protectionist b.s.

But cars aren't the entire world. No realistic discussion
of this issue can be limited to one single product, regardless of
where the discussion takes place.

You are truly the Google-challenged.
Or you're just trying to pick a fight.

From:
<http://internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/japans_top_exports_imports>

Japanese Imports from U.S.

Of the $59.6 billion in American exports to Japan in 2006,
the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Civilian aircraft - US$3.5 billion (5.9% of Japan from U.S. imports,
up 9.4% from 2005)
2. Medicinal equipment - $2.7 billion (4.5%, down 2.2%)
3. Industrial machines - $2.3 billion (3.9%, up 17.9%)
4. Telecommunications equipment - $2.1 billion (3.5%, up 10.6%)
5. Semi-conductors - $2.06 billion (3.5%, up 10.4%)
6. Corn - $2.0 billion (3.3%, up 22.1%)
7. Pharmaceutical preparations - $1.8 billion (3.0%, up 13.2%)
8. Computer accessories - $1.75 billion (2.9%, down 2.4%)
9. Measuring, testing & control instruments - $1.69 billion (2.8%, up 16.4%)
10.Organic chemicals - $1.4 billion (2.4%, down 6.4%)

Fastest-Growing Japanese Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to Japan in 2006 with the highest percentage
sales increases from 2005.

1. Military apparel & footwear - US$196.3 million (up 185.9% from 2005)
2. Precious metals - $871.6 million (up 117.6%)
3. Copper - $222.2 million (up 78.2%)
4. Fuel oil - $75.6 million (up 77.9%)
5. Aluminum - $304.9 million (up 62.4%)

 

Isn't it also a fact that unless you have garage space you are limited
in the length of car you can buy to either 4 or 4.5 metres?

 

It does not. Not since 1978.

Have you bothered to do /any/ reading about this? American makers have
simply failed to address the needs and desires of the Japanese market.


<http://www.jama.org/library/studies100297.htm>

Excerpt:
"Compounding these problems, the report said, was the fact that the Big
Three had never built a car under 2,000-cc engine displacement - the
segment that at the time accounted for more than 80% of the entire market
(18) - nor had they designed any cars for Japan with the steering wheel on
the right-hand side.(19) Moreover, prices of U.S.- made cars "tend[ed] to
be higher by approximately 20% on average than those of comparable
Japanese-made cars," the report said, despite the fact that Japan had
completely eliminated auto tariffs in 1978.(20)"

 

I dunno. But if so, then why aren't the domestics making cars which fit
that requirement?

Look at the Japs strenuous efforts to make care we will buy. We certainly
don't do the same for them. The original Honda Odyssey did not sell well.
Why? It was too small. Honda made the Odyssey bigger, and buyers finally
got interested.

The Japanese try to find out why a particular vehicle isn't selling well
here, and change the car so it will sell well. Do we do that for them? No.

Toyota is doing better tham GM simply because it's a better-run company
with smarter management.

 

all my Honda's were fun to drive. 1 Civic CVCC,2 Accord hatchbacks,2
Preludes,and the Integra.

my 94 Integra GS-R was 2600 lbs.,sadly,stolen in 07,stripped and torched.
(F'ing thieves)
My 03 Sentra Spec V is IIRC,3200 lbs.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

I like Honda's a lot, I was very close to buying a 1994 GS-R when I was
car shopping in 1998. It was a blast to drive and very comfortable too.

That sucks. I have still never had a car stolen, that would really piss
me off.

 

You betcha! I lost a lot of auto tools I had in the back,too.Some were Xmas
gifts from my partents.

It's too easy to steal Hondas from that era.
I had rerouted the hood release cable to inside the engine compartment,made
a shield for the hood latch itself,and had the parts ready to install a
secret fuel cutoff switch,but hadn't got to it yet.
that would have stopped them.... :-(

It took them less than 60 sec to steal it,despite the alarm I had
installed.I still can't believe they got it started so fast;I threw my
shorts on,grabbed my gun and was out the door in less than a minute,and the
car was already thru the security gate and out of sight down the road.
I could still hear the alarm wailing.

Police were F-ing USELESS. So were the security gates.


--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

couldn't have put it better myself.

i'd love to know what our fanboi has to say about less-obvious quality
issues for things like cast vs forged cranks. cast cranks were
pioneered by domestics to cut production costs [and increase gas
consumption] while the rest of the world looked on and snickered. they
still do.

 

i bow to tegger on this - he's got your number.

 

well said.

 

Spot on Tegger!!! My concern now is that Government Motors will be run into
the ground if the Bureaucrats don't let people who know how run the company.
If they won't, then I greatly fear GMs demise. The guvmint doesn't have a
great track record managing anything.

DaveD

 

I need to do something like the fuel cut-off switch on my '91 Miata. The
blue book value is only a couple of grand, but it would cost me many
times that amount to duplicate it as it sits now.

Yeah, maybe get the parts for that today. Miatas are not a highly
sought-after car for parts, but joy-riders are always a possibility, and
the wheels and intercooler could attract attention from knowledgeable
thieves.

I could stand to do the same to my '94 Accord, it is easy to steal as
you said. Neither car has any anti-theft protection beyond the ignition
switch, and I don't even lock the Miata, as a slashed top is more
expensive to replace than anything inside the car.

 

(Cross posting deleted, automatically)

His comment was just one more YABUT excuse to deflect from the fact Toyota
has been ordered to recall 5.4 MILLION unsafe vehicles all around the world.
LOL

 

(Cross posting deleted, automatically)

His comment was just one more YABUT excuse to deflect from the fact Toyota
has been ordered to recall 5.4 MILLION unsafe vehicles all around the world.
LOL

 

Plus you really feel violated once your car is gone.

I had a 12V relay,a magnetic reed switch and a magnet;
I was going to wire the relay into the fuel pump power line,and hide the
reed switch under a place where I could place the magnet to activate the
fuel pump before starting the car. The hard part on my Integra would have
been removing the hatchback's back seat to access the fuel pump and it's
wiring.

you could hide the reed under the carpet somewhere,or under the door trim
plate,or somewhere in the console,but you have to have a way to keep the
magnet in place while you're driving,and not show evidence of it when you
remove the magnet.I won't disclose what I had in mind,I may want to use it
elsewhere.It was pretty sneaky. B-)

Of course,it's simpler to just use a toggle switch and find a good place to
hide it. IMO,it's easier for the thief to find it though.


--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

I was thinking of a toggle switch, never thought of a magnetically
activated one.

Would this be reliable? It sounds very difficult to defeat, and also
pretty cool.

 

magnetic reed switches are very reliable.
But if the theives can find it quickly enough,they can bypass it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

 

But they would need to have a magnet and know where it was located.
Sounds interesting.
Time to research magnetic reed switches, I have never heard of them
before this.

Thanks!

 

except that it's not. and nor should it be. and don't top post.

no, toyota have /not/ "been ordered", they have done a voluntary recall.
see frod for details of how to avoid compulsory recalls.

 

the switch may be reliable, but the magnet positioning would be
problematic. you really don't need that thing shifting and killing fuel
each time you hit a bump.