protectionist b.s.

In message , jr92 writes

I believe there really is free trade, it's just that so many makes of car don't conform to the tight Japanese specification.

That is probably true, Japan has to import all of its beef, leather, wood or paper products and a lot of it food stuffs

Perhaps IF the driver in dumb enough to NOT take their right foot of the accelerator. But then again that could happen since they are continuing to drive their cars, that are know to have an uncontrolled acceleration problem that has let to 5.4 million of them to being recalled around the world.

A fair and equitable distribution for the customers troubles. Now where did that Microsoft coupon go......

of US imports sold in Japan.

I'm new here, having just bought our first Honda Pilot Touring, so joined the group. We lived all over Europe, and I've been to Japan, Korea and, unfortunately, Vietnam. My observation was that they drive German cars in Germany, French cars in France, Italian...well you get it... mostly because they really do have a sense of national identity. In places where, like Cairo, there is no "national" car then they go for - like the family we've known for years - Honda because they thought enough to put in a dealership, with trained mechanics. Otherwise every block has a "shade tree" mechanic for the old cars that they do have. Most countries have tax policies (like taxing engine displacement - in Germany) that are a de facto limitation on imports. Other places, like Switzerland, have a huge import as well as annual road usage tax, which obviates against big American cars. And I talked to a Swiss about selling my 455 Pontiac Bonneville (they want the engine for boats) and he outlined what it would cost. So there are a lot of factors, mostly taxes, and annual costs, not to mention the lack of service. We always bought a VW for delivery in Germany, when we knew we were going, just because of the service network. I toured an E-Type Jaguar across Europe, and had an atlas with the few service places outlined. Well, the grandkids just arrived, so off to get cookies!

In message , Mike Hunter writes

Why do you assume that a sticking pedal (constant speed) should in your mind constitute "uncontrollable acceleration"?

Really. The only people who win in a class action lawsuit are the lawyers.

You won't get an argument from me on that point.

snipped-for-privacy@k19g2000yqc.googlegroups.com:

Might be true today. Tomorrow might be different.

The market is very fluid at this point, and who " out sells who" changes almost monthly.

Fact of the matter is, wether they are second, first, or third in total sales, GM sell MILLIONS of vehicles world wide, in markets where they ARE ALLOWED TO COMPETE!!!!!!

I've said it a thousand times before, but here it goes again:

If you sell MILLIONS OF ANYTHING, it ain't junk.

Junk doesn't sell, not by the millions.

So, getting back to my original point, GM sell Millions of cars and trucks world-wide, but only 12000 in Japan.

Sounds to me Japan is using very unfair trade practices, or "protectionism".

Yet, they cant build Buicks fast enough for China.

Selling 'em by the millions.

And they are hardly either, "non-domestic, nor cheap, small efficient vehicles"

Fact is, you are wrong, once again. Any way you can objectively compare US to Japan clearly shows American nameplates are as good as, or better than, what Japan has to offer. Check the numbers.

As far as biased-typed comparisons, I guess you'll have to stick to the likes of Consumer Reports or the mass media (but wait, they are beginning to hammer at the Toyotas like they did Gm in the 80's and

I guess we'll have to go to newsgroups like this and listen to the likes of you whine about how unfair the media is treating Japanese vehicles.

Hell , even Jim Higgins has posted negative things about Toyotas lately.

If that ain't a sigh they are in trouble, I don't know what is!

As does GM.

Don't forget, they haven't left the planet yet. They are still selling millions of cars and trucks.

Actually, its pretty amazing how they still sell so many vehicles considering the things they have had to over come in the past 30 years.

Just more evidence they must make a pretty damned good product,

snipped-for-privacy@f15g2000yqe.googlegroups.com:

Two reasons.

1. This is a car newsgroup. That is what we usually discuss here.

1. More importantly, opening up the Japanese would undoubtably result in an increase in US car sales, meaning more jobs.

Like what???? Radios????????? Televisions??????????

of US imports sold in Japan.

No, the Japanese Government restricts the number of US cars allowed to be sold in the US.

No free trade at all is allowed.

I have never read CR, literally never. My extreme dislike of American vehicles is based on life experience.

My experience with domestic vehicles has been far different than your own. Based on my experience, it would be completely illogical to buy something like the 2001 Impala that my neighbor owned which threw a rod at 37K miles and was in the shop for warranty issues almost as much as it was on the road before the self-destructing engine caused her to trade the car in.

As a replacement, she bought a Toyota that has performed very well for over 5 years now.

People did not just start hating domestic vehicles because it is trendy, there is a very logical reason for it. I would not own a GM if it were given to me, I would sell it immediately.

Never, ever again on any GM crap. The job losses are perfectly understandable, to be expected, in fact.

Same with Ford, I have owned two POS Fords and my parent's owned the worst lemon ever in the form of a Ford LTD.

That LTD had problems that seemed like a practical joke. It actually had a heater that would not turn off during the Texas summer, the horn button popped off, the taillight covers fell off at random, the list goes on and on. They owned it less than a year before admitting their mistake and switching to imports only from that point to today.

Never again, and I mean never. You can argue the equal quality of domestic vehicles forever, but it won't make people like me buy one.

I, OTOH, have caused a good number of people to step back and rethink their buying decision towards a reliable car when they start to glance at the inferior domestic car market.

pws wrote in news:hkp2km$nnu$ snipped-for-privacy@speranza.aioe.org:

I've bought "foreign" because "US" automakers simply didn't make the small,sporty performance coupes I prefer. Then there's the ergonomics,quality and resale value. I also note the large number and types of recalls the domestics have had.

I wish Honda would make the Prelude again. I also wish small cars weighed under 2800 lbs.;cars have gotten too heavy,making mileage worse. IMO,no "small" car should need a V-6 to propel it at a decent performance.

That is what I like about my early Miata, it only weighs about 2200 pounds, maybe 2300 with the aftermarket parts, and I like roadsters.

That car moved pretty nicely with 116 hp out of a 1.6 liter, but it now has a 1.8 liter with a turbo that puts out about 200HP at the wheels. The boost/power can be dialed up anytime, but the current settings make for a nicely street-able vehicle. That is my toy car.

My 1995 Accord is also pretty lightweight compared to most sedans made today, iirc. I forget exactly what it comes in at.

jr92 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@f8g2000yqn.googlegroups.com:

But cars aren't the entire world. No realistic discussion of this issue can be limited to one single product, regardless of where the discussion takes place.

You are truly the Google-challenged. Or you're just trying to pick a fight.

From:

Japanese Imports from U.S.

Of the $59.6 billion in American exports to Japan in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Civilian aircraft - US.5 billion (5.9% of Japan from U.S. imports, up 9.4% from 2005)
2. Medicinal equipment - .7 billion (4.5%, down 2.2%)
3. Industrial machines - .3 billion (3.9%, up 17.9%)
4. Telecommunications equipment - .1 billion (3.5%, up 10.6%)
5. Semi-conductors - .06 billion (3.5%, up 10.4%)
6. Corn - .0 billion (3.3%, up 22.1%)
7. Pharmaceutical preparations - .8 billion (3.0%, up 13.2%)
8. Computer accessories - .75 billion (2.9%, down 2.4%)
9. Measuring, testing & control instruments - .69 billion (2.8%, up 16.4%)

Fastest-Growing Japanese Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to Japan in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Military apparel & footwear - US6.3 million (up 185.9% from 2005)
2. Precious metals - 1.6 million (up 117.6%)
3. Copper - 2.2 million (up 78.2%)
4. Fuel oil - .6 million (up 77.9%)
5. Aluminum - 4.9 million (up 62.4%)

In message , Tegger writes

Isn't it also a fact that unless you have garage space you are limited in the length of car you can buy to either 4 or 4.5 metres?

jr92 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@z26g2000yqm.googlegroups.com:

It does not. Not since 1978.

Have you bothered to do /any/ reading about this? American makers have simply failed to address the needs and desires of the Japanese market.

Excerpt: "Compounding these problems, the report said, was the fact that the Big Three had never built a car under 2,000-cc engine displacement - the segment that at the time accounted for more than 80% of the entire market (18) - nor had they designed any cars for Japan with the steering wheel on the right-hand side.(19) Moreover, prices of U.S.- made cars "tend[ed] to be higher by approximately 20% on average than those of comparable Japanese-made cars," the report said, despite the fact that Japan had completely eliminated auto tariffs in 1978.(20)"

Clive wrote in news:KG+ snipped-for-privacy@yewbank.demon.co.uk:

I dunno. But if so, then why aren't the domestics making cars which fit that requirement?

Look at the Japs strenuous efforts to make care we will buy. We certainly don't do the same for them. The original Honda Odyssey did not sell well. Why? It was too small. Honda made the Odyssey bigger, and buyers finally got interested.

The Japanese try to find out why a particular vehicle isn't selling well here, and change the car so it will sell well. Do we do that for them? No.

Toyota is doing better tham GM simply because it's a better-run company with smarter management.

pws wrote in news:hkp3vc$r0v$ snipped-for-privacy@speranza.aioe.org:

all my Honda's were fun to drive. 1 Civic CVCC,2 Accord hatchbacks,2 Preludes,and the Integra.

my 94 Integra GS-R was 2600 lbs.,sadly,stolen in 07,stripped and torched. (F'ing thieves) My 03 Sentra Spec V is IIRC,3200 lbs.