20-02-2019, 07:54 PM
Everyone likes to knock British (and especially British Leyland) build quality, but I must say from my experience it was not that bad. In 1975 I purchased a three year old Triumph Dolomite which had already clocked up 50,000 miles (so it couldn't have been too problematic), and I added another 50,000 miles in the next four years without any problems. It was replaced by a company car in the form of a Morris Marina - not the most exciting car, but again absolutely trouble free; that was replaced by a German-built Ford Cortina which was an absolute disaster from the build quality point of view, such that I swore never to have another Ford.
After British Leyand, then Italian-built cars get the stick, but again my experience says otherwise. The British press absolutely crucified the Lancia Dedra, but mine was brilliant in both build quality and driving experience, probably the best car I've ever had, whereas the VW Corrado that replaced it was a fine car trying to extract itself from disastrous build quality. Guess what? I've never had another German car either!
After British Leyand, then Italian-built cars get the stick, but again my experience says otherwise. The British press absolutely crucified the Lancia Dedra, but mine was brilliant in both build quality and driving experience, probably the best car I've ever had, whereas the VW Corrado that replaced it was a fine car trying to extract itself from disastrous build quality. Guess what? I've never had another German car either!