9th Feb 2009, 21:48
12:18 - Which kinds of domestic vehicles to you 'patriotic' Americans buy? The Chevy Aveo's made in Korea or the Ford Fusions made in Mexico?? At least when it the engines blow up at 60,000 miles, you can park them in the yard and paint a flag on them or something as a lawn ornament. I think I'll stick to Toyota's and buy something that runs instead of something that makes me more 'patriotic'.
10th Feb 2009, 05:54
Having sold both Imported and Domestic trucks, I personally would prefer a Domestic truck over an Import if I were in the market for a full-size truck. I'm not so sure that I would go with a domestic mid-size pick-up however. That's just my personal opinion.
Having said that, I really think that this import vs. domestic debate is rather uncalled for, as people should simply buy what they like and what best serves their needs and budget. Furthermore people need to stop worrying about what their neighbors buy or where it is made. (Most of these trucks are built in America by Americans by the way.)
I also wonder if those "I only buy American, Patriots" who are calling import owners less than patriotic, have ever stopped to think where their microwave, DVD player, refrigerator, television set, cell phone, and virtually everything else in their homes were made...
This entire debate evokes memories of McCarthyism to me.
10th Feb 2009, 11:29
Show me one made in America and I'll buy it. Or do you want the remainder of American manufacturing to leave, too?
10th Feb 2009, 12:37
I'm one of those "Patriots" (and I never thought I'd hear fellow citizens actually ridicule that word) who buys from American companies. And YES, I DO think of where other items we purchase come from. Our microwave was made in Ohio (28 YEARS ago), my CD/DVD player was made in the U.S., my TV was made in the U.S., and though we have a few items that are made by foreign companies, it is only because we had no domestic source for them.
People who DON'T bother to research where their purchases come from are in great part responsible for our current economic woes. As for full-size trucks, thankfully no one other than domestic makers now build them anyway.
10th Feb 2009, 15:27
The argument that buying imports is unpatriotic is ridiculous. Guess what? America is no longer a manufacturing country. China has basically taken over that role. When was the last time you saw anything actually made in the USA? Go to Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or any other large retailer and flip over those products. They are ALL made in China. In fact, most of the appliances in my kitchen are American made... but they are all at least 20-25 years old. Anything new is basically cheap, stamped together plastic junk meant to be thrown away in 2-3 years.
I used to be a power tool salesman. Guess what happened? One by one all the American-made tools we sold shut their US plants and sent them overseas. The same has been occurring with the US auto industry for decades and will likely continue to do so.
So if you want to get angry, get angry at those US companies who decided to offshore their labor. It isn't the fault of Japanese or European countries. Those Japanese and European companies (Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mercedes, BMW) have all built plants in the US because they can actually build their cars more efficiently and cheaper than they can in their own countries. This just comes to show that the big Three have been running an inefficient machine for years, for if they can't even operate in their own home turf, then they have some severe management issues.
If you want to truly be patriotic, then realize that in order to succeed, it's going to take ingenuity and intelligence to do so. Go to college. Send your kids to college. Research current and future trends. Go for those things and make innovations.
Lastly, the economy we're in now wasn't created by people buying imports, but rather people buying overpriced housing and the banks who foolishly lent money to unqualified buyers. I suspect that this recession will be extremely severe, and would be surprised if GM, Ford, and especially Chrysler survive.
10th Feb 2009, 15:45
20:52 "better products are available and people are buying them"
Sure has never been any competition for full size domestics ever from Tundra. If you own a 1988 Tacoma, why spend so much time with owners of new full size trucks. I would highly recommend everyone test drive and compare the Tundra to the full size new domestics. If you need a small used truck, I am sure there is a recommendation for a 1988 Tacoma small one. Do not count on it to be equivalent however.
By the way, I would take any new truck for a gift and then promptly sell it for one that has the most applications, features, best warranty and capability. It would not be a Tundra, but I would sell it for a more functional better full size domestic with far superior capabilities and better warranty. People are buying them and few Tundras in comparison. But somehow it will drift to small truck comments ,maybe Prius and small scooters no doubt.
10th Feb 2009, 23:21
I think these observations are fascinating in maybe an unintended way. Almost every car magazine review of a Camry uses the word "bland." I read in a business magazine that in surveys of people under the age of 30, Toyota is viewed as being one of the worst automobile brands for value received for how much money you spent. Ford is quite a bit better at mid pack in that regard. Sorry I don't recall how any other brands fared.
Last year, the average age of Toyota buyers increased by a full year. Simply put, young people don't buy Toyotas. They see those as unhip and square as I thought my parents music was. (They also think the special effects in Star Wars look really lame.) Toyota saw these shifts in attitudes coming a long time ago and launched the Scion brand to circumvent this. How this fits in with the lower than expected sales of Tundras I am not really sure. I haven't been able to figure out what age group they expected to buy Tundras.
The young people I talk to seem to be completely clueless that any brand of vehicle can have significant reliability issues. They just think everything new is good and everything is going to last 100,000 miles.
9th Feb 2009, 21:10
11:38 I've had a new GM Silverado and a Mercedes sharing the same driveway. There are better ways to express a comment than to make a domestic owner an uneducated good ole boy drinking Bud Light. I suspect the implication is that domestic full size pick up buyers in 2009 lack the capability to make rational decisions. I find the reverse. I have yet to find an equivalent pickup being offered regardless of price by the import manufacturers. I do not even drink beer. However having a minimal Toyota truck lineup,minimal warranty, less room, less towing capability, less load carrying, less comfort does sounds much like watered down beer.