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Old 07-28-2011, 04:55 AM   #1
AVANTI R5
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Default Why Are The Japanese Brands Failing To Bring More Appealing Cars To Market?

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As the auto industry battles through another difficult year, vehicle manufacturers are fighting to win customers by offering the most appealing vehicles in history, according to the J.

D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM released today.

Vehicle Appeal at a Historic High
The study finds that overall vehicle appeal has reached an all-time high since the study’s inception in 1996, with the industry average increasing to 781 on a 1,000-point scale (up from 778 in 2010). Furthermore, recently launched all-new and redesigned models are substantially more appealing than their carryover counterparts, widening the gap in score for a second consecutive year. In 2011, the gap is 29 points, compared with 18 points in 2010 and 10 points in 2009. This improvement is partially driven by higher ratings for vehicle styling and fuel economy provided by owners of recently launched vehicles.


“The auto industry has taken a battering during the past few years,” said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, it is clear that throughout this period, automakers have never lost sight of the fact that survival—and ultimately success—only comes from winning over customers in the showroom. Offering highly appealing vehicles is one of the primary means to succeed.”

Vehicle Appeal and Initial Quality
While the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), which was released in June, found that all-new and redesigned models have more problems, on average, than do carryover models, the 2011 APEAL Study finds that these same models are more likely to offer the styling, performance and features that customers are looking for.
“There are two sides of the quality coin: things gone right and things gone wrong,” said Sargent. “Both are of critical importance, and models that perform well on both measures generate higher levels of recommendation and, ultimately, higher loyalty to the brand. In general, customers are also willing to pay more for vehicles that combine high appeal with high initial quality.”

Model-Level and Nameplate Rankings
BMW and Dodge each capture three segment-level awards. BMW models receiving awards are the X3, Z4 Roadster and 5 Series, while Dodge receives awards for the Challenger, Charger and Durango. The Charger, Durango, X3 and 5 Series are all redesigned for the 2011 model year. Ford and Honda capture two model-level awards each, with Ford receiving awards for the all-new Fiesta and F-150 LD and Honda receiving awards for the Ridgeline and redesigned Odyssey.

Also receiving awards are the Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Equus, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus IS, MINI Countryman, Nissan Armada, Porsche Cayenne, Scion xB, Suzuki Kizashi and Volkswagen GTI. Of these, the Countryman, Equus and Volt are all-new models, while the Cayenne is redesigned. The Equus achieves the highest APEAL score of any model in the industry in 2011. This is the first year that a model other than the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz S-Class has led the overall model ranking.

Three models rank highest in their respective segments in both the 2011 APEAL Study and the 2011 IQS: the Dodge Challenger, Ford F-150 LD and Honda Ridgeline.

Porsche is the highest-ranking nameplate in the 2011 APEAL Study for a seventh consecutive year. Hyundai improves from 2010 more than any other nameplate this year, while Jeep and Chrysler also improve considerably.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. The 2011 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2011 from more than 73,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2011 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. The APEAL Study complements the Initial Quality Study (IQS), which focuses on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership.




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Old 07-28-2011, 08:11 AM   #2
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Another useless metric devised by JDP to justify their existence.

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Old 07-28-2011, 08:28 AM   #3
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APEAL

I wonder if they came up with the acronym first and then tried to justify it.
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Old 07-28-2011, 08:48 AM   #4
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Subarus market continues to grow and Toyota is still #1.
Yeah, their public appeal is really slipping.
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Old 07-28-2011, 08:51 AM   #5
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Appeal != sales
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Old 07-28-2011, 11:50 AM   #6
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Lots of people buy appliances. That doesn't mean that appliances are appealing.
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Old 07-28-2011, 12:34 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by MrSaabaru View Post
Appeal != sales
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Originally Posted by HipToBeSquare View Post
Lots of people buy appliances. That doesn't mean that appliances are appealing.
No, appeal does not equal excitement, but even the dumbest of consumers would not buy a vehicle if something about it didn't appeal to them.
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Old 07-28-2011, 12:55 PM   #8
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Tell that to the people who bought the mid-90s taurus wagon.

More seriously, though, there isn't just positive and negative on the appeal scale. For most consumers, I'd bet the 'meh' is a wider area than either "Heck yeah!" and "barf..."

Only the dumbest of consumers would walk away from a sweet deal in this economy, just because they're neutral on its appeal. The price, the functionality, the strength and reliability of its competitors. Plenty of people drive a car they don't hate, but don't find particularly appealing.


As for the question in the thread's topic, there are a dozen ways to say it, but I'd use the football expression. Prevent defense only prevents you from winning.

It's a much different game once you start playing not to lose instead of playing to win.
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Old 07-28-2011, 01:15 PM   #9
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No, appeal does not equal excitement, but even the dumbest of consumers would not buy a vehicle if something about it didn't appeal to them.
Ok, as a person who likes to call things what they really are, in the interest of vocabulary precision...

Appeal is probably too broad a term.

The crux here seems to be attractiveness vs. pragmatism.

Both have appeal in their own ways.

The original article seems to use appeal in terms of attractiveness. Generating an emotional sense of desire for something based on how it looks or works in a joy-creating way.

Pragmatic appeal, is different, in that it suffices to fill a practical need, and motivates people to appreciate that pragmatic competence.

There are lots of vehicles that are pragmatically appealing. Subaru is selling well based on that.

Some vehicles try to be pragmatic, and still miss the mark. Like Honda CrossTour. A CUV pragmatic car, with an aesthetic roof that cuts the pragmatism of the interior anyway, and the aerodynamic benefit is lost on the fact that the vehicle is so tall and bulky anyway. Some might argue that it tries and fails to be attractive or truly pragmatic. One might as well have a more attractive smaller car, or a more pragmatic full CUV/SUV like Pilot.

But there seems to be a lot less subjectively attractive cars anymore, that compel people on looks alone, including looks that suggest performance enjoyment, either in addition to pragmatism, or instead of a preponderance of pragmatism.

Why are Japanese brands failing to bring more aesthetically and performance-wise attractive cars to market, rather than focusing on pragmatism?
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Old 07-28-2011, 02:34 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrSaabaru View Post
Only the dumbest of consumers would walk away from a sweet deal in this economy, just because they're neutral on its appeal. The price, the functionality, the strength and reliability of its competitors. Plenty of people drive a car they don't hate, but don't find particularly appealing.
Disagree. If you can afford to not get the "sweet deal"...then you'll buy the car that is more "appealing". And trust me, plenty of people aren't in the dumps right now and they're not looking for sweet deals.
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Old 07-28-2011, 02:50 PM   #11
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A sweet deal on a new car is still probably more expensive over-all, and will depreciate more right after purchase, than buying a used car, for those who's finances are tight.

And if one buys used, it is just a matter of how old to consider some appealing cars that were initially sold at various different price points when new.
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Old 07-28-2011, 02:58 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by HipToBeSquare View Post
A sweet deal on a new car is still probably more expensive over-all, and will depreciate more right after purchase, than buying a used car, for those who's finances are tight.

And if one buys used, it is just a matter of how old to consider some appealing cars that were initially sold at various different price points when new.
First congrats on a short post.

Second buying used or new doesn't change the equation. A cheaper, more efficient, more reliable car may still be preferred of a more appealing used vehicle as well.
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Old 07-28-2011, 03:02 PM   #13
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Just because some of my posts are long, doesn't mean that a fair number of my posts are short.

And as I said before, it depends on what you define appeal as. Attractiveness, or pragmatism. You cited pragmatism.

Buying used or new does effect what vehicles are available at a certain price point. The pool of used vehicles is likely much wider and varied, than restricting the choice to only cars being offered as new today.
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Old 07-28-2011, 03:13 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses View Post
Disagree. If you can afford to not get the "sweet deal"...then you'll buy the car that is more "appealing". And trust me, plenty of people aren't in the dumps right now and they're not looking for sweet deals.
Okay, pull the economic impact out. You still see plenty of people that buy cars intentionally or accidentally off the consumer reports pages. You look at an impala and say "Ooh! My golf clubs, luggage, and a few dead bodies will fit in this!" See a corolla and say, bigger than a yaris, and still decent MPGs. and on and on...I think what enables this is the same thing responsible for the slow deaths of manuals and convertibles.

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First congrats on a short post.
Zing!
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Old 07-28-2011, 03:45 PM   #15
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Another useless metric devised by JDP to justify their existence.

+1 Agreed
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Old 07-28-2011, 04:28 PM   #16
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+1 Agreed
+2 agreed.
Happily, I didn't even have to read a long winded H2BS reply to get to that result.

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Old 07-28-2011, 04:41 PM   #17
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I have no idea what JD Power's methodology was and frankly don't care , but here's my entirely arbitrary list of currently offered Japanese cars that I find appealing for some reason or other:


Acura ZDX. Stupid concept and packaging, yes, but I like it anyway.


Honda CR-Z. It'll die a slow and painful death in the marketplace, but it's fresh.


Infiniti FX series. I'd never buy one since it has portholes for windows, but I'll be damned if it doesn't look like a a cartoon come to life.


Lexus LX 570/Toyota Land Cruiser. Hell, I even made a thread about it. It's kind of like an approximation of the President's "Beast" for us regular citizens: truck underpinnings and a posh interior, only without the armor plating and anti-EMP gear in this case.


Mazda MX-5. I'd rock one if the windshield's top edge were 3-4" higher.


Gojira.
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Old 07-28-2011, 05:58 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HipToBeSquare View Post
Just because some of my posts are long, doesn't mean that a fair number of my posts are short.

And as I said before, it depends on what you define appeal as. Attractiveness, or pragmatism. You cited pragmatism.

Buying used or new does effect what vehicles are available at a certain price point. The pool of used vehicles is likely much wider and varied, than restricting the choice to only cars being offered as new today.
BTW I wasn't trying to zing you It is just easier to read short posts.

It seemed you were implying that by buying a used vehicle a person could suddenly buy a more appealing vehicle at the expense of pragmatism. I was just pointing out that it doesn't necessarily change things. Used car buyers still might buy boring bland vehicles for reasons such as those mentioned.

However it is certainly possible that the price differential on a more appealing vehicle new/used could be greater than a less appealing one. I just did not see you making that argument.
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Old 07-28-2011, 06:56 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shikataganai View Post
I have no idea what JD Power's methodology was and frankly don't care , but here's my entirely arbitrary list of currently offered Japanese cars that I find appealing for some reason or other:
For your list, can I get a:

Not even with someone else's key
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
If I didn't have to pay for it.
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Old 07-28-2011, 07:05 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by shikataganai View Post
Acura ZDX. Stupid concept and packaging, yes, but I like it anyway.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly

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Honda CR-Z. It'll die a slow and painful death in the marketplace, but it's fresh.
Ugly but unique. If it were fast the ugly might be an asset.

Quote:
Infiniti FX series. I'd never buy one since it has portholes for windows, but I'll be damned if it doesn't look like a a cartoon come to life.
Fuuuuuuuuugly again, sorry

Quote:
Lexus LX 570/Toyota Land Cruiser.
Hey, one I almost like. As in, it's not ugly, but it's not pretty either. It looks like what it is.

Quote:
Mazda MX-5.
Not that particular year. Some of the older ones look pretty good, tho.

Quote:
Gojira.
Homely but fast. This is where ugly is an asset.
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Old 07-28-2011, 07:17 PM   #21
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One word: Complacency. Toyota especially was the media darling because of the Prius and the rest of their product lineup sold strong because of brand reputation, all while GM and Ford quietly begun building some damn good cars. Toyota then gets tossed to the wolves over the gas pedal BS and suddenly the people wearing the "import=good, domestic=bad" blinders woke up. I rent cars most weeks for work and the Camry and Carolla are the most bland, featureless cars in their respective classes. Civic and Accord aren't much better though I will admit I like the sheetmetal on the Accord. The new Sonata, Fusion and Taurus make it very heard to even bother stopping at the Honda/Yota stores if I were looking for a sedan.
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Old 07-28-2011, 08:37 PM   #22
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Another useless metric devised by JDP to justify their existence.

Indeed. It's a successful business model. They make up a bogus study with catchy name, somehow manage to get major media to report on it as if it's important, and the companies have no choice but to buy the "research details" so that they can "study for the exam". In short, their success depends very little on the accuracy or the relevance of their research, but their marketing ability to make it seem important by the media.
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Old 07-29-2011, 08:36 AM   #23
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Are you trying to say that going around and asking, "hey, do you like that thing you paid $30,000 hard earned dollars for?" is getting skewed results?
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Old 07-29-2011, 09:47 AM   #24
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Are you trying to say that going around and asking, "hey, do you like that thing you paid $30,000 hard earned dollars for?" is getting skewed results?
You know it is
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Old 07-29-2011, 09:58 AM   #25
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JD Power needs to
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