Q: skip the RESALE and DEPRECIATION issues. what makes people so apprehensive about buying one? i see and know some people who owns it and they are not below average car owner and they also know a bit about things about car's specs. i am thinking of buying a jeep compass or dodge caliber. thank you all for not ever mentioning resale and depreciation. i know it must be difficult to discuss this thing without having to spew this overused salesman pitch
A: People have strong opinions about cars. But, as my Grandpa used to say, "Opinions are like rear ends. Every one has one and they all stink". At one time the Japanese cars had a decided advantage in quality control. That is no longer true but people's opinions are slow to change and some will never change their opinions. For those, who think that Japanese and European cars are longer lasting, I always ask them to count the number of 60's, 70's & 80's Japanese & European cars they see on the road and then count the American cars from the same eras on the road. The American cars will out number the Japanese & European cars, combined, from those years by a factor of two or three to one. Longevity means more to me than opinions.