 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Subaru Cars / April 2005Subaru production
Are Subarus built with union labor? Or does the UAW consider them to be a foreign car even though they are made in a plant here in the U.S.? I hope not -- that's why they are still high quality eveb though they're built here. No overpaid lazy union monkeys not giving a crap about quality. I had a neighbor who worked at the former ford plant in edison nj and he was laid off -- but still got paid well!! That's why ford can only buy poor quality components while jap cars pay a bit more and make better quality cars. Information on their Indiana Plant can be found at http://www.subaru-sia.com/ . > I hope not -- that's why they are still high quality eveb though > they're built here. No overpaid lazy union monkeys not giving a crap > about quality. I had a neighbor who worked at the former ford plant in > edison nj and he was laid off -- but still got paid well!! That's why > ford can only buy poor quality components while jap cars pay a bit more > and make better quality cars. You should tell this to the Japanese Union members who out number US union members two to one. Blair >I hope not -- that's why they are still high quality eveb though > they're built here. No overpaid lazy union monkeys not giving a crap > about quality. I had a neighbor who worked at the former ford plant in > edison nj and he was laid off -- but still got paid well!! That's why > ford can only buy poor quality components while jap cars pay a bit more > and make better quality cars. The nips may be union but they have pride in their work and the jap companies seem to strive to produce quality products. Americans are generally blindly loyal to a brand regardless of problems they have. It is generally recognised that americans build the poorest quality cars. I believe JD Poers even acknowledges that Canada built american cars are of better quality than the American built versions. > The nips may be union but they have pride in their work and the jap > companies seem to strive to produce quality products. Americans are > generally blindly loyal to a brand regardless of problems they have. That's generally incorrect. As of today the least reliable cars are consistently European. Volkswagen and Land Rover are near the bottom. Mercedes and BMW are worse than many US products. On average US products are a bit more reliable than European, but both are substantially less reliable than Asian cars. Many Japanese cars are made in the US (Toyota, Honda, Mazda, etc) and they hold up better than Detroit products. My source is Consumer Reports. One explanation is that European companies have added piles of features (especially computerized systems) that are prone to failure. On top of that they work 34 hours per week and go on the dole if they can't work. They are the least hungry workers in the world, not unlike Detroit 30 years ago. -John > It is generally recognised that americans build the poorest quality cars. I > believe JD Poers even acknowledges that Canada built american cars are of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > companies seem to strive to produce quality products. Americans are > > generally blindly loyal to a brand regardless of problems they have. >That's generally incorrect. As of today the least reliable cars are >consistently European. Volkswagen and Land Rover are near the bottom. >Mercedes and BMW are worse than many US products. On average US products are >a bit more reliable than European, but both are substantially less reliable >than Asian cars. Many Japanese cars are made in the US (Toyota, Honda, >Mazda, etc) and they hold up better than Detroit products. Remember, an awful lot of USA market Volkswagen and Audi products are now built in Mexico. I'm pretty sure some USA market Mercedes are also either Mexican built or have many Mexican sourced parts. Land Rover and Jaguar have historically had terrible reliability records, regardless of where they build them. Most of the higher end Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and BMW models that are German built are also the most complex and precise vehicles on the road today. I always thought that the more complex and precise the vehicle, the more there is to go wrong. They just seem to crave attention. Barry > >That's generally incorrect. As of today the least reliable cars are > >consistently European. Volkswagen and Land Rover are near the bottom. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > now built in Mexico. I'm pretty sure some USA market Mercedes are > also either Mexican built or have many Mexican sourced parts. No disagreement, but it's interesting to note: Japan built (except Suzuki and Isuzu) = solid US built Japanese designs = solid North American designed & made = so-so European designed and built = so-so European design, N. America built = so-so I've got to conclude the best predictors of quality are management and engineering. > Most of the higher end Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and BMW models that > are German built are also the most complex and precise vehicles on the > road today. I always thought that the more complex and precise the > vehicle, the more there is to go wrong. They just seem to crave > attention. Same as US military products (e.g. tanks, jets, guns). They are made like Swiss watches with a high budget, and have the similar maintenance issues. -John Japan built isuzus are even better toyotas The old Troopers were great. The Rodeo has average to poor reliability. It was rebadged as the Honda Passport, and has the worst reliability of any Honda ever. GM is destroying Isuzu and Saab (as an owner). They don't seem to have such a toxic effect on Subaru, except perhaps in recent styling. -John > Japan built isuzus are even better toyotas >Same as US military products (e.g. tanks, jets, guns). They are made like >Swiss watches with a high budget, and have the similar maintenance issues. Right. But it all depends what you're looking for. <G> High end items, like cars, bicycles, weapons, or even machine tools, do *something* very, very well. The Japanese seem to very good at making reliability at a decent price the strong point. One of the ways at doing this is to not squeeze every last horsepower or piece of handling precision out of the car. The goal is simply to make it good, and make many of them. I'll bet that Japanese powered F1 or WRC race cars really aren't that much more reliable than Ferrari, Porsche/Audi, or BMW powered machines. You payz your money... Barry , etc) and they hold up better than Detroit products. > My source is Consumer Reports. Oh yeah, There's a reliable source. Will they refund me my money I paid back in 85 for a Mazda 626 built in Japan? By far the worst car I have ever owned for the 3 years: 3 motor head gaskets burned out power roof motor x2 failed power door relay switches x 5!! rated 5 stars by consumer dorks!  Signaturejerry Consumers Reports are good because they base their data on 500 or 1500 owners rather than one malcontent. > , etc) and they hold up better than Detroit products. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > rated 5 stars by consumer dorks! > It is generally recognised that americans build the poorest quality cars. I read that as Mexicans. Mexican built, European cars are often the most unreliable vehicles out there. American built Subaru's are just as reliable as Japanese built. >> It is generally recognised that americans build the poorest quality >> cars. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Mexican built, European cars are often the most unreliable vehicles > out there. I believe I once read that Honda found the same among it's fleet - US built was the same quality as Japanese. Also, I read that (at one time at least - this is some time ago) Toyata's most eficient engine plant was in the US (Cal.?). The lines are so automated, seems unlikely the average worker could do too much damage - except maybe during Union negotiations. ;^) Carl 1 Lucky Texan > American built Subaru's are just as reliable as Japanese built. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >>Mexican built, European cars are often the most unreliable vehicles >>out there. Signatureto reply, change ( .not) to ( .net) I am trying to figure out if it is the Unions being slammed here or is it the American (U.S.) worker being slammed here. I have worked as an American for both Union & Non-Union companies. I have worked at a Japanese company and lived in Japan, and worked in the U.S. for that company. I have worked for U.S. companies, and currently work for a German company. I travel all over the U.S. to many companies and meet workers who come from all over, many not speaking English. From my experience, there is little difference. Everywhere there are workers who care a great deal about doing a job right. Then there always a group of slackers. I do notice when people are paid lowball wages, there attitudes seem to be more of "who cares if I keep this job or not" as opposed to Japan where many still have strong bonds to the company where they expect to work for their entire life. When I visit their homes they were proud to show their loyalty to the company by owning all their companies other products. Where here in the U.S. at the Ford plant you may only see half the employees driving Fords, with many Japanese cars on the lot. So just who is blindly loyal to a brand? Blair > The nips may be union but they have pride in their work and the jap > companies seem to strive to produce quality products. Americans are > generally blindly loyal to a brand regardless of problems they have. The Japanese system is vastly different than ours. Their workers don't picket, don't sabotage products, don't strongarm management and generally avoid confrontation. Everyone is much more loyal than in the US. -John > You should tell this to the Japanese Union members who out number US union > members two to one. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > ford can only buy poor quality components while jap cars pay a bit more > > and make better quality cars. > The Japanese system is vastly different than ours. Their workers don't > picket, don't sabotage products, don't strongarm management and generally > avoid confrontation. Everyone is much more loyal than in the US. > > -John And loyalty goes two ways, or it doesn't go at all. Japanese companies are also loyal to their workers. American companies!? Ha! SignatureTom Reingold Noo Joizy > Are Subarus built with union labor? Or does the UAW consider them to be a > foreign car even though they are made in a plant here in the U.S.? I was on the fence between an Outback and Forester. Forester is Made in Japan, so I went with that. Subaru legacy/outback is made in Indiana with nonunion labor. >> Are Subarus built with union labor? Or does the UAW consider them to be a >> foreign car even though they are made in a plant here in the U.S.? > > I was on the fence between an Outback and Forester. Forester is Made in > Japan, so I went with that. I was deciding between Legacy and Forester also, I went with the Japan built Forester. Harry >> Are Subarus built with union labor? Or does the UAW consider them to be a >> foreign car even though they are made in a plant here in the U.S.? > > I was on the fence between an Outback and Forester. Forester is Made in > Japan, so I went with that. Well, I went with 2005 Outback last August (it it's bigger then Forrester), while I love my car here are the warranty repairs so far: 1. In about 2 weeks driving, 4 wheel alignment. Car kept pulling to the right 2. Last month: replacement of the exhaust resonator/pre-muffler. Rattling noise 3. Last month: installing two seatbelt kits to remedy slow sit belt retraction 4. Last month: re-routing blue sub-woofer cable, so it's not visible 5. Windshield replacement (not Subaru quality related of course) Other then that, I think it's a good car. >I was deciding between Legacy and Forester also, I went with the Japan >built Forester. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> I was on the fence between an Outback and Forester. Forester is Made in >> Japan, so I went with that. Remember, you bought the first year of a new car. There are always bugs to worked out. Had you gotten an 04 you wouldnt be having these problems. No car is perfect. I have an '04 3.0 Outback. Needed initial wheel balance, seat adjustment; repleacement autodim mirror, still has strange buzzing vibration in steering when cold, sometimes hard to start. Still a good car. > Remember, you bought the first year of a new car. There are always bugs > to worked out. Had you gotten an 04 you wouldnt be having these > problems. from the NY Times today, from an article about DaimlerChrysler's interest in production in China for the US market: > Wages and benefits cost DaimlerChrysler 38 euros an hour in Germany ($49.75), > 28 euros an hour ($36.62) in the United States, 4.5 euros an hour ($6) in > Brazil and only 1.5 an hour ($2) in China. Article at: http://nytimes.com/2005/04/21/business/21cnd-chin.html (free registration required, or see bugmenot.com) SignatureJohn Rethorst rot13 to email: wergubefg@cbfg.pbz |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.