I don't dislike (certainly don't hate) most imports. I used to have one until someone hit me and we went into the trees and down about 250 feet. By the way, my import was a Honda CBR900RR. Talk about power to weight ratio. After almost 6 months of rehab, I have to "settle" for getting my pleasure in driving my 'vette. A bike with a sidecar for my wheelchair would be about as exciting as (you fill in the blank).

 

No import hate from me. Like you, I have been on both sides of the fence. Actually, in my personal experience I sometimes see it the other way around.

Sorry, this is long, but allow me to share my experience if you are interested.

I first started in the 70's with muscle cars of the 60's. When the oil crisis came along in the days of odd-and-even, every one was practically giving away his muscle car (you may be too young to recall the gas lines that were multiple blocks long and sometimes took 1-2 hours to reach). Unfortunately, I and many of my friends gave up our cars as well. Those were bad times (and many of those cars are worth bundles now).

The Japanese auto industry exploited this and gained a tremendous foothold. This is when I introduced myself to the Japanese market and turned to imports in 1980. Remember the Mitsubishi Fire Arrow 2.6 4-banger? Probably not. It was badged as a Plymouth and priced as much as a Trans Am. C&D and R&T actually hailed it as the "Oriental Trans Am" and predicted that it was where muscle cars were headed in the future. In many respects they were correct, given the boom of the import tuner scene that eventually evolved. I loved that little torquey wheel-hopping monster despite all its graphics. Up to that time the import scene in the States was basically limited to your Datsun Z's, 510's and B210's. And as far as performance was concerned--just for the heck of it--the stock Datsun Z (and even the newly released RX7) was 0-60 in 10 seconds! Imagine the quarter mile time. But it did track amazingly well for its time.

In the mid-80's the import restrictions came along. The US government stepped in to put a cap on the imports coming into the country. This was to allow the domestic manufacturers time to play "catch up" with the Japanese industry in quality and improved fuel economy. Thank goodness for that, otherwise the domestics would have folded (like Chrysler almost did back then) and quality would be no where as good as it is now. The competition was a good thing. Bad news was I would have to get on a waiting list for 6 months before getting a CRX Si.

So for 25 years I longed for the days of the muscle car and filled the gap with the new breed of imports. I had Honda Si's that I modded (and still have 2 Honda's today as family cars), 2 additional Mitsu's (in the form of the now moddest and forgotten Mirage turbo) and the Nissan 350Z (as well as a BMW parked beside the C6 and 3 Toyota Pick-ups over the years, etc, etc--all of which have been fine cars).

All of the above to show that I was not a "hater" of imports but actually a fan.

The tuner scene was then made public and glamorized by "Fast & Furious." Unfortunately, it brainwashed a lot of people into thinking that slapping on a CAI or exhaust onto any import can build a street scorching terror. That accounts for so many "posers" or wannabes out there. I'd say only 5% or less of the tuners in my area have decently modded rides. The others are all show (or all sound) and no go, yet many have a bad attitude that give imports a bad name. Thank you Hollywood.

While I was modding my Si (all-motor), a friend of mine had the same '99 Si with a Jackson-Racing s/c on his. It was great fun, but it still couldn't get under the 14's. Yet many I knew of put imports on such a high pedestal that some thought a s/c Si could blow away a vette. Many believed RX7 tt's, Supra tt's, 3000gt vr4's and 300ZX tt's were 10 second cars (thanks to "Fast & Furious") when they were actually high 13'/low 14's stock!!! And many still insist on believing it because of the crowd they hang with that keep feeding themselves the same bull! Those were great quarter's for the time--even compared to the C5-- so I don’t knock them at all, but times keep changing.

I still love and appreciate those cars because of the performance for their time just as I love and appreciate the muscle cars of the 60’s and early 70’s for the performance of their time.

I wanted to mod the 350Z, but was dissatisfied with various tsb's and wanted to wait things out first (so, in this case, quality was actually an issue). In addition, I learned form Sport Z magazine and many other respectable "Z" sources that shelling out the money and simply bolting on a sc or tt--though improving performance and fun factor--still couldn't break it out of the 13's (I still have my issues to prove their findings). Much more had to be done...and I was growing thirsty for hp and especially for the torque that imports severely lack.

When a friend gave me a ride in his C5, it was electrifying. The torque pushed me back into the seat. I hadn't felt that since I rode in a sleeper Datsun Scarab Z (housing a Chevy 350 V8) or my unforgettable and jolting ride in a Sting Ray 427. Then when I found out what GM did with the C6 and experienced it for myself, I was convinced and traded in my 350Z for it.

I do still appreciate imports and still wouldn't mind a tuner to play with. I enjoy reading import news, though I don't subscribe to any of the import magazines anymore. And I still keep my mind open to what may come next, be it domestic or import. I also still notice sportcompact tuners on the road, discerning and weeding through the fakes from the genuine. But now that I am back on this side of the fence (despite my 3 other imports I currently own) I see how the import crowd sometimes actually has a chip on THEIR shoulder--not all, but enough. Some boast to me about how much higher rpm's they can pull (been there), or that when they add a CAI and exhaust they will have 40 more hp , or if they put on a tt they can spank me. Please. There seems to be an increase in over-inflated egos amongst many tuners, but I don't think they are the legitimate tuners. Others have shown their ignorance of the Corvette by believing it was a 4 cylinder or V-6 Many I’ve talked to don’t believe a Corvette can even be modded. All this reveals to me how many import tuners, to my sorrow, are ignorant about domestic muscle. I simply continue to talk, perhaps educate them on the C6, and share my love of cars.

I know there are some domestic owner attitudes that disgruntle import tuners--the “haters” that you are addressing in your thread-- but from my personal experience as you can see from above I think it goes both ways. I don't look down on the imports because I still drive them and have enjoyed my history with them. I think it is wonderful to be able to appreciate cars of all kinds and not get blind to one kind or another. But I also think one should not have an unrealistic and over-inflated opinion of a car, and, unfortunately, that is what I see more and more of from the import scene lately.

 

Who said anything about hating imports? I positively salivate over Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Koenigseggs, Bugattis...

 

Its a 6-spd. I guess maybe its just bad luck but from what I've read on the RX-8 forums these problems are all fairly common.

 

 

All they complain about is oil consumption when mazda tells you rotary burns oil in the owner's manual, that's the nature of the motor. Mazda could have increase the oil capacity or make it easier to get to the damn thing

 

If you don't like capitalism, you can move to China. Funny how you are complaining about something our country was founded on, free enterprise. Competition lower prices and increase quality, I will sure go for that. What difference does it make if Joe Schmoe from overseas is making the money vs. Dick Trickle in Detroit? I don't get any of it, so who the hell cares.

The last time I checked, all the nationalism crap usually lead to war.

 

Yes ....that would be fine but look at the people here that do nothing but cost us $$$$$$$

List of 14 things that cost more than the war in Iraq...

I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they
are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have
included the URL's for verification of the following facts:

1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each
year. http://tinyurl.com/zob77

2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as
food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/f iscalexec.html

3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school
education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of
English! http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP.../01/ldt.0.html

5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born
children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...01/ldt.01.html

6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...01/ldt.01.html

7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...01/ldt.01.html

8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and
Social Services by the American taxpayers.
http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html

9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by
the illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...01/ldt.01.html

10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's
two-and-a-half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their
children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US .
http://transcripts.cnn.com/T RANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html

11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that
crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from
Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and
marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Homeland Security
Report. http://tinyurl.com/t9sht

12. The National Policy Institute, 'estimated that the total cost of mass
deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of
between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.'
http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.o...eportation.pdf

13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to
their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm

14. 'The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes
Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States '.
http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml

Total cost is a whooping... $338.3 BILLION A YEAR!!!

If this doesn't bother you then just delete the message, but on the other
hand, if it does raise the hair on the back of your neck, then forward it on.

 

It's really great to see everyone's opinions. I'm not knocking anything here...just truely want to see people's opinions on the matter.

 

Thinking straight, I can't help but wonder what Asian people call American cars. You see very few of them driving our products, even here in the states, without the tariffs.

 

Said it earlier, but got to thinking some more this is about people, not cars

The 58 Corvette the Parents have has soul

The 58 Porsche Speedster I have has Soul

The 73 911 I have has Soul

The 2008 Corvette I have has Soul

So do several other cars I own

I have owned and driven the heck out of many Asian
designed cars,and PU Trucks, raced a 510 Datsun an
S-2000 , and a Fairlady 2000.

The only cars I have put more miles on than the oriental rice mobiles
are VW Beetles, and they truly do have some soul

I cant put my finger on it, and without being overly derogatory
the Asian cars are the use/abuse type most people never get to attached to them.

Muscle cars German, British and Italian cars are different
People have a desire and fond memories of them, not so of
a Nissan, a family trip in the Toyota?

Not sure why just the way it is I can still remember the seats on the Datsun 510
and the BMW 2002 (the one that it was copied from) cannot think those are great
memories, those were the cheapest seats I can remember.

Its not that we hate its the lack of soul that makes them unloveable

 

most call it nothing. why bother? if you don't want something or would rather own something else, you just don't bother. unless you have an axe to grind.

so what's yours?

 

You've never heard of the Renesis engines dying or the sun shades melting and falling off?

 

Ugh. She's got more plastic on her than a Vette.

 

This is probably a very self centered response, but...

I make a pretty good living here in the good old USA. I am well paid for what I do. I have my Corvette, & live in a good neighborhood. I am not threatened at all that a foriegner could take my job.

I don't believe in handouts, and do think we need to better control who we are doling this cash out to, but I don't stress on it. I am not the guy to get involved in all that, so forget about getting much of an opinion from me on it. I live my own life, and let others live theirs. Income tax is going to be what it is regardless how stupidly the politicians spend our money.

 

[shrugs] what do you expect? Mexicans who don't know English go to the polls just to vote for every Spanish-sounding name on the list. Why would Asians buy American cars? I know why not: Azn Pride.

 

Made my wife trade her G35 coupe for a Corvette after tires were gone at 10,000 miles auto with 50 something women driving. Need new brakes and rotors at 15000 miles and would to going forward. 300.00 dollars for air and cabin filters and 2 wiper blades. Got 2 grand off put 10,000 down had 6000.00 in equity after 1 year. Bought new vett trade for new vett again paid cost of new tires dif.NOT looking at import again.
z51vett

 

I could not say it any better

 

I tend to hate certain imports because generally that is what a lot of the problem people drive around here in So Cal.
Little noisy fart can muffler racer jerks that disturb the peace, race on the freeway cutting in and out of traffic dangerously close, and tend to attract a bad element in general whenever they congregate. And the occasional one that simply must tailgate you at insane close distances on the freeway to "bully" you to get out of "his" lane so he can race up and tailgate the next guy in front of you.
And add in the "bumpin" stereos in residential areas too.

This is normal stuff here in So Cal. sigh.