Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Import vs Domestic

It seems to be that most people think imported cars are much more reliable, and long lasting than domestic automobiles. Why!? I don't see any significant differences between the two. What additional engeneering steps could, say, Honda, take over Chrysler? Are the tolerences for engine manufacturing that much smaller for Toyota, than for Chevy? No one in my family has ever owned an imported vehicle (I am a little in the dark) nor do they intend to (I would take any BMW), but what makes them so much "better"?

Crazy Craig's 'Tour

98 SE Sport
Silverfrost
ATX V6
Tinted windows, 35%

"It must be nice to hope for the thing you wish to want"

In the past, foreign brands typically used more quality materials, but lately domestic brands have been catching up. The main difference lies in better overall quality control.

But all other factors equal you typically pay more for an import, so it's all about your priorities.

Today, it is mostly myth, built up by years of poor build quality from the 80's. It is pretty much a carry over from the dark ages of domestics.
I feel that american cars today are equal, if not superior to, in some cases, to their japanese counterparts. (Chrysler being the exception, of course! )

I have a strong dislike for german cars, however, (not from a driving standpoint, but from a mechanic's point of view) so I tend to look down on some of them.

Actually, European and Japanese cars still have a decided reliability edge over American products. The perfomance and quality gap has tightened to be insignificant, but the reliability difference is still there (though less than before).

Speaking of which, Ford's quality has gone down the toilet in the latest Consumer Reports surveys. Cougar, Focus (really BAD!), Escape, and Windstar are all Much-Worse-Than-Average. Ranger dipped to worse than average. F150 dipped to average. Excursion is worse than average. Taurus/Sable and Crown Vic/Grand Marquis are average, but not as good as they used to be. Only the LS improved from Much-Worse-Than-Average to Average.

If I ran Ford, I'd see a worse-than-average repair index as something that needs immediate attention.

My wife's 99 F-150 has 50k miles on it and it has always felt more solid, better built, and nicer materials than my 2000 SVT ever was.

This is why there is still a gap: American mfr's emphasize taking cost out of every vehicle. Thus decontenting, and cheaper materials thorugh a product cycle. Both my wife and I work in the domestic industry and we see it causing problems almost daily. Why spend the engineering $$$ to reduce cost instead of improving the value for the same cost? I do not notice this trend with imported cars. Actually, the opposite.

Also, reduced # of configurations (options) of the imports streamlines the manufacturing.

I don't see the long term reliability of the engines that far off each other, but everything else it seems the domestics don't care. Features over quality.

in my experience there isn't much difference other than feel...i've had good and bad american and import...i prefer american...in theory anyway

Where do the opinions from consumer reports come from, from the consumer??? dought it! If the Ford products are so bad according to the "consumers" then why is the Ford F-150 still the best selling Truck, and the ever flipping Explorer still best selling SUV if the consumers hate these cars so much as consumer reports says then why are they still buying them.just my opinion. Well one more thing back in the '80s when I was a teenager, the imports sucked just as bad as the domestics did and the ever famed BMW also has its problems so don't be fooled by a name.

Just finished my Master in Technology Management, sort of an MBA for Engineers. The major Japanese manufacturers do manufacter to a higher quality then American MFG. BUT, the definition of quality is " building to specifications" not "Better Car"

For instance, a Toyota is manufactured to higher quality than a Mercedes. How can this be?

Isn't Mercedes a "High Quality" car?

Well, NO! When a toyota is coming off the assembly line, it is started, driven off and shipped. All the parts have been assembled correctly. When a Mercedes comes off the line, it has to be inspected and repaired (very often). They rehang doors to line up seams, redo dashboards, etc. When you buy it, it is a nice car. Off the line, it is terrible. The cost of repair off of the assembly line is what makes the Mercedes so expensive. (Remember the ad with a picture of white coated inspectors, "We don't sell a Mercedes till our 200 inspectors are satisfied". You can't inspect quality in.) In this perspective, a Toyota Echo is a "Higher Quality" car than a Mercedes (pick a model). Not necessarily more luxurious, but put together correctly.

American MFG's are trying to be like the Japanese, and have improved greatly, but the Japanese keep improving too. It is cheaper to build a car right the first time then to inspect and repair quality into it.

What is ironic, is Deming could not get Detroit (late 1940's)to buy into "quality" so went to Japan and taught them. It took 20 years for them to get "good" but that's how the Japanese grabbed market in the seventies. Detroit didn't start "Quality until the late 80's and are still trying to catch up.

FWIW

Thanks for the history lesson, Richard. What you said makes a lot of sense. I remember driving some real lemons in the 80's. I'm totally happy with my three domestics from the 90's.

I was in my friend's 2000 Mustang GT and we went through a gas station car wash. I have my arm up on the window sill with the window all the way up and I start to feel water dripping down on me. I'm like "WTF!" and check to make sure the window is all the way up. It is. I tell him I'm getting wet over here and he says "yeah, it does that." I looked at him all crazy-like. I don't understand how a year old car can have a problem like that.

I'm sure not all domestics are like that, but it was one experience I had. The car I'd most like to own is actually built by GM.