28th Jun 2008, 07:02

If you parked a long row of vehicles and covered the emblems, what would you expect a 2008 consumer to walk directly to in a weak economy and huge leap in oil prices? My speculation would be small cars, crossovers and hybrids, less so import or domestic sport utilities and trucks.

Is quality the specific reason or lack of the determining factor in why they buy these vehicles in 2008 as new vehicles? The economy is very weak and fuel is very high... even mfrs including Toyota were not prepared to have sufficient extreme high mpg vehicles; one dealer is sold out until November.

This is a car survey and here's my choice. If I could walk up to a line of vehicles and not be scared about mpg... the very last vehicle I would choose is a Prius. It gets you to A and B, but it has to be the ugliest vehicle I have seen in years. Sure there was the VW Thing and others and some domestics too. But cover the emblems and not have gas pricing only in mind, I would walk up to a stylish, comfortable, well handling vehicle that is a joy to drive.

I have a lot of pride in what I own and drive, and if not for the current conditions of the economy and high fuel, I suspect others share my viewpoint. It's not quality specifically on why people are buying and not holding off in 2008.

On full size trucks, having a large variety vs such a limited scope of import full size trucks is why domestics sell so much more. But now sales are off because of high gas on all larger trucks, including Toyota. I may even go out and buy yet another new small high mpg car, only because of gas pricing. If I do it will likely be a Solstice Convertible for running around solo, and not a Prius. I have a friend with a black Solstice Convertible; better styling than the Skye, gets high mpg and as most people travel solo as he does on a long commute to our work... it seems like the most enjoyable, high mpg and I love its styling.

I have bought 2 new large vehicles quite recently, and here's yet another. If it's going to be small, it can still have nice elements and not lose the passion of driving.

28th Jun 2008, 11:44

If a foreign power unleashed an attack on America that destroyed 13,000,000 lives, we'd all be up and arms and calling for revenge. Yet, every day in this country you see people on this site advocating the destruction of 13 million American lives by destroying one of our major industries. Not only are they advocating the destruction of millions of Americans lives, but they are advocating the continuing decline of the dollar, which hurts every American and many of our close allies.

The argument that "Japanese companies hire Americans" is empty. At present Japanese auto companies employ less that ONE THOUSANDTH the number of Americans that domestic makers do. The argument is made that Americans are stupid morons who cannot build anything, so we all must buy foreign, whether it be a car or a kitchen sink. The TRUTH is, current domestic vehicle build quality is HIGHER than all Japanese companies (Ford even outranks Honda now).

My sincere hope is that all those screaming for the destruction of America can afford to move to Japan, where they can enjoy the benefits of all the American dollars we've stupidly donated to their economy, while destroying our own.

28th Jun 2008, 17:24

I just read that Toyota is falling far short of sales goals too. I guess that means they are also building "crap". Toyota is also cutting way back on production of the gas-hog Tundra and sequoia. GM has switched to 24-hour non-stop production of the Cobalt to meet increased demand, while Ford has upped production of its world-class Focus by 30%.

Car sales are currently driven by fuel costs and a very weak economy. Build quality has NOTHING to do with it. If it did, Toyota wouldn't be selling ANY cars or trucks. As for Nissan, I found it interesting that in this morning's paper they were discounting the unreliable Titan exactly TWICE as much as Ford is discounting the F-150.

29th Jun 2008, 16:01

As for as fuel economy, the Tundra is by no stretch of the imagination "economical". That is why Toyota has suspended production of the Tundra, Sequoia, and Highlander, and delayed indefinitely the planned opening of the Tupelo, Mississippi plant that was to build them. There is no real fuel mileage advantage of the Tundra over any domestic V-8, and once you factor in the repair cost after the very short warranty expires and the aggravation of spending days or weeks with the Tundra in the shop, you are far better off with the Truck of the Year Silverado, world-class F-150, or workhorse Dodge Ram.

In 16 years of truck ownership I've spent a whopping 2 HOURS waiting on service. That was for an emission canister valve recall on a Dodge. None of my Fords EVER required ANY repairs.

29th Jun 2008, 20:28

07:34 Toyota HAD a camshaft issue with a relatively small number of Tundra's, long since solved. The rest of that list is just incorrect. I know a few Tundra owners and theirs are perfect.

There is no knocking of the engines unless someone changes the oil and it leaks out. I fail to see how excessive tire wear is Toyota's fault if it were to happen, much like the rest of the that list.

As far as screws falling out and engine trouble, I know dozens of people that have had issues like that with Chevy's or Fords, but never once with Toyota's.

Warped rotors are not the fault of any manufacturer either. It's usually the fault of someone who doesn't know how to drive; i.e., riding the brakes too much, braking hard through puddles, etc. Any of that will warp a rotor. It happens to any vehicle driven that way. I have seen pads/rotors get chewed up on GM vehicles because things were misaligned during the build (a Blazer specifically), but not once on a Toyota.

30th Jun 2008, 09:50

28th Jun 2008, 11:44,

I think your comment about 13,000,000 "Lives being destroyed" by Japanese car companies places the blame in the wrong place. The outright simple truth is that had Toyota or Honda come to the US and sold poorly made, unreliable cars and trucks, then they would be just like Yugo, Fiat, Peugeot, or any number of other foreign branded vehicles that are no longer sold here. Or at the very least, they would be like VW, Mitsubishi and only have a small niche market.

But the stark reality that none of you guys will admit is that Toyota and Honda did make good products, built a reputation for reliable vehicles, and won over consumers fair and square. That GM or Ford might be having problems isn't anyone's fault but their own.

Additionally, had GM or Ford not been exposed to international competition, they would probably still be making the throwaway cars they produced prior to competition from import brands. A global economy is for the benefit of the consumer meaning they have the choice of the best products at their disposal.

I also have zero allusions as to what the US economy has become and will continue to be, which is an economy less focussed on manufacturing and hard labor and more of one based in technology, research, communications, and service.

Lastly, I am from the South. Tennessee to be exact. We never had much of an industry in the area until more recently. One of the bigger players in the area is Nippondenso USA, Toyota, and Honda. These companies employee thousands of my fellow residents and they get taken care of quite well.

Lastly - let's not fool ourselves. The Ford Fusion isn't what I'd call a "World class car". Seeing as how it is actually a Mazda made in Mexico, I fail to see how it holds up as a shining example in what is obviously a heated patriotic debate, since it is in fact a "foreign" car itself.