13th Oct 2008, 22:47

09:24 Pointless argument. Toyota doesn't make anything as large as an F-350, so yes, your Ford or whatever has more towing capacity. If Toyota ever does decide to make a truck that large, it'll be better than any Ford or Chevy, just like everything else they make already is. But as soon as you begin talking about trucks or any other vehicle the size of a Tundra or smaller, Toyota makes the best of them in every single category. Which is the reason the Tundra is JD Power's truck of the year.

14th Oct 2008, 09:01

"If Toyota ever does decide to make a truck that large, it'll be better than any Ford or Chevy, just like everything else they make already is."

Do you use the Tundra, which Consumer Reports rates its reliability as much worse than average and people have been having problems with all over this site, as the basis for that prophecy?

Moreover, I have not seen any Toyota fans explain why Toyota's are having widespread engine failures as documented by Consumer Affairs:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html

Thus, your prediction is baseless as far as I am concerned.

14th Oct 2008, 22:04

Toyota does not also make a vehicle equivalent to a F-250-or 3/4 ton Silverado or Rams as well. Or diesel. Baseless comparisons on non-existent models is really reaching.

I do see comparing small cars and small trucks together. Applying that same logic does not work well ignoring applications. I'll pay more for gas knowing I have the utility aspect covered. I have a family need space, room for luggage etc. as well as towing. Compromising safety, capability and comfort is not worth the few extra dollars in fuel or needing to have a trailing vehicle burning 2 tanks of fuel. Factor in other issues such as the lousy warranty with imports for those of us driving a lot and it loses appeal. Gas is at $2.61 gallon why drive a crammed up uncomfortable bland vehicle every weekend with distant driving? Gas keeps dropping and I suspect the little beater cars will start being the ones parked.

16th Oct 2008, 20:52

Actually, I wouldn't count on gas staying under $3 a gallon for very long. A lot of people think the current administration (who are all oil people) are getting the oil companies to lower prices in an attempt to help their party. Regardless of whether that is true or not (and I really suspect it is), look for gas to head quickly for $5 a gallon after the election, regardless of who wins. I wouldn't put that small car in moth balls just yet.

17th Oct 2008, 14:28

Gas is only part of the ownership. Quality is also function, capability, features and warranty.

Seems obvious that lower cost to own over 5 years, better warranty, less mechanical issues, more room, better handling, better ride, better towing, better load carrying is why I did not buy a new Tundra and bought a new full size new Silverado.

I'll test the larger import truck offerings again. Small trucks, cars and vans have no basis when test driving and buying full size trucks.

17th Oct 2008, 20:26

Gas prices are going down for two reasons:

1) People are using less; and (you will not hear this next one on the news)

2) America is finally talking about tapping into its own oil supplies, which is causing OPEC to do some soul searching over its prices - i.e., they know that they soon (hopefully) may not be the only game in town.

The idea that president Bush is keeping prices down is not accurate. You might recall that Bush went to OPEC earlier this year and asked them to increase production to bring down prices (something which no American president should ever have to do, because we should be producing our own oil) and they basically told him to go pound sand. So, I do not think the current administration has any pull with them.

In actuality, it would not stand to reason that OPEC would want to do anything to help Republicans, because Republicans (with the exception of John McCain, who might as well be truthful and call himself a Democrat) typically want to tap into domestic oil supplies and eliminate the need for Middle Eastern Oil. Thus, OPEC would have every reason for wanting to RAISE prices, to make Bush look bad and get the Democrats elected in November because of their opposition to drilling.

18th Oct 2008, 10:11

Oil from newly drilled wells won't make a dent in our oil supplies (or pose any threat to OPEC) for at least 10 years.

Secondly, the total U.S. oil reserves hold roughly 5% of the amount of oil we currently use, so no matter how much of it we tap, it will make virtually no difference at all on our oil imports. Since oil companies want to make all the money they can, they will lobby our elected representatives to block any effort to develop more energy efficient cars or alternative energy. That is precisely why the U.S. auto industry has dragged its feet about building more fuel efficient cars. The current administration, which is composed of oil company puppets, has blocked all meaningful attempts to build more efficient cars or find alternative energy sources. Drilling will do absolutely NOTHING to extend our supplies or lower prices. When greed runs the country, we all suffer.

19th Oct 2008, 19:54

Seems like buying "correct" domestic classic cars is the way go... if you can afford a 57 T Bird, 60's Vettes, Shelby for example averaging 16% gain a year over the past 10 years... it seems better than gold or real estate.

The credit crunch, stock market fiasco, rising gas prices, mortgage mess has affected the rise in small economy car purchases, but I hate driving them just as much as the economy that has influenced people flocking to an unsavory direction to own them. I'll drive less and enjoy owning a better vehicle, rather than feel stuck in a vehicle I thoroughly hate driving and owning.

20th Oct 2008, 08:35

"Oil from newly drilled wells won't make a dent in our oil supplies (or pose any threat to OPEC) for at least 10 years."

Not true. Explored areas that have been shown to contain oil can begin producing within a year if the moratorium on drilling were lifted, contrary to the liberal talking points. And, how much oil non-explored areas contain is only speculation by people hoping for a particular outcome to suit their political agenda.

I agree that we need to develop alternative sources of energy, but right now our expansive energy infrastructure is unfortunately based largely on oil. It will take quite a long time (possibly in excess of 10 years) to convert that entire infrastructure to viable alternative sources. While, this conversion process has started to a degree, I fully concur that it needs to be expanded and take place at a faster rate than it is going.

However, there is nothing wrong with tapping the US tapping its own oil supplies in an environmentally responsible manner for use in the interim while our proportional use of alternative energy expands, or to supplement alternative sources as required after they become our primary source. The more domestically produced energy supplies we have available (including oil) the more secure we are. I do not want to be at the mercy of OPEC for the 10+ years I believe it will take to fully convert to alternative sources.

The 10+ year estimate to convert to alternative sources is my own personal estimate as an electrical engineer, but I would be happy to be proven wrong if somebody has good reason (i.e., not because Nancy Pelosi says so) to feel otherwise.