Because the engineering approach is totally different. (This coming from an engineer) It's ignorant and racist to say that the Japanese are smarter or inherently more gifted than Americans are - the fact is, the Japanese have a head start on engineering and manufacturing qualities that make their cars so damn good. GM, Ford and Chrysler have become very close in the past 5-7 years in quality and reliability. What's lacking IMO is the finesse and interior design that the Germand and Japanese have perfected.

In the 70's, 80's and early 90's American carmakers got by by relying on people to buy their cars on name recognition, engine power and sheer size. Beginning in the 70's, the Japanese knew they had to outdo the Americans with something other than fuel economy - and the only way to do this was through engineering. The Japanese put waaaaay more emphasis on durability engineering than the Americans did and put more thought into their cars. Manufacturing tolerances are incredibly better in older Japanese cars. Basically, more thought and more effort was put into them. By the time the 90's rolled around, the American carmakers were in deep shit and the Japanese had a huge head start. A 1990 Accord might run 250k miles without a problem, but a 1990 Taurus might only go 30k before it blows a headgasket. The 'lead' that the Japanese have is much smaller than it used to be but it's still there.

It has nothing to do with where it's built or what color the guy was that engineered it, it has everything to do with the company that made it. Honda knows their shit and they do their homework, whether it's the R&D guys in Ohio or in Tokyo.