I've had a couple toyota's blow up on me.
Some US engines are fantastic designs. The 3800 GM V-6 being one. Some suck, the GM Quad 4 being one of those.
I've had lots of American cars, and i find that any extra maintenance is generally offset by the much cheaper parts, much lower initial entry price(i only buy used cars), and the typically much more mechanic friendly underhood area of US vehicles.
Overall, both have their plusses and minuses, but as an ex-wrench, i really do feel US cars(most of them) have gotten a bad rap that they do not deserve, and that is really a hold over from the late seventies and early eighties.
As far as no one using a 10yo American car as a daily driver, i know dozens of such people. My mom has a 95 Taurus that is as reliable as an August day is long. Before i bought my 928 my daily driver was an 83 Buick T-Type Turbo that would've put a straight line smack down on probably 90% of the posters P-cars on this site.
