It would not bother me in the least to buy a Toyota.
And I would buy another Ford just because they didn't take the .gov dollars.
I've had a couple of Fords literally fall apart while they sat in my garage overnight. .gov dollars or not, I'm hesitant to buy another one. I have no problem buying American (I would prefer it), but show me a car that's actually American first (built in America by an American company), and then show me one that I can actually afford that isn't a steaming pile of garbage.
Hmmm... well, what's your budget look like? Might take a look at one of these
Mine, I guess, would be considered a hybrid, partially built in Canada and partially in the U.S.I've had a couple of Fords literally fall apart while they sat in my garage overnight. .gov dollars or not, I'm hesitant to buy another one. I have no problem buying American (I would prefer it), but show me a car that's actually American first (built in America by an American company), and then show me one that I can actually afford that isn't a steaming pile of garbage.
My wife bought a used Taurus a couple years back. Yep, piece of crap.
BOTH of the Fords I had were Taurus's. On one of them, the right front spring broke while it sat in my garage. It was covered under a silent recall (WTF is a silent recall!?) due to an engineering defect. They replaced the tire it shredded, too. The second time this same car broke in my garage, it was the exact same problem but on the rear spring. That was inexplicably not an engineering defect even though it was the same problem. I had to pay for that one myself.
I drive a Kia now. I was hesitant about buying a Korean-made car, but it's what I could afford, and so far it's about the most comfortable and best-built car I've owned in probably 12 years.
BOTH of the Fords I had were Taurus's. On one of them, the right front spring broke while it sat in my garage. It was covered under a silent recall (WTF is a silent recall!?) due to an engineering defect. They replaced the tire it shredded, too.
Nothing silent about that one.
Auto Recall Date: JUL 15, 2004
AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004.
I don't think the problems are nearly as severe as the government is making them out to be. We must remember, the US government has nationalized two of our auto manufacturers, and I think there is a distinct possibility they are merely abusing their power now to attack a competitor.
Toyota has already fired a shot back, idling two of their American plants, and their workers, for a brief time. If they keep getting pushed, they'll shut those plants, the ones producing problem vehicles, completely and move production back to Japan, and let .gov figure out what to do with an even larger unemployment problem.
Nothing silent about that one.
Auto Recall Date: JUL 15, 2004
Vehicle Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 899060
Model Affected
2001 FORD TAURUS
2001 Ford Taurus Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
Defect Consequence:
IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Estimated Vehicles Affected:
899060
Notes:
FORD MOTOR COMPANY 04S17