why can't U.S. car companies compete against foreign ones?

I guess its due to work ethics, the Japanese have a zero part fault tolerance rate for most of their engine parts. Their engines run forever, they are so quiet too...its not only about cheap labor. Overall their car components are better and run for a longer amount of time, thats how Toyotas and Hondas have built their reputation. They give more value for money.
The American cars are good for comfort but they are no way close to Japanese when performance & fuel economy are concerned in addition to price.

America lacks the technology that few other foreign car makers have.

The bottom line is Oil.

The technology is there for any car maker to be able to make cars that get 50-60 miles per gallon. The thing is that America depends too much on oil.

What would happen to the economy if Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet all of a sudden started making cars that ran 70 miles per gallon? The economy would fall into a tailspin. Thats why there is no push from the Gov't to make the Big 3 to make their vehicles get better gas mileage.

the American society, life are full of fun. nobody take it serious.

i think chevy's are reliable, Ford isn't as reliable. To me the best brand for American cars is Chevrolet and Cadillac. For japenese cars, it would have to be Nissan.

i drive a toyota as well. when it was built (1994) toyota was superior. however, now all tests show the makers to be mixed. toyota has just announced massive recalls and they and others have admitted they kept defects secret that would have resulted in recalls.

because work costs more in america than it does everywhere else in the world. Foreign companies can afford better parts because they save on labor. it's that simple.