Where are they built?

[Luke Rickert]

Darringer, Chris wrote:

> If what you say is true, I don't think you would see the German and Japanese
> manufacturers making such large investments in American (and, in the case of
> Audi, Hungarian) manufacturing facilities.
>
> In today's global economy, product quality seems to be more of function of
> things like (1)the experience and reputation of the firm designing,
> building, and supervising the manufacturing of the product and (2) the cost
> of the engineering and materials that go into the product (i.e. you get what
> you pay for).
>
> I don't think the things you like or dislike about the cars you mentioned
> can be directly attributed to the people that put the cars together.
> Unless, of course, they heard what you said about them and decided to stick
> a bunch of marbles in the door of your new Mazda :)
>

Although this was probably less true ten years ago, high quality design can come
from any company, regardless of geographical origin. For that matter
geographical origin is largely meaningless.  There are American companies
capable of high quality intelligent designs, as well of truly stupid designs. I
would never by an American car, but then my fine '87 4kq  is hardly an example
of perfect design. We like particular cars because of their character and
positive qualities.  If we were really interested in reliable cars that would
just do their job, we would all be driving stock Honda civics.

Luke