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There is no “perception” problem here. American cars currently suck and they have sucked for a long time. They have become a little better lately but just a little.
“bolted together” is a statement about overall quality. We all know they are welded. American cars/trucks just don’t have “it” in the same price ranges as their Euro/Jap counterparts

Are you really trying to protect the American car companies? They have really dropped the

The Xterra is an SUV, but it is till a truck.

Hate the FJ as much as you want, but the 5 cylinder H3 is no Toyota. Which car will be the better car when it is 10 years old?

A Touareg is an amazingly competent off road machine. I’ll take that over any of the vehicles you listed. I want the on ewith the high tech air suspension.

..can’t go on. Let me just say it will be along time before an American company designs an SUV better than my X5 4.4i for daily road use. Do not knock that one untill you have given it a thorough test drive.

1) you should want the vehicle you own… otherwise, why do you own it?

2) yours is a statement of opinion, not of fact. ‘Should’ is the givaway in that statement.

3) you are an asshat.

thank you.

A Range Rover or LX470 or Land Cruiser is something you need for a beater truck. This is a truck you will want to be proud of

“overall, they aren’t bolted together as tightly”
please link to a study testing the torque specifications of new model vehicles proving that american trucks bolts are not on as tight.

“fit an finish leaves a lot to be desired”
Depends on the vehicle. Same could be said for imports as well.

“US automakers still trail in the quality race”
in the PERCEIVED quality race. Don’t make me post recall #’s.

“Go ahead and buy American, but you are only lying to yourself about the better vehicle.”
at least you keep an open mind and are objective /sarc

“Its off road capabilities will leave all but a Jeep Wrangler in the dust”
or a z-71, lr3, LC, FJ, Xterra, Ram Power Wagon, Ranger FX3, Patriot, Grand Cherokee, Comander, Liberty, etc…

“NIssan X-Terra will crush any American small truck in its price class in a comparison test”
Xterra is not a small truck. It is an SUV. There have been a number of recent comparo’s between the xterra, FJ, Liberty and/or Grand Cherokee, and the xterra won, but not crushed. Please re-do this test with the new Unlimited and see who comes out on top. I doubt it will be the Xterra, but I am willing to keep an open mind, as the Xterra is a nice vehicle (as are the others in that price range)

“The new Toyota FJ Cruiser is a pretty stunning piece of work”
different tastes. I think they are ugly. I think that bolting on retro headlights does not make the vehicle retro. I think Toyota dropped the ball on this one. It should have gone head to head with the wrangler on a shortened 4 runner frame. This is no better than the H3.

“My friend had an H2, it burst into flames on I-95 ”
Toyota’s could do the same. What caused the fire? If he dropped a cigarette then your statement is very misleading. If this were a common event, it would be plastered all over news sites.

“You have allowed them to be mediocre”
as long as you are keeping an open mind /sarc

asshat.

Some things are good , but overall, they aren’t bolted together as tightly and the fit an finish leaves a lt to be desired. They have gotten a lot better, but the US automakers still trail in the quality race.

Go ahead and buy American, but you are only lying to yourself about the better vehicle. Go down to a BMW dealer and test drive an X5 4.4i, then tell me what American SUV can touch that. Go test drive a VW Touareg, the interior will blow your mind. Cadillac wishes it could give you something that nice. Its off road capabilities will leave all but a Jeep Wrangler in the dust.

The Jap SUVs are not far behind, the all new NIssan X-Terra will crush any American small truck in its price class in a comparison test. The new Toyota FJ Cruiser is a pretty stunning piece of work.

My friend had an H2, it burst into flames on I-95 with under 4000 miles on the clock.

Open your eyes. America will still be strong no matter what happens. The auto industry needs to change, they have dug thier own graves and have only themselves to blame.

Actually I can put some of the blame to people such as yourself. Just like the parent of an undisciplined child, you have supported bad behavior by the car companies. You have told them that you will buy any crap they sell just b/c they are American. You have allowed them to be mediocre.

Nobody needs these in their driveways, and thats why nobody has them. Look at the company financially, how much do they rule?

Be American, support capitalism and a free market. Go Honda/Toyota, survival of the fittest in this market. I’m glad to see efficiency is winning out finally.

And as for those claiming Ford makes their cars in America, do some reading and realize they are Mexican made. Also, using the word ‘most’ proves nothing in your posts.

VAG makes the best interior in the auto industry. Fit and finnish, illumination, tactile response, smell, comfort. GM can not touch VAG in this dept.

Saturn VUE – please.

GM does make crossovers also…

Too bad $4/gal gasoline is just around the corner.

Hey GM, everyone else is making small crossover SUV’s, don’t you read the car mags?