Part of the problem is one of those "laws" like "a gas will expand to the volume of its container." Well the complexity of cars increases to the limit of our ability to manufacture them.
There's no doubt in my mind that any American manufacturer could build a basic car that would get you from point a to point b, price it inexpensively, and have it be totally reliable, by sticking with simple proven technologies. But, government regulations and requirements are constantly changing, and the market does not want a simple utilitarian car. Thus every model year includes new, "first year in production" technologies, and the attendant quality issues. Allan -- 1983 300D 1966 230
