29th Mar 2009, 11:36
Just as I (and all the others reading this site) had expected. Not a single NEW domestic, or a single full sized truck. Your previous comment CLEARLY STATES you've bought NEW and used domestics. If that statement is incorrect, how reliable can we expect your others to be?? A used and abused ancient domestic is a poor comparison to a NEW full sized truck, and you've owned so few vehicles that any accurate comparison is impossible.
We've owned 17 domestics that WERE purchased brand new. Not a single problem with ANY of them, and the first one was purchased in 1972. That puts the lie to "the older ones were garbage" argument as well. Our 70's and 80's domestics were also flawless, just as our 2007 is.
We'll keep supporting our country and our industry by buying from U.S. companies.
29th Mar 2009, 15:51
23:26 Wasn't your Dakota actually totaled in an accident based on prior comments? One of your domestics was bought at 90,000 miles and yet another with 60,000 miles.
I would have asked for service records, maybe the oil filter was never changed or driven hard to be oil burners.
My work has a 2001 Dakota with 200,000 miles, and a 2003 Durango with 245,000 miles on them, mostly highway but not oil burners. I have a relative with a nice 1995 Century has been flawless as well.
My comment is having 6 or 7 vehicles total, and most not bought new, and none are full size trucks, nonetheless to condemn any. If your experience ranges from mid 80's to 1998, there's 11 years after that. In that time span I have seen imports that we bought new until lately become satisfactory from being exceptional to lousy. And they were bought new.
It's nice Toyota was kind enough to buy a vehicle out with a rotted frame, perhaps that was cheaper than the alternative.
I have had domestics that I made out big time, that appreciated with notes wanting to buy under the windshield often.
30th Mar 2009, 10:44
... and as we see from today's news that Mr Wagoner has been forced to step down and Chrysler has only one option - to team up with Fiat (pathetic) or be sold, that the big three domestic car makers are doing a FANTASTIC job...
30th Mar 2009, 14:06
The Seoul-based automaker (Hyundai) has boosted sales in the U.S. where demand for Toyotas models has PLUNGED..." (USA Today, March 30, 2009.
Virtually ALL cars are suffering huge sales losses (except Hyundai). Poor sales has NOTHING To do with car quality and everything to do with the economy. Hyundai is doing well because it makes both fuel-efficient, affordable cars and the top luxury car in the market (Genesis) at a bargain-basement price.
30th Mar 2009, 14:55
Okay guys, why not take this debate into another (just as pointless) direction. Ginger or Mary Ann?
30th Mar 2009, 17:14
All you have to do is look on Craigslist or your local paper and compare what the asking prices are for Toyotas and Hondas versus anything the big three make. More often than not, 3 and 4 year old Toyotas will be maybe 75%-80% of their price from new. But I know for fact that the equivalent Domestic model is always at a severe discount. I've personally seen used 2 year old fully loaded Chevy Silverados and F-150's with lesser asking prices than a stripped 4 cylinder Tacoma. In fact, some domestic trucks these days are so cheap it's almost convincing to buy just because some of them are sitting with prices that are 50% or more cheaper than a Toyota. Dealers and sellers obviously can't hardly give them away.
And in regards to cars... all I have to say is Ford Taurus. Those cars are totally worthless as soon as they leave the lot.
30th Mar 2009, 21:07
10:44 When I shop for a new full size truck, it does not matter if Chrysler is owned by Benz, Fiat or whomever is signing the checks this week or in office.
The Ram is a great full size truck and I would recommend them without hesitation for towing especially. Also Silverado and Ford F Series.
What does escape me is how someone can condemn an entire manufacturer that:
#1 Does not now or ever has owned/lived with a full size truck
#2 The vehicles that were owned are 11-20 years ago, most purchased with 60-90,000 miles on the odometer. I buy new and maintain my own since purchase. It would be similar to taking a chance buying a rental car with 90,000 miles on a vehicle from the day you got it... could have had an easy life or many wannabe race car drivers.
#3 There is never acknowledgment it switches quickly over to a political comment when there is no vague reply available.
The number one reason I buy a full size truck is applications for one... load carrying, towing functionality. Unless you have a true application and have invested in a new or late model full size, this seems to escape the small car/small truck mentality. To comment on one, how about acknowledging why people have them vs. who is in office, who owns whom etc. I know I have many more features, applications addressed and far superior warranty than Tundra and Tacoma is not in the same category. Your warranty is safe commented 3-30 by President Obama if you need to be political. I go in test and buy my vehicles as no one pays for mine except me anyway.
30th Mar 2009, 22:47
11:36 Exactly right. Not a single new domestic. Because they proved to me to be junk years ago, so I stopped buying them. As I expected, Ford and Chevy fans expect me to rush out and buy a new domestic because they've 'improved' so much. Heck, they might even be approaching the kind of quality that Toyota had 25 years ago... no thanks. Instead of gambling my money, I'll keep buying what I KNOW is a quality vehicle... Toyota.
Granted, I chose to gamble again, and bought a Hyundai after I sold my Tacoma back to Toyota; we'll see how that pays off. So far, much more reliable than any of my domestics ever were. Ford may be improving, they MIGHT even be a good car now. When I'm sure that they are, and they prove it with a 20 or 30 year history of STAYING good, like Toyota has, I might consider buying one. Not now, and not for a long time. I know what junk they've always been to date.
To another commenter, yes, my Dakota was totaled. I'm not sure what that has to do with anything; I said that the 318 was a RELIABLE engine. Not even approached Toyota quality, or efficiency though. Clearly not enough research and design. Other than that, the truck was crappy. '95 Dakotas were notorious for bad automatic transmissions, and as I said, the sheet metal was garbage.
With ALL of my Toyota's, everything was practically perfect. Best engines in the world (along with Honda), no transmission or rust issues, extremely efficient, even much better wear of the interior knobs/switches and fabric. Toyota is just superior in all aspects, unless you need to tow something that you'd need an F-350 for. Toyota doesn't make them, because they're not financially productive. Just part of the reason that they're doing well while GM and Dodge are nearly finished, and Ford hangs in the balance.
29th Mar 2009, 08:53
Not 1 full size truck.