說起來美國是輪子上的國家，從汽車的發明，一直到七八十年代，美國的汽車製造業穩坐行業龍頭老大。
可是越來越多的進口車充斥美國市場，除警察叔叔開的愛國車和明星開的豪華車之外，一般的小老百姓，還都是在日本或南韓的車行門口轉悠。以至於報紙上，電視上，美國車不得不標明了要清倉大甩賣。
最初是因為便宜，看看有多少美國人逛二手商店，看看有多少美國人趕早鳥，就知道美國的窮人有多少。
現在日本車已經不便宜了呀？可是日本車省油。當油價漲到三塊錢以上的時候，很多的上班族，就不得不考慮卡普，連開什麽牌子的車，都已經不重要了。
現在油價也不再高了呀？可是日本車質量好，在不久前發布的由消費者協會打分的美國市場上2006-2007年度最可靠的40種汽車之中，小日本的豐田一家，竟然占了20種！
不僅僅如此，今天的報紙上說。汽車保找等漲捌萊齙?007年13種最安全的家庭用汽車當中，竟然全部是進口貨！
最可恨的，居然連南韓的KIA也在其間。
怪不得美國的車廠不斷裁人！
質量、經濟、安全這三大項，美國車竟然不占一項。
也怪不得美國汽車業不得不步美國煙草業和英國鴉片業的後塵，闊步進軍中國市場！
因為在中國，不僅僅有廉價的勞動力，有不考慮質量也不考慮經濟的官方消費，更有視人命如草芥的旅遊業、服務業、保險公司、稅務局、工檢法和醫院。還有一群拿外國護照的假洋鬼子。
大家一起，正可以分肥。
附：13 Models On Insurance Industry's List
來源：清談天地 www.talkskyland.com
Imported models took all spots on the U.S. insurance industry's list of safest vehicles. Winners include four cars, seven SUVs and two minivans.
An industry official said that's mostly because American automakers aren't making cars with electronic stability control, which keeps vehicles stable in emergencies. And the technology is a new requirement in ranking vehicles for safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed requiring electronic stability control in all new cars by 2012. But insurance industry officials said that's not soon enough.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety isn't bashful about its reasons for pushing electronic stability control. It said that its studies show up to 10,000 fatal crashes per year could be prevented if every vehicle had the safety feature.
"The idea of tightening the criteria for the award is to encourage more vehicle safety improvements," Institute President Adrian Lund said. "Last year a car could win with an acceptable rating in the rear test instead of the highest rating of good, and ESC wasn't considered. Now it's tougher to win, and some of the 2006 winners don't meet the criteria for this year's award because the manufacturers haven't improved the head restraints from acceptable to good or don't offer ESC."
The cars on the list are all by foreign manufacturers, and ranked highest in protecting people in front, rear and side crash tests based on institute tests during the year.
In particular, the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego, large family cars, are good crash test performers but don't have ESC, even as an option. The midsize Chevrolet Malibu doesn't have ESC either, and its seat/head restraints aren't rated good. These cars won in 2006 but not 2007.
No small cars won this year's award. The four-door Honda Civic won last year, but most 2007 Civics don't have ESC. Those that do don't have seat/head restraints rated good for rear crash protection.
Vehicles eligible to win are current small, midsize, and large car models, plus minivans and small and midsize SUVs.
SUVs weren't eligible to win in 2006 because the Institute hadn't evaluated the side crash-worthiness of many of them. Now more SUVs have been rated, and 2007 winners reflect the safety improvements manufacturers have been making to these vehicles.
"In the past SUVs, especially the smaller ones, weren't good safety choices compared with cars," Lund said. "Many SUVs didn't earn good ratings in our crash tests, and on the road they were more likely than cars to get in serious single-vehicle crashes, including rollovers, because of their higher centers of gravity. Newer SUVs perform better in crash tests and, when equipped with ESC, are much less likely to roll over. All but one of the seven SUVs that win our 2007 'Top Safety Pick' have ESC as standard equipment."
Recent research found that ESC reduces the risk of serious crashes involving both SUVs and cars, the Institute reported. The largest effect is in single-vehicle crashes, which were reduced 40 percent with the addition of ESC. Fatal single-vehicle crashes went down 56 percent, and fatal rollovers of cars and SUVs were reduced by about 80 percent.
Pickups aren't included in this round of awards because the Institute hasn't begun to evaluate their side crash-worthiness.
"Our crash tests cover the most common kinds of real-world collisions," said Lund. "Designating 'Top Safety Pick' winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative test results."
The Institute's Web site said it rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a "Top Safety Pick" is to earn good ratings in all three Institute tests.
Winners
Large Car
Audi A6 (manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later)
Midsize cars
Audi A4
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy (equipped with optional electronic stability control)
Minivans
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Luxury SUVs
Mercedes M class
Volvo XC90
Midsize SUVs
Acura RDX
Honda Pilot
Subaru B9 Tribeca
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester (equipped with optional electronic stability control)
