What is the MAIN REASON american Made Cars don't sell well i
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Brooklyn, USA
There's not just ONE reason, it's a series of them:
#1) Too Damned Big; space in Japan, a group of islands, is limited. Imagine trying to find a parking space for your Chevrolet Malibu [or bigger] in a city where all the spaces are geared for Corollas and smaller vehicles.
#2) Too Damned Gas-Guzzling; related to #1, of course. Gasoline in Japan is somewhere at $4, maybe $5 a gallon, perhaps more. Fill your tank, empty your wallet.
#3) Too Damned American; the Japanese culture is one of intense pride. Buying a non-Japanese car is seen by some as ''disloyalty'.
#4) Too Damned Left-Hand Drive; Japan drives to the left, we drive to the right. the cost to US manufacturers to convert vehicles is prohibitive, so they don't bother.
#1) Too Damned Big; space in Japan, a group of islands, is limited. Imagine trying to find a parking space for your Chevrolet Malibu [or bigger] in a city where all the spaces are geared for Corollas and smaller vehicles.
#2) Too Damned Gas-Guzzling; related to #1, of course. Gasoline in Japan is somewhere at $4, maybe $5 a gallon, perhaps more. Fill your tank, empty your wallet.
#3) Too Damned American; the Japanese culture is one of intense pride. Buying a non-Japanese car is seen by some as ''disloyalty'.
#4) Too Damned Left-Hand Drive; Japan drives to the left, we drive to the right. the cost to US manufacturers to convert vehicles is prohibitive, so they don't bother.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: So Cal
I saw quite a few american cars in japan. They love the Chevy Astro over there, they slam them and put body kits and other cool stuff.
The Japanese love classic American muscle cars, I went to a car show in Japan and I saw some vettes, camaros, and mustangs that would put most of the ones here to shame. Of course only the very wealthy can afford them there with the high gas prices and the high insurance rates for those big V-8's.
The Japanese love classic American muscle cars, I went to a car show in Japan and I saw some vettes, camaros, and mustangs that would put most of the ones here to shame. Of course only the very wealthy can afford them there with the high gas prices and the high insurance rates for those big V-8's.
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>>There's not just ONE reason, it's a series of them:
>>
>>#1) Too Damned Big; space in Japan, a group of islands, is limited. Imagine trying to find a parking space for your Chevrolet Malibu [or bigger] in a city where all the spaces are geared for Corollas and smaller vehicles.
>>
>>#2) Too Damned Gas-Guzzling; related to #1, of course. Gasoline in Japan is somewhere at $4, maybe $5 a gallon, perhaps more. Fill your tank, empty your wallet.
>>
>>#3) Too Damned American; the Japanese culture is one of intense pride. Buying a non-Japanese car is seen by some as ''disloyalty'.
>>
>>#4) Too Damned Left-Hand Drive; Japan drives to the left, we drive to the right. the cost to US manufacturers to convert vehicles is prohibitive, so they don't bother.
Saturn sells RHD versions of thier US cars in Japan. in the late 1990's GM sold a RHD version of the Chevy Cavalier in Japan sold as the Toyota Cavalier.
>>
>>#1) Too Damned Big; space in Japan, a group of islands, is limited. Imagine trying to find a parking space for your Chevrolet Malibu [or bigger] in a city where all the spaces are geared for Corollas and smaller vehicles.
>>
>>#2) Too Damned Gas-Guzzling; related to #1, of course. Gasoline in Japan is somewhere at $4, maybe $5 a gallon, perhaps more. Fill your tank, empty your wallet.
>>
>>#3) Too Damned American; the Japanese culture is one of intense pride. Buying a non-Japanese car is seen by some as ''disloyalty'.
>>
>>#4) Too Damned Left-Hand Drive; Japan drives to the left, we drive to the right. the cost to US manufacturers to convert vehicles is prohibitive, so they don't bother.
Saturn sells RHD versions of thier US cars in Japan. in the late 1990's GM sold a RHD version of the Chevy Cavalier in Japan sold as the Toyota Cavalier.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
LHD, first reason.
The Japanese are little people, American cars are built for the supersized, especially SUVs. How would you like driving in something 25% too large?
Too Wide for parking spaces.
The Japanese are little people, American cars are built for the supersized, especially SUVs. How would you like driving in something 25% too large?
Too Wide for parking spaces.
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in the late 1990's GM sold a RHD version of the Chevy Cavalier in Japan sold as the Toyota Cavalier.
(Imagine the market for Luminas....) In an analogous way, I'll bet that back in the 80s the poor Yugoslavians were wondering why Americans didn't want more slavic cars after we'd experienced the Yugo.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
>>Owning a LHD car in Japan is considered to be "Cool" and "hip".
Taking the reciprocal approach, that owning a RHD car in the USA is also "Cool and "hip", just how many of us would really put up with the inconveniences that come with a "right hooker"? I've had the opportunity to buy either a LHD or RHD version of my MGs and believe me, "Cool" doesn't hold a candle to practical.
Australia even goes so far as to require that all LHD vehicles be converted to RHD before licensing them for road use. Practicality (and safety) win hands down.
Until the US manufacturers go for a more practical approach and make the RHD vehicles for the RHD markets, their cars will be little more than oddities, strangers in a strange land.
Now what might be a "smart" approach for GM is to market the GTO (really an Aussie made Holden) in Japan in its original RHD iteration. That would be one "hip" ride.
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BLUBELLE - 9/02 production 2003 MCS IB /W Premium, Sport, Cold pkgs, Lapis blue interior, Magnecor wires, Alta Pulley, Moss Skid Plate, Chrome Trim Interior. Motoring since 10/18/02. I V-1 do you?
Taking the reciprocal approach, that owning a RHD car in the USA is also "Cool and "hip", just how many of us would really put up with the inconveniences that come with a "right hooker"? I've had the opportunity to buy either a LHD or RHD version of my MGs and believe me, "Cool" doesn't hold a candle to practical.
Australia even goes so far as to require that all LHD vehicles be converted to RHD before licensing them for road use. Practicality (and safety) win hands down.
Until the US manufacturers go for a more practical approach and make the RHD vehicles for the RHD markets, their cars will be little more than oddities, strangers in a strange land.
Now what might be a "smart" approach for GM is to market the GTO (really an Aussie made Holden) in Japan in its original RHD iteration. That would be one "hip" ride.
_________________
BLUBELLE - 9/02 production 2003 MCS IB /W Premium, Sport, Cold pkgs, Lapis blue interior, Magnecor wires, Alta Pulley, Moss Skid Plate, Chrome Trim Interior. Motoring since 10/18/02. I V-1 do you?
Funny coming from a person that is driving a car 25% too small... (?)
>>The Japanese are little people, American cars are built for the supersized, especially SUVs. How would you like driving in something 25% too large?
>>The Japanese are little people, American cars are built for the supersized, especially SUVs. How would you like driving in something 25% too large?
Coordinator :: Gulf Coast & Panhandle MINIs
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: In the Tube
Having lived in Japan for 7 years, may give me a small insight as to what the number one reason is and it’s not LHD/RHD. The # 1 reason US cars don’t sell in Japan is the import duty and tariffs they put on imports. They have a very restrictive import quota. No country’s car manufactures other than Japan itself is immune from the taxes and tariffs. The fact $20 to 25 K cars in the states will cost $50 to70K there. Being some years ago, I saw a Plymouth Volare in a showroom with the sticker price of $57,000. That’s your #1 reason they don’t sell.
Large American cars brought over there by service people are very abundant. I drove both right and left hand while I was there. Big American cars are a prize possession there, but very few can afford to buy them.
_________________
Large American cars brought over there by service people are very abundant. I drove both right and left hand while I was there. Big American cars are a prize possession there, but very few can afford to buy them.
_________________
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
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Too many reasons:
1. Left hand drive (just kidding on this one)
2. Too large for Japanese streets
3. Gas guzzlers
4. Perceived inferior workmanship (of course in every country there are some who would like to be different and have an"exotic" car, good or bad)
5. Poor marketing
6. Perceived technological inferiority.
1. Left hand drive (just kidding on this one)
2. Too large for Japanese streets
3. Gas guzzlers
4. Perceived inferior workmanship (of course in every country there are some who would like to be different and have an"exotic" car, good or bad)
5. Poor marketing
6. Perceived technological inferiority.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2004
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>>Too many reasons:
>>
>>1. Left hand drive (just kidding on this one)
>>2. Too large for Japanese streets
>>3. Gas guzzlers
>>4. Perceived inferior workmanship (of course in every country there are some who would like to be different and have an"exotic" car, good or bad)
>>5. Poor marketing
>>6. Perceived technological inferiority.
>>
>>
ARE YOU SURE you're driving as fast as you can??? It doesn't look like it to me
Now le't keep in mind that the original question is CARS, not trucks or SUVS...that is a no brainer. there is not a single 'pick up truck' or commercial van in all of europe that is gasoline powered, so I'm thinking Japan is the same.
apart from the minority that would prefer cool over practical in terms of LHD, SNDWAVE's argument, based on important experience, that duties is what does it the most, perhaps we have our answer. Question then becomes, why do Japanese made cars pay so little in import duties? Or do they? Once upon a time I could easily look up import tariffs...alas, am old and senile, I forget how.....interesting question though.........I beg to differ on quality. My last US made car was a Ford Crown Vic and it never said boo in five years and 60K miles. Not a single peep. never changed the plugs, never changed the pads, put a set of tires on it, fed it fuel and changed its oil.....we do good....OK....sometimes.....
>>
>>1. Left hand drive (just kidding on this one)
>>2. Too large for Japanese streets
>>3. Gas guzzlers
>>4. Perceived inferior workmanship (of course in every country there are some who would like to be different and have an"exotic" car, good or bad)
>>5. Poor marketing
>>6. Perceived technological inferiority.
>>
>>
ARE YOU SURE you're driving as fast as you can??? It doesn't look like it to me
Now le't keep in mind that the original question is CARS, not trucks or SUVS...that is a no brainer. there is not a single 'pick up truck' or commercial van in all of europe that is gasoline powered, so I'm thinking Japan is the same.
apart from the minority that would prefer cool over practical in terms of LHD, SNDWAVE's argument, based on important experience, that duties is what does it the most, perhaps we have our answer. Question then becomes, why do Japanese made cars pay so little in import duties? Or do they? Once upon a time I could easily look up import tariffs...alas, am old and senile, I forget how.....interesting question though.........I beg to differ on quality. My last US made car was a Ford Crown Vic and it never said boo in five years and 60K miles. Not a single peep. never changed the plugs, never changed the pads, put a set of tires on it, fed it fuel and changed its oil.....we do good....OK....sometimes.....
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