Why do Asians make better cars?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ericlobster

We all understand that Japan makes great stuff but the recent success of Kia (Korean car btw) has thrown US car manufacturing way to the back of the line.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2016/02/23/asian-carmakers-top-consumer-reports-list-with-a-couple-exceptions/

I remember when Ford and GM were regarded as the best in the world.

What has changed? Is it our education system? The number of students who completed Algebra has declined severely over the years. Yet it increases in Asian countries.

So what if there are tons of resources online like Math.com or StudyPug. There needs to be a fundamental change in our education system from the ground up or we'll continue to slip. It's getting kind of scary guys. What can we do to start innovating like North Americans use to.

Let's look at the list of "Asian" cars from what you linked and see where they are actually made.

Ford F150 - USA
Honda Fit - Mexico
Mazda MX5 - Japan
Kia Sorento - USA
Lexus RX 350 - Canada
Toyota Sienna - USA
Toyota Camry - USA
Subaru Impreza - USA (2017)
Subaru Forester - Japan (Production moving to USA within 5 years)

These cars are all made with parts sourced from around the world but most of the larger components are made locally.

There is no such thing as a purely "Asian" car anymore.

[synchromesh]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Ya lost me from the get go, there, synchromesh ........


humfrz

I'm not sure what lost or found tribe you are from but tonight I go to a bar and as usual just trying to be friendly with a waitress or bartendress, like the old days on film. As usual the same usual story goes(an assumption), this time, someone steals my coat. Sounds inconsequential, but my adjuster still doesn't appear to trust me compared to what I heard in the old days. Go figure.

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by synchromesh

I'm not sure what lost or found tribe you are from but tonight I go to a bar and as usual just trying to be friendly with a waitress or bartendress, like the old days on film. As usual the same usual story goes(an assumption), this time, someone steals my coat. Sounds inconsequential, but my adjuster still doesn't appear to trust me compared to what I heard in the old days. Go figure.

Squiddie... is that YOU?!?

[synchromesh]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Squiddie... is that YOU?!?

Maybe a guy should show up at a bar in biker attire. No, not spandex and a gyro helmet. The only "sport" bike that truly fits me is a Hayabusa. Iffy on corners but laughable on a straight!

[Impureclient]

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by synchromesh

Maybe a guy should show up at a bar in biker attire. No, not spandex and a gyro helmet. The only "sport" bike that truly fits me is a Hayabusa. Iffy on corners but laughable on a straight!

[radroach]

Staying on track, Japanese cars have good production quality because they have good organizational culture. If a manufacturing defect is spotted by a lower level employee, they are encouraged stop the entire production line in order to address the issue.

Another thing is just the quality and ease of maintenance speaks for itself. My mom's 1999 2.2L Camry XLE is still a well-running DD car clocking over 300,000 miles I think, and she does the bare minimum in maintenance. I just recently bought a repair manual and doing work on it seems as easy as working with legos / erector sets.

[reeves]

Originally Posted by humfrz

There lies the start of your families automobile problems ........ your dad should have bought a Chevy ......

humfrz

It's all good, guess it was meant to be. No regrets with my '94 MR2 the last 20 years.. It led me to buy a '93 MR2 turbo hardtop, and a '92 Celica Alltrac.

I still have no interest in buying any American cars, especially the high HP sports cars like Camaros or Corvettes.. doesn't matter how many Transformer movies they put them in lol

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by radroach

Staying on track, Japanese cars have good production quality because they have good organizational culture. If a manufacturing defect is spotted by a lower level employee, they are encouraged stop the entire production line in order to address the issue.

Another thing is just the quality and ease of maintenance speaks for itself. My mom's 1999 2.2L Camry XLE is still a well-running DD car clocking over 300,000 miles I think, and she does the bare minimum in maintenance. I just recently bought a repair manual and doing work on it seems as easy as working with legos / erector sets.

Built in Georgetown Kentucky.


The US, Canada and Mexico assembly plants have had the same sort of systems in place for 30 years.

[Impureclient]

I thought it was common knowledge about many "asian" cars now being built in the U.S.?

[reeves]

Originally Posted by radroach

Staying on track, Japanese cars have good production quality because they have good organizational culture. If a manufacturing defect is spotted by a lower level employee, they are encouraged stop the entire production line in order to address the issue.

Another thing is just the quality and ease of maintenance speaks for itself. My mom's 1999 2.2L Camry XLE is still a well-running DD car clocking over 300,000 miles I think, and she does the bare minimum in maintenance. I just recently bought a repair manual and doing work on it seems as easy as working with legos / erector sets.

That's why I get nervous buying any Japaneses car being built in America today (esp. Toyotas & Hondas). My '94 MR2 seemed bulletproof compared to the Toyotas these days. My brother's still using it today as his DD (still all stock), well over 300K miles on it too. Never had a hiccup with the engine or transmission, all the electronics still work (except the auto-retracting antenna & the A/C button light), and it's never left me stranded on the side of the road! The original exhaust is still on there too.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by reeves

It's all good, guess it was meant to be. No regrets with my '94 MR2 the last 20 years.. It led me to buy a '93 MR2 turbo hardtop, and a '92 Celica Alltrac.

I still have no interest in buying any American cars, especially the high HP sports cars like Camaros or Corvettes.. doesn't matter how many Transformer movies they put them in lol

Well, over the last 60 years of my driving on the road career ...... I've bought over 30, American, British, German and Japanese branded cars.

I never have had any significant problems with any of them ......


humfrz

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

I thought it was common knowledge about many "asian" cars now being built in the U.S.?

Thought so too, but apparently it's not.

[reeves]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, over the last 60 years of my driving on the road career ...... I've bought over 30, American, British, German and Japanese branded cars.

I never have had any significant problems with any of them ......

humfrz

Glad you've had good experience with them. But first impressions mean everything in this instance. Chevy & Ford failed dramatically in that respect, Toyota won me over plain & simple.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice...... don't think so lol