This is what a crash test failure looks like

[derf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5SRyG6UR2A

[BobTheBiker]

that isnt even the worst one either. theres one out there that the whole cabin collapses on impact.

[Dave]

looks like a faulty drivers side door latch is to blame there, you can really see it from the top but once that crash bar was out of the way, squish! and yes i welcome any and all competition to the auto market

[Avatard]

OK, so you think the Chinese aren't looking at this footage too, and looking over Honda's shoulder to see what they do different, and working to make their shit more like that?

The Japanese took over 30 years to get there (rebuilding from war)
The Koreans did it in 10 (the Hyundais/Kias are now good cars)
The Chinese stuff will be the cheapest of the cheap at first, but give them 5-6 years.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Avatard

OK, so you think the Chinese aren't looking at this footage too, and looking over Honda's shoulder to see what they do different, and working to make their shit more like that?

The Japanese took over 30 years to get there (rebuilding from war)
The Koreans did it in 10 (the Hyundais/Kias are now good cars)
The Chinese stuff will be the cheapest of the cheap at first, but give them 5-6 years.

It took the Koreans a lot longer than 10 years. Hyundai started building cars in 1967. They first came to America in 1984 but didn't sell a car that was really worth a shit until the early 2000s. Kia was a bit quicker in adjusting to the American market but also had the benefit of first partnering with Ford and later being majority owned by Hyundai.

I think the Chinese will get there but the 5-6 year timeline is, to put it mildly, optimistic.

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by goof2

It took the Koreans a lot longer than 10 years.

I meant the number of years with access to our markets, before they started really started "getting it right", not exactly when any individual companies were founded. I was in the powersports industry, and I saw how fast the Chinese moved. Don't underestimate them.

[pdog]

Product safety - an excellent example of worthwhile gov't regulation.

[BobTheBiker]

so you mean they'll go from deadly to just crap in 5 years then. their quality shit is pretty notorious across the board to be shit to downright dangerous. its going to take them no less than 10 years, probably more lke 20 to get it right and actually create good products.

[Avatard]

They'll go from crap to mainstream in ~5, they'll be as good as anything else soon thereafter.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Avatard

They'll go from crap to mainstream in ~5, they'll be as good as anything else soon thereafter.

I'd like to see them build a car that can pass American crash tests, then market and sell that car in America, before I would start thinking about when they will be mainstream or building cars as good as anything else.