American cars

I want to like American cars. Really, I do. All things being equal, I prefer buying local products, supporting local jobs, sparing the impact of shipping cars from overseas.

But I’ve been traveling a lot lately, which has included a lot of time stuck in rental cars. They have all been American sedans, almost brand new cars. And they have all been crap.

Since 1988, I have owned or regularly driven an older model used Volvo, a new Toyota Camry, a new Mazda pickup truck, a new Subaru Outback, a used Maxda 626, a new VW Passat and a used VW Eurovan. I can’t think of a single time with any of those that I have had trouble with something as simple as starting the car. I mean, unless it was majorly broken, you turn the ignition, maybe give it a bit of gas and vroom, the car is running. Of the last five American rental cars I’ve had, three had trouble turning over, requiring multiple efforts and lots of pumping of the gas pedal.

Or there was the Chrysler where I accidentally set the parking brake while waiting for a green turn arrow, blocking traffic for three light cycles while I found the release. That embossed rubber oval on the floorboard right next to the parking brake? That’s not it. It’s the unmarked handle on the very bottom of the dash, under the (labeled) push button for opening the trunk.

And the brand new Dodge rental car (I was the second renter) where the AC flat out didn’t work.

And they all handle like land yachts. I have never felt so isolated from the road, with trouble seeing traffic around me and no clear sense of how fast I’m going or how close I am to the cars around me.

Gahh! No wonder Ford and GM seem to be circling the drain.