Agreed the Nipponese (that's not offensive is it?) thrashed us for a while. My nephews' 1991 Supra has a quality feel and my brother in laws 89 Accord was a tank until rust ate it.
That said the 80s full size GMs and Fords were very reliable as well, but a dying breed in many ways even then. I sold my 97 Grand Marquis with 230k mostly trouble free miles on it because of rust.
Mike I meet a lot of contractors at the pickup dock, the only time I ever see a foreign truck is when it's someones' friend
The new HD trucks are incredible.
Pete