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Preface

My fascination with motor vehicles began in 1982. In the fall of that year, my wife and I planned a trip to California. The itinerary included a couple of days in San Francisco, several days in the High Sierra and a day, or so, in Death Valley.

On arrival in San Francisco, we planned to take advantage of the $100-per-week car rental that National Car Rental offered. When we came to the rental desk, the lady told us that all of the General Motors vehicles at that rental rate were out, but she had a Honda that she could substitute at the same rental rate. As I had no experience with made in Japan motor vehicles, I quickly responded by asking her whether the car was new. After she reassured me that it was, I decided that the risk was acceptable. It was to be one of my life’s momentous decisions.

Driving this Honda was roughly akin to stepping into an alternate universe. Within the first minute, I was stunned by the quietness and smoothness of its operation. After two hours, equally so by its comfort. And by the end of the trip, I had a burning desire to dump the 1980 GM product that I owned and buy a made in Japan automobile as soon as circumstances permitted.

The first task was to find out whether all made in Japan motor vehicles were of “another universe.” From the Consumer Reports reliability tables, it seemed clear that the alternate universe was then restricted to Toyotas and Hondas, with the Corolla in a very distant galaxy of that alternate universe. This permitted me to narrow my inquiry to a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Accord.

By December 1983, I had decided to purchase a 1984 Corolla liftback; in February 1984, I placed my order; in May 1984, I took possession. My expectations with regard to smoothness, quietness and comfort were satisfied.

Year after year passed with the smoothness, quietness, comfort and reliability of my 1984 Corolla remaining intact. And to my amazement, it did not fall apart in a zillion, or so, different ways within the first 100,000 miles, as all of my Big Three experiences suggested was the natural certainty for every motor vehicle made by man. It was and is as durable as it was and is reliable. And at about 16 ½ years and 383,000 miles, it is about as (for me, more) enjoyable to drive now as (than) when it was new.

At the same time, whether by observing the sights and sounds on the street corner or in the car, by browsing the remarks or reliability tables in Consumer Reports, or by conversing with Big Three owners or persons with Big Three driving or riding experiences, one could witness the persistence of the shortcomings and failures of Big Three engineered vehicles. Indeed, the great gulf between the Reliable Two and the Big Three, by some measures and in some product categories, actually widened. And despite this, the new car market share of the Big Three dwindled rather negligibly. As this contradiction seemed to have numerous ramifications to the U.S., to other nations and to groups within and without the U.S., I decided about two years ago to put together an annual motor vehicle review.

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