In 1999 I sold my 1988 Chevy Spectrum (with Izuzu engine and internals) with ~120K miles on it. The A/C no longer worked, and the body panels were rusting from 4 winters in Indiana and one year in Florida. The engine still worked fine, but I wasn't about to drive a car to Houston that didn't have A/C anymore. The only major maintenance I had done was replacing the timing belt and clutch.The Annoyed Man wrote:Now, when it comes time to replace my vehicle, if I can get an American vehicle comparable to my Pathfinder (2002), with 4 wheel drive, adequate power and adequate room, that will still be running reliably at 130K+ miles and 9 years later with low maintenance requirements, I'd be very interested. Maybe by then my Pathfinder might have 260K on the clock.
My 2002 Honda Civic has 124K miles on it right now and still runs great. Needs a new timing belt and a few little things, but otherwise, it is rock solid. Oh! I found the window sticker in the glove box: 70% US/Canadian parts content, 20% Japan parts content, assembled in Ohio, engine from USA, transmission from Japan.
Between those cars, I had two Dodge Durango pickups, a 1997 and a 2000, neither of which held up worth a flip. The only reason we have a Dodge right now is that my wife inherited a 2003 Caravan from her grandparents. It has more electrical problems than I care to catalogue, but at least it is paid for.
As Purplehood said, there are too many variables for a 'yes' or 'no' answer to buying strictly "Made in USA", but I'd like to support American businesses first. I just think my Mac (designed in California and assembled in China) is a much better machine than the Dell made in Round Rock (or don't they make them there anymore?).