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Why don't Japanese car manufacturers make BMW or Audi beaters?
Lack of imagination, different market focus or just plain impossible? The Germans make damn sexy, sporty luxury vehicles but can cost an arm and a leg to maintain not to mention reliability issues. Imagine if Acura, Infiniti or Lexus did the same but have the usual legendary Japanese reliability. The Acura TL, Infinity G and Lexus IS are sporty looking but not edgy enough. I'd pay good money for a super reliable sport oriented. Might be the first new car purchase for me in a decade.
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05-20-2014, 12:45 PM
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subaru legacy or wrx is a competitor to an a4
big Lexus is a competitor to S class is 350 / is f is a competitor to 3 series There are plenty of Japanese competitors to the germans, weather or not they are effective is mostly opinion. BMW seemed to be the only "sport" sedan mfg that cared about driving dynamics anyways, but that seems to be fading. The germans toughest competition is from GM these days. The CTS-V is sportier, cheaper, and faster than an m5 and the ATS is 250+ lbs lighter than a 3 series I believe
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05-20-2014, 12:56 PM
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Supera or the Z? it may not agree with the look in your eye, but I bet they are damn good cars. if I owned Lexus, I would do the same thing they are currently doing, build a car luxo-boat enough with enough performance (under the Germans) and price them accordingly. Why try and buck head with BMW or Benz? Have the market to yourself.
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05-20-2014, 12:58 PM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
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I would argue that the Japanese are marketing to a slightly different market segment. They realize that the vast majority of luxury car drives never use them at anywhere close to their design limits. So firming up the suspension on a Camry platform and giving it higher end skin/interior will be enough please many people. People who value reliability over performance will be drawn to them.
There is no point in directly trying to steal 7 series and 8 series customers from BMW/Audi. Those people are not driven by cost or reliability. If Lexus wanted to drop a 500hp engine in their LS series sedan, they could. But they realize its a waste of time.
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor. 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. 2014 Cayman S, PDK. Mercedes E350 family truckster. |
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05-20-2014, 12:59 PM
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I think that when it comes to performance sports cars, US buyers tend to be Eurocentric in their preferences. It's a long time thing, starting in the 50's. So Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Porsche have a historic leg up on the Japanese in that regard. There have been Japanese sports cars that were well received but not enough of them for a long enough period to really tilt the specialized market their way. There is no doubt in my mind that Japan could do it if they wanted to.
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05-20-2014, 01:00 PM
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I still don't understand the 500+ hp engines in the luxury barges. It is pretty silly and useless to have a sub 5 second 0-60 mph time in an 6500lb giant car IMHO
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05-20-2014, 01:02 PM
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The question is not when the japanese will do it, the question is when will the koreans undercut the japanese
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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05-20-2014, 01:03 PM
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Which begs the question:
Why don't German car manufacturers make something as reliable as the Japanese? I really wanted to buy my wife a BMW the last time she needed a car.....After she drove 2 BMW's (540 and 330), she bought a top of the line V6 Accord.....
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles Last edited by LakeCleElum; 05-20-2014 at 01:06 PM.. |
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05-20-2014, 01:03 PM
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I'm not sure if it's ever a waste of time or money to take market share. If Lexus can stiffen the suspension and make the IS300 swoopier, it would have the potential to be the new 3 series BMW.
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05-20-2014, 01:06 PM
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Quote:
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05-20-2014, 01:08 PM
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Quote:
Sometimes stereotypes are true
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05-20-2014, 01:08 PM
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Hell Belcho
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
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German cars keep me in business. I might occasionally do a timing belt on a Honda, but hardly ever work on them.
The japanese don't know how to build a car with soul.
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05-20-2014, 01:14 PM
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The Germans engineer the best cars in the world...the Japanese manufacture the best cars in the world(namely Honda and Toyota).
Japan get's into bed with it's vendors and suppliers...if German automobile mfg's ever do that, then they will have both of the "best" worlds wrapped up. Remember...many people have absolutely NO passion or desire for driving, all they want is a turn-key car. I can't fault my 96 Corolla with quarter mile millions, and everything still works on it. It just doesn't break down. That suits most people just fine.
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1983 911 3.3L Turbo(YES, I know the turbo badge is on the right...had to be different!) 1996 Toyota Corolla(der 'clapper') Last edited by Tilikum Turbo; 05-20-2014 at 01:25 PM.. |
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05-20-2014, 01:22 PM
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Infinity G37?
Both the guys I know who bought these were cross-shopping BMW's. |
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05-20-2014, 01:27 PM
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Quote:
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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05-20-2014, 01:29 PM
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LakeCleElum,
I know you are not. Its a legit question and I am still wondering why today. I know its cost and the engineering is there. |
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05-20-2014, 01:40 PM
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New German cars have style. Not sure about soul though.
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05-20-2014, 01:45 PM
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Quote:
Kia's got some beautiful cars coming off the line now, too. They have a new concept car that's along the lines of the BRZ/FSR platform that I hope they put into production. Truly beautiful things are coming from the orient these days, and I'm not referring to just their women 
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Guy '87 944 (first porsche/project car) |
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05-20-2014, 01:47 PM
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Quote:
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1986 911 Targa We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath - a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot.... |
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05-20-2014, 02:11 PM
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no manual or even dual clutch though right?
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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05-20-2014, 02:13 PM
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1984 Porsche Carrera coupe
993
1987 Porsche 944
2009 Ford Mustang
