I just test drove a 1997 VTEC Prelude. I can't say I noticed any huge performance gap between it an

If you're happy with your U.K car built out of pieces from wherever and mfr
owned by ??? - hard to keep count really - that's fine for you. Sorry but
the "world" does not seem to be following. There are cars which will rev
way beyond 6Krpm without fuss - good engineering makes a difference!!

Not really... unless you have a definition of "flogging" which is relevant.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Seems like the state of the U.K. car industry reflects pretty well what its
own citizens thought of the quality - 'nuff said.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

If you're happy with your U.K car built out of pieces from wherever and mfr
owned by ??? - hard to keep count really - that's fine for you. Sorry but
the "world" does not seem to be following. There are cars which will rev
way beyond 6Krpm without fuss - good engineering makes a difference!!

Not really... unless you have a definition of "flogging" which is relevant.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Seems like the state of the U.K. car industry reflects pretty well what its
own citizens thought of the quality - 'nuff said.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

No, I don't have to.

But I choose to

Why not ?

 

No, I don't have to.

But I choose to

Why not ?

 

Yes, and that's a good thing.

I dunno about you, but I certainly like buying very cheap cars !

My car was £21,000 brand new. I bought it 5 years old, with 48,000 miles,
for £4000.

 

Yes, and that's a good thing.

I dunno about you, but I certainly like buying very cheap cars !

My car was £21,000 brand new. I bought it 5 years old, with 48,000 miles,
for £4000.

 

Yep - I'm very happy with mine.

So ?

I don't give two hoots what the rest of the world is doing !

 

Yep - I'm very happy with mine.

So ?

I don't give two hoots what the rest of the world is doing !

 

Yeah, he gets what is basically a Honda but with a 200bhp turbocharged
British engine (and some horrible stick on "wood") for much less money than
an equivelantly powered rev-happy Honda of the same age.

Result!

Does marque heritage really make that much difference to you? Or would your
neighbours laugh at you because your car didnt cost as much as theirs or
didnt have the percieved "good engineering" you require?

Douglas

 

Yeah, he gets what is basically a Honda but with a 200bhp turbocharged
British engine (and some horrible stick on "wood") for much less money than
an equivelantly powered rev-happy Honda of the same age.

Result!

Does marque heritage really make that much difference to you? Or would your
neighbours laugh at you because your car didnt cost as much as theirs or
didnt have the percieved "good engineering" you require?

Douglas

 

Why do americans and australians always do that? When there's nowhere left
to go, just make fun of the British car industry.

UK car manufacturers were pretty good around the 1950's and 60's. They were
messed around a bit by the government in the 1970's and then the trade
unions got all uppity and signed the industry's death warrant by striking
for a laugh every 5 minutes which was a joke. Perhaps it a had a bit to do
with the economic climate in the UK at the time as well.

FWIW, I believe that originally companies like Honda copied some old british
car designs, improved them over time, and are now major players in a world
market, to the point where they owned a large part of Rover untill recently.
Kind of Ironic really.

The way I see it, british car manufacturers tried to rest on their laurels
(because at one point the UK was an engineering centre of excellence) while
everyone else kept developing.

Why can't you buy many american built cars in the UK? Doesnt that show you
what faith British people have in American car manufacturers quality? Why
do many big japanese and european companies choose to built cars in the UK?
It's probably import tax related, but it is possible to build decent quality
cars here cost effectively when theres less socialism involved.

Douglas

 

Why do americans and australians always do that? When there's nowhere left
to go, just make fun of the British car industry.

UK car manufacturers were pretty good around the 1950's and 60's. They were
messed around a bit by the government in the 1970's and then the trade
unions got all uppity and signed the industry's death warrant by striking
for a laugh every 5 minutes which was a joke. Perhaps it a had a bit to do
with the economic climate in the UK at the time as well.

FWIW, I believe that originally companies like Honda copied some old british
car designs, improved them over time, and are now major players in a world
market, to the point where they owned a large part of Rover untill recently.
Kind of Ironic really.

The way I see it, british car manufacturers tried to rest on their laurels
(because at one point the UK was an engineering centre of excellence) while
everyone else kept developing.

Why can't you buy many american built cars in the UK? Doesnt that show you
what faith British people have in American car manufacturers quality? Why
do many big japanese and european companies choose to built cars in the UK?
It's probably import tax related, but it is possible to build decent quality
cars here cost effectively when theres less socialism involved.

Douglas

 

I didn't... make fun of it... and probably less than I deride the U.S. car
industry. It was a great tragedy the way the U.K. industry was brought
down and of course somewhat corresponded with the rise of the U.K. auto
racing industry. There was obviously raw talent being squandered by the
likes of Rubery Owen, Lucas and other sub-standard OE suppliers. Now the
U.K. racing industry is in the process of being brought down by the greed
of the principals, the corrupt court system and a governement (CE and
domestic) bent on meddling the economy to death - plus ça change.... The
Germans seem to be wallowing in it.... again!:-(

From my POV it was as much a management problem as a union problem. Surely
a bunch of the country's educated elite could have been expected to do
better at managing the unwashed mass. What the hell did they teach them in
their ivory towers of learning? Certainly many of the crippling strikes,
notably Rootes in Acton, which was a result of a single shop steward who
called a wildcat action which brought the whole organization to its knees,
were not union led. There was plenty of blame to go around.

Yes it's very ironic. The Japs copied the U.K. engine and other subsytem
designs - don't forget the motorcycles - and the Yanks taught them how to
do quality control.<shrug> Now they're making an ass out of the U.S. auto
industry. Mind you, knowing a bit about how things actually work at the
Jap auto mfrs, they'll get their turn eventually.... maybe India or China,
or some other new ecomomic power, will take their pants down.

Though there were exceptions, there wasn't really a problem with the
engineering, for its day - the materials/assembly/finish was a disgrace.
Even the non-strike-bound cars were only passable in the international
market.

The U.S. mfrs know how to produce big cars with big engines - not really
relevant to the Euro market. The question is: is it possible to assemble
decent quality cars out of U.K. origin parts? Renault doesn't think so and
has forced Nissan abroad - not sure about Honda et.al.

I believe you're way off the mark by attaching past failures to a political
idealogy. Has it occurred to you that many of the the upper class are
bloody awful at managing people?... but they get the jobs anyway!

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I didn't... make fun of it... and probably less than I deride the U.S. car
industry. It was a great tragedy the way the U.K. industry was brought
down and of course somewhat corresponded with the rise of the U.K. auto
racing industry. There was obviously raw talent being squandered by the
likes of Rubery Owen, Lucas and other sub-standard OE suppliers. Now the
U.K. racing industry is in the process of being brought down by the greed
of the principals, the corrupt court system and a governement (CE and
domestic) bent on meddling the economy to death - plus ça change.... The
Germans seem to be wallowing in it.... again!:-(

From my POV it was as much a management problem as a union problem. Surely
a bunch of the country's educated elite could have been expected to do
better at managing the unwashed mass. What the hell did they teach them in
their ivory towers of learning? Certainly many of the crippling strikes,
notably Rootes in Acton, which was a result of a single shop steward who
called a wildcat action which brought the whole organization to its knees,
were not union led. There was plenty of blame to go around.

Yes it's very ironic. The Japs copied the U.K. engine and other subsytem
designs - don't forget the motorcycles - and the Yanks taught them how to
do quality control.<shrug> Now they're making an ass out of the U.S. auto
industry. Mind you, knowing a bit about how things actually work at the
Jap auto mfrs, they'll get their turn eventually.... maybe India or China,
or some other new ecomomic power, will take their pants down.

Though there were exceptions, there wasn't really a problem with the
engineering, for its day - the materials/assembly/finish was a disgrace.
Even the non-strike-bound cars were only passable in the international
market.

The U.S. mfrs know how to produce big cars with big engines - not really
relevant to the Euro market. The question is: is it possible to assemble
decent quality cars out of U.K. origin parts? Renault doesn't think so and
has forced Nissan abroad - not sure about Honda et.al.

I believe you're way off the mark by attaching past failures to a political
idealogy. Has it occurred to you that many of the the upper class are
bloody awful at managing people?... but they get the jobs anyway!

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I buy what I like and dependability, ease of DIY, while still being
pleasant to drive, counts a lot to me. I don't pay much attention to
neighbors or their likes or dislikes. Honda, Toyota etc. are not perfect
but their engineering is rather good.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I buy what I like and dependability, ease of DIY, while still being
pleasant to drive, counts a lot to me. I don't pay much attention to
neighbors or their likes or dislikes. Honda, Toyota etc. are not perfect
but their engineering is rather good.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

The point is that I'm very happy with my "U.K car built out of pieces from
wherever and mfr owned by ???" for the reasons above.

Exactly the same situation here, which is exactly why I drive a Turbo car
with a nice simple engine.

 

The point is that I'm very happy with my "U.K car built out of pieces from
wherever and mfr owned by ???" for the reasons above.

Exactly the same situation here, which is exactly why I drive a Turbo car
with a nice simple engine.