Originally Posted By MPierce >> FWIW every Asian car I have owned has failed to live up to the "ratings" it got on CR. << That was one of the reasons I dropped my subscription.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt ^^^She's working the Lenten Meal at Church. Such a good Catholic girl. DH made baked haddock & it was really good
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Spirit, my wife and I were saying the same thing just a couple weeks ago. American car manufacturers have chased us away. We always try to buy American, but between Cadillac and Chrysler we would feel like idiots if we bought another US auto. We did have a saturn and were pleased with it but then they went years without making a decent looking car. Had a cadillac and all four windows motors broke within 6 month period, transmission took 4 visits to fix and don't even get me started on the one my parents had that had an aluminum block. My Chrysler has had more problems than time will allow me to list and when I filled out a survey negatively the dealer told me I was damaging their customer service rating and that maybe I should go elsewhere. And so I will. The stupid thing for them is that I'll be buying 2 cars for my daughters in the next 5 years and they won't be getting that business. I did ask why they send out a survey that is only to be answered 1 way. Oh well, hello Honda Odyssey.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<I wouldn't say it's entirely perception. The aftermarket for Hondas is ginormous; they are the new hobby cars for the young generation.>> I was just reading an article the other day about how the "tuner" movement is dying. In part its because its getting very hard to do it with all the electronics. Also apparently the interest just isn't what it used to be. The article also mentioned that many of the aftermarket suppliers are going belly up.
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer ^^ I'd also say look at TDR, the manufacturers are pretty much giving you what the tuner market does. CDD According to my Toyota dealer those surveys are sent by HQ. They're used in part to determine which dealers get awards and which dealers are more likely to get a rare/in demand model (In the case of Chrysler I'm sure they're interested in reducing the # of dealers...) In DL for the 50th didn't they give away Civics, maybe Honda will sponsor. They sponsor Asimo afterall/
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Now that you mention it, I do remember that little set-up they had in the esplanade to give away cars (in a Space Mountain shaped contraption). Honda also sponsors the Remember fireworks at DL. Given that the show is ending in the next few months, they may be looking for something else to sponsor (or they might just sponsor the new show that will be opening in time for summer).
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<That Dalmatian was resertved in honor of Bobbelee>> Thank you MPierce. Fridays during Lent I have a face to face social life (as appossed to the LP Social Life) I get to sell tickets to our Baked Haddock dinners, then I come home and count money to see how much profit we made. Fun fun fun. Cars, most of the ones we've had, we had for 7-8 years. Except my DH's Jeep of 12 1/2 years. Mostly got new ones because of their age, expect I had to get rid of my '65 Mustang when the 3rd kid was born, '73. Station Wagon time. I guess we were just lucky with what we bought.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I had to get rid of my '65 Mustang when the 3rd kid was born, '73. Station Wagon time>> I will never forgive Carribean Queen for this..That's why I let my dollie pea in CQ's bed!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Fridays during Lent I have a face to face social life (as appossed to the LP Social Life) I get to sell tickets to our Baked Haddock dinners, then I come home and count money to see how much profit we made. Fun fun fun. << It's always good to get out, and see real people. Well most of the time it is.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I will never forgive Carribean Queen for this..That's why I let my dollie pea in CQ's bed! << For a '65 Mustang she should have gotten worse than just a Betsie Wetsie treatment.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit, my wife and I were saying the same thing just a couple weeks ago. American car manufacturers have chased us away. We always try to buy American, but between Cadillac and Chrysler we would feel like idiots if we bought another US auto. We did have a saturn and were pleased with it but then they went years without making a decent looking car. Had a cadillac and all four windows motors broke within 6 month period, transmission took 4 visits to fix and don't even get me started on the one my parents had that had an aluminum block.>> Gee ... window motors that never work ... I had them on a Ford, a Pontiac and the last/worst ... a Dodge that I drove out that way with the salesman promising me it was just likely a 'loose wire' and after 15-20 trips to dealers in 2 1/2 years, I gave up. Funny how that seems to be a running thread with American autos. Could it be they are using defective/shoddy parts on purpose? <<My Chrysler has had more problems than time will allow me to list and when I filled out a survey negatively the dealer told me I was damaging their customer service rating and that maybe I should go elsewhere. And so I will. The stupid thing for them is that I'll be buying 2 cars for my daughters in the next 5 years and they won't be getting that business. I did ask why they send out a survey that is only to be answered 1 way. Oh well, hello Honda Odyssey.>> Again, CDD, this sounds like my experiences completely. Every time I'd buy an American car before I left the dealership I was hounded about the customer satisfaction surveys repeatedly and told how important they are and that I MUST give them the top grades in each category etc ... it felt so slimey and greasy and I've never had that with Mercedes-Benz or Honda. It's all like a game (almost like Disney surveys) where they only want one answer and they don't care one bit about real guest satisfaction. And how often (especially after 9/11) did they play the flagwaving card? Just all very disgusting. No, I don't want to see anyone (outside of some Disney execs) lose their jobs ... but I also don't want billions of taxpayer money going to prop up dead dinosaurs while tent cities of homeless people are popping up all over the country and the cost of medical care/insurance has become more absurd than Disney food prices. ~You can't get paint to stick on bumpers?~
Originally Posted By MPierce >> but I also don't want billions of taxpayer money going to prop up dead dinosaurs while tent cities of homeless people are popping up all over the country << You know that has absolutely nothing to do with the bailout money. That's a seperate issue. I first got involved in the homeless issue through the Star of Hope mission here more than 40 years ago.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You know that has absolutely nothing to do with the bailout money. That's a seperate issue.>> Of course it is ... it always is. I guess that's my frustration with the fact we always seem to have money to spend on propping up (handouts) to Big Business or to keep the war machine humming or for absurd 'pork' (or is 'earmarks' the kewl term of the day?) ... but when it comes to actually helping average Americans the 'tude is largely one of 'they got into it, let them get out of it' or 'let them go to church' or 'don't they have families to help' etc ... We largely choose as a nation to ignore those in need and we certainly could never spend billions on them because that would make us no better than the Commies!!! I guess I should just be happy for what I have and ignore the people in need I see because it's easier than admitting there's a problem and government HAS to be a large part of the solution. ~Uncle Bernie took all my money~
Originally Posted By MPierce We already spend billions on the homeless. The vast majority of homeless are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and get more government aid than you can imagine. There are churches all across America dealing with this problem. Billions of private donations going to food banks. The Government can only help those willing to stick their hand out. Do you want us to be a nation of recipients rather than a nation of givers. We bail out big business so we don't have more people sticking their hand out. Who was it that said one day we are going to run out of other peoples money.
Originally Posted By MPierce Sorry I overlooked the abused women. That's basicly what the Star of Hope deals with now.
