The Mechanic remembers when the first Chinese car was unveiled at the Detroit auto show a few years ago. Predictably, it was a steaming heap.
The Geely Whateveritsname was quarantined out in the hallway of Cobo Hall, right next to an exit door through which a bitter blast of January would barge every time a French journalist would head outside for a smoke.
But the thing I remember best about that episode was that there on the back of the little scat-pile was a name badge slapped at about 20 degrees from horizontal. What could be more emblematic of the company's inability to create a product with the requisite quality than a haphazardly placed emblem?
Flash forward several years to our first drive of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a car which, along with the upcoming Camaro, is one of two bright stars in the division's firmament. On the wide, flat butt of this $100,000-plus Corvette the company has slapped a ZR1 badge. But -- wait, oh no -- the thing is listing at roughly the same angle as that of the Chinese car, which even Geely admitted publicly was two generations away from being good enough to sell in the United States (for less than $10,000!).
I know these are early-build cars, but come on, Chevy! And if you ask, Chevy will tell you such a thing would never happen to a customer car. Would you believe them?
You got the basics right. Sure, some people have questioned the good taste and manliness of the plastic hood window. And it is available with double-cheesy chrome rims because a few in the legions of Corvette faithful want their car to shine as brightly as their pinky rings. But the ZR1 can run a record lap on the Nürburgring on those glittery wheels, so it can afford to be both tasteless and tasty. This is an American supercar. Those who dismiss it are probably French or cross their legs suspiciously tightly.
Make me believe, Chevy. I'm on your side. I want to believe. I have even worn the embroidered baseball cap you gave to those of us who got to drive the ZR1 at the GM proving grounds. Hell, I wore it out in public. It fit my cranium better than the ZR1's spoiler fit its tail. It's nice -- a lovely pale blue twill with an adjustable back strap that tucks neatly into the headband. And on that band is -- oh dear -- "Made in China."
Chevy, tell me that when you were talking about being American, about apple pie and being the Heartbeat and all that, that it wasn't the Wal-Mart America you were talking about.
Later that same day, I went to Wal-Mart for the first time in my life -- wearing the Chinese Corvette cap -- to buy some room deodorizer (don't ask) plus some birthday toys for the children of people I don't like all that much. Hey, what do you know? I found locally produced plastic toy airplanes -- made not just in the U.S. of A., but in the very metropolitan area in which I was standing. I ran my thumb over the top edge of the bright red one and felt the ragged flashing that hadn't been trimmed off. I opened the little hinged plastic pilot's canopy, which immediately broke off in my hand.
Please get this right, Chevy. -- The Mechanic, Inside Line Contributor
Tell The Mechanic what you think at TheMechanic@edmunds.com
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Perhaps it's hard to understand why American manufactured goods are so subpar. But they are. Maybe it's from the years of outsourcing, and losing our hands-on crafting skills.
Maybe it's because we've divested so much thought into management and paper pushing, we've haven't the brain capacity left to perfect hands-on crafting skills.
Or maybe the brains of America went into higher paying professions, since hands-on crafting is heavily competed by foreign intelligent high quality cheap labor.
So smarter American crafters have moved out of crafting into more profitable professions.
Keep in mind, places don't produce things, people does. No matter where each product is made (Germany, Italy..etc), it can be bad without a good QC!
My gosh. This article was a waste of my time. I never complain like this, but seriously?
A sub par article talking about "sub par" products?
I guess it is cute to be creative like that.
You had never been to Wal-Mart until a few weeks ago? Does Mrs. Mechanic do all your shopping for you?
I purchase plenty of "made in the USA" products. I've found that they are generally of very high quality.
The Mechanic's Wal-Mart experience is just that, a Wal-Mart experience. Don't expect quality at Wal-Mart, no matter where it's made.
Edmunds, seriously, why is this person on your payroll? Claims to be American and never been to Wal-Mart? Complaining about some $.99 toy breaking in his hand? Here's an American idea, spend your American dollars somewhere else that stocks toys that don't break off in your hand and costs more than $1.00.
The Mechanic's articles achieve their goal - look at all the people posting and whining and moaning.
Agreed, Doug. He may not get lots of compliments, but he gets everyone's goat.
The guy puts it out there. Like him or hate him. He stirs the pot.
Why talk about a crooked emblem, but not show a picture of it?
And why spend so much time talking about a cheap baseball cap? I don't care if it does have a Chevy logo or says Corvette on it, it's still an unimportant item that shouldn't be on an automotive blog, much less one of a professional automotive website.
Well mechanic...I'm with you. I hope my ZR-1 doesn't crumble in my hands :'(
For July 4th we could not find an American flag that was made in the USA. LOL
ateixeira, where were you looking? I've found that most stores only carry full size American flags that are made in the USA.
So let me get this straight - Chevy gave you a hat. GAVE you a hat... as in for free. Right? And now your petty little self is bitching because it was made in China. Some people are just never satisfied with anything. And what does some ratty hat have to do with how a vehicle is going to turn out?
Edmunds - Can we get some REAL articles about REAL issues other than this mindless ranting and raving?
billt9, you're right - the best American minds are working for Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc.. areas where we dominate. Not baseball cap manufacturing. And yeah, this article sucks.
Who in gods name would go to wal-mart anyways. It is the most un-american store in the world. And as for this article, im disapointed that the hat was made in china but why would you headline it ZR1: Made in china? when you were only talking about the hat. Now the millions of people who pass by here are just going to read that and thing its talking about the actual car. Why would you do that? And plus arent there better things to write about instead of a corvette hat?
Jesus, what happened to America
The Mechanic = Daniel Pund
(apologies to the author if I'm wrong)
He's the only one with the stones to tell it as he see's it (not necessarily how it is...) with some humour to make it palatable while you consider your own position.
Keep 'em comin'
articles like this is proof that the u.s. as we know is is pussified. all the whining, snibbling and ass scratching is too prominent in today's society. men like those of the author, are sue happy,body shavin,tree huggin pickle kissers. lets hope the next generation of male's testes drop before the pouch dries out, and is rendered useless. we as a country should be ashamed.
For the love of Pete, Edmunds, the Brock Yates act is sooo 1997. Is anybody writing critical, intelligent, damn-the-press-releases articles about *cars* anymore?
Hey, drive571, what's your problem? Brock Yates act? Why don't you give it a shot smart guy instead of picking my nose. If you know so much, take this space and write something that's critical, intelligent and damn-the-press-releases about cars.
Or are two sentences about me all you've got.