What would it take to make small cars desirable?

[rh77]

My shift to Imports was personal preference. I admit to getting into the DOHC craze, but my first experience was with the Quad-4 in a '90 Beretta GTZ. At 80,000 miles, the head gasket blew (major issue with these engines).

I began to prefer small cars for agility and convenience. In 1997, I test drove a variety of new vehicles:

Dodge Neon
Dodge Avenger
Chevy Cavalier / Pontiac Sunfire
Chevy S-10 4-cylinder
Buick Skylark
Honda Accord (a '95 -- started to feel like I was getting closer)
Honda Civic HX (Wow, I think I've found it!)

I couldn't afford anything but the DX, without PS or A/C. Loved it! Traded it for a '99 Civic Si -- IMHO, best car I've owned. Not a single problem up to 40K miles each. Got caught-up in import performance...

Then the Mitsubishi Evo was lemon from the factory (bad transaxle, etc.)
'99 Acura TL -- auto trans recall problems -- bought at 80K sold at ~140K IIRC.

So cars are cars, even imports. The Integra seems to have held together well over 10 years and 130K. But you're right, the timing belt / water-pump maintenance is expensive. Statistically however, some domestic models have given the big 3 a bad rap. They know who they are -- CR knows who they are. I think we know...

I rent at least 50 cars a year -- mostly domestic. I've seen a huge improvement in especially GM in the last 3 years. It is true that OHV engines turn slower, and more efficiently. Ford has some innovation, and Chrysler -- so help me, if I have to drive another PT Cruiser!

Some "imports" have been awful -- some pretty cool. But when I get home, I still enjoy driving the Integra. I just like the driving position, handling, and feel of small Honda models.

That's the rationale.

RH77