Does anyone have an opinion of a car made in Japan being a better built car whether its paint coatings,suspension pieces or just a better quality built car than USA cars. I cannot beleive how tight a V6 Camry LE is after 105000 miles with original suspension this car is a Japanese built car. I have had it for 3 weeks.
Camrod715
From Edward Deming Wikipedia
Overview
Deming's teachings and philosophy are best illustrated by examining the results they produced after they were adopted by Japanese industry as the following example shows: Ford Motor Company was simultaneously manufacturing a car model with transmissions made in Japan and the United States. Soon after the car model was on the marketFord customers were requesting the model with Japanese transmission over the US-made transmissionand they were willing to wait for the Japanese model. As both transmissions were made to the same specificationsFord engineers could not understand the customer preference for the model with Japanese transmission. FinallyFord engineers decided to take apart the two different transmissions. The American-made car parts were all within specified tolerance levels. On the other handthe Japanese car parts were virtually identical to each otherand much closer to the nominal values for the parts - e.g.if a part was supposed to be one foot longplus or minus 1/8 of an inch - then the Japanese parts were all within 1/16 of an inch. This made the Japanese cars run more smoothly and customers experienced fewer problems. Engineers at Ford could not understand how this was done until they met Deming.[3]
Overview
Deming's teachings and philosophy are best illustrated by examining the results they produced after they were adopted by Japanese industry as the following example shows: Ford Motor Company was simultaneously manufacturing a car model with transmissions made in Japan and the United States. Soon after the car model was on the marketFord customers were requesting the model with Japanese transmission over the US-made transmissionand they were willing to wait for the Japanese model. As both transmissions were made to the same specificationsFord engineers could not understand the customer preference for the model with Japanese transmission. FinallyFord engineers decided to take apart the two different transmissions. The American-made car parts were all within specified tolerance levels. On the other handthe Japanese car parts were virtually identical to each otherand much closer to the nominal values for the parts - e.g.if a part was supposed to be one foot longplus or minus 1/8 of an inch - then the Japanese parts were all within 1/16 of an inch. This made the Japanese cars run more smoothly and customers experienced fewer problems. Engineers at Ford could not understand how this was done until they met Deming.[3]
The J-VIN Camrys are built betterwithout question. I had a '94 J-VIN Camry XLE until I was in an accident. I have a '95 American built Camry XLE now and the build quality is noticeably lacking. I was looking for a J-VIN Camry to replace my old onebut I couldn't find one. There are less rattles and squeaks in a J-VIN camrybut it's hard to quantify it in concrete terms. Off the top of my headthe cardboard piece that covers my jack and tire iron in the trunk doesn't have a connector. It doesn't click into place and it slides around loosely. There's no place for a connectorwhereas on my 94 Camrythere was. It's just small things like that. Alsoof noteJ-VIN parts won't necessarily fit an American made Camry. There are different connectors/bolt assemblies.
The devil is in the details...
For exampleI've compared front radiator supports on same model US and Japan built Camrys: J-VIN one had beefier componentsand seemed more solid.
Alsowhen you close the doorsomehow Japanese Camry has a more solid sound to it. Hard to explainbut it is noticeable.
So I removed the door stoppers from the J-vin one and put them on my US-made Camry (this was at a junkyard). Those Japan door stoppers work much better on a car in the junkyard than the ones on my US-built car with "only" 110k miles.
These details make me believe that Japanese cars are better in other small detailsand small things add up.
For exampleI've compared front radiator supports on same model US and Japan built Camrys: J-VIN one had beefier componentsand seemed more solid.
Alsowhen you close the doorsomehow Japanese Camry has a more solid sound to it. Hard to explainbut it is noticeable.
So I removed the door stoppers from the J-vin one and put them on my US-made Camry (this was at a junkyard). Those Japan door stoppers work much better on a car in the junkyard than the ones on my US-built car with "only" 110k miles.
These details make me believe that Japanese cars are better in other small detailsand small things add up.
My 94 wagon is US builtand at 360k mileseverything aside from the cruise control and dome light still work. The J-vins are probably built with closer tolerances but I wouldn't say the american assembled cars are shoddy either.
Both of them are quality carsbut I will not dispute the ability of the Japanese to exceed manufacturing standards. I have an American model being close to the Kentucky plant and its been a fine car and required only a water pump at 140k miles (had the factory timing belt still so I wasn't complaining). Anything else I've done was merely for fun and it still runs close to as new at 200,000I know since I was there when we bought it from the dealer. BUT I still know that in many Japanese factories it is the norm to exceed quality standards. I'm not sure that it would really make that much difference in overall longevity of the vehicle really thoughand If you told me that your stock Japanese model was faster than my stock American model... I would remind you that neither is actually "fast" haha.
I'm pretty sure that they all used the same poor quality parts from ChinaPhilippinesVietnam anyway.
I can't really comment on the quality of the building process in American vs Japanese plantsI suspect though that they were very similar. I think US and Japanese workers were equally dedicated to producing these great cars. They really were a leap in production quality and process. I think it's possible that the USbuilt models were in some casesnot built with the same quality of parts that J-spec ones were. Inside the the Japanese business systemback in the late 80'searly 90'sthere was massive competition to exceed contract spec's on quality and durability for supplier parts. This never really caught on to USsourcedparts suppliers. They met the high standardbut never really challenged it to a higher level.
ThatI thinkis why the J-Spec cars of the time were a little betterin alot of tiny waysthat add-up in the long term.
Yes my car is J-spec. Built on 11/09/92.
ThatI thinkis why the J-Spec cars of the time were a little betterin alot of tiny waysthat add-up in the long term.
Yes my car is J-spec. Built on 11/09/92.
Body integrity wisethe NA produced gen3 Camry's are every bit as good as Japan produced IMO. Things that are most definitely not as goodsuspension partsNA produced struts are complete crap. Stereo components not made in Japan fail frequently as wellespecially the external amplifiersworlds cheapest components used.
had to change my 94's ecu too but i figured what electronic component do i have that lasted 20+ years. i too kept my old ecu but din't bother recapping it yet. maybe someday.
butyeahi love my 94 and 01 jvins. now the 4vin '06? not so much.
tony
butyeahi love my 94 and 01 jvins. now the 4vin '06? not so much.
tony
Wowa really old thread back from 3 years ago! :laugh:
I'll give you one very distinct difference between Gen3Camry's built in Japanand the ones built in the US:
In US/NAbuilt XLEleather modelsthe middle insert behind all of the door handles is made out of vinylin J-vin carsthis insert is honest to goodness real leather. I even posted this in another thread. This is a concretemeasurableapplication of quality in buildthat can be felt with your hand and seen with your eyes.
![Image]()
I'll give you one very distinct difference between Gen3Camry's built in Japanand the ones built in the US:
In US/NAbuilt XLEleather modelsthe middle insert behind all of the door handles is made out of vinylin J-vin carsthis insert is honest to goodness real leather. I even posted this in another thread. This is a concretemeasurableapplication of quality in buildthat can be felt with your hand and seen with your eyes.
i think the Japanese made toyota have more electrical problems due them shipped in containers in sea with salt.
One of college instructor was the Head of Toyota T-ten programhe said the reason Toyota has factories was due the problems (electrical) they had when toyota shipped the cars from japan
One of college instructor was the Head of Toyota T-ten programhe said the reason Toyota has factories was due the problems (electrical) they had when toyota shipped the cars from japan
My car (015sfe) was made in US. I can honestly say that the interior pieces are of low quality. On the door arm reststhere are window control panels with up/down buttonsright? For meall four pieces have popped out and cannot be inserted back. I do not know how good/bad Japanese made cars arebut they cannot be of lower quality than mine.
Also the paint on my car has started to fade seriously. I have a friend who has an olderJapan-madeCamry and the paint is much better. So to methere is no question that Japanese made cars are betterat least for 3-4 gen Camries.
Also the paint on my car has started to fade seriously. I have a friend who has an olderJapan-madeCamry and the paint is much better. So to methere is no question that Japanese made cars are betterat least for 3-4 gen Camries.
Paint quality is the same IMO. My mom's J-Vin Camry paint is done for including my dad's one. It's not bullet proof regardless being J-Vin or 4-Vin.
I don't think there was a huge difference between the J-Vin and 4-Vin Camry for the Gen4but were noticeable on the Gen3. From Gen5+can't really tell the difference except for some driver seat trim seemed different?
Of all the camry that I've worked onthe majority of the Gen2Gen3Gen4and Gen5 here in Hawaii are all J-Vin. There's a even mix between the Gen6but I find that all Gen6 XLE Camry and LE V6 models here are all J-vin (or majority). The Gen6 SE are all Kentucky built. Gen7 I believe all Camry here are 4-vin.
I don't think there was a huge difference between the J-Vin and 4-Vin Camry for the Gen4but were noticeable on the Gen3. From Gen5+can't really tell the difference except for some driver seat trim seemed different?
Of all the camry that I've worked onthe majority of the Gen2Gen3Gen4and Gen5 here in Hawaii are all J-Vin. There's a even mix between the Gen6but I find that all Gen6 XLE Camry and LE V6 models here are all J-vin (or majority). The Gen6 SE are all Kentucky built. Gen7 I believe all Camry here are 4-vin.
not true lol J Vin 99 shifter and climate bulbs out since the second day i bought it. too lazy to take it apart and now winters here againso i get to wait till the spring to do it
Im thinking to import TO Europe from USA Toyota Pickup IV or V generations. Classic one. I see that they was in USA and Japan made. From USA are cheaper. It will be big differences between them?
I'm thinking to import Europe from US a Toyota Pickup IV or V generation. Classic one. I see that they were made in the US and Japan. From the US they are cheaper. Will there be big differences between them? Quality of bodyframe (rust resistence)engineetc.?
Until 1995 the trucks made in Japan and the US were the same designbut after 1995 the Tacoma was launched in the US which is a different vehicle aimed at the US customer (longerwidermore luxury features) where the truck sold in other markets (Hi Lux) retained its essentially "commercial" specsize and features.
If you go to the forums dedicated to those early gen Toyota trucks I bet you'll be able to find folks with far more detail information.
Norm
If you go to the forums dedicated to those early gen Toyota trucks I bet you'll be able to find folks with far more detail information.
Norm
I'd like to call myself a pro made in USA person as much as anyonebut there is and always have been a dichotomy between USA and Japan manufacturing/design philosophy--Life itselfor philosophy come to think of it. And this transcends cars. The movie Gung Ho kinda sorta in Hollywoodized waythat only Hollywood can showkinda showed the difference. Individualism vs Collectivism. And how that is applied to manufacturing in a post-war world with a culture steeped in strong discipline. Why was a Katana Blade considered one of the greatest swords ever made? If one looks into what was required to forge such a masterpieceand the TIME and SKILL put into it. Then apply those same principles (not to mention things like Prideand Honorphilosophyetc.) into a manufacturing system that drills down every operation to a matter of virtual perfection. Quality and workmanship.And everyone is on the same pageand for lack of a better word"lives" for the company. When you have thatthe stuff you make will end up being higher qualityand consistent.
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