5th Oct 2009, 06:25
21:16 turn in the next Barrett Jackson and see what appreciates, not goes to junkyards. Drive a Toyota across the block and see who wants an old one.
5th Oct 2009, 12:47
I was VERY happy to see the latest sales figures for the auto industry for September. Ford sales dropped 5%. Toyota and Honda sales dropped by more than TWICE that. No doubt the serious flaws Toyota has been experiencing and the hundreds of roll-over lawsuits has hurt them, and Honda's "disposable" transmissions may well have contributed to their HUGE sales decline (20%).
Also, there is a hint of patriotism still alive in America. Ford can't keep enough Fusions on lots to meet demand. This weekend I took two import-owning friends out to look at new Fords. Both dealerships we visited had ZERO Fusions. One said they had three come in at 10AM and all three were sold by 7PM. Both of my friends ended up with Mustangs. Their unreliable imports are now sitting on the used car lot waiting to be someone else's headache.
10th Oct 2009, 11:15
Very true. Although Toyota HAS made some sporty cars (such as the Supra and MR-2), none of these have ever become classics. Even the body and frame assemblies on Japanese vehicles are not designed for the long run (Tacomas are known to literally break in half). Now it appears that in addition to massive safety recalls and roll-over lawsuits, Toyota has also resorted to stealing technology from American companies. Recent news articles reported that a lower court had ruled that the technology for the Prius was stolen from an AMERICAN company. A firm in Florida charged that Toyota had used their technology without permission or compensation and the court agreed with them and ordered Toyota to pay compensatory damages. It seems that now the once-mighty Toyota can't even exist without stealing its technology from the U.S.
11th Oct 2009, 07:30
12:47 Are you a patriotic Mexican? That's where your Fusion was made (& with plenty of non domestic parts by the way.
11th Oct 2009, 12:42
OK, one more time: Ford is an AMERICAN company. WHERE the cars are assembled doesn't matter. Toyota is a JAPANESE company. If they make cars in my back yard, they are STILL a foreign industry and do NOTHING to help the AMERICAN economy. Less than 10% of U.S. auto-related workers are employed by Japanese companies. Buying a Japanese car helps only 10% of our citizens. Buying a domestic helps 90%, REGARDLESS of where a few of their cars are assembled. We are putting money into AMERICAN companies by buying anything made by that company. Buying a Toyota sends money to a foreign company that at the moment has millions of safety recalls, hundreds of roll-over lawsuits, and was found guilty violating the patent for the technology for the Prius from an AMERICAN company. Please tell us how supporting such a company benefits ANYONE but Toyota.
11th Oct 2009, 21:08
I drive a Corvette. The veterans liked it at the recent large car show at the veterans hospital in Elsmere De. Nice show.
12th Oct 2009, 08:19
"OK, one more time"
Yes one more time - Your idea of America & Patriotism is not mine.
I believe competition is a healthy thing and that monopolies are not.
12th Oct 2009, 11:26
I am in sales and many of us have commented on how unhealthy the competition is, especially on the Internet. I cannot take single digit percentages of profit anymore. Some competition is healthy, however it's gotten so bad lately, our level of quality of service has fallen due to less people serving customers, less cash flow to operate. I liked some exclusive protected areas that we once had. I will pay more to keep the quality of life I enjoyed for many years.
12th Oct 2009, 15:32
Yes, buying the Ford Fusion assembled in Mexico does help the American economy and American workers more than buying the Toyota assembled in Texas. This is a quote from the CNN story posted, "Buying American Really Does Matter.":
"When it comes to longer term benefits, a lot of activity happens in the country in which the company's world headquarters is domiciled".
http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/12/autos/most_american_car/
This is what somebody has been arguing for a long time, and I think he deserves an apology for all the abuse he took for stating the facts.
12th Oct 2009, 17:24
8:19 if Toyota did in fact do that with the Prius, that is a very bad business practice that should not be rewarded. Our family will not buy Toyota at any price with unethical business practices as previously mentioned.
12th Oct 2009, 17:34
12:42 is absolutely correct. Just check out the article on CNN that states almost exactly the same thing, that buying from Ford or GM really does do more for the US economy because of all the ancillary functions located in the US. They go on to say that buying a Toyota made in Kentucky is really only a short term help to a handful of workers in that assembly line, unlike the long-term larger benefits of buying from Ford or GM.
13th Oct 2009, 13:23
I'd rather see the domestic R&D and engineers in America see the profits vs. give it away to Japan. I am for keeping every dollar here for reinvesting and development vs. the few that only care about their own driveway with a import car sitting on it.
17th Oct 2009, 18:06
THANK YOU!!! We've been trying to get this point across for ages, but no one wants to support our own businesses. It is sad that so many people are duped into thinking that buying a Honda or Toyota helps our country. It helps only a tiny handful, while hurting far more. Less than 10% of U.S. auto-related workers benefit in any way from the sale of a Japanese car. It is like stabbing our country in the back.
23rd Nov 2014, 03:59
Mine has 118,000 on it, and yes it does ride better than the domestics I've owned. Maybe Toyota just improved on old designs and didn't design their stuff to wear out as fast as "domestic", I mean made in Mexico and Canada parts. The negative reviews (other than the brake issues) I've read so far seem to come from the comments from people who do not own a Toyota. Try one and you may like it.
Mikey.
6th Apr 2015, 08:24
Hmmm, and what about all the time GM, Ford and Chrysler stabbed the American consumer in the back by producing and selling crap that has to be replaced after 100K miles or less. I read a review about guys bragging their F150s are still going strong after 80K miles. A vehicle should last a minimum of 250K miles without major repairs, other than standard stuff like brakes, water pumps, etc.
If it wasn't for the Japanese cars starting in the 70s, we'd still be driving around in Chevy LUVs and Pintos.
Every time I take my Toyota truck to my mechanic, he's always showing me how the engineering that Toyota puts into their vehicles is always about quality over trying to cut costs. If you make millions of vehicles, there will always be some bad ones, but I'll place my bet that the Toyota I buy now will still be running and in good shape 20 years later, just like my 96 4Runner, which other than the carpets inside, practically looks new still, and it's only just recently required its first major repair: replacing a couple of fuel injectors.
3rd Oct 2009, 21:16
Ha ha. Toyota floor mats. Okay, as a Toyota owner, I suppose I'll accept the faulty floor mats recall. It happened. At least it's a Toyota and has an engine and drivetrain of high enough quality that it'll still be hauling those floor mats around in 20 years, unlike GM and Ford garbage that will be decomposing in a junkyard, floor mats and all... Throw the floor mats away, I'll still (of course) choose the Toyota before anything else (other than maybe a Honda, the only other auto manufacturer in the same class in quality).