Originally posted by dyoungre:
I would have to suggest that the knowledge and precision of today's engineering allows us not to OVERbuild for the general consumer.
Ah, yes! And while that sounds like a bad thing, it has it's virtues. The domestic manufacturers are building to a target now as you say, and not overbuilding....the old "bigger and heavier is better" mentality, and the result is more appropriate items. No extra weight flopping around causing poor ride quality, bad handling, excessive wear of other components (which are, in turn similarly overbuilt), and poor fuel economy.
I always chucled when I looked a t a Honda ash tray versus an American version a few years ago. The Honda was invariably lighter, bit operated more smoothly and felt better. The Honda was always just a few parts, but did more than the American version with more parts . The Honda was plastic, the American metal (and always had surface rust). And the Honda always was easy ro reinsert after cleaning where the same operation resulted in swearing with the American version.
In short, the Honda was engineered more elegantly, and I respected that.
Finally, the American firms are coming around to elegant "less is more" engineering, but it has taken some time.
(no slight to you Dave, or Ford, I'm mostly talking about the past, and I think it didn't reflect on any individual, but more of an institutional and management style.)
