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Predict what will happen when Chinese cars arrive in America!
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Posted by: MadScientistMatt

Some people are talking as though they are next in line after Hyundai as the import invasion to be reconned with. Others point to some absolutely aweful QC and other issues with Chinese cars (get a look at the emblem on this Geely; it's about as well-applied as it is meaningful) and say they'll never take off. I can see five ways this might go.

The next Toyota: Some people expect they'll become a sales giant in no time and a serious threat to the American auto industry - possibly even the Japanese in time.

The next Suzuki: Companies that make cheap and boring cars, sell a few of them, neither going away nor really making it big.

The next Daewoo: They bring their cars here, have sales crash and burn, and wind up hanging on just as a manufacturer of low-end cars that other companies rebadge.

The next Yugo: An absolute disaster with a reputation for quality so horrid that not even a sticker price half what anything else costs can save it.

The next Crosslander: Something that we keep hearing will show up in the United States, and it never does.

So, what do you expect to happen?

Posted by: MikeT

Well I have very little faith in chinese products based on my own experinces and those I've read about. I think the chinese are capable of building something halfway decent but only do so when forced.

Chinese airguns have been available the past few years. They generally knock off american and european designs and sell at 1/2 -1/5 the price. When they first hit the market the quality was horrible. Only after the importers started demanding better product did the quality come up. Some of the airguns they sell here are now functionally as good as european guns, but lack the fit and finish. Some are still utter crap.

It seems though whenever they (several chinese companies) release a new one it has alot of issues that take them a while to sort out. Usually its not until the 2nd or 3rd batch makes it to the states that they have a decent product.

While I have no personal experince I've read basically the same thing about the chinese buggies and dirtbikes. The first ones to arrive were pretty crappy. Some of the manufacturers brought up the quality to a resonable level. Some others still churn out crap. Meanwhile honda oddesy's are worth thier weight in gold.

There are some chinese street bikes available now or soon to be. Looks like they copied some honda designs (like they always do.) I think these will be a litmus test. If they are decently built they will probibly sell OK. If they are crappy they will get a bad reputation. I think the motorcycle and car markets are much less forgiving of crappy products and it will be sink or swim here. If they don't get it right the first time it will take a long time to recover if they do at all.

Unless the chinese manufacturers have learned from thier mistakes I see them making some crappy cars that won't sell for shit. If however, they have thier act together I think they will have a shot at competing with the cheap korean cars we currently have. So I'm saying they will either be the next yugo if they screw up. Or the next suzuki if the get it right.

Either way I won't be buying any of their shit.

Posted by: John

99% of Chinese cars are rip offs of every other car out there. Most of them won't make it here because of copyright, trademark and patent infringements.

Posted by: Slow Nova

If they do make it over here...Now's the time to open a dealership in the SF Bay Area.

I have no doubt that lots of people around here will buy them.

Posted by: MikeT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow Nova


	I have no doubt that lots of people around here will buy them.

why exactly is that?

Posted by: John

For the same reason Hyundai sells so many cars here.

The general public is made up of sheeple led by thundering morons.

Posted by: Slow Nova

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeT


	why exactly is that?

Hard to explain. You have to live in the SF Bay Area to understand people around here. It's almost like living in a different country - at least compared to where I used to live - upstate NY, CT, and So. FL. Most people out here are just 'different' in so many senses.

Posted by: skeezix

I chose daewoo, cos' like matt said, shortly after they came here, they fell flat on their face. It does make you kinda wonder what kind of car they'll build. Especially since alot of people in china ride bicycles!

Posted by: 65fairlane

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow Nova


	Hard to explain. You have to live in the SF Bay Area to understand people around here. It's almost like living in a different country - at least compared to where I used to live - upstate NY, CT, and So. FL. Most people out here are just 'different' in so many senses.

Is it anything like the episode of south park with the Smug? I believe that was set in SF

Posted by: MikeT

Quote:

Originally Posted by John


	The general public is made up of sheeple led by thundering morons.

No argument there!

baaaaaaaa

Posted by: LS1JAY

Yugo - the next automotive joke magnet.

Posted by: bigjhaire

i can hardly wait for the shanghai 666 or the taiwan 2000 lol what a joke its very sad but people will buy these cars......

Posted by: No Rice Allowed

Quote:

Originally Posted by John


	99% of Chinese cars are rip offs of every other car out there. Most of them won't make it here because of copyright, trademark and patent infringements.

They'll make them here..literally....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/b...cd04&ei=5087%0A

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