In university, I was forced to take an introductory statistics course. I dreaded the thought of having to learn "math" again, but by the end of the course, I realized its value and would recommend it to everyone.
Perhaps the most important lesson you can learn from statistics is the value of a sample size. Sample size refers to the number of cases from which you can extrapolate information and make inferences. Take for example a survey. If you ask 10,000 people who they are voting for, you will get a much better idea who will win the election than if you asked only 100 people. But 100 is at least better than 10.
Why then do people try to make the same inferences and blanket statements with a sample size of one? I think you might know what I'm referring to.
Back in 1981 I bought an American car, and it was crap. I'll never buy American again!
Perhaps some sobering analysis is in order. Over the past 20 years, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler have made millions and millions of cars. Looking around my neighbourhood, I see countless American cars that are ten years old or older--in fact, I own one! And while it has had its share of repairs and maintenance, it never lets me down. With 140,000 miles on the clock, it starts every day, doesn't burn or leak any fluids, and the engine is smooth as silk.
So what would you say if I said I would never buy a non-American car again based upon this single experience? You would probably call me an idiot. And you would probably be right.
Yet people who will not buy domestic automobiles regularly employ this thinking and are reassured by it. Many will not drive American cars at all, or will exclude vehicles from their list because of the name of the model, which had problems when it was a completely different vehicle twenty years ago.
Does anyone remember the Toyota Corrosion? That's what my mother called her Corolla when it started rusting six months after she got it. In fact, that was a common name for the car. Back then, owning an import was a joke, and was reserved for people who were too young or poor to afford proper American-made transportation. Of course, this 1970s car is a far cry from today's Corolla, which is widely praised for its reliability, durability, and overall quality.
I've always believed that you should have the right to buy whatever you want with your money. You earned it, you can make your choice. If you're shopping for a car, and you drive an American car and an imported car and find that the import is better, by all means, buy the import. I'm considering the Acura TL, Audi A4, and Nissan Altima as eventual replacements for my Sable. The main reason is that they offer something that the American carmakers don't: a manual transmission.
But that aside, there's nothing wrong with the Fusion or the G8. They are both great looking cars with beautiful interiors and plenty of power, should you go with the optional engines. And if you sit in one and drive one, you'll find the quality to be much improved from what you're used to seeing from the American carmakers. In fact, I'm sure if you removed the badging from them, you could fool quite a few people into thinking they're driving an import.
I don't believe any business who is incapable of making a profit should be supported with government funds. But think about it. The auto industry employs millions of Americans and a large number of Canadians as well. The big three don't deserve your money. They don't deserve anything. But what you deserve is the best car money can buy. And if you're already prepared to exclude the great vehicles coming out of Detroit right now because you had a bad apple twenty years ago, you're only doing yourself, and your fellow citizens, a disservice.
Just take one for a test drive. It won't cost you anything.
