The Japanese continue to break their promise. They said they would allow American cars to participate in their cash-for-clunkers program but have rigged the rules so that few can.

They said they would allow American cars to participate in their cash-for-clunkers program but have rigged the rules so that few can.

Welcome to Japan. I do not believe they are discriminating against Americans as such, they discriminate against all things foreign, in my opinion.

Who cares? The Japanese aren't going to buy American cars anyways. Besides, most of the Toyotas and Hondas purchased with the cash-for-clunkers program were made in America.

MrUSA,

Actually, since US car makers finally started to sell cars in Japan that actually have the steering wheel on the right side, there are a lot more US cars to be found here now. However, since they are newer, they certainly would not be considered clunkers.

So what? Last time I heard, the USA was so anti-Japanese manufactured cars they forced the likes of Toyota and Honda to open car manufacturing plants on US soil so they could produce Japanese style cars that were made in America. So what gives them the right to complain about cars not made in Japan being excluded from the cash-for-clunkers Jp style? Most (or all) of the so-called Japanese cars being included in the cash-for-clunkers US style are surely made in America anyway aren't they?

Besides, are they trying to suggest that American cars are just as suited to the description CLUNKER as Japanese cars? Cool. I like all this equality thing. Just like a marriage. What's yours is mine, what's mine is mine. Very nice.

MrUSA;

"Who cares? The Japanese aren't going to buy American cars anyways" No- not when they are systematicaly prevented from entering the market ! Now just imagine if this happened in the US- You'd be singing another tune ! Japan continues to demonstrate a level of open dishonesty rarely seen in the civilized world. Time to ban all their vehicles stateside immediately.

Yawnnn..... probably the car that has a chance to do anything is the Ford Fusion, which is made in Mexico so it's not an "American" car anyway.

Ford Fusion

Wouldn't it be something if this car was actually allowed in the market... we'll never know if it would be competitive...

please do me a favor and show me where the discrimination is. There are certain requirements regarding fuel efficiency. If American makers are not willing to build fuel-efficient cars or are not willing to measure it according to Japanese standards, whose problem is that? Please stop whining.

Have done so many times in prior posts. May do so again. Really sad to read those who deny the obvious.

Have done so many times in prior posts. May do so again. Really sad to read those who deny the obvious.

Was that an answer to my question about where the discrimination is? I have looked a little bit in your older posts, but I couldn't find anything. And I haven't found anything in other places. Since years, you can find bazillions of rants how closed the Japanese car market is, but nobody ever gives any specific reasons. Same again now with the cash for clunkers program. I'm not out for denying anything, but please, put some facts on the table.

Who cares? The Japanese aren't going to buy American cars anyways. Besides, most of the Toyotas and Hondas purchased with the cash-for-clunkers program were made in America.

The money still flows back to the HQs in Japan.

please do me a favor and show me where the discrimination is. There are certain requirements regarding fuel efficiency. If American makers are not willing to build fuel-efficient cars or are not willing to measure it according to Japanese standards, whose problem is that? Please stop whining.

Whatever dude, where are the Korean cars? American cash for clunkers program was initially going to be only for American cars, but Japan complained and as America is fair, every car was included. The USA has every right to demand that their cars qualify for the Japanese program. America benefits by Japanese having such a high level of engineering in their cars, competition makes all car companies better.

Do they have "cash-for-clunkers" program in japan? No. It is "Green car" tax-deduction program which is equally applied to both domestics and imports.

I do not believe they are discriminating against Americans as such, they discriminate against all things foreign, in my opinion.

The first program ended last August where European imports were the winner.

They said they would allow American cars to participate in their cash-for-clunkers program but have rigged the rules so that few can.

They simply failed to pass the test. Need Affirmative Action Programs?

Whatever dude, where are the Korean cars?

Good question. I suppose it maybe because the general public in Japan still thinks that anything made in Korea is not yet up to Japanese standards?

American cash for clunkers program was initially going to be only for American cars, but Japan complained and as America is fair, every car was included.

That sounds so generous, when in reality they couldn't do anything else under WTO rules.

The USA has every right to demand that their cars qualify for the Japanese program.

That's right and it's for the same reason as the US had to include foreign cars. But like everybody, Japan has every right to set it's conditions, as long as they are fair and non-discriminatory.

Junnama at 06:29 PM JST - 26th February Fusion, Wouldn't it be something if this car was actually allowed in the market... we'll never know if it would be competitive...

They do. They sell Mazda 6 there in Japan. Ford Fusion and Mazda 6, the frame that both cars are built on is the same Mazda Platform, and as for which powertrain parts, Mazda and Ford share engines and many other parts.

gonemad at 06:32 AM JST - 27th February. Good question. I suppose it maybe because the general public in Japan still thinks that anything made in Korea is not yet up to Japanese standards?

Don't underestimate Hyundai. Japan had always been slow to accept foreign products and protects their domestic market. The real value of the car is based on resale value. If you look at 5 years old Toyota or Honda and compare with Hyundai. You will see that Hyundai has consistantly had lower value than Japanese makers. This is a true resale value of supply and demand value from consumers. This will change in 5-10 years.

The newer introduced Korean cars, especially high end Hyundai Genesis is a very good car, but design is very much copied from Mercedes Benz S550 and Lexis LS460 combined. Even their new 32 valve "tau" engine is very similar to Lexas and this is a good motor. Most Korean cars still lack design originality. Suspension and balace of the vehicle is still not not up to par with the Germans or Japanese. However, maybe in next five years, you will see the difference.