OT: Attention Walmart Shoppers, Disposable Car Coming to Walmart/Chrysler near you.

[Coronita]

Feeding on our insatiable appetite of cheaply constructed products from China, here’s another favorite gem showing what a 1-star crash rating buys you…

I wonder if your typically walmart consumer will buy this based on price.

Chrysler, are you sure you want to partner with this company?

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/12/video-chrysler-might-want-to-reconsider-that-chery-deal/

[Ex-SD]

This is typical of the first generation products that come from Korea and China. I retired from the piano manufacturing business. When the Koreans first got into the business, the products were pure crap. There was an opportunity for them to make a lot of money because Japanese piano prices had gone through the roof. (which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers). I traveled to Korea many times in an attempt to get the owners of the factories to understand that their products had to be of a much higher quality if they wanted to have success in the USA. Some listened and some didn’t. The ones that listened finally produced acceptable products but never quite achieved the same level of quality of the Japanese pianos. Then, as prices got higher and higher, along came the Chinese. Their first attempt at making a piano for the U.S. market was far worse than what the Koreans had produced in their first attempt. But, the Chinese learn very quickly and it didn’t take long for them to equal what the Koreans were producing………..so the Korean companies starting building piano factories in Indonesia to combat the lower prices offered by the Chinese. Today, the highest, sales volume piano that is being sold by the majority of dealers may not have a Korean, Chinese or Indonesian name above the keys, but most are manufactured in China and Indonesia. I suspect that although this car is presently not very good, that within two to three years (at the most), it will be much better and capture a large amount of sales volume in the USA.

[Ex-SD]

This is typical of the first generation products that come from Korea and China. I retired from the piano manufacturing business. When the Koreans first got into the business, the products were pure crap. There was an opportunity for them to make a lot of money because Japanese piano prices had gone through the roof. (which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers). I traveled to Korea many times in an attempt to get the owners of the factories to understand that their products had to be of a much higher quality if they wanted to have success in the USA. Some listened and some didn’t. The ones that listened finally produced acceptable products but never quite achieved the same level of quality of the Japanese pianos. Then, as prices got higher and higher, along came the Chinese. Their first attempt at making a piano for the U.S. market was far worse than what the Koreans had produced in their first attempt. But, the Chinese learn very quickly and it didn’t take long for them to equal what the Koreans were producing………..so the Korean companies starting building piano factories in Indonesia to combat the lower prices offered by the Chinese. Today, the highest, sales volume piano that is being sold by the majority of dealers may not have a Korean, Chinese or Indonesian name above the keys, but most are manufactured in China and Indonesia. I suspect that although this car is presently not very good, that within two to three years (at the most), it will be much better and capture a large amount of sales volume in the USA.

[Ex-SD]

This is typical of the first generation products that come from Korea and China. I retired from the piano manufacturing business. When the Koreans first got into the business, the products were pure crap. There was an opportunity for them to make a lot of money because Japanese piano prices had gone through the roof. (which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers). I traveled to Korea many times in an attempt to get the owners of the factories to understand that their products had to be of a much higher quality if they wanted to have success in the USA. Some listened and some didn’t. The ones that listened finally produced acceptable products but never quite achieved the same level of quality of the Japanese pianos. Then, as prices got higher and higher, along came the Chinese. Their first attempt at making a piano for the U.S. market was far worse than what the Koreans had produced in their first attempt. But, the Chinese learn very quickly and it didn’t take long for them to equal what the Koreans were producing………..so the Korean companies starting building piano factories in Indonesia to combat the lower prices offered by the Chinese. Today, the highest, sales volume piano that is being sold by the majority of dealers may not have a Korean, Chinese or Indonesian name above the keys, but most are manufactured in China and Indonesia. I suspect that although this car is presently not very good, that within two to three years (at the most), it will be much better and capture a large amount of sales volume in the USA.

[bsrsharma]

which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers

That is the operative statement. Wait for versions 2 or 3, we may all be buying.  Just like Microsoft Windows! 

[bsrsharma]

which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers

That is the operative statement. Wait for versions 2 or 3, we may all be buying.  Just like Microsoft Windows! 

[bsrsharma]

which is how the Japanese stole the business from the U.S. manufacturers

That is the operative statement. Wait for versions 2 or 3, we may all be buying.  Just like Microsoft Windows! 

[bsrsharma]

Prudent Piggingtonians may like to read this money saving tip.

http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/103446/drive-your-car-to-death-save-31,000

Drive Your Car to Death, Save $31,000
Saturday, September 1, 2007

By keeping your car for 15 years, or 225,000 miles of driving, you could save nearly $31,000, according to Consumer Reports magazine. That’s compared to the cost of buying an identical model every five years, which is roughly the rate at which most car owners trade in their vehicles.

In its annual national auto survey, the magazine found 6,769 readers who had logged more than 200,000 miles on their cars. Their cars included a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 332,000 miles and a 1994 Ford Ranger pick-up that had gone 488,000 miles.

Calculating the costs involved in buying a new Honda Civic EX every five years for 15 years – including depreciation, taxes, fees and insurance – the magazine estimated it would cost $20,500 more than it would have cost to simply maintain one car for the same period.

Added to that, the magazine factored in $10,300 in interest that could have been earned on that money, assuming a five percent interest rate and a three percent inflation rate, over that time.

The magazine found similar savings with other models.

To have much hope of making it to 200,000 miles, a car has to be well maintained, of course. The magazine recommends several steps to help your car see it through.

Follow the maintenance guide in your owner’s manual and make needed repairs promptly.
Use only the recommended types of fluids, including oil and transmission fluids.
Check under the hood regularly. Listen for strange sounds, sniff for odd smells and look for fraying or bulges in pipes or belts. Also, get a vehicle service manual. They’re available at most auto parts stores or your dealership.
Clean the car carefully inside and out. This not only helps the car’s appearance but can prevent premature rust. Vacuuming the inside also prevents premature carpet wear from sand and grit.
Buy a safe, reliable car. Buying a car with the latest safety equipment makes it more likely you’ll feel as safe in your aging car as a newer model.

The magazine recommends several cars that have the best shot at reaching the 200,000 mile mark and a few that, according to its data, aren’t likely to make it.

All the cars in the magazine’s “Good bets” list are manufactured by Honda and Toyota. (One extreme example was not enough to get the Ford Ranger onto the list.) The “Bad bets” are a mixture of European models and two Nissans.

Consumer Reports’ “Good bets” for making 200,000 miles: Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Lexus ES, Lexus LS, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4

Consumer Reports’ “Bad bets” for making 200,000 miles: BMW 7-series, Infiniti QX56, Jaguar X-type, V8-powered Mercedes-Benz M-class, Mercedes-Benz SL, Nissan Armada, Nissan Titan, Volkswagen Touareg, V6-powered Volvo XC90.

Copyrighted, CNNMoney. All Rights Reserved.

[sdnativeson]

“disposable car” doesn’t exactly instill confidence for a wide range of reasons. I wonder how “green” a disposable car is?

[The-Shoveler]

Nor_LA-Temcu-SD-Guy

Will it have a good air conditioner,

Seems the Japanese have a much better quality air conditioners than the American cars do (they last much longer).

Sorry it’s just the heat has been getting to me these days !!

[Author]

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