07-28-2014, 07:28 AM
Chip, I'm glad to hear a positive outlook on American-made quality. I know we don't do a good job with our cars. Everyone seems to know that GM makes shoddy products, but still buy them blindly. It's that that I don't understand.
Also, I think you read the first line of my statement in a different tone than I meant to exert; I'm saying that Japanese cars are excellent and are a much better alternative to vehicles such as Kia (which you're indicating is stylized as KIA, and I'll take your word for it).
I respectfully disagree with your comment about Ford's quality; my wife worked for many years at a plaintiff's firm that mostly handled injuries caused by vehicular defects, and Ford comes in strongly in the number one position for flawed vehicles. I recall one anecdote where, before entering the court room, a paralegal was asked to take the roof of a Ford vehicle to the judge and flex it in front of him. She, being a smaller woman, was sure she wouldn't be able to do so, and was disgusted at how easy it in fact was. Ford shaves that metal to a grade just thicker than aluminum foil for the sake of saving weight. There's also the abysmally narrow Explorer that's certainly claimed more lives than any other SUV, particularly any still in production.
As far as bikes go, a Rocket III Roadster and (hopefully) my dad's '74 850 Commando (currently owned by my uncle) will be mine, as well as many other bikes that have caught my eye. I'd even like to test ride a Forty Eight, even if Sportsters are apparently not "real" H-Ds.
Also, I think you read the first line of my statement in a different tone than I meant to exert; I'm saying that Japanese cars are excellent and are a much better alternative to vehicles such as Kia (which you're indicating is stylized as KIA, and I'll take your word for it).
I respectfully disagree with your comment about Ford's quality; my wife worked for many years at a plaintiff's firm that mostly handled injuries caused by vehicular defects, and Ford comes in strongly in the number one position for flawed vehicles. I recall one anecdote where, before entering the court room, a paralegal was asked to take the roof of a Ford vehicle to the judge and flex it in front of him. She, being a smaller woman, was sure she wouldn't be able to do so, and was disgusted at how easy it in fact was. Ford shaves that metal to a grade just thicker than aluminum foil for the sake of saving weight. There's also the abysmally narrow Explorer that's certainly claimed more lives than any other SUV, particularly any still in production.
As far as bikes go, a Rocket III Roadster and (hopefully) my dad's '74 850 Commando (currently owned by my uncle) will be mine, as well as many other bikes that have caught my eye. I'd even like to test ride a Forty Eight, even if Sportsters are apparently not "real" H-Ds.