27 Votes

Detroit Needs Your Help, Are These The Top 10 Cars They Should Copy?

Agent009 submitted on 3/27/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:17:29 PM

37 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.usnews.com

I'm not a member of President Obama's automotive task force, which is overseeing the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler.

But in a way, we're all on the task force, since these two automakers are staying afloat thanks to taxpayer funding that could reach $40 billion or more this year.

So I'm going to give Detroit some advice. Not about labor contracts or debt refinancing or global alliances, but just about cars. It's true that the quality of American-made cars has improved in recent years. But that's not enough. If the folks running the Detroit Three—including Ford, which hasn't asked for a bailout but still might—drove the latest offerings from the competition, they'd realize there are lots of innovations they're missing out on. Here are some of the top cars from which the Detroit automakers can learn:

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

2010 BMW Z4 Gallery

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Detroit Needs Your Help, Are These The Top 10 Cars They Should Copy?

About the Author

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

Because Volkswagens are cool and Toyotas are not.
— JustaCar (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:13:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

why are you always the first to respond to every post? get a life...
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:19:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Everything on this list is flop. Does the author hate America? Why else would he suggest copying these?
— America (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 6:54:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

"I like to drive this car and when I am bored I pull over somewhere and surf the internet. I bet you are really jealous now"

Why should anyone be jealous when you admit that you get bored driving your dad's Lexus?

— JustaCar (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 7:15:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Don't get sucked-in by david969.
— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 9:33:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

david969- my poor friend you need to really read those credible sources like JD Power that you quote.

The latest VDS scores indicate VW has 2.6 problems per car over 3 years, so round that up to 3 problems (You can't really have a .6 problem).

A "reliable" Toyota on the other hand has 1.2 problems. Using the same logic you end up with 2 problems for the Toyota over the same time frame.

To me and most of the public 1 potential problem isn't enough of a factor to call a VW unreliable.
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 3:55:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

two things you failed to mention in your arugment.
1st. not all problems are equal. a rattle or a transmission failure all account for one problem in the VDS study.
2nd. the cost of fixing them.
— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:02:15 PM | | Votes: -1

I agree with Agent009. This reliability mystique Toyota has been capitalizing on is starting to wear thin. Unfortunately JD Power and the likes have created a business out of these studies and have brainwashed the unsuspecting public into taking them as gospel.
— JustaCar (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:18:40 PM | | Votes: 3

for starters, we all agree that GM, Ford and Chrysler make competitive cars today. now folks on autospies likely won't personally buy them but we are a small community. no need to copy anyone else's cars!

the issue is their cost structure - fixed plant costs and healthcare. That's what they should focus on! figure out how to build what they build at a profit and cut healthcare costs and they could be profitable. They don't need to be number one, just profitable would do today!
— vman1013 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:09:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

NEVER copy. You will always be seen as the come from behind. The domestics need to focus on what works, and they are on track. They need to be consistent and responsive. Thats it. Simple.
— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:45:55 PM | | Votes: 2

Four Characteristics to Copy: Quality. Reliability. Design. Value.

10 Cars to Copy: Toyota Prius. Honda Accord. Toyota Camry. Lexus RX. BMW 3-series. Honda Fit. Mazdaspeed 3. Mercedes S-series. Nissan 370Z. BMW Z-4.
— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:25:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Qaulity?! Buick beat BMW and MB in quality

The prius? Why copy the prius when the volt is 10x better.

Copy the Camry and Accord? the Camry has had engine troubles from day one and the Chevy Malibu has better fuel MPG and more get up yhen both cars as it was last years car of the year over both cars.

Copy the 3 series? are you smoking somthing? cuz the CTS-v beats it in every aspect.
— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 11:01:39 PM | | Votes: 0

How many Miatas does Mazda sell? Why would you copy anything from VW? The Mazda 5 is the most practical vehicle on the road. My 5 gets 25-30MPG and will out handle alot of so called sports cars it also out sells the Miata. VWs also cost more to mantain with synthetic fluids that no one else uses. The Infiniti EX is not that small and I've never seen one on the street. Both Ford and GM build cars like the Fit but never thought they would sell here.
— crslmn (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:25:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

crslmn, are you telling me that you've never come across any of VW's magazine comparo wins or the International Engine of the Year awards where their engines regularly win their category or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of "Top Safety Picks" where VW currently has five different winners? Oh, and VW also won the "DAKAR" rally this year.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 10:41:06 PM | | Votes: 0

TurboSpyder, to have a reputation of making safe cars you need to have a history of making safe cars, you can't change VW's reputation in two or three years, today many other cars have the highest crash test ratings also. To change reputation always take (for every automaker, in every aspect) time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1-Qz42JMM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fsptl3_Oes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSBLlh7m-eI&feature=related
— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 4:43:11 AM | | Votes: 1

VWs have had very good safety for the last ten years.

-

"All MK4-based cars (1999 to 2005) got side airbags as standard equipment, and crash safety tends to be good. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Golf five stars for driver and front passenger protection in frontal impacts from 2000 through to 2006 models, and four stars for front and rear seat occupant protection in side impacts. Those ratings apply to the Jetta, too."

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2006/11/09/used-vehicle-review-vw-golf-jetta-new-beetle-1999-2005.htm
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 2:29:47 PM | | Votes: 0

And even in the videos you gave links for, they said that the MKIIIs did well in the government's front impact tests.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 2:31:33 PM | | Votes: 0

Everbody I know who has bought a VW has had to back to the dealer several times in the first year of ownership. Even Car and Driver who did a long term test of a GTI said they loved the car but were disturbed by some of the issues they had over 40k miles. If your going to copy vehicles I would think from a business stand point you would want to copy vehicles that sell. VW is the USA does not sell that many vehicles.
— crslmn (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2009 10:06:02 AM | | Votes: 1

Also shouldn't they copy cars that sell like the Camry and Accord?
— crslmn (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:27:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Dear GM/Detroit:

Produce a crash worthy five passenger sedan with a trunk. Zero emission vehicle (ZEV) 100% electric or otherwise. Price: anything between 20K to 40K with tax incentives. Range after full charge: No less 100 miles regardless of average speed driven. Charge time: No more than 100 minutes. Max speed: no less 100 kilometers/hour. Release to market in 100 days. Such car will be purchase by consumers in great numbers even if uglier than the Prius. Stop f**king with us, or Tesla will beat you to it.
Yours truly;
American car buyer.
— topneuro (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:35:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

Oops, sorry to late.
Toyota already produced such car it was called the 1997-2003 RAV4 EV.
— topneuro (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 4:54:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Really? This gets my vote for dumbest post of the week. Should of stuck with humoring us with your thoughts on labor contracts, debt refinancing and global alliances. Last thing Detroit needs is to copy another lemming.
— 100tnega (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:13:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

GM has been trying to copy the foreign competition for a while now. How about they do their own thing? Without handouts.
— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:28:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Could have been a really interesting article if they had picked the right cars to study.
— 222max (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 5:43:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

How about the Corvette? Oh wait, that IS an American car! :)
— t_bone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 8:52:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Hmm... total CROC!

1) Honda Fit - small car only really useful for small cities, less fuel efficient than the Civic. Detroit's Response: Chevy Beat, Ford Fiesta (soon hopefully)

2) VW tiquan - Detroit: 2010 Equinox, Ford Escape, Dodge Journey

3) Infiniti EX - Rough camparison, but 2010 Caddy SRX & Lincoln MKX

4) Honda Insight - Detroit: We're lacking here, sadly.

5) Audi A4 - Great car, but did the author ever hear of the CTS?

6) Mazda MX-5 - Easily the least masculine car on the market, the Saturn Sky SMOKES the MX-5

7) VW GTI - Detroit's got nothing, yet. Hopefully Ford will bring some hopped up euro spec Focuses

8) Hyundai Genesis - Sadly, Detroit's got nothing. Hey GM... get a new STS... PLEASE!!!! Do to the STS what you did to the CTS and it's a done deal.

9) Mazda 5 - Detroit got nothing, except for maybe the HHR, which hopefully for all of us gets a serious redo with the introduction of the Cruze.

10) Subaru Forester - I'll take a wrangler/Liberty/Cherokee anyday over the Subaru...
— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 9:34:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

In any event, the main point is that the author just grabbed a few mostly niche cars that don't really matter in an industry where plain-jane, high quality and high volume is the name of the game.

Most important cars for GM right now, Malibu, Acadia (and its siblings), equinox, silverado, and Cruze. These are the type of cars that really matter.
— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 9:37:19 PM | | Votes: 2

Especially given the failed state of the world's economy.
— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 9:37:48 PM | | Votes: 1

The Camero for your #8 comparo whith the Geneseis.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 11:06:27 PM | | Votes: 0

Ford sells the Focus ST (2.5 Turbo) in Europe, and if Ford sold that car here, I would have bought one. I wanted a practical, fast, small, affordable 'hot hatch'.

Pity that concept is lost (or was) on the US makers here, so I bought a GTI for half the price in Europe.

To the OP, I'd rather take my chances with a new 'unreliable' VW complete with a warranty, and have a car that outdrives everything else for the price. If your passionate about cars, you'll probably understand. :)

Unless you drive one and figure it out for yourself, we can post consumer reports all day long.

I like Mazda's and Suby's but until they start putting quality interiors in their cars, I'll never buy one.

The new Ford Taurus SHO looks like a nice piece of kit, and I can't wait for Ford to bring more Euro-qse models here. Cars that are well made, handle better than anything else, good engines and have great fuel economy! :)
— elduderion (View Profile)

Posted on 3/27/2009 9:39:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Those who copy are behind by definition, since copies come out after originals!!!

GM needs to innovate, and take more risks!!!
— romanmar (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2009 11:29:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

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Detroit Needs Your Help, Are These The Top 10 Cars They Should Copy?

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