Why do Japanese made autos get better gas mileage and seem to last longer?

Question

WASHINGTON - The groundbreaking deal in Congress to raise mile-per-gallon standards will compel the auto industry to churn out more fuel-efficient vehicles on a faster timeline than the companies wanted, though with flexibility to get the job done.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071202/ap_on_go_co/more_mpg

Answer 1

I think that some American made models are really doing well in the fuel economy already.

I always buy American made vehicles. I prefer them. I now have an Impala that gets about 32 miles to the gallon. I know that if I get into an accident, I have enough metal around me that I stand a chance of surviving. I can buy parts for it easily. I have never had a problem with it. You won't find me complaining about my American made car and you wont likely see me trading it for any Japanese model any time soon either.

Japanese, for the most part... are very innovative engineers though. They really have stepped up to the plate and taken us ahead in alot of areas. Their standards for education are alot higher than ours are.

Answer 2

Actually starting in about 1995 American Cars are on par or better at MGP then the imports.

99 Saturn SL1 5 speed and 2.2 liter engine. 42MPG highway beating civic!


The MPG decline started in 1991 with the best selling SUV of all a time The ford Explorer.

1977 the national average MPG was 17. 1997 27MPG 2007 17MPG. Its the SUV bringing it down.


There is such a fine line between American and import cars.

Most Hondas and Toyotas we get are: designed,and built, in the USA. The companies are profitable so they pay US taxes

Ford, GM, Mopar build their autos mostly in Mexico or Canada. The have not made money since 2000 even though they are selling recored numbers of cars. So they pay no taxes.

Which one is the more American Car?

Imports did have a quality edge until the mid 90's but the gap is closed.

I have been in the car biz for the last 17 years... I think people who buy imports up until the last few years took better care of the car they bought. Domestic car owners typically don't take as good of care.

The whole thing is flipping. Toyota lost its #1 ranking in quality and Lincoln and Buick have sky rocketed.

Whats happened is the people who did not take care of their car switched to imports and now are not having the luck of previous owners.

Its not the car its the owner is what it boils down to.

But what do I know? I have only sold about 1200 previously enjoyed autos.

Answer 3

I think this is probably truer in the past than now. The Japanese work ethic is such that if you sweep the streets or are president of SONY, you do your job the best you can, no whining, no complaining - you just do a good job. That work ethic left American workers' thinking sometime in the 1960s or 70s. And American cars were garbage. When Toyota, Honda, Datsun (later Nissan) and the like started turning out cars that ran well, were comfortable and lasted a whole lot longer, they grabbed the majority of the market share.

But I think American quality has improved. Now American made cars are far better made when compared to the past.

But I gotta say, when I'm in the market for a new car, the first place I'll go is the Toyota showroom.

Answer 4

We make disposable cars, for less money?! What does this mean ?:
Consider: MBZ for example, once they have a new concept, they built few prototype, and then spend next few years, testing it. Production starts only when this new concept is bulletproof(trouble free) . For example MBZ S class which is their high end model, cost around $100K. In US how ever much less time and testing are performed, so the cost is less.
Now here is how it works: You can buy the MBZ for $100K,
which will last you at least 20 yrs. Or get a Detroit for $20K, which lasts 5 years. How about the impact on the Environment?

Best Regards.

Answer 5

The American auto industry is a sluggish Goliath, and in changing times (gas prices) tends to lag far behind world competitors such as Japan when it comes to supplying cars that fit the current circumstances and needs. Many Americans are also arrogant, oblivious and selfish and refuse to adjust or lower their desires and expectations and have a sense of entitlement that they should be able to drive whatever they WANT, even in the face of overwhelming circumstances dictating otherwise.

Answer 6

Because the Japanese have had higher fuel standards then us for a while now. They were forced to adapt and they did it.

American auto manufacturers have let themselves grow fat and lazy by opposing the raising of standards in America. Now they are way behind.

Answer 7

U.S. automakers have known they would have to face this situation eventually for over 30 years. I have no compassion for their dilemma. The Japanese have to import all their oil I believe. Naturally they would have addressed this problem so they could keep their oil consumption as low as possible. Europe also has had low gas mileage cars for many years.

Arkainis: The automotive industry has been hiring in tier wages. Newer employees get lower wages than older ones. They have been taking pay cuts and decreased benefits for a long time.

Answer 8

I think Chevy makes great cars. I have great gas mileage and it has more features than the Toyota model I looked at.
To answer your question, though, I guess the japanese will never reveal that secret.

Answer 9

Because American cars are crap. Let's be honest. Even Benz couldn't save Chrysler and they about paid to get rid of them. And Ford has ruined every foreign car brand they acquired. The Japanese seem to have figured it out, and hopefully they won't merge with a US company and get themselves screwed.

Answer 10

because Unions in the American Automotive Market have cost the Industry alot of money. Since they can't keep wages at a competitive price they have to gimp out on things like quality and fuel efficiency to stay affordable to a consumer. A Toyota plant in the U.S. on average pays 35 dollars an hour to an employee on the production line. A worker at GM is required to pay 45 dollars for the same work that the Toyota worker does, but because of the massive Union dues have had to cut costs to stay competitive.