
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190583
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JERRY A. STONE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

U.S. CARS SAFER THAN JAPAN'S

THE COVER of the Roanoke Times & World-News' "New Cars '90" advertising promotional supplement (March 23) has photographs of what appear to be portions of two Japanese cars. If so, then it is my opinion that the newspaper exhibited rather poor taste. There are so many new American vehicles worthy of appearing on the cover.

I agree with Lee Iacocca when he says that something is very wrong when the best-selling car in the United States carries a Japanese nameplate.

Let's examine the phenomenon known as "Japanese quality." Just what does it mean? Well, to most car buyers, it probably relates to the fit and finish of a vehicle. Let's look a little deeper. What about safety? What about stability and crash ratings?

Motor Trend magazine had 10 nominees for its prestigious 1990 Truck of the Year Award (April '90 issue). Seven were American; three were Japanese. In the slalom test, all of the American vehicles were pictured with all four wheels firmly on the ground. Two of the three Japanese vehicles clearly were shown with one or more wheels in the air. Japanese quality!

Two winters ago, a woman lost control of her Acura Legend on ice and slammed head-on into my Chevrolet Caprice. The repair bill for my damages was $186. Her car, on the other hand, sustained more than $4,400 in damages. Japanese quality!

Have you seen the Subaru commercial that opens by crashing a Volvo into a wall, then proceeds to promote the anti-lock brakes on the Legacy wagon, and finally says that the best way to survive a crash is to avoid one?

Oh, please! Let's compare apples to apples. Show the Subaru crashing into the barrier and let's see how well it stands up in comparison to one of the proven safest cars in the world. The results probably would reveal the Subaru for what it really is - just another Oriental death trap.

I believe that people who buy Japanese cars and trucks place a low value on life and limb. Give me Detroit iron any day.

by CNB