7th Jan 2009, 10:50

Sales don't matter if the company in question (GM) continues to lose massive amounts of money every quarter. Since 2007, GM has lost close to 63 BILLION dollars. That compared to Toyota's 1.7 Billion. It would seem to me that anyone reading those statistics would perhaps raise the suggestion that GM and Ford - who has also lost a ton of money - must not be doing something right.

I realize that anything Toyota does wrong (like the 20 engines produced for the Tundra with a faulty Camshaft) are going to get blown way out of proportion for all the pro-domestic crowd, seeking any possible flaw to "prove" how bad Toyota is, despite the fact that their company is built from reputation obtained from quality products. Just read any number of reviews of the vast quantity of dissatisfied reviewers of American cars and trucks here, and the difference between their experience and that of Toyota owners is overwhelming.

Case in point, the local Chevrolet dealer closed recently. They were offering free hot dogs and soda, so I strolled into the showroom. Sitting there was a brand-new Silverado. For starters, the gas door wasn't properly aligned. It was instead off by a good 1/4" and sank into the body. I could mentioned other flaws with this one truck, but overall, the quality, fit, and finish were almost embarrassing, but not surprising given that it's no different from the rest of the garbage they produce.

Frankly, I could care less where a vehicle is made. I've heard we will soon get trucks made in India. I will look at these too. It they're well-made, I might consider one. All I care about is if it's a good design, and to date, nothing GM or Ford makes is up to standards. But everything I've bought from Toyota does its job, gives me sometimes decades of reliable service, thus saving me money on repairs and maintenance.

My one hope is that GM, Ford, and Chrysler "get it", and the types of vehicles they produce don't fly, and if they are to survive, they are going to have to make better products. Plain and simple.

7th Jan 2009, 11:04

Where a vehicle is built is not as big a factor as where the parent company is located, as the vast amount of profits go to the home country of the manufacturing company, not the area in which the factory is located. That is especially the case with Toyota, which pays its workers far less than domestic companies and offers fewer benefits.

In addition, while import supporters rant about "bail outs" for U.S. auto makers, they neglect to look at the fact that our government has "bailed out" just ONE Toyota plant in in ONE state (Mississippi) to the tune of $225,000,000.

7th Jan 2009, 12:12

21:40 This is a full size truck review, and you mention Honda who does not even have a full size, and Toyota, meaning the Tundra to comment upon.

I love the ones who either do not own, plan to ever own ,most likely will not step up, or just comment upon passenger cars or the teeny trucks instead of full size.

I buy... not just daydream, and can comment directly more than a gas door alignment.

I like going to exotic car shows; maybe I could comment on paint color, but beyond that, I would not profess to have any level of expertise anything beyond that. Same as on here.

How stock reports are today has less of a bearing on what towing capacities, load carrying, room, handling, function etc have. If anyone else buys a new personal full size and walks into showrooms talking about Civics, Prius, Cobalts as well as stock reports, pensions etc it perplexes the imagination. I want the keys and drive them.

I am not all pro domestic... I do not like the Dodge Ram drivability whatsoever any more than Tundra. I also do not like 4WD and elevated models with reduced handling, bad bouncy rides as well. It no doubt pulls great, but it's not on my current wish list.

I really like the Dakota 2WD with the V8 and long wheel base ride and handling, but then dislike the Ram. The only way to tell this was to drive rather than looking in windows counting cupholders.

I picked on Chrysler a bit, but the relevance is the value of test drives.

I like Silverado most of all; best ride, handling, comfort on any of the full sizes I have personally driven lately. No doubt we will read about MPG or small trucks again, but unless I am missing something... I bought (meaning actually spent to buy a full size) for its capability and utility, not trying to make a small shoe fit the expectations on full size truck ownership.

It gets tiresome hearing someone lament about what they owned 20 years ago, and then labeling all present and future models. I may have hated a manual typewriter, but today I am on a wireless laptop. The current technology and safety advances like having air bags, better ride, warranty, features is why I am not driving an archaic beater around.

7th Jan 2009, 17:07

A lot of good the money does for the Big three and its workers, considering Detroit, and much of the cities in the rust belt states of Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana are crumbling into rubble. Ironic since if you look at where Toyota and Nissan build their cars in states like TN and GA, these states have some of the highest living standards in the country. If it is to believed that money being made by Ford and GM in the US is superior, then how come the states they're headquartered in fail to show a benefit from it?

7th Jan 2009, 17:59

10:50 are you seriously going to look at trucks made in India? I know look is just a visual meaning, not serious, not testing, not buying a large truck made by any manufacturer. I know looking at a Tacoma is fruitless by looking at it... it's very small and not a full size truck. It's useless on a full size truck review, and individuals that actually look, plus buy the new full sizes out there. Stimulating the economy vs. just complaining about it.