One myth is that Japanese cars are necessarily designed and built in Japan. Also, with Japanese cars you tend to get what you pay for. Compare a Volvo with a Honda, if it suits the argument, but it would be fairer to look at current comparatively priced Acura, Lexus and Infiniti models before rushing to trash Japanese cars in general. In this price class, there are very few real dogs these days. And I dare say that stories of unfortunate service abound with all makes of cars depending on the occasional human failings at the thousands of dealerships.