[Mr 5 0]

All cars - foreign and domestic have improved drastically from the era of the 1970's Pintos - and Datsuns. Technology has helped tremendously in making automobiles safer and far more reliable and longer-lasting than those of even 20 years ago. From efficient, almost pollution-free engines to the lack of body rot after a few years to the quality, fit and finish as well as the vastly improved ergonomics, a 2004 automobile is an excellent machine in all respects, whether it's a Mustang 4.6 or a Honda Civic.

Having stipulated that; the unavoidable fact remains that a lot of those improvements came into being due to governmental mandates for safety and fuel economy (which gave us air bags, crumple-zones and fuel injection, among other welcome improvements) and in the area of ergonomics and the efficient use of space, as well as build quality, the imports, especially Japanese imports, generally led the way as domestic manufacturers followed. In other words: all cars slowly improved in all areas - but the Japanese cars did so sooner. American automobile manufacturers have often had to cut corners to compete with the foreign car manufacturers on price and that can make for a less-reliable car or one that 'ages' rapidly. Union wages that exceed worker productivity is partly to blame, as well as a bloated corporate bureaucracy and a lack of vision. You name ithe mistake and domestic manufactures have probably made it.

Foreign manufacturers are not all geniuses or invincible and course their cars are never flawless, but they are usually a good value and do hold up well. Not every American manufacturer can say that about their cars. The real comparison isn't between a Ford Focus and a Pinto (out of production since 1980) but a Ford Focus and a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Frankly, the SVT Focus (a neat little car) is a 'niche' vehicle and is not the model that pays Ford's bills and returns dividends...the standard, bread-and-butter Focus does that. Is it superior to the Honda Civic? Buyers decide. In January 2003, the Honda Civic sold 20,734 units in the U.S. The Ford Focus: 16,937. That particular market is doing well and Ford is holding it's own.

On the down side, according to Car and Driver, GM's market share in America has slid from 50% in the early 1960's to 28%, today. Ford and Chrysler have each lost 20% of their shares in just the past five years. And, the 'Big Three' have to give big incentives and zero percent financing to sell what they do. Not encouraging. There are a multitude of reasons for this erosion and it isn't all based on quality or even price but when the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (as well as the Honda Acura) are consistently given the very highest possible ratings from every car magazine (for value and quality) and Ford competes with the boring Taurus and Chevy with the warmed-over Malibu and Impala, the growth and acceptance of foreign automobile manufactures marques is fairly easy to understand. Cars are expensive, from around 20 to 30 thousand for a decent vehicle of any type, even more for a loaded SUV or a Mustang Cobra. Buyers demand some style, lots of comfort, respectable performance and gas mileage and of course, durability. Lets not forget 'a good resale value', too.

As I stated in a previous post: foreign cars generally deliver but not all domestic cars do (think of the Chevy Cavalier or even the Taurus). That has a lot to do with the slow but steady growth of foreign car manufacturers share of the U.S. market and it isn't all based on mere perceptions but on reality and buyer's mostly happy experience with Japanese cars. Not all, of course, but a majority - and that's enough.