyota plant, then I have no problem understanding that. Past that, I just don't understand. However, I find that as I get older there is less and less I seem to understand.

Not slamming anyone here. Have many safe miles in your new car Steve.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 04:32 pm:

I wish i could have said it as good as Jerry but i couldn't.I want the kind of country i was handed and to be able to hand it off to my grand kids! In 1971 we bought a new vw bug so i'm guilty myself!! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glenn Kolano - London, On., Canada on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 05:47 pm:

Ricks-Surf city said ''go see "Unbroken." Those people haven't changed.''

What the movie doesn't tell you was that after the war Louis "Louie" Zamperini wanted to kill his Japanese tormentor - Mutsuhiro "Bird" Watanabe.
However years later he did the Christian thing and forgave the man.
Louie lived in peace to the ripe old age of 97.
He has my utmost respect.

I don't have hard feelings towards the Japanese - one of my vehicles is a 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser.

I have also not forgot that 1,975 Canadians fought the Japanese in Dec. 1941. Of those 290 were killed and 493 wounded. A further 260 died in the awful conditions of prison camps in Hong Kong and Japan.


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