It has long been considered a known truth that the Traditional Imports build better cars than the Traditional Domestics. To the casual observer, it would seem that the TD’s care less about their end product than the TI’s do. Is that really the case?

Over at AOL Autos this week Christopher Neiger spent some time with an incognito quality engineer who has worked for the TI’s and the TD’s. So what does he think? Do the TD’s care less about their end product? He says both the domestic and import car companies took pride in making quality-built vehicles, but also says there was a difference between the two companies he worked for.
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While putting together yesterday’s Carnival of Wheels, I came across a well written post by Wenchypoo with a bunch of used car buying tips. While I agreed with most of her suggestions, one sorta stuck in my craw:

One more thing that might sway a car purchase: parts for imported cars are more expensive than domestic models—the parts as well as the cars have to be imported, and this takes time and money (namely yours).
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As The Garage is so close to GM Canada’s headquarters, and a large number of Durham Region’s population depend on The General, I have spent some time over the years justifying my position that Traditional Domestics (ie American cars) SUCK. They ask “how can you say that when your neighbour’s income depends on those cars” or “we take great pride in the quality of our cars”.

It’s true, that the Oshawa plant has the highest quality rating of any of GM’s plants. That’s right, us Canadian’s build better cars up here than are built south of the border. These guys & girls have a right to be proud. They build the best cars they can, within the parameters that are set out for them. That’s right, this high end production facilty is predetermined to build crap.
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