WHY do cars get stripped when they come to the U.S.?????

[Blade Of Heaven]

Well this is something that really irks me. I come from Taiwan and live in the states so I've had the chance to observe the cars on both sides. I've also done a lot of research on the cars they sell in asia. For some confounded reason, the cars are equipped sooo well when they are sold in Asia, but they get totally stripped when they come to the states. This is so freaking annoying!!!! .

Heres an example. My parents just bought a Camry LE in Taiwan. You know what it comes with standard????

1) Built in 6 cd changer
2) Built in climate control (usually not standard in american camrys)
2) Wind shield wipers that change speed according to how much rain there is
3) 4 built in rear sensors for backing up (it beeps quicker if you are about to hit something)
4) Powered Mirrors (LOL they actually fold with the touch of a button)
5) Wood inlays (I'm guessing its fake though)
6) Leather seating
7) 16" Alloy wheels
8) all the other stuff that's supposed to come with a LE/XLE

I don't even think I can get some of this stuff on a Camry even if I paid the money! And the thing is....it only cost $21,000 US. I'd swear I was in an Avalon if I didn't know better.



Another example is the Corolla Altis with the gated stick shift and tri-color Optitron gauge cluster (if i remeber correctly you could change the back light color). When it came to the states these featuers were gone.






I know some of you will say it's just marketing and has to do with the way the U.S. sells cars and does business...but still...I'm kind of .

I dunno....what do you all think?

[wormhole]

[jhbhatia]

As far as camry's go, most of those options are available on the XLE trim badging (except powerfolding mirrors). The altise has been there for a while, and i've always loved their gate shifter...too bad US models didn't get it!

[Dark-LE]

HOLY CRAP!! THOSE BASTARDS!! I ONLY GOT 14" ALLOYS!!!

If you really want a decent answer about this... its all about $$$$
you make the good features available for a price... people will buy the options, rather than giving it to the people as standard features.

America sucks dont it?

[Blade Of Heaven]

SIGH I guess that's how the world goes around....especially in the states lol. You know what I really like....the center console....ahhhhhh the wood trim all the way up. it's sooo cool. Too bad I can't get that in the state even if I wanted too. And the thing is they all have push-spring covers lol very nice feel. You know it's funny my Dad's old camry used to have a built it drink cooler for canned drinks (standard also) ha ha ha .

[jhbhatia]

^^ keeping in mind camry's (in houston are starting from $17K onwards) the one you posted was $21K...i'm assuming they are still using 1mzfe's...you can have those reverse indicators here too).

[angeleyesM5]

The priority on price is significant - you can see advertisements in American newspapers for Camrys as low as $16,000 US dollar. Many Toyota markets can't even get close to that. I also think we have the best factory bodykit (aka ground effects) and wheels. Japan doesn't even offer one, and Australia's Sportivo ground effects is just so-so.

Also the American market tends to have the best engine power options, with the exception of diesel. For example, the 3.3L V6 in the states (offered on the SE V6 model) is not available in most other countries.

That being said, I personally would have paid extra for HID projectors that are available in countries like Taiwan and Singapore, and must the US market Toyotas be forever tied to JBL? To put it bluntly... JBL sucks.

* Thanks... AngeleyesM5

[rusty9]

these are all lexus options, as far as i know they dont sell lexus in asia. lexus es = camry same family, same car basically just us stupid americans like faux luxury cars.

[Blade Of Heaven]

Actually they do sell Lexus in asia...at least in Taiwan. Why do I know....well people in Taiwan predominately prefer Toyota and Lexus, and Lexus has been gaining steam back home lol. I can hardly find a Honda back home lol it's truely a Toyota Nation ha ha ha

[Trdkamuri510]

cuz they dont have the avy in taiwan.. hence all cars move up a class

camry is the avalon there
corolla is the camry there
echo is the corolla etc..

they all carry the same name but their place in the carpool is what i said..

and yes they are more upscale look at the gen5 cam in taiwan compared to america... also they still have the 1mz.

[leasaunce]

man that is a nice camry!!!

[skewe]

FYI, u pay an arm and a leg in ASIA.
I know is Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand.. it cost the average wage earner's 6 years of salary.

= i.e. earn avg 30k* / year
*assuming that it is in local currency
A camry cost 150k.

Over in malaysia, a camry cost 160k. A average person earns 28k/year. Do the calculations

Are you willing to save 6-8 years for a camry?

[TRDCamryCL]

*sigh* JDM is always better than USDM... I am originally from Hong Kong and I know... The same cars are far better equipped than the US counterparts. The downside of JDM cars is that sometimes, they are down on power because of smaller engines put into asian counterparts due to the lack of need for them.

[Blade Of Heaven]

Emmm I guess you're right in terms of the equivalent class, but If people in Taiwan wanted an Avalon they'd go up to a Lexus (which is what many of them are doing).

Regarding price....when you say people make 30K a year and the camry is 150K are you sure? Cause that sounds like too big of a difference. Cause like in Taiwan where the per capita income is $25,000 U.S.D. (Singapore's per capita is $27,800 USD), a brand new Camry completely loaded costs $21,000 USD. I think it'll be comparable to the U.S., where you get 5 year financing. I'd still rather pay for the JDM then the US version when it comes to bang for the buck though.

[terrastrife]

asia has crazy car tax in general

everything costs more.

its all down to the market niche each car has to fill.