>John,
>
>After 1.5 years of working in an Acura/Infiniti dealership's service
>department and my impression of Japanese reliability differs drastically
>from yours.  I no longer subscribe to the notion that any these cars are
>somehow superior and infallible.
>
>Perhaps the toughest part was explaining to the custormers that ,contrary to
>their expectations, their precious cars do break down after all.

Not all Japanese cars are equal. Nissans for instance certainly lack
the relibility and toughness of Toyotas (almost all taxis hare are
Toyota Coronas, many diesel). Other cars tried by taxi owners and
discarded: Mitsubishi Galant Sigma; Nissan Bluebird; Ford Sierra
(=Mercury Merkur) YUK!  Mazdas etc. Infiniti is of course a Nissan
and Acura is the US-market-only name for certain Hondas (Quint
Integra range, NSX, Legend).

Most Japanese cars of the 70s were pretty bulletproof, but many of
them have lost integrity over the following years.

Saw a Honda 4x4 diesel offroader the other day, first one I've seen.
Honda? Yes. In Japan Honda rebadges an Isuzu Bighorn (=Trooper,
Holden Jackaroo) and markets it as a Honda!
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
Friends don't let friends do Windows