Thread: New Car Buyers
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Old 03-13-2016, 06:01 PM   #38 (permalink)
Fat Charlie
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Route 16
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Al the Third, year four - '13 Honda Fit Base
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Saying that custom mass production is as simple as firing the right custom mix of parts at the assembly line ignores the obvious: the customization still has to happen. Making it happen in a pipeline is worse than doing it on the floor, because the pipeline system only works if there are no glitches anywhere and one glitch somewhere will throw everything off.

Pipeline sorting works on a mass level, though. Today we're installing manual transmissions. The container of sunroof modules came in, so this week all the top trim levels with sunroofs are getting done. The paint shop is doing blue today. Over a few months the supply system ends up producing the desired mix of cars. Dealer orders are taken into account here, but nobody's sitting around wondering if the factory has enough power heated folding auto dim mirrors to meet the current week's requirements. They know, because they built that trim level a couple weeks ago and aren't doing it again for another three.

And it all works great unless you want the luxury features with a small, economical engine. Or a Versa with power anything and a manual, or a Yaris with more than three doors and a manual...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog44 View Post
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%

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