Japanese versus European Cars

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer discusses that when considering whether to purchase a Japanese or European car, a number of factors must be taken into account. The writer notes that such factors includes the reliability of the car, its safety, performance and the price. The writer examines these issues with regard to the European and Japanese car markets, selecting an ultimate winner and loser for each category. Ultimately, the writer concludes that though both industries vary internally and possess strengths and weaknesses, the Japanese auto market wins out, owning to the strong reliability of Japanese cars.

Outline:
Introduction
Reliability and Safety
Performance
Cost
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The inability of European cars to meet reliability standards has hurt the European automakers, as this shortcoming is frequently brought to the attention of the public. The public deserve to know the car they are buying is unreliable, if this is the case, as it is one of the major deciding factors in car purchasing. A further problem is the European car manufacturers are not matching Japanese carmakers in terms of producing cars with a limited susceptibility towards obsolescence. The Consumer Reports survey found that Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW and Jaguar models all appear amongst the least reliable car models. Interestingly, however, consumers often ignore this fact and buy a car they believe is reliable when all evidence speaks to the contrary. Many motorists believe that cars such as Mercedes and BMWs are likely to be very mechanically competent. The reasons behind this trend are difficult to discern - it may be that the prestige and traditional nature of these vehicles convey the image of reliability to modern consumers. However the case is that such vehicles frequently fall well below mechanical par."

Sample of Sources Used:

• 2007 Honda Odyssey: User Reviews. (2007). Yahoo! Auto. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://autos.yahoo.com/honda_odyssey-reviews_user/?sort=mr&modelid=5049&start=11&show=atl.
• 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser: User Reviews. (2007). Yahoo! Auto. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_fj_cruiser-reviews_user/.
• Consumer Reports: European Cars Excel in Performance, Fall Short on Reliability. The Auto Channel. 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2007 from http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/02/28/038606.html.
• How Safe is Your Car? (2007). How Safe Is Your Car.com. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au.
• Japanese Sports and Performance Cars (2007). Shiotsu. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http://www.shiotsu-used-car.com/blog/japanese-sports-and-performance-cars.htm.

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