I came in here to say almost exactly this. Engineered breakdown has been going on since the 70s because of the reliability of the cars from the 40s to the 60s (for the most part)

I can only hope that one day I'll see a Holden Ute show up on our shores rebadged as the new El Camino. Theres a reason they're so popular down there.

Are you saying that they aren't now? Or that it was simply happening a long time ago already?

If you were implying that they aren't, they definitely are. Though I would have to disagree with cars made before the 70's, cars before then usually lasted a long time.

I would say they aren't being built like that now. When my mom ditched her Mazda after 5 years it still ran like a dream and was a beauty. My dad has (other than his 80s GM van) a Suzuki Aerio from...sometime in the last decade or more. Still runs like a dream.

I would, however, say that cars these days are being financed on a 3-5 year replacement scheme. Buying a new car is in some people's minds an alternative to paying for repairs: "If I keep this car, I may have to fix something that breaks, but if I finance a car for about the same amount of money, I'll get a better car and my cash flow is already set up for that kind of draw, so...what's to lose?"

Common mentality for consumers shopping for Germans too.

not as much as the domestics of the 80s and 90s
:heckno:

I once owned a Hyundai from the early 90s, the Stellar, which looked like an Audi of the era. It was the biggest POS I've ever owned. I'd gladly take a domestic over the horrible memories I had of owning that shitpile.

quality control is huge in japan. toured a "toyota" factory in japan. the factories are toyota by name but are actually a separate business. toyota buys the cars from the factory granted they pass the all checks at the factory and then the checks by toyota. dunno if it works the same here. but they didnt show any worry about throwing out parts in front of us and deeming them unfit.

Axis powers invested heavily in tooling during World War 2.
During the immediate postwar period after global markets started to re-open, this idea of high quality German and Japanese goods became embedded in the general psyche.

I don't think it's really true anymore for cars with the very global nature of manufacturing. One thing I deal with regularly at work, bearings, it still is very true. Japanese and German sourced bearings last longer than their Chinese and American made counterparts. This isn't anecdotal, I have documentation.

I believe that simple devices which have been (basically) unchanged since the Axis' investment in superior tooling still are more reliable because of that investment.

What is it. 6 degrees of Wikipedia separation to Hitler?

imo, talking about older cars

japanese cars...
they rust out before the engine and drive train fails

german cars...
the engine drive train fails before the body rusts out

american cars...
they get scrapped at the first signs of failure due to poor resale, hence not worth fixing

i think people rather have a rusty car that can get you to A to B than a clean chassis that doesn't run. perception is that japanese is more reliable. but it just seems like manufacturers put their priorities in different things.

United Auto Workers.