Actually, at least Toyota, has made their cars much more dependable.  Getting 250,000 miles is not just for Mercedes any more.  If the big 3 want to be saved, they had better learn that not all of us want to throw a car away after 4 years.

(What's with the copyright?)

Have to disagree with you here Doc, I've had my Mustang for 12 1/2 years. I think US cars are a lot more reliable than in the 70's and early 80's. Where I think they are hurting is new design and innovation, they play catch up with the Asian and European manufacturers. When a good idea does come up (i.e. the PT Cruiser) they drive it into the ground (and then Chevy makes their version of it!). Ford Flex is hoping to cash in on Scion's ugly box. No innovation.

Also (at least around were I live) you don't see a lot of old Asian cars around. I think the people that buy them must be trading them in on a newer model every few years. It's like cell phones, people want a new one every year (or less). Heck  I had my first cell phone for eight years, it worked, my co-workers would get a chuckle over it. It's the same with cars now. US Automakers let a golden opportunity slip by when they passed of inferior products years ago and gave foreign car buys time to develop brand loyalty and a lot of kids buy the brand dad drove, actual quality improvement or perceived.

Packard! Richard you're showing your age! Most people here will think your talking about Hewlett Packard or Packard Bell.

I bow to your expertise.  My wife owns a Jeep - 13 years old and falling apart.  I have only owned VW, Hondas and Toyotas.  And I am a very happy owner.

BTW - what are YOU doing owning a Mustang?  Kind of a bit on the wild side, eh?

Well I was 12 years young then... and in between marriages (I'm an honest man now), but I was a male version of a slut back then (not sure if that term is bi-gender (yeah made that up)). Not bragging either, it was dangerous, that Mustang was "keyed" twice in two weeks. It still runs great though.

Nothing wrong with that! A former co-worker of mine back in the mid-80's had a 56 or 57 Packard. Beautiful car, and could it haul. He told me he had it a 120 mph and the stock speedometer went to 160 mph. I guess by the mid to late 50's it was near the end Packard, but they went out with a bang.

It pays to be honest. Was it new or a classic?

New at the time. Wish I had the time and money to spend on a classic.

Mustangs will never become classics--they're a dime a dozen--unless Ford stops making them.

The 64 is and always will be!  And the new ones are still one of the best on the road! (the 70s models sucked tho).

So basically you're supporting throwing away money in favour of a feeling of nostalgia? Don't you think that money could be better used to help people in the present, rather than looking back to the past? Like, say, helping people who may be struggling with medical bills (since you made a post in favour of that)? Or even just using a tiny amount of the funds to help support a museum of cars where everyone can look with respect/nostalgia at models produced by the companies in the past, with the rest then going to causes that will make a (positive) difference to many peoples lives?