On 1/21/06, Bill Branch <billbranch1@aim.com> wrote:
> Why can't we offer the Japs the same share of our market as they allow us, as did the
> Italians?
Easy. The Americans are trying to compete on price, the Japanese (and
Koreans) are competing on quality. The Americans are trying to foist
a bunch of crappy cars on us, and hope that cheap prices will make us
all look the other way when it breaks down. Sorry, no dice. If
American car companies want to compete, it's time they cleaned up
their act.
Just take a look at Ford's premier offering: the Ford GT. Nice car,
right? Yeah... if you can keep it running. There are TSBs out for
all manner of fluid leaks (boy that must be safe to drive ~200mph down
the track with it gushing power steering fluid), it's been recalled
seven times (minor stuff like suspension components breaking). This
is Ford's PREMIER PRODUCT, and they can't even get it right.
Or how about GM? GM has still not really resolved the problem C5
Corvette steering columns locking at will. Last I checked, the
Corvette was one of GM's most prestigious vehicles.
When the big three introduce new models (Saturn SL, Neon, Escape,
Focus, etc) they set records for the vast number of recalls made.
Perhaps they should start THERE before trying to put a lid on this
free market stuff. And, really, that's why they're bankrupt the big
three have been putting out tripe for about 30 years too long.
> I really hate to hear about patriotism from people driving Toyotas.
And I hate to hear about patriotism from people who bash American made
cars. ::rolls eyes::
Of course, I'm quite amused to hear this comming from such a staunch
conservative as yourself. What do you propose we do? Mandate that
Americans buy American cars (assembled in Mexico or Brazil with
Chinese built engines and Japanese gearboxes no less).
Sorry, the American companies need to get their act together. Hell,
the big three have such a strangle hold on the NHTSA and DOT. We're
one of the few countries (maybe the only) where red turn signals are
allowed (namely in the name of cost savings), high beams are okay for
DRLs (again, in the name of cost savings), extremely low goals are set
for fuel economy, etc... all in the name of cost savings.
Even with various import tarrifs (remember when the Infinity I30 came
out shortly after a new tarrif on Jap cars over $30,000 was imposed),
the Japanese are doing quite well. Nah.. to level the playing field,
you'd have to essentially ban all imports. Even the Koreans are
beating the Americans at their own game, and they're doing it with
American labour to boot.
Rant about Toyota all you want (even as unfounded as it is), but
they're using American labour (unionized too) to build cars not 40
minutes away from me at their NUMI plant (Fremont, CA).
See, to support the big three in the name of being American is to
simply put blind faith in trickle down economics (which, of course,
Reagan has proven to be a b.s. theory at best). Sure, the American
corporations get money, but they'll still move the jobs overseas,
they'll still buy overseas products (check out where AC Delco
batteries and spark plugs are being made now..... China). Buy a
Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, etc, and you'll have at least employed
more than simply American management. Geez... Hyundai has invested
how much in new design, engineering, and manufacturing facilities in
the US?
--
alex
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Received on Tue Jan 24 23:49:22 2006
