----- Original Message ----- From: "P�l Jensen" Subject: Re: PMA and Pentax DSLR
> Actually, most japanese manufacturers have tried to taylor exclusive cars for Europe but all have failed. Examples includes the Honda Accord that was designed and manufactured in Europe (but not anymore), and different from the japanese and american counterparts. It failed miserably and the Accord and the Camry are the least sold cars in their class in Europe. The reasons are simple; they look like shit inside and out and the japanese suffers in the image department. The renowned british Car magazine says the following of the Camry: "Big, ugly and cheaply constructed". About the Nissan Maxima (probably some Infinity overe there): "every bit as pointless as the Camry. Absolutely bland styling, zero image, and depreciation to rival Enron shares. Consider new purchase only if you have a prononced aversion to money". Not even Pentax is that lowly regarded anywhere. I have no doubt that the Japanese car industry should be taken seriously for providing more than reliable boring ca! > rs. And if they can do it, major camera manufacturers can too. > The japanese have more and more letting the japanese and and european models be identical as they have figured out that cars popular in Europe is basically popular in Japan too. Consider that the Japanese auto industry would not exist at all were it not for the North American car market. It doesn't surprise me at all that American and European automotive tastes are different, culturally, we are as different from Europeans as a Vulcan is from a Ferengi. Automotive needs are vastly different in North America also. The distances between here and there in North America are a lot greater. That cute little Smart car runabout is probably nice, but I wouldn't want to drive from Regina to Santa Fe in one. One thing the Japanese do is build a very high quality car, which is important when compared to the domestic production, which for the most part is the automotive equivalent of a cheap point and shoot. William Robb
