Since when did Japanese cars developed the "quality" reputation?

[Orgasmo]

For a long as I can remember, my older relatives have been talking about how Japanese cars are superior to American made ones in terms of mechanical reliability and overall dependability. I got some flak from my coworkers and family members when I bought my current Chevy Cruze a few years ago. Recently I've been looking to buy a Ford Fusion hybrid. Sure enough, the same "why do you insist on buying crap American car" comments appeared. Seems like everyone is recommending Japanese brands over American.

If I remember correctly, Japanese cars were looked down upon in the 1960's and 1970's, being under-powered and considered poorly made. It seems the opinion completely reversed 180 a few decades later. What's your experience been if you owned both before?

 

[jefferz]

This is what happened

 

[therearnaked]

The less computer shit in a car and the less features it has the less will go wrong. Look at how much shits in a Mercedes, a ton so a ton can go wrong. Also, using plastic parts under the hood instead of metal will also give you problems.

 

[Peteyandjia]

There are lots of great new cars made by a handful of nations today.

However, if you have to buy a used car, Toyotas have the durability of Chris Lytle.

 

[Dogstarman]

My dad is a ford man. I bought a Toyota Tundra and he gave me some shit. His f250 is falling apart. The locks don't lock the windows roll down shitty. I had a Ford Explorer. That was the worst piece of shit car I have ever owned. While I loved my bronco II, I will never own another American shit made car again. My tundra is running smoothly.

 

[scrubido]

I had 0 problems with my 03 civic. Literally none.

 

[I Am Legion]

Well Toyota had disastrous recalls the last few years and I have
Owned shitty hondas

 

[wlu29]

My very first car was a 1982 corolla station wagon in 1998 and it was still running fine for 4 more years after

 

[bad seed]

late 80s is when they began to capture the attention of educated car shoppers. Honda and Toyota benefitted from the American auto market falling into the gutter from the disastrous policy changes of the 70s. The Japanese dominated the 90's and ascended to an aspirational luxury brand when Toyota created Lexus.

20 years later, the Americans have finally caught up and are now producing cars on par with or better than Japanese equivalents. The Germans have also snatched up significant gains across all price segments. The golden age of Japanese quality is over- in cars, electronics and martial arts. They still make the world's best denim and knives though.

 

[HunterSdVa29]

favorable trade policies after WWII, their existing industrial capacity, and it was just at a matter of time before they started dominating certain markets (auto, electronic, etc..). Same goes for Germany

 

[lts5025]

American cars started being absolute garbage in the mid 70's when The Big 3 had trouble adapting to new emissions standards and a too-powerful auto workers union made quality control hard to enforce.

American cars have gotten a lot more reliable in the new millennium, but Honda and Toyota (despite the recalls) are still the standard-bearers. I haven't owned an American car since high school but would consider one for my next purchase.

 

[Fedorgasm]

My ex GF used to drive a mazda protege. She would commute 2.5 hours each way to work. No, I'm not exaggerating, she spent 5 hours per day on the freeway.

And she sucked at driving a stick. She'd take off from a dead stop in 2nd gear, she'd never downshift until the engine is lugging. She'd sometimes forget to shift, despite the fact that her engine was revving like crazy, she'd just ignore it and get lost in whatever song was playing on the radio. She also waited way too long to get oil changes considering how many miles she was driving per day.

Anyhoo, I was with that chick for 3 years and that damn car never gave her a single problem. Ever since then I've wanted a mazda. Finally got one last year. I can only hope mine turns out to be as tough as hers was.

 

[Bay Area]

Seriously? Have you been living in a cave for the past 30 years TS?

 

[Bay Area]

Korean cars are on par with Japanese cars imo

 

[Jermei]

My dad is a ford man. I bought a Toyota Tundra and he gave me some shit. His f250 is falling apart. The locks don't lock the windows roll down shitty. I had a Ford Explorer. That was the worst piece of shit car I have ever owned. While I loved my bronco II, I will never own another American shit made car again. My tundra is running smoothly.

Bronco II's are cool... but Ford. Still cool though.

I rented a Ford Flex for a roadtrip and its almost the perfect car and fun to drive... but Ford, so who knows what happens in a couple years.

 

[bad seed]

Korean cars are on par with Japanese cars imo

only at the lowest end- the Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe are equal to their Japanese competition. But their attempts at more upscale segments are brutally wrecked when compared against Lexus or Infiniti. And they have no rival to the Japanese peformance vehicles like the STI, GTR, and Evo.

 

[Pliny Pete]

Lee Iacocca and the other Detroit big wigs thought Americans would never buy weird shitty foreign card so they started making cars that would need to be replaced every 7 years

 

[Banchan]

My dad is a ford man. I bought a Toyota Tundra and he gave me some shit. His f250 is falling apart. The locks don't lock the windows roll down shitty. I had a Ford Explorer. That was the worst piece of shit car I have ever owned. While I loved my bronco II, I will never own another American shit made car again. My tundra is running smoothly.

I don't think japanese sell a f250 equivalent in north america . I think no matter how you put it if your dad needs to haul more than half ton with a pick up he can't go Japanese . That said american trucks are not all the same . Go Chevy for pick up truck !

 

[MarloStanfield]

Korean cars are on par with Japanese cars imo

yeah KIA have got some awesome cars

 

[TheRatman]

Around the time Michal Keaton made Gung Ho. He was a Blowing up at the time and eveything he did was great.