Thoughts on the ethics of (non sexual) cheating?

It seems like cheating is "the American way." Do whatever you can get away with and people will love you. Yes Tom Brady, we'll even overturn your suspension, because we think you whining cheaters are great as long as you win. But when Volkswagen gets caught cheating the emissions tests... Is that different somehow for Americans? Perhaps because they're "dirty cheating Germans" instead of wholesome cheating Americans?