Threxx, I have driven my Father-in-Law's 97 Camry XLE, and comparing it to my '95 Park, I'd say this:
Better ride:
Not sure, they both are set up quite different.
Empty:
The Camry is set up with firmer springs, struts and Low-Pro tires, it definitely handles a little crisper.
The Buick has taller rubber, softer springs and a road sensing Computer controlled suspension, almost like a hover-craft, feel far less of the roads imperfections, less tire noise, and more comfortable on long hauls.(We drove to Disney last summer, tailgating...switching drivers.)
The Camry has lower gearing, and has a more performance exhaust note under hard acceleration, the Buick is deceivingly quiet and smooth but will easily keep up. Fully loaded, is another story altogether.
The Buick SHINES here.
The Camry had a strut-plate rattle, the Buick's "expensive" rear air struts leaked, both cars were repaired before our trip to Disney.
I'd say it's subjective to what you're expecting. If it's a smooth ride, Buick, if a more performance ride with more feedback, Camry.
How the hold up, depends largely on P.M. of each.

 

Back when those cars were new, domestics outsold imports by about 3:1. In Michigan, it was probably more like 6:1. It's the percentage still running that matters, not the raw numbers.

 

I have seen this on alot of early 90s Hondas. Not just Accords, but Civics and Preludes too. Factory exhaust seems to rot out pretty quick.


I completely understand the point you are making with this, but I have to wonder; do you personally intend on keeping any of the cars you have much past warranty anyway? I noticed you got rid of the Lex for the Audi some time ago.

 

There are too many factors to take into consideration when comparing 10+ year old cars.

 

My personal intentions and driving habits can differ from my qualifications for judging the engineering and assembly of a car.

I had my GS4 until 70k miles, now my best friend owns it.

I had my Maxima up to 110k miles. My Silverado I sold right as the warranty went out at 36k miles. This Audi is a 2 year lease so it'll never see the end of its warranty in my hands. Our 4runner has maybe 15k miles on it but we'll definitely be keeping it past the warranty. Actually I've got a buddy who can get me dealer cost on a 100k mile warranty so I might just do that instead.

 

Why did the original one fall off? Why does it keep falling off using Honda parts? (he and a mechanic friend have re-hung everything twice)

I'm not taking jabs at Honda per se, my only point is everyone will have different experiences. My opinion about foreign vs. domestic reliability and personal experiences are no more or less valid than anyone else's. All we can go by are these surveys like JD Power and CR...no, they aren't very scientific but they do at least take a decent sized sample of those varying opinions.

 

My mother's 97' Camry 4 cyl. Camry broke a connecting rod at a little over 100k and was rendered useless. That was a 10 year old car and it has NOT held up. How the hell do you break a connecting rod in such a vehicle that has seen almost exclusive Highway milage?

Meanwhile my Father's Eagle Vision still runs great and everything works. The only problem with that car is some of the adhesive in the interior has deteriorated and some of the trim is not flush. The leather doesn't seem to be that great either, although it was never really taken care of. The sunroof was messed up too.

 

Reminds me of when Motor Trend was doing a long term test on a camry and they blew a head gasket I believe, but they dismissed it, basically saying "sh*t happens" and that they must have gotten a "bad one".

They caught a little flak for that.

 

As they should have, toyota has had several head gasket issues that came up between 91 and 2002 on various vehicles, however, all to my knowledge were addressed by TSB's and in most cases did top end motor rebuilds for the customer as well as replacing the gasket of course.

 

That reminds me of the latest C&D test where they compared entry level sport lux cars and the 3-series still won over the Lexus IS which got 2nd place, despite the 3-series having a myriad of strange electrical gremlins and issues (in a brand new car), being slower, and not handling as well. But the BMW had a better 'feel' to it.

 

Are you sure it wasn't the elusive 'Gotta Have Factor'?

 

I don't remember, I just remember by the numbers the new IS350 was the hands-down winner, and in addition to that the 3-series they had was barely functioning properly (warning lights all over the place) yet they looked right past all that and still scored it in 1st place because of some subjective feelings.

 

I thought the BMW handled better than the IS in that test?????

And the BMW's are probably much better to drive, you of all people should know a car is just as much about feel as it is raw numerical data...

 

Heh, welcome to the world of Car & Driver. All the auto magazines have their favorites, for whatever reason...be it history of the car, reputation, whoever pays the most to advertise, whatever....