Who REALLY Makes The Best Vehicles On The Planet? Americans, Asians Or Europeans?

The playing field is leveling just in time for Detroit's automakers.

In an Associated Press-Gfk poll likely to spur heated debate, more Americans say they now believe the cars and trucks coming from the likes of General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC deliver better quality than their Asian rivals -- an encouraging turnaround that probably says as much about the stumbles of recall-plagued Toyota Motor Corp. as it does the long-time-coming resurgence of Detroit.

The poll of 1,002 adults, conducted in early March by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media amid widening troubles for Toyota, found that 38 percent of those polled rated American metal the best, and 33 percent favored Asian products. In a December 2006 poll conducted by AP-AOL, 46 percent of Americans dubbed Asian vehicles the best, compared to 29 percent who went America First.

upwards - 4/22/2010 11:45:23 AM

+6 Boost

Let the flames began.

Agent63 - 4/22/2010 2:14:56 PM

-3 Boost

The flame wars were fun back in the days when this site use to be packed with readers. What happened to the trolls?

Steve - 4/22/2010 1:09:20 PM

+9 Boost

Hey "Agent009"... are you really "Agent00R" up to your old tricks of inciting flame wars when you've "got nuthin'"?

There once was a time when Autospies was rich with information, and worth pouring over daily. I miss those days :-(

BondMI6 - 4/22/2010 1:25:25 PM

+2 Boost

I miss em' too Steve, but these are tough times and I can't wait for the next article...........

theoptimisticpessimist - 4/22/2010 1:29:00 PM

+10 Boost

I always amused by this question. Best car for whom, Me, my 85 year mother, my off-roading friends, or my convert loving sister? there is no one best car for the masses there are best car for each individual.

Deutschland - 4/22/2010 1:45:48 PM

+2 Boost

lol this won't be pretty

100tnega - 4/22/2010 1:52:58 PM

+2 Boost

Hot Wheels

Joe_Limon - 4/22/2010 2:29:23 PM

-1 Boost

For me it's the British... With TVR coming back, Ariel, Ascari, Aston Martin, Bentley, Caparo, Caterham, Lotus, Mclaren, Morgan, Noble, Radical, Rolls Royce, and Ultima.

I'm amazed at how many fun cars still come out of that little island (and yes I know they aren't all British owned)

Whelan - 4/22/2010 4:20:16 PM

+3 Boost

What gripes me about this is unless you own a luxury car in the U.S. then you cannot have a valid opinion. Reason being we do not have Fiat, Peugot, Vauxhaul, Renault, Opel, etc. Sure some of our models use their base architecture but that's all.

That being said I can't really give an opinion cause I don't drive a BMW, MB, Audi. VW and Mini would be the only real representative of affordable European cars available to the mainstream. Hardly enough to form an opinion.

Willis - 4/22/2010 5:01:09 PM

+5 Boost

My vote goes to the people who live on Mars. They build awesome cars.

SHOWTIME - 4/22/2010 7:36:20 PM

+3 Boost

I really don't know why some of you get ticked off so easily. This is a car forum people and there's nothing wrong with bringing up topics for us to debate over. This is what makes car forums fun instead of just reading news.

wins555 - 4/22/2010 11:14:27 PM

+2 Boost

DEFINE "BEST" !!!!!

Joe_Limon - 4/23/2010 2:03:55 AM

+1 Boost

Not in the usa, Toyota sells almost half of what ford or GM sells.

kpaxx - 4/23/2010 6:54:12 AM

0 Boost

Even if they do outsell everyone (which they don't) the highest selling car is not necessarily the best.

I believe the three main factors in determining the best car are:

1. Safety
2. Durability/reliability
3. Performance

bfghemicuda - 4/23/2010 11:34:30 AM

+1 Boost

I still say American. Where else can you go on a car lot and have the best trucks on the planet along with the only true muscle [pony] cars that allow for add-ons and modifications than any other, the best mini-vans, the best off-road [Jeep] vehicles, and some of the best econo cars. I feel the only American arena that is less competitive would be the true luxory catagory, not that they are not there but what is, is in small numbers.

hk4site - 4/23/2010 11:38:42 AM

+1 Boost

For go fast the germans

85bmw745i - 4/24/2010 1:49:48 PM

+2 Boost

I wouldn't say best minivans, The Honda and Toyota have consistently been proven more reliable. Domestic cars are much more appealing. As far as reliability, I say the japanese, as far as drivers cars, you can't beat european cars. Best bang for the buck would go to Domestics. The only real good off road jeep is the Rubicon, which in my opinion is one of the best in the land. they just need to eliminate the leaf springs and get coil overs for better axle articulation. The rest of them get owned by Land Rover.