[chucky3176]

Are American cars crap? That's what Korea Times says in this article why American cars don't sell well, compared to Japanese and European imports which are selling like hot cakes.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2.../123_34389.html

Read some of the comments by Americans who were royally insulted by this article. I don't think the article was that bad, as it was quite accurate. Even Americans themselves have been saying the same things, yet when Koreans say it, Americans get insulted because for decades, they've been making fun of Korean cars and have been looking down through their noses. I guess that makes them mad as hell when Koreans start making fun of American clunky junky cars.

Now the American auto industry and President Obama blames Korea for all of American industry's ills.


But

Fact #1: Korea's auto tariff rate is 8% -lower than in Europe. The Free Trade that Korean government wants with the US - but opposed by Americans, would wipe out this tariff rate to zero.

Fact #2: Korea didn't make GM, Ford, Chrysler build gas guzzling cars that nobody wants.

Fact #3: Japanese and European makers have increased their market share from 2% of Korean car market in 2005, to over 7% by 2008 - they trebled their market share in less than 3 years. During the same period, American makers have managed to decrease their market share. How to explain this anamoly?

[sweetVisions]

Americans get insulted because for decades, they've been making fun of Korean cars and have been looking down through their noses.

Not all Americans aren't the same.

Now the American auto industry and President Obama blames Korea for all of American industry's ills.

Wrong.
Obama has said repeatedly said that U.S. Auto Industry should be able to make quality cars at home instead of Americans relying only on foreign cars because it hurts the U.S. Auto Industry. And he also wants to put stress on the U.S. Auto Industry to make fuel efficient cars.

from change.gov

Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.

He criticizes the trade agreement because it's not fair.

And when it comes to South Korea, we've got a trade agreement up right now, they are sending hundreds of thousands of South Korean cars into the US. That's all good. We can only get 4,000 to 5,000 into South Korea. That is not free trade. We've got to have a president who is going to advocate on behalf of American businesses and American workers and I make no apology for that.

The purpose of free trade agreements in the first place is to be able to benefit for all countries involved. If it only benefits the South Korean Auto Industry, why should the U.S. be involved in the agreement?

[viper2788]

the entire world has been saying US cars are crap since the 90's. we have failed to keep developing/integrating new technology. GM and ford still use pushrods gods sake! ancient technology.

also, america is all about bigger engines with more power... but when you get a ratio of horsepower per engine size, a base model kia makes more power than a mustang gt. disgusting.

[Clix]

Of course, the article targets larger American vehicles such as the 300C. What about the new Tundra? That truck by far gets one of the worst recorded gas mileage in truck history. How about the RX-8, has horrible gas mileage for a car it's size. Why are people barking about 300C's size when the 07 Accord sedan is less than a foot shorter in length and 3 inches shorter in width. GM has some of the best electronics compared to other car makers.

The article is gaudy biased against American cars. Yes they're declining on sales and no it's not because they make big TRUCKS & SUVs.

[chucky3176]

The purpose of free trade agreements in the first place is to be able to benefit for all countries involved. If it only benefits the South Korean Auto Industry, why should the U.S. be involved in the agreement?

Have you even bothered to look at the Auto Free Trade deal that's in proposal?

Here are the current facts, as it stands currently.

1) South Korea's import tariffs are 8% vs America's import tariffs of 2%.

Free trade will eliminate South Korea's 8% and eliminate America's 2%. Who gains more from this trade off?

2) South Korea's import tariffs on foreign trucks will be immediately eliminated vs America's import tariffs against South Korean trucks will be gradually phased out in 3 years. Again, who gains more from this trade off?

3) America's biggest beef is South Korea's engine displacement tax which put taxes on purchase of cars based on size of engines (bigger engines mean more gasoline consumed, so higher the consumption tax). Americans say this is an unfair trade barrier against American cars. Well duh... then why don't you sell smaller cars to Korea? Is that such a hard thing to do? Plus, how is it a trade barrier or discrimination if Korean makers are taxed exactly the same way? Why can't Korean government try to encourage gas conservation by putting taxes on bigger consumers, the same way American governments try to encourage pollution control by having low emissions laws? If going by the logic that the Americans go by, isn't the US emissions level requirement a trade barrier designed to keep Chinese cars away from the US market?

4) You will also often hear that Korean government will conduct audits on people who purchase foreign cars. This is a propaganda spewed out by American Auto Workers Union along with their politicians that they have on string. The fact is, the audits happened in Korea - 10 to 15 years ago, but is a practice that's been long stopped.
They cannot, and they refuse to explain how come Japanese and European car makers have been able to sell their cars and quickly increasing their market share.

All the excuses spewed out by American car manufacturers are just that, excuses not to compete because they know they are not competitive.

[Phaze5ive]

japanese/german >american > korean > chinese cars

[0oyokisuo0]

japanese/german >american > korean > chinese cars

why are chinese cars in this? they are not even exported worldwide ... are we now going to count indian cars, thailand cars, australian cars etc???

yes american cars are not the best in the world but the OP and article is a lil too biased.

well as a driver of both american and korean cars (i dont know why my dad does not buy japanese cars for me and my mom...), they are about the same. the ford needs a crap load of maintenance after certain mileage, the hyundai is still okay for now, it has small random problems though.

[chucky3176]

Which countries make the best cars

Appeal / Prestige

Germany > Japan > US > Korea > China


Style, inside/outside

Germany > Japan > Korea > US > China


Power/Performance

Germany > US > Japan/Korea > China


Fuel Economy

Japan > Korea > China > Germany > US


Safety

Germany > Japan > Korea > US > China



Reliability

Japan > Korea > US > Germany > China


Value

Korea > US > Japan > Germany > China


Average JD Power and Consumer Reports Ratings for Customer Satisfaction and Quality for the last 3 years.

1. Japan
2. Korea
3. US
4. Germany

[nK)Duke]

Chucky, would you just stop this ,,my country is the best county"? Of course, chinese cars are far worser because they don't have the standart and the material like german cars. They all have their very own target group. You can't compare a product of a third world country with a product of a industry nation. US cars have their own target group. They don't care about safety or efficiency. They care about huge tires or whatever.

God, I hate this comparison. Can we all just put the nationality or ethnicity to the side and look at each other like human beings?

[chucky3176]

The best cars are made by Germans. That's just my personal taste and opinion.

[Gofishus]

Which countries make the best cars

Appeal / Prestige

Germany > Japan > US > Korea > China


Style, inside/outside

Germany > Japan > Korea > US > China


Power/Performance

Germany > US > Japan/Korea > China


Fuel Economy

Japan > Korea > China > Germany > US


Safety

Germany > Japan > Korea > US > China



Reliability

Japan > Korea > US > Germany > China


Value

Korea > US > Japan > Germany > China


Average JD Power and Consumer Reports Ratings for Customer Satisfaction and Quality for the last 3 years.

1. Japan
2. Korea
3. US
4. Germany

Arguably, Italy makes more stylish and prestigious cars than Germany. Its a Porsche vs Lamborghini thing

[kissez*]

why are chinese cars in this? they are not even exported worldwide ... are we now going to count indian cars, thailand cars, australian cars etc???

yes american cars are not the best in the world but the OP and article is a lil too biased.

well as a driver of both american and korean cars (i dont know why my dad does not buy japanese cars for me and my mom...), they are about the same. the ford needs a crap load of maintenance after certain mileage, the hyundai is still okay for now, it has small random problems though.

Chucky, would you just stop this ,,my country is the best county"? Of course, chinese cars are far worser because they don't have the standart and the material like german cars. They all have their very own target group. You can't compare a product of a third world country with a product of a industry nation. US cars have their own target group. They don't care about safety or efficiency. They care about huge tires or whatever.

God, I hate this comparison. Can we all just put the nationality or ethnicity to the side and look at each other like human beings?

I don't get it. This was an article about American cars being crap.
Who cares about China? China was mentioned in passing. Stop being overly defensive, geez.
And yeah, I've always known American cars were crap.
*lives in a household where everyone owns a Japanese car*

[Phaze5ive]

I put China in there just to point out how crappy their cars are and to complete the range.

[♥Love♥]

This is sadly true. Japan cars are the best 8D. That's why Ford is doing hella bad. Dropped _% sales and their stocks are dropping like crazy.

[nK)Duke]

I don't get it. This was an article about American cars being crap.
Who cares about China? China was mentioned in passing. Stop being overly defensive, geez.
And yeah, I've always known American cars were crap.
*lives in a household where everyone owns a Japanese car*

China was just an example for my argumentation. Who's overly sensitive now?

Please just stop compare countries or ethnicities. Our system is better. Our nation is better. We are stronger than you. We are smarter than you all. Our cars are better. Our military is better. Our culture is better so we have to force it to you.
Seriously, there are more important things to care about other than that.

Are we a bunch of five year olds?

Oh yeah, and german cars are nice, but they are too expensive sometimes. More expensive=> better car (other countries have other definition of a good car). Thats how the world works.

And if you are rich, who cares about the gas price?

[live2die]

In terms of engineering & safety, arguably German cars are the best, far better than Japanese cars.
In terms of affordability, Japanese cars of course in luxury/sport.
In terms of price, good quality and size, Korean cars. In fact, there aren't enough Korean cars to sell in many countries. I waited about a month & half to received my Kia Rio5.

US cars was the first family car, but they started to slip from quality, safety, price and affordability.

[phantompc4]

drive american cars and your pretty much garunteed to win the crash.

[zoopia]

i don't think US cars are all that bad. They're more sturdier than foreign cars. THe only thing that I can think of that foreign cars have that US cars don't is better gas mileage..

[mintcracker]

I find it funny that the article points out and says how incompetent US made cars are, when Korean cars aren't so great themselves. Just love it when ppl make pompous comments like that lol.

[chucky3176]

Actually the article didn't even mention Korean cars. It just said Koreans prefer to buy German and Japanese cars when they look to buy imports, and that American cars don't even come across their minds. What is so pompous about that? The article is probably a response to all those accusations by Americans that Korea has high tariffs against imports that keeps American cars out, and that US shouldn't sign a Free Trade deal with Korea because it's not fair. While the Korean trade barriers were a big factor in keeping foreign cars out of Korea may have been true about 10 years ago, it is no longer the case.

Besides, even though I drive a German car, I'd rather buy a better quality Hyundai car, than any American if I had to choose from those two choices. I just can't think of any American model that appeals to me, that would be practical for me to drive (no, Ford Mustangs are not practical, they're just sentimental favorites for older Americans) and that would make me want to get in and drive. That is an honest opinion.