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From: inc@fluke.UUCP (Gary Benson)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: That's Japan with a capital J
Message-ID: <525@tpvax.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 12:08:26 EST
Article-I.D.: tpvax.525
Posted: Fri Feb  8 12:08:26 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 07:09:01 EST
References: <315@terak.UUCP> <25300007@siemens.UUCP>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 57


*** REPLACE THIS MESS ***


> By the way: if more people could suppress their bias towards japanese cars,
> they would venture up to their local Volkswagen dealers and check out the
> new Golfs and Jettas. They are both entirely redesigned, offering more room,
> better handling smoother ride, etc. The Golf is made in the US of A, and is
> identical to it's german namesake. The Jetta, which looks very sharp, is
> made in Germany. In comparison to almost all japanese cars, VWs have freely
> revving engines (with fuel injection, by the way), and have struck an
> admirable balance between handling and ride. Another plus: while a lot of
> japanese car dealers seem to be magnanamous by only charging a few percent
> above list, VW dealers charge below list. A friend of mine just purchased a
> Golf with almost all options except automatic and air, and pays $8900. Do
> not forget that the Golf is probably going to be around for a few years,
> instead of being replaced by a new japanese can two three years.
> 
> 
>  			Bernard H. Schwab

Oh really? The vw people are well-known for their propensity to put absolute
junk on the road. The Japanese have succeeded with autos the same way they
did with cameras and motocycles, the same way they are succeeding with
letter-quality printers and other computer peripherals, and the same way
that Apple is succeeding: by thoroughly researching market trends and needs,
comparing what it currently available against what is desirable, then
designing and building it better and cheaper than anyone might have
imagined. Cameras are an excellent analogy to the situation with autos in
fact: Before the Japanese entered the market, the germans were building there
same old hasselblads, the us of a was putting out tons of brownies and
playing with the instant camera. The Japanese now are renowned for their
optics, product reliability, and features. The camera of choice for ALL
professionals? Why the Nikon, of course.

So too with cars. The germans will never build anything to compared to what
Toyota has been doing all along. vws are known for their schlocky design and
their use of cheap materials that fall apart if you look at them wrong. The
germans have no concept of the term 'appropriate technology'. If plastic
will work til the car is a year or so old, then plastic it is. Not just any
plastic, mind you, but plastic specifically chosen to rot with continued
exposure to air. When the Japanese use plastics, they choose nylons and
other tough materials that will stand up to the task.

Don't talk to me about "quality" coming out of germany. Did you ever hear
this story --

    A guy finds a bottle on a beach, and when he's cleaning it up,
    a genie comes out of it. The genie tells him that for a reward,
    he would grant one wish. The man thinks for a while, and says,
    "I'd like a car dealership in a major city." POOF! He finds 
    himself with a vw dealership in downtown Tokyo.


-- 
Gary Benson John Fluke Mfg Co PO Box C-9090 Everett WA USA 98206 (206) 356-5367
{ allegra, microsoft, ssc-vax, telematic, tikal, uw-beaver, wavetek } fluke!inc
+ this is the day which the lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! +