How can the US make such poor cars but at the same time make airplanes that are considered the safest and best in the world?
2006-10-31 05:40:56 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
It's all about maintenance... American airlines maintain their planes almost religiously.... If people would take care of their cars, they'd find that they last alot longer....
Another reason is that american planes don't come out with a new model every year... many planes in the air are 30 or more years old... cars on the other hand have to be cutting edge every year and many of those new updates don't have time to be fully tested....
2006-10-31 05:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by Andy FF1,2,CrTr,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
US Military aircraft are the best right now because the US is willing to burn billions of bucks despite not having anyone to use them against. As an example the ATF is better than the Eurofighter becasue it's a ten year newer design, my friends were completing Eurofighter aerodynamics work in 1983 at RAE Bedford, twenty three years later it still isn't in service in decent numbers, that's because they don't want to spend the money it takes to get the project done in a reasonable time.
US commercial aircraft are about as good as their opposition. Personally I prefer the A320 to the 737 and the 767 to the A300, but that's just passanger perspective. The 787 is better than the proposed A350 but Airbus got told that by their customers and they are producing a new A350 instead. The A380 is delayed but will still enter service at the end of this year, it's a big deal designing and building the worlds biggest passanger aircraft in a hurry, most of it worked perfectly the first time out.
In GA the US is the only really big market, so there's nothing to compare to.
As to the cars... the US is all about standing quarter miles and comfortable rides on bad roads. They don't last well and they have poor brakes and handling, which is also why they are almost impossible to sell in other countries. European and Asian cars are more about handling and longevity. I had a Taurus when I first came to the US and it is the worst car I ever owned, the Impala is just about as bad. The Corvette is reasonable, it's a cheap car for the performance. The problem is that Ford and GM haven't moved with the times, they are still producing cars that they think you should be grateful to own and should buy as a statement of loyalty to the country. Unfortunately they are gas guzzling, unreliable and marginally safe slugs.
2006-10-31 15:22:25 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
American cars do not suck. However, in the context of having cheap imported car from Korea, the US auto industry is affected by the rising price of medicare that is granted to retirees until they die. This means that the profit margin on a US made car from the traditional big 3 (GM, Ford and Chrysler) is less than those of "younger" companies (Japan uses a lot of robots; and their factories are staffed by more recent hires, who do not require as much health benefits and who are not close to retirement either). The result is that "imported" cars (note the quates: not all "imported" cars are imported; Toyota, Mazda, Nissan all have assembly plants in the US) can have a bit more value for the cost, which is percieved as enhanced quality by many.
Contrast this with airplanes: there are no cheap imports in the market that Boeing occupies, the competitor is Airbus, and it is in Europe, where the benefits are the same (and therefore costs) as in the US.
Wait a few years, and you may see China and India trying to develop its own airliner industry. Then, either Boeing, Aribus and the others will start farming a lot of the assembly to those countries, or the situation with today's cars will apply to airplane as well.
2006-10-31 14:29:30 · answer #3 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not quite that black and white. As a pilot I can tell you the GA aircraft made here in the USA are quite decent, likely because we are one of only a handful of countries where flying is affordable and you can fly without undue restrictions. As for airliners, pilots have a lot of good things to say about both Boeing and Airbus (french) airplanes. Boeing's are more stable and tough, but Airbus is more state of the art, and often faster (737 vs A320 = A320 wins) As to cars, I cant figure out why many folks drive the rice burners. Decent mileage perhaps, but if you lean against the side of a Toyota (I'm 180) you will bend in the fender!
2006-10-31 14:17:11 · answer #4 · answered by Joe G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Different quality control, the companies that make cars only have to follow certain guidelines to produce a vehicle, the event of failure is really not that bad when in a car. The airplane manufacturers are governed by the FAA, they need to follow very stringent rules when designing and building their product. Also, the FAA needs to certify the planes airworthyness which is a mile of paperwork in and of itself, thus making it harder for the airplane companies to make new models. Also, even if they follow all the guidelines and rules and try to make the best aircraft they can design, if there is one error in the testing they might not get approved to sell their product. The main reason, failure in the air in not an option the FAA likes to deal with.
2006-10-31 13:47:30 · answer #5 · answered by ANSAG 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who says American planes are the best in the world? If when you say 'American' you are also including the Canadians and the Brazilians you might have a case!
If you look at the US Military, the US Navy now trains on (licence-built) European aircraft; the USMC is replacing the Marine One Seaking with a European product; the US Army has chosen a European helicopter for it's light observation requirement; and the USAF may well be looking to Airbus for it's next refuelling tanker, unless politics gets in the way (which it will!!!).
I think I might have spotted a trend there? ;-)
2006-11-01 04:21:59 · answer #6 · answered by AndyG45 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a philosophical matter.
American cars are not made to last. Therefore mechanical quality is secondary to looks (Marketing: The better they look, the better they sell). A crashed car, even due to mechanical failures, is an insurance/police matter, doesn't show in the maker's balance sheet.
Planes are designed to last. Mechanical quality is foremost. Bad mechanics cause crashed planes. Crashed planes crash aviation companies.
2006-10-31 14:05:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My American cars have gotten me back and forth from the airport to fly my American airplanes for many years an I would not be caught dead in some foreign **** box!
2006-11-01 08:23:04 · answer #8 · answered by pecker_head_bill 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well you can wait until Japan starts building planes.
However, Ford's new CEO was taken from Boeing, maybe Ford is trying to get back on track?
2006-10-31 13:44:15 · answer #9 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Airbus is not American and is as reliable as Boeing.
I think the issue is perception, not reality. Do you have stats to backup your thoughts?
2006-10-31 13:50:18 · answer #10 · answered by Holly O 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋