In your opinion, which country produces the best cars?

[dead0man]

The US is much better than it was 25+ years ago, but still behind the best, Japan.

[MaxQue]

Japan, but I heard USA improved (it was really dreadful in the 90's).

[DINGO Joe]

Of the ones I (and my wife) have owned, Volkswagen has been my favorite (out of Ford, Mazda, Toyota, and Volkswagen).

[dead0man]

Japan, but I heard USA improved (it was really dreadful in the 90's).

90s was hit and miss (more miss than hit), the 80s was a joke.  Really there was almost nothing good to come out of Detroit between 73 (first big fuel crunch) and 97 (the C5 'vette).

[Del Tachi]

United States bar none, even if just for the superb styling on most US models.

Anything manufactured in the UK is a piece of [inks], trust me I drive a Land Rover currently and I'm waiting to trade-up to an F150

[dead0man]

UK vehicles aren't horrible, the quality control is though.  What year Land Rover ya got, an Indian one, a Ford one, a German one or an old one?

United States bar none, even if just for the superb styling on most US models.

What like the Pontiac Aztek or the PT Cruiser or the last Thunderbird or the first Taurus or the car that looked like the first Taurus on steroids, the 90s Caprice.  And that's just cars made in the last 20ish years and ignoring turds like the Pacer, the Edsel, and everything Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth made in the 70s.


and thinking about it more, even the good looking American cars all look bloated.  All of the new pony cars look like giant tanks up close.  Even the 'vettes look huge, more so in real life than in photos.

[TDAS04]

Germany

[Sol]

'Murica!

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

North Korea

[Franzl]

Going to say Germany here in an absolute sense, but they're pretty damn expensive. Japanese cars are certainly best in a quality:affordability ratio sense.

[Simfan34]

GOAT

[Platypus]

Australia and I'm serious. We don't make any bad cars.

[dead0man]

I've only owned one German car, a 2000 VW Golf.  Compared to it's Japanese competition it was garbage.  Dials falling off.  Trim coming apart.  It was in worse shape at 25k than my Mazda 3 is at 110k.

[bedstuy]

I would say Japanese cars are generally the best value, but German cars are generally the best driving.  Basically, a BMW is more fun to drive than a comparable Lexus.  A Volkswagen is more fun to drive than a comparable Toyota.  A Honda will cost less for maintenance and purchase price than a comparable Volkswagen.

In my estimation, better means performance, handling and comfort.  So, I would give the nod to the krauts.

[dead0man]

Mazda does both


Maybe not as overall reliable as the better Toyotas, maybe not as....refined as a BMW, but often faster and ALWAYS cheaper.

[bedstuy]

Mazda does both


Maybe not as overall reliable as the better Toyotas, maybe not as....refined as a BMW, but often faster and ALWAYS cheaper.

I don't drive a lot since I live in NYC.  But, if we're comparing a BMW 3 series to a Mazda sedan, I'm pretty sure the BMW is a superior driving car.  The difference is more in the handling and suspension rather than horsepower or anything like that.  Japanese cars tend to have less road feel.  But, what do I know, the only car I've driven in the past year was a Bentley.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Tough call.  Most people IRL would probably say Japan.  Personally, I'd much rather buy an American brand from GM, Ford, or Chrysler, even though over 90% of the parts are foreign-made.  I don't have a problem with buying other products from foreign companies, but being from Michigan, the auto industry is very near and dear to me (like it is for most of the state.)

[Napoleon]

Germany if we are talking about normal automobiles. Italy and the US make the best supercars.

[angus]

The two best cars I've had were a Toyota and a Mercedes.  I'm not sure where they were made, though.  (I assume Japan and Germany, respectively.)  The worst car I ever had was a Fiat.  It was made in Turin.  I'm certain about that.  Anyway, I voted "other" and was thinking of Mexico.  I do know that all Mazda 3 for the US market will be made in Mexico starting in 2015.  Already, most small Hondas and Volkswagen for the US market are made there.   (I've had two Volkswagens and I would never, ever buy another one.  I don't blame the Mexicans for that, though, since it was they were made to the design, and the design was German.)  Mexico has already surpassed Japan as the number 2 supplier to the US market, and will likely surpass Canada in 2015.  Also, Audi and Ford will start producing about 300 thousand cars each in Mexico for the US market, starting in 2016.  At some point, they'll either get really good or folks will stop buying them and they'll stop making them.  Given how badly Mexicans need jobs, my guess is that get really good at it, so I'm voting for Mexico.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

As an aside to Uncle angus' posting here's a trick for you kids.......Look at the VIN# on your registration or insurance card.  Cars made in the U.S. start with 1,4 or 5, Canada is 2, Mexico is 3, Japan is J, South Korea is K, England is S, Germany is W and Sweden or Finland is Y.

[angus]

Intriguing.  I just whipped out my card and I see that my wife's car is 1 and mine is J.  (Mine is a 2012 Mazda 3.  I was aware that it was made in Japan but that the newer ones will be from Mexico.)  They're both fine cars.  In fact, all my US and all my Japanese cars have been good ones.  I'm hoping that the Mexican ones will be good as well, since that's where most of the new cars will come from.

Thanks for the info, gramps.  

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Thanks for the info, gramps.  

No problem.  I love when some schlub buys a Chrysler product all proud of himself that bought "murican" and I deflate his bubble and tell him it was made by browns in Mexico.     

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

East Germany-long live the Trabant!

[angus]

East Germany-long live the Trabant!

I drove a beat-up Soviet-era Lada in Jamaica once.  It handled pretty well, but it was really a bare-bones car.  Here's an oldie from the 80s:  What's the difference between a Lada and a golf ball?

[dead0man]

The Top Gear episode where they try and find a good Communist made car is one of my favorites.