In article <1068677919.897292@cache6.usenetserver.com>, wbittle1@alltel.net
says...
>
>
>> Yes. American automakers need to stop making crap. For some strange
>> reason people seem drawn to quality, service and value.
>>
> There are some American vehicles that do perform well with respect to
>overall quality, but they are few. What bothers me is that Toyota is looking
>more at the profit margen. It seems every time a company starts looking more
>at that, quality takes a hit in favor of profit. So, you start getting the
>problems. I drove a Toyota Matrix, and I can tell you this, It is not built
>as well as either of my Hondas. The plastic trim on the dash and doors is
>like paper and the interior in general feels cheaper. It was a nice vehicle,
>but I would much rather have a Honda. The only other vehicle that came close
>to a Honda was the Nissan Spec V I drove. That was a nice built and nice
>driving vehicle.
>

Well, the Toyota Matrix really isn't a Toyota. It's built in a Fremont, CA
UAW plant under a GM/Toyota joint venture. You know what happens when GM and
UAW get together to build a vehicle.