In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,354
RE: In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
Did'nt. Wanted to make sure my car was witing for me when I returned 
.
The note was kind of cryptic because I was using a Japanese language computer that kept translating the english into Japanese.
I finally saw one, lonely A3 there. Otherwise the imported car of choice seems to BMW 5 series, with a lot of smaller Mercedes, some Porsches, Jags, and one BIG Bentley.
.The note was kind of cryptic because I was using a Japanese language computer that kept translating the english into Japanese.
I finally saw one, lonely A3 there. Otherwise the imported car of choice seems to BMW 5 series, with a lot of smaller Mercedes, some Porsches, Jags, and one BIG Bentley.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,354
RE: In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
I was over there on Business, so I only went to Tokyo this time.
Really, it is very different from any other city I've been to anywhere in the world. It is eerily quiet. No one honks their horn, ever. The place is crowded but sounds empty.
Most of the city was flattened in WW2 (last week was the 60th anniversary of the firebombing of Tokyo), so most of the buildings are of recent vintage, including a bunch of junky post war construction. Against this is a lot of great ultra-modern office towers built in the 90s and 2000, the Imperial palace and palace grounds, and shrines.
On the road, there are a buch of models I've never seen. Curiosly, all the cars have english names on the trunks. All the cars are washed, none have dents, and none appear to be over 3 years old. I guess there is social pressure to keep your car presentable.
Really, it is very different from any other city I've been to anywhere in the world. It is eerily quiet. No one honks their horn, ever. The place is crowded but sounds empty.
Most of the city was flattened in WW2 (last week was the 60th anniversary of the firebombing of Tokyo), so most of the buildings are of recent vintage, including a bunch of junky post war construction. Against this is a lot of great ultra-modern office towers built in the 90s and 2000, the Imperial palace and palace grounds, and shrines.
On the road, there are a buch of models I've never seen. Curiosly, all the cars have english names on the trunks. All the cars are washed, none have dents, and none appear to be over 3 years old. I guess there is social pressure to keep your car presentable.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 165
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RE: In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
China is notorious for partnering with an American manufacturer in a joint venture, stealing their intellectual property, and then marketing them under similar names of both models and companies. In most cases it is the actual Chinese government that has the rights. They can't sell em over here but sure has hell make their money overseas. It is a huge issue in international business right now. GM and Ford especially are getting screwed. Can you believe trying to corner a market by partnering with someone, have the deal expire in a few years, and then have them use everything you had without any repercussion? That's basically what is happening. It's why you see a lot of models you don't recognize, and a lot of english names that sound pretty damn similar to those of American manufacturers. And Japan definitely would see a lot of those exports!
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,354
RE: In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
These are all Japanese cars.
Believe it or not, they still sell a car that looks like an updated Datsun 510 for cabs. Some old body styles, and a bunch of different ones that aren't imported into the US. Each of the major manufacturers has a much bigger line than is imported into north America.
They have bizarre English names for their cars which are sometimes incomtpatible with their image in the US.
The most famous I can think of was the Datsun Z cars, which used to be called "Fairlady" in Japan. That name would have put a big crimp in the marketing plans.
Believe it or not, they still sell a car that looks like an updated Datsun 510 for cabs. Some old body styles, and a bunch of different ones that aren't imported into the US. Each of the major manufacturers has a much bigger line than is imported into north America.
They have bizarre English names for their cars which are sometimes incomtpatible with their image in the US.
The most famous I can think of was the Datsun Z cars, which used to be called "Fairlady" in Japan. That name would have put a big crimp in the marketing plans.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 165
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RE: In Tokyo I cant see any Audis
Sorry for the rant David...I can't wait to go to Japan...been planning on going in the next five years and definitely want to hit Shanghai while I am out in Asia as well...just irks me when intellectual property starts getting ripped off...Instead of a company we all know as Chevy...they have Chery...CMON!
