Go, Economy!

**burgundy** · 30 Oct 2008, 11:20 PM

maybe if american car companies made better cars before their reputations were destroyed they'd be better off right now

**Finch** · 30 Oct 2008, 11:39 PM

What if they made cars that were better by some standards but by other standards they were far worse than foreign competition? And the foreign cars were awful in the ways that American cars were good, but they were excellent in the ways that the American cars were bad? And what if the same was true for every country? Say, America produced exciting cars that fell apart and you had to be a mechanic to get any enjoyment out of, but Korea produced boring cars that NEVER. BROKE. DOWN?

**Bojack** · 31 Oct 2008, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by burgundy

maybe if american car companies made better cars before their reputations were destroyed they'd be better off right now

I really don't think it would have mattered. With a several grand cost disadvantage and heavy Japanese government protection of their home markets it wouldn't have mattered.

Toyondaissandai have been nice to the domestics for probably as long as they could get away with. They're running them out of business like every other manufacturing sector. Hardly any one builds anything in America anymore because of Asia mostly. Anything the domestics did to equal or better the imports wouldn't matter because the imports could do the same thing for like 3 grand less per car. The only thing keeping the imports from throwing the domestics under the money bus is largely political backlash.

Originally Posted by Finch

What if they made cars that were better by some standards but by other standards they were far worse than foreign competition? And the foreign cars were awful in the ways that American cars were good, but they were excellent in the ways that the American cars were bad? And what if the same was true for every country? Say, America produced exciting cars that fell apart and you had to be a mechanic to get any enjoyment out of, but Korea produced boring cars that NEVER. BROKE. DOWN?

It's interesting you bring up Korean cars that were truly shit back in the late 80's but every seems to forgive/forgotten about the Excel and the early Kia/Daewoos but people are still vitriolic about a Vega that fucked them over 30 years ago.

BTW, my wife used to have a 2002 Elantra that had all kinds of issues, went thru batteries, head lights, parasitic shorts, shitty a/c that leaked, gas tank pressure problems, drove like crap, got ass gas mileage for it's engine size/power. My 95 Mustang/Escort Wagon gave me less hassle than anything else I've ever owned.

**Finch** · 31 Oct 2008, 02:17 AM

Pft. I'd never buy a Korean car.

Hardly any one builds anything in America anymore because of Asia mostly.

Dude. Asia builds cars in America. America builds cars in Mexico.

**Bojack** · 31 Oct 2008, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Finch

Pft. I'd never buy a Korean car.

Dude. Asia builds cars in America. America builds cars in Mexico.

I never said you would, just that it was interesting you brought it up.

Asia builds cars in America probably due to politics and maybe making their supply chains a little easier and some other odds and ends. I highly doubt they do it out of the goodness of their hearts, otherwise they'd exceed the UAW pay/benefits instead of sort of matching them, they would also do 100% of their building instead of some of it using parts made in America.

The domestics build cars in Mexico largely to escape the UAW (I could be wrong on this one) and US labor costs. The domestics still produce FAR more vehicles in America than any where else or anyone else.

But this is more geared towards the car thread, but if the domestics go down it will have serious consequences for thousands, maybe even millions.

**kingoffighters** · 31 Oct 2008, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Finch

Pft. I'd never buy a Korean car.

My mom bought Hyundai Excel back in late 80s, it was really horrible and cheap in every way. I have to say though, they have come a long way in 20 years. I think they are much better and very competitive with the top Japanese brands these days. Give it another 10 years and they will probably be there if you keep an open mind.