Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:56:46 -0400
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: slurs and engines
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2007041714114790@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I wasn't offended for one. But I also know you didn't mean it like that even
if it's written that way.
But I DO have issue with one thing.
I don't think anything should EVER be judged simply on the basis of it's
attribution to a particular group that has no concrete effect on it in a way
by which it should actually be judged.
An engine should never be judged by who makes it, not the company, not the
geographic location, and definitely not the country of the company's origin.
This used to work, a long long time ago when the brands that people believe
to still mean something actually did. If you start to look past the
branding, and get to the real heart of it, that's where it ends up
mattering. So while Ben, you might feel that you've seen more niceties and
attention to design/manufacture on Japanese engines, it is still true that
those things are NOT attributes of them being Japanese. The fact that the
engineers were likely Japanese and have a tendency to do something makes it
more likely you end up right, but there will be plenty of examples where it
won't hold up. It would be comforting to think that you could be loyal to a
brand or geographic region and expect the same levels of quality, or
attention to specific areas and have that be maintained, but that is asking
too much. OEMs are struggling so badly and competition is so fierce, that
like a school of fish, they are all swimming together to try and stay alive.
The differentiators are falling away rapidly. As modular design along with
hardware and software reuse continues to explode as a answer to ballooning
R&D costs even more of the differentiators will evaporate. Currently there
is little point in maintaining loyalty to one OEM vs another since they all
have hits and misses. The key is to pinpoint your needs, and find the best
suited answer from what exists based solely on how it will satisfy those
needs, your end goals. Unless one of your end goals is to have a certain
brand engine(which many people hold for some reason) then you are doing
yourself a huge disservice by not actually looking at what you should be.
Then again, most people don't have the time or expertise or desire to do
this, and will trust others to do it for them, then wade through the higher
level mumbo jumbo for an answer they like.
European, Japanese, American, Italian, GM, Ford, VW, Toyota, Subaru, pick
whichever you want, the majority of what most people think about any one
will be an illusion, and most of that was architected by somebody else to
make more money. Afterall.. the commercials will never say "Feel the
freedom, except stay away from the 97-99 DOHC ej25"
I'll go head to head with you benny on technical points with the zetec and
another engine.. but you'll have to tell me what country the zetec is from
first. It was made in Europe, partly designed by Europeans, partly designed
by Japanese, and partly designed by Americans, but for an American company.
Which is it? I don't really care, as long as it's done well, nobody else
should either. But they do... *sigh* perhaps it's my own perspective since I
was made from Japanese and German parts but built up mostly in America... it
definitely explains my obsession with things automotive.
A big knowingly presented middle finger to the branding and rebranding of
everything. I used to think Radio Shack(Realistic) was a kick, and kind of
lame, but then I grew up a little and realized that everything else is just
as lame... but sometimes... it isn't. And in tiny pockets here and there,
some little brands still do mean something. Like in this little world of the
vanagon aftermarket that we know and love so much.
Jim
________________________________________
Bostig Engineering <--- Brand
Engine Systems Voodoo
http://www.bostig.com/
617.272.3800
-----Original Message-----
From: Benny boy [mailto:huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA]
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 2:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: EB2007 Vanaru Test Drive
"""Japs 4cyl engine are of a better design"""
I was nicely told by some list member that the use of the "Japs" word was
not appropiate, by all mean, i didn't meant to! i'm NO racist by any
means!!! far from that. i didn't realised!
This was only a quick and a very bad translation from my part, from a
stupid "mechanic slang/French therm" to a "poor and worse" English (in my
case), so i'm very sorry if i offended any!
We just call Japenese engines this way in French.
Again, so sorry. I'm working hard on my English, not so easy sometime.
Ben
| 
