Tom Geiger Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) Ford builds a few vehicles in Japan including an Escape and Escape Hybril. Chevy builds the Colorado in Japan as well as other cars globally. Toyota builds so many cars in the US now that they are also going to start exporting Toyota's from the US. According to the lists below posted by Jonathan, neither Ford nor GM has an assembly plant in Japan. Ford is partners in two transmission plants, no doubt for export to US. Toyota has been exporting US built cars forever! They export to practically all continents. This year they started shipping Venzas to Russia and Ukraine and there are several US made products sold in South Korea. They plan on shipping Corollas to South America & the Caribbean this year. Edited June 24, 2014 by Tom Geiger
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Why not drop the overly-complicated, electronicalyl-controlled, ever-more-complex, ever-more expensive, 9-speed (and growing) automatics altogether and go with a simple, reliable CVT? CVT or a stick. Your choice.
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) I've read nothing good about CVTs. Now something like BMW's dual clutch sequential manual gearbox (SMG) I'd try... Edited June 24, 2014 by Rob Hall
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 The question is whether the tiny ACTUAL improvements in economy and safety are really worth the complication, expense, and over time, frailty and un-repairability of many of these perceived-as-necessary systems. I think the proliferation of more and more electronics of questionable worth is due to the "because we can" syndrome. Every year, engineers keep coming up with new gee-whiz gizmos in a never-ending game of techno-creep. And these gizmos seem to attract people... people always want the latest and greatest electronic gadgetry, whether it actually has any real-world value or not. So more and more electronic junk gets installed in cars... not necessarily because it's an actual, tangible improvement, but "because we can." It's human nature.
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) I think the proliferation of more and more electronics of questionable worth is due to the "because we can" syndrome. Every year, engineers keep coming up with new gee-whiz gizmos in a never-ending game of techno-creep. And these gizmos seem to attract people... people always want the latest and greatest electronic gadgetry, whether it actually has any real-world value or not. So more and more electronic junk gets installed in cars... not necessarily because it's an actual, tangible improvement, but "because we can." It's human nature. Such it is..it would be pretty dull if cars stopped evolving and improving and stayed stuck in one period of time.. Edited June 24, 2014 by Rob Hall
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Such it is..it would be pretty dull if cars stopped evolving and improving and stayed stuck in one period of time.. You're assuming that the proliferation of all this gadgetry all falls under the category of "improvement." Do we really need computer-controlled head restraints? Or could they just design them so that they are placed behind your head in the correct spot without a need for computers to control them? Do we really need cars that have self-closing doors? Really? Do we really need cars with "dual zone climate control?" Is it actually possible to create two distinct temperatures inside a car for people sitting a foot apart from each other? Or could the driver and passenger just open or close the vents in front of them?
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) You're assuming that the proliferation of all this gadgetry all falls under the category of "improvement." Do we really need computer-controlled head restraints? Or could they just design them so that they are placed behind your head in the correct spot without a need for computers to control them? Do we really need cars that have self-closing doors? Really? Do we really need cars with "dual zone climate control?" Is it actually possible to create two distinct temperatures inside a car for people sitting a foot apart from each other? Or could the driver and passenger just open or close the vents in front of them? A lot of these features are in the category of options..nothing wrong w/ providing lots of options...dual zone climate control is an old option..been around at least 15 years. It seems to work, driver and passenger sides can be some degrees different without closing the vents... The availability of what you label 'gadgets' is nothing new, cars have long offered a variety of options..over time, many options become standard. No one (or only a few luddites) wants a car today equipped the way a typical car was 50 years ago (vinyl interior, am radio, no a/c, manual everything). Edited June 24, 2014 by Rob Hall
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 A lot of these features are in the category of options..nothing wrong w/ providing lots of options...dual zone climate control is an old option..been around at least 15 years. It seems to work, driver and passenger sides can be some degrees different without closing the vents... But my point is that driver and passenger sides can be some degrees different simply by opening/closing the vents that are already in the dash!. Nothing further needed. Technology for technology's sake (not for actual benefit) seems silly to me. All it does is add needless complexity and cost. Good for the manufacturer, I guess. More stuff they can sell as "options" and more stuff they can charge to fix when it breaks.
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Case in point: "Cabin air filters." For a hundred years we seemed to be able to survive siting inside a car without them. Suddenly we are no longer capable of sitting inside a car without having the air "filtered." Yet we can survive stepping out of the car and breathing the air outside the car? If we drive on a nice day with open windows, are we risking death? Are "cabin air filters" actually necessary? Obviously not. They're a clever little gimmick designed to wring a few more bucks out of customers who think they must be constantly replaced, or you risk death by breathing in the air inside your car!
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) But my point is that driver and passenger sides can be some degrees different simply by opening/closing the vents that are already in the dash!. Nothing further needed. Technology for technology's sake (not for actual benefit) seems silly to me. All it does is add needless complexity and cost. Good for the manufacturer, I guess. More stuff they can sell as "options" and more stuff they can charge to fix when it breaks. No--closing vents doesn't change the temperature. With dual zone, the air coming out is two different temperatures.. it does work. As far as stuff breaking, that's often at high mileage when out of warranty, best to have traded before then... In a place where the air is dusty and foul like here, cabin filters make a difference, IMO. Edited June 24, 2014 by Rob Hall
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Car manufacturers love customers like you! Nothing wrong with that..I like loaded cars....
Harry P. Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Nothing wrong with that..I like loaded cars.... I know.
Joe Handley Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 No--closing vents doesn't change the temperature. With dual zone, the air coming out is two different temperatures.. it does work. As far as stuff breaking, that's often at high mileage when out of warranty, best to have traded before then... In a place where the air is dusty and foul like here, cabin filters make a difference, IMO. Not to mention those with allergies, an old boss of mine and my sister is also friends with a former teacher if mine and the two of them go to IMS to a variety of races. This former boss has an allergy to a certain type of plant that grows in Indiana and if she is in her filterless car, it causes her allergy problems while riding in the former teacher's filtered car, she's fine.
my80malibu Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 In my City you can see the Air that you're breathing. Case in point: "Cabin air filters." For a hundred years we seemed to be able to survive siting inside a car without them. Suddenly we are no longer capable of sitting inside a car without having the air "filtered." Yet we can survive stepping out of the car and breathing the air outside the car? If we drive on a nice day with open windows, are we risking death? Are "cabin air filters" actually necessary? Obviously not. They're a clever little gimmick designed to wring a few more bucks out of customers who think they must be constantly replaced, or you risk death by breathing in the air inside your car!
cobraman Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Air conditioning compressor going out on the wifes car. 750.00 going bye bye. A can of A/C pro won't fix this one.
Joe Handley Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Watched somebody in a Bently coupe (not sure what the name is, it just looked like bar of soap) blow a clearly red light while blasting into a construction zone......
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Air conditioning compressor going out on the wifes car. 750.00 going bye bye. A can of A/C pro won't fix this one. Two of my sister's cars currently have the A/C out...fun driving them around in this weather...
Joe Handley Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Two of my sister's cars currently have the A/C out...fun driving them around in this weather... I really should put a new radiator in my Jeep. When I had it out last tuesday for emissions and to get a plate sticker renewal, I could have used it's good working A/C.......it was 90°f and I'm still surprised it didn't puke antifreeze while waiting in line!
Tom Geiger Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Case in point: "Cabin air filters." For a hundred years we seemed to be able to survive siting inside a car without them. Suddenly we are no longer capable of sitting inside a car without having the air "filtered." Yet we can survive stepping out of the car and breathing the air outside the car? If we drive on a nice day with open windows, are we risking death? Are "cabin air filters" actually necessary? Obviously not. They're a clever little gimmick designed to wring a few more bucks out of customers who think they must be constantly replaced, or you risk death by breathing in the air inside your car! Cabin air filters are nothing new. My '63 Studebaker Lark had one. It looked like your dryer vent and stuck into the firewall. You could pull it out and vacuum off the crud. As far as those dual air controls, I have that in my 1996 Grand Caravan. I wouldn't care if it did nothing at all, she thinks she's controling the environment. It keeps the peace.
martinfan5 Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) Case in point: "Cabin air filters." For a hundred years we seemed to be able to survive siting inside a car without them. Suddenly we are no longer capable of sitting inside a car without having the air "filtered." Yet we can survive stepping out of the car and breathing the air outside the car? If we drive on a nice day with open windows, are we risking death? Are "cabin air filters" actually necessary? Obviously not. They're a clever little gimmick designed to wring a few more bucks out of customers who think they must be constantly replaced, or you risk death by breathing in the air inside your car! I changed out the cabin filters just shortly after I took over my Maxima, and I am telling you that it made a huge difference with the A/C and it was blowing so much better, not to mention the air coming into the car was much better, that was close to four years ago, I think they are time for another change, and for my car, I think they were like $20 for them. And it took maybe 15 minutes to change them out . But like Rob said, living where we do, there is so much dust in the air, it really does make a big difference. Edited June 24, 2014 by martinfan5
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 Why not drop the overly-complicated, electronicalyl-controlled, ever-more-complex, ever-more expensive, 9-speed (and growing) automatics altogether and go with a simple, reliable CVT? CVT or a stick. Your choice. Works for me. CVT can be built to be entirely load-sensing, with no need for computer control. Physics instead of electronics. Additional precision of control CAN be added with electronics. Simple electronics. My personal favorite is the hydrostatic CVT, which can allow hub-motors to be utilized, much like electric hub-motors in electric vehicles. It also allows highly innovative packaging of engine and drivetrain components, to maximize efficient use of vehicle enclosed-volumes.
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 Case in point: "Cabin air filters." My favorite cars are convertibles (I have 6...not all running unfortunately) and if it's not raining or snowing, the top is down. I CAN see the possible merit of having filtered cabin air on a long up-top trip, just to help mitigate the fatigue factor. But I'm an outdoor kinda guy, and I don't really mind getting sweaty or dusty. Kinda feels good sometimes to be a little less "protected". I lived and worked in the Az. desert over a period of 2 years, all that time also living with my car's top down. Just took an air hose to the interior occasionally. I'm still alive, with no adverse health effects form breathing all that horrid real outdoor air.
charlie8575 Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 No one (or only a few luddites) wants a car today equipped the way a typical car was 50 years ago (vinyl interior, am radio, no a/c, manual everything). Well....let's see.... I listen mostly to WBZ (AM 1030) and WJIB when I'm inside 128 (AM 740), so that doesn't bother me... Air I don' mind, although over the years, I've had so many cars with non-working a/c that it doesn't bother me that much one way or the other except when it's really humid, especially with the newer cars that have such good aerodynamics, half the time, putting the window down doesn't make a bit of difference. Vinyl interiors never bothered me very much. I actually rather like them in wagons like I drive. Hot/sticky? Put a Kool Kushion on the seat. Problem solved. Manual windows, locks, etc., don't bother me, either. Having had power stuff break/untraceably short out, etc., mechanical linkages look really good. At least fixing the manual stuff is pretty straight-forward. Oh, wait, I guess I am a bit of Luddite....perhaps I proved Rob's point. Charlie Larkin
Harry P. Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 Charlie, you and Rob are the two extremes here. Rob is the total techno-geek, and if a voice-activated muffler bearing or power floor mats were offered, you know his car would have it! He's never met a gizmo or gadget he doesn't like! And you would be perfectly happy driving a Model T! Different strokes...
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