My Dad: first foreign car in 44 years.

[Popinski]

Originally Posted By: cchase
It's really quite simple. First, the Japanese copied the American car styling (and some German car styling... remember the RX-7/944 debacle), then the Koreans started copying the Germans and the Japanese.

Rising auto corporations have copied the designs of established marques for a long time, and it's likely to continue. Look at the spam coming out of China for cars now, probably 1/3 to 1/2 of them are complete copies of vehicles from other makes.

The Hyundai Sonata and Genesis are very clearly Mercedes rip-offs. Lexus 15 years ago was a blatant German rip-off.

Popinski, you seem to take these comments very personally. The Japanese ripped off other brands, now the Koreans are ripping off other brands. Call it what you want, it is what it is.


you're missing the point. I'm only mad that people are using harsh words towards Korean technology and people use softer words when talking about the Japanese on the same subject. I am a 1/4 Korean and my Korean relatives are extremely intelligent as are most Koreans. South Korea is an extremely small country sandwiches between two giants (Japan, and Korea).. It's not fair that the kid in the middle gets picked on..

 

[SteveSRT8]

Hyundai clearly copies and knock offs other makes styling. I don't care who or where Hyundai is from only that they are foreigners taking US market with cars that don't really offer anything. The fact they are being undeservingly hyped up and bought up by mostly cheap, non-enthusiast consumers is what I don't like about them. [/quote]

Perfectly said.

Absolutely undeserving, all style with very little substance.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
Originally Posted By: cchase
It's really quite simple. First, the Japanese copied the American car styling (and some German car styling... remember the RX-7/944 debacle), then the Koreans started copying the Germans and the Japanese.

Rising auto corporations have copied the designs of established marques for a long time, and it's likely to continue. Look at the spam coming out of China for cars now, probably 1/3 to 1/2 of them are complete copies of vehicles from other makes.

The Hyundai Sonata and Genesis are very clearly Mercedes rip-offs. Lexus 15 years ago was a blatant German rip-off.

Popinski, you seem to take these comments very personally. The Japanese ripped off other brands, now the Koreans are ripping off other brands. Call it what you want, it is what it is.


you're missing the point. I'm only mad that people are using harsh words towards Korean technology and people use softer words when talking about the Japanese on the same subject. I am a 1/4 Korean and my Korean relatives are extremely intelligent as are most Koreans. South Korea is an extremely small country sandwiches between two giants (Japan, and Korea).. It's not fair that the kid in the middle gets picked on..



I agree, some people really have short memories when it comes to Japanese cars, some go as far as calling their designs "original"

, but the main thing to take from all of this is that Japanese companies ripped off other popular makers as blantly as Koreans do now, Koreans are just doing the same since it worked for Japanese so well, why mess with success?

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Obviously never owned a Datsun!

Even the bolts and nuts were zinc plated! Nothing ever rusted in the old 510's. They were nearly bulletproof.

But the Japs and the Koreans have NEVER been much for originality.

Imitation: the truest form of flattery! Should fit in real good for the superficial types who only care what a car looks like.


What are you TALKING about???

Datsun 510's were some of the WORST for rusting! There were safety recalls by Datsun in the 1970's for these cars 9and others) b/c of the rust!

Ever wonder why you don't see many of them today?

Memory lane trip:

Our neighbour two over when I was real young was getting rid of a yellow 510 that has more rust than paint in the early 1980's. He had replaced it with a 1978 Rabbit.

Being a car-crazed kid, I somehow got invited to go with him for one last drive to the junkyard to drop it off, while his wife followed. I still remember the rattling, squeaking, and having to hold my feet up b/c there was NO floor underneath them!

Ah, the good old days!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Obviously never owned a Datsun!


No, but my dad owned a 280Z. It literally fell apart due to oxidation on the road (but I will give that the drivetrain was still running OK at the time).

I am also quite old enough to remember seeing the 510s doing the same. (Maybe it was owners who drove them on the beach??

)

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
No similarity here at all.

Isn't it funny how no one says anything when VW used Mercedes Design for their VW CC?? It's just ignorance..that's all.

It's the normal response when people see a "small" company go up on the ranking scales and people are in denial...kind of like you and Mechanix2. So they look at the pictures and that's all they can comment on.


I don't care who "copied" who, rudolphna stated that Hyundai copied MB, a Hyundai apologist tried to deny it so I posted some pics that show the extreme similarity.

I never once claimed that Japanese cars have any originality. They don't. Lexus made it's start by ripping off MB too, Hyundai is just following suit.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
I'm only mad that people are using harsh words towards Korean technology and people use softer words when talking about the Japanese on the same subject.


Does Hyundai pay your bills?

 

[Dave Hess]

Quote:
It's really odd. People must hate Hyundai because of their success.


No doubt, Hyundai are probably the best deal for the money you can get in todays market on a budget.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
The Koreans are doing to Japan, what Japan did to the USA.

Samsung is the new Sony as Hyundai is the new Toyota. Electronics, appliances, cars.....they want to put Japan out of business....lol.


In the semiconductor industry, Samsung is the only one able to spend money to build a new fab by itself after Intel. They are so big (1/6 of Korea's GDP) that they have driven the Japanese out of the DRAM industry, and almost drove them out of the TV panel industry as well. I'd not be surprise if the order from the government is to "stop at nothing and drive the Japan out of businesses" even if it means losing money.


Copy or influenced, as long as the Korean didn't copy the German reliability (or lack of failsafe in engineering) I'd be happy.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
You are EXACTLY acting like the Japanese politicians who have hatred toward Koreans. They would pick some extremely petty things and make it look 10 times worse....and they're good at doing that.


I can see/understand Popinski's point and sensitivity on this (especially since he has some Korean heritage) as Japan has always had a superiority complex when it came to Korea (as well as ALL of the other eastern Asian contries).

Japan has at times actually carried this view of other Asian countries/peoples being soooo inferior as to not even qualify as being human, or deserving to be alive.

Everyone seems to give Japan a pass because they like their cars/productivity/work ethic, etc., or they feel sorry for them because of the incineration of two of their cities, or else they think they can ONLY be kind and gentle because they appear to be so honorable and polite.

But just read about what their military did to unarmed civilians, unprovoked, in Nanking, China (and MANY other places) and you might just begin to understand the cruel, sadistic, superiority complex, mentality.
ALL of this with their emporer's/government's FULL approval, mind you.

At times, they made the Nazis seem almost humane (and it takes A LOT for me to make that last statement, if you knew my heritage!!).

 

[mechanicx]

I actually dislike that popinsky brought up his Korean heritage as a basis, especially after using the race card and trying to paint me jealous of crummy Hyundai.

We should all be Americans looking out for American economic interests. I don't use my German or UK heritage as a basis to root for German cars or UK cars. I try to support American owned industry and economy. I don't see Hyundai offering anything, just taking from the US market. Some people act like the US market should belong to Europe, Korea Japan or this or that country while they keep their own market too.

The idea of Japan and Korea competing with each other to take the US market just seems ridiculous and repulsive.

So I'm not really a fan of foreign cars. Anyway I said that Japanese cars did somewhat have a distinction and their own designs and styles compared to Hyundai. There's a long list of Japanese cars that sure look to me to have their own styling and designs. I mean Japan copied some, but the Z car and RX7 for example were somewhat unique. Who else had a viable rotary engined car?

 

[Dave Hess]

10 years from now, GM and Dodge will not exist, only Ford.

Nothing replusive about Japan and Korea taking over the US market.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver


Japan has at times actually carried this view of other Asian countries/peoples being soooo inferior as to not even qualify as being human, or deserving to be alive.

Everyone seems to give Japan a pass because they like their cars/productivity/work ethic, etc., or they feel sorry for them because of the incineration of two of their cities, or else they think they can ONLY be kind and gentle because they appear to be so honorable and polite.


Absolutely, the racism that is entrenched in the Japanese culture would shock most Americans who know nothing of the attitudes many Japanese hold for Koreans or really any non Native.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
10 years from now, GM and Dodge will not exist, only Ford.

Nothing replusive about Japan and Korea taking over the US market.


Well I disagree, but 10 years from now most Americans' jobs won't exist

.

 

[Panzerman]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I actually dislike that popinsky brought up his Korean heritage as a basis, especially after using the race card and trying to paint me jealous of crummy Hyundai.

We should all be Americans looking out for American economic interests. I don't use my German or UK heritage as a basis to root for German cars or UK cars. I try to support American owned industry and economy. I don't see Hyundai offering anything, just taking from the US market. Some people act like the US market should belong to Europe, Korea Japan or this or that country while they keep their own market too.

The idea of Japan and Korea competing with each other to take the US market just seems ridiculous and repulsive.

So I'm not really a fan of foreign cars. Anyway I said that Japanese cars did somewhat have a distinction and their own designs and styles compared to Hyundai. There's a long list of Japanese cars that sure look to me to have their own styling and designs. I mean Japan copied some, but the Z car and RX7 for example were somewhat unique. Who else had a viable rotary engined car?
I agree. I only buy American, even if its in name only.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I'd not be surprise if the order from the government is to "stop at nothing and drive the Japan out of businesses" even if it means losing money.


The technical term for that is "dumping".

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I agree. I only buy American, even if its in name only.


That is an Oxymoron in itself...

 

[Popinski]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I actually dislike that popinsky brought up his Korean heritage as a basis, especially after using the race card and trying to paint me jealous of crummy Hyundai.

We should all be Americans looking out for American economic interests. I don't use my German or UK heritage as a basis to root for German cars or UK cars. I try to support American owned industry and economy. I don't see Hyundai offering anything, just taking from the US market. Some people act like the US market should belong to Europe, Korea Japan or this or that country while they keep their own market too.

The idea of Japan and Korea competing with each other to take the US market just seems ridiculous and repulsive.

So I'm not really a fan of foreign cars. Anyway I said that Japanese cars did somewhat have a distinction and their own designs and styles compared to Hyundai. There's a long list of Japanese cars that sure look to me to have their own styling and designs. I mean Japan copied some, but the Z car and RX7 for example were somewhat unique. Who else had a viable rotary engined car?


Ok, then I apologize. I'm sorry. I, too, am a big fan of American cars. My next car will most likely be American.

By the way, you do know that Hyundai has many US manufacturing and engineering sites in the US, Right?

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
By the way, you do know that Hyundai has many US manufacturing and engineering sites in the US, Right?


Hyundai has 1 assembly plant in the US (2 if counting Kia), and does minimal engineering and R&D in the US.

 

[Popinski]

Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
Originally Posted By: Popinski
By the way, you do know that Hyundai has many US manufacturing and engineering sites in the US, Right?


Hyundai has 1 assembly plant in the US (2 if counting Kia), and does minimal engineering and R&D in the US.


Right now, you're acting like MechanicX with false facts.

-There's a parts plant right next to the Alabama plant,

-There's a design studio in California

-Engineering studio in Michigan.

-There's a Hyundai/Kia plant in Georgia

-Test track in Utah(?).

Do you want me to continue?

Edit: This is straight from their website:

Hyundai may be a Korean company, but over half the cars we sell in the U.S. are made in the U.S. We have a technologically sophisticated manufacturing facility in Montgomery, Alabama, engineering facilities in Michigan, plus design, research, and testing grounds in California. All of which provides around 5,000 jobs for American automotive workers.

Add to this more than 20,000 employees at Hyundai dealerships and 6,000 workers employed by our various vendors, and you’ve got quite the microeconomy.

You need to do some research..