American made vs. Japan

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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:14 PM
  #1  
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From: jax, fl
American made vs. Japan

I am assuming the TL's are manufactured in the US (Marysville, Ohio??). Am hoping at least some of them are made in Japan.

If the VIN starts with a J, the car was made in Japan........

Anybody got a TL that has a 'J' for the first letter of the VIN???
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:17 PM
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I think every single TL is made in Ohio. The TSX's are made in Japan however. Could be wrong...
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:20 PM
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I think the transmission is made in Japan. TL is like 15% made in Japan, saw it on window sticker that was in glove box
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:27 PM
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Originally posted by desijatt
I think the transmission is made in Japan.
Hmm, the one part that has problems in the last generation was made in Japan. I think we all know what this means.




NOTHING.

It doesn't matter WHERE it was made, it matters HOW it was made. And you can't ASSUME anything about HOW it was made based on WHERE it was made.

This has been a public service announcement.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:29 PM
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Re: American made vs. Japan

Originally posted by pwalk
Am hoping at least some of them are made in Japan.
Why? Do you think if some of the TL's would be assembled in Japan that they would be of higher quality than the ones assembled in the US?

Frankly, I don't have any issues at all with the assembly of my TL and I the workmanship inside and out far exceeded my expectations. This car is better than any other car I've owned to date.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:30 PM
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[i]
It doesn't matter WHERE it was made, it matters HOW it was made. And you can't ASSUME anything about HOW it was made based on WHERE it was made.

This has been a public service announcement. [/B]
Couldn't have said it better myself.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 12:44 PM
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Sorry, I must disagree. Having owned 5 Hondas over the past 23 years, and speaking with my mechanic (he has 30 yrs experience, only works on Japanese cars), we have both seen a decrease in quality and reliability of Japanese cars made in US vs. cars made in Japan.

That is only my opinion, based upon my experience.

And by the way, I still have faith in the American Worker (and Acura Standards), I take delivery of my new TL at end of the month, and I can not wait!!!!!!
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 02:17 PM
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Originally posted by unlemming
It doesn't matter WHERE it was made, it matters HOW it was made. And you can't ASSUME anything about HOW it was made based on WHERE it was made.
I agree, but I would add that it's equally important how it was designed.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 03:08 PM
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Exclamation Re: American made vs. Japan...

US/Canadian Parts Content: 65%
Major Sources of Foreign Parts COntent: Japan 15%

Parts content does not include final assembly, distribution or other non-parts costs.

Final Assembly Point: Marysville, Ohio, USA

Country of Original Engine: U.S.A.

Transmission: Japan


But I saw some artlicles saying this below...
04TL was designed by Acura's research-and-development facility in Raymond,
manufactured in
Marysville,
the transmission is produced from the company's
Russells Point facility,
and the engine is manufactured in
Ana.





I still feel I got better overall quality from the vehicle made in Japan.

04TL has lots of great designs and features, but the assembly quality is what I have more concerns. For example, rattles could be the design failure or assembly issues. Also, I find lots of place mis-located or mis-matched. The thin paint finish could be caused because of the new standard of enviornmental regulations or the quality controls in Acura plant.

IMO, ff we don't talk about the design and tech, this is not the best car I ever have from the lines of Honda, or Toyota...

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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 04:27 PM
  #10  
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Originally posted by tripp11
I think every single TL is made in Ohio. The TSX's are made in Japan however. Could be wrong...
You're right!
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 05:05 PM
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I had an Integra which was made in Japan and have a TL which is made in the US. The Integra never had any problems with cosmetics. TL there are some asymmetrical things. Like;

- gaps in the driver and passenger side of the dash.
- Holes in the back of front seats (magazine holders).

But do no sweat for that. The time will tell me if the assembled in US is better or worse than assembled in Japan.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 06:33 PM
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My '89 Accord SE-i Coupe is the car based on the original Accord Export Edition that Honda made in America and shipped to Japan.

http://www.acura-tl.com/gallery/show...t=7&thecat=500
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 09:22 PM
  #13  
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I'd be more worried about the 20% that isn't made in the US or Japan. It probably comes from the lowest bidder - in other words Chinese prison labor.
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 10:38 PM
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i agree with the cars being of better build quality made in japan! but even in america there better that the BIG 3 american co's
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 10:51 PM
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I actually leased an accord not long ago that was built in Japan, not Ohio...I thought it was a typo on the VIN, but it was in fact made in Japan with it's "J" designation on the VIN..
Ed
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 11:01 PM
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I have a TSX which is made in Japan... it has squeaks and rattles.

One good thing about TL being in build USA is that, wouldn't parts be more readily avaible?
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Old Feb 17, 2004 | 11:14 PM
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from what I understand, this 04TL doesn't have a counterpart in Japan. It was designed mainly for the American/Canadian market.

Previous TL had a sibling in Japan
the TSX I think it's (a version of) the accord in Japan.
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 12:02 AM
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With the previous generation accord, most of the units sold in the U.S. were assembled in Ohio. However, a small percentage of US-sold units were assembled in Japan, and, believe it or not, some were assembled in Mexico.
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 03:05 PM
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Originally posted by NOX 3.2
from what I understand, this 04TL doesn't have a counterpart in Japan. It was designed mainly for the American/Canadian market.

Previous TL had a sibling in Japan
the TSX I think it's (a version of) the accord in Japan.
TSX is the European Accord.
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Old Feb 18, 2004 | 03:29 PM
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TSX is...

In Japan, Accord, Accord Wagon, Accord Euro R.

In UK, Accord.
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Old Feb 19, 2004 | 09:57 AM
  #21  
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My $.02: My American made 99 Accord has better quality and less problems in 4 1/2 yrs than my 'Made in Japan' 2002 Maxima has in 2 years.

IMO, it's the quality control standards of the manufacturer that has the most significant impact on overall build quality. (Not to mention, the quality control standards of the parts suppliers being used.)

$.02
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