> JJ wrote: > the engine, window switches, frame, light bulbs, wiper motor, etc should not > change from model to model. that they should "skin" the stupid things. have > just a couple of frame variations for major size classes, and the rest is > just variations on a theme. >
I think the problem there is reliability and mean-time-to-failure. Take Audi for example. They used to have some of the worst quality in the book due to over engineering. Now they're sort of following your suggestion and using more common parts both between models and between their other brands. But they've also learned from grocery stores: don't compete on easy to compare items like milk. For cars that means if you see it or touch it, make it nice and make it nice across the line. Justify the higher cost on, say, a Jetta with the economies of scale and admin costs. GM when the other way: make the parts common and crappy even in high end cars. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:289026 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
