Anyone drive a Toyota?

Just curious about what our Toyota owners think about the news surrounding the car line?

 

I don't know about the owners but I kinda feel for Toyota. Can you imagine being in direct competition with motor companies owned by the federal government? I'd keep an eye on this one.

 

Just in case you didnt know Toyota asked the Japanese Goverment for some $3 Billion + to help bail them out that was in March 2009 so I would think they are now on a even footing with the American state sponnserd car makers woudnt you?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/03/2506461.htm

 

Regardless...I won't buy an American car for two reasons. First, I'd be helping to stuff more mega profits into the corporate pockets of their overpriced (and in Ford's case) Chinese IMPORTS. Two, US companies will not stand behind their product, or even admit a problem when it arises with their products. (I made the mistake of buying a Pontiac product with an engine gasket issue that ruins the engine that they would never admit).
Overpriced..inferior quality profits for the corporate creeps.
I'll pass and take a Japanese model any day of the week.

 

One of the professors where my wife works just had to have a total knee reconstruction after her accelerator pedal stuck in a Toyota she was driving. She already has a lawyer and I'm sure she'll win this one. She'll never walk the same but she'll have a pile of money to sit and look at. If only we had tort reform to keep companies like Toyota from having to take responsibility for their faulty products.

 

I do like the way the Toyota official came out and apologized. Different culture for sure.

As far as buying new, if I were to buy a new car, the only US company I would even consider would be Ford as they are the only non-government, non-foreign company left. Chrysler is no longer an American company and GM is government owned.

And this is from a guy who has only owned Dodge and Chevy.

 

You do realize many of Ford's parts are made/assembled in China? Ford isn't American any longer either.

 

Of course. It is a global economy. Many Toyotas are made in the US too.

My point was really just saying there is only 1 US private owned car company left so, by default, it is the only US car company I would consider. I am unlikely to be buying new cars anyway, though. 4 wheels and they turn is good enough for me has been my motto with cars for a long time. New cars don;t giove me much of a thrill.

 

A diehard to the bone Detroiter I am. I drive a Nissan Xterra

I did make 400% on Ford stock tho when it was selling at $2 last year, I sold at $8 I advised this or cointalk ( cant remember ) to do the same. 5 into 20 in less than a year. Not bad for 15 minutes on the internet.

 

My point was Ford using substandard, non American parts and exploiting China's labor and calling it American. The only thing American about them is that they're corporate, but so is Walmart. Maybe we could start selling Ford's at Walmart? That'd probably make the right happy, wouldn't it?

 

Again, it is a global economy so you have to expect that they are using foreign parts. It's hard to be too high and mighty about China when they finance our entire government. Hell, we probably borrowed the money we are spending on Haiti from China.

 

Agreed. China owns us (quite literally). What's that say about the corportists that allowed this to happen? How long do you think it'll be before the remaining lot of Americans, that have somehow still survived the corporate onslaught, will be entirely sold off to China or the like? That's your "capitalism" at work there Bud!! Corporations sell off Americans, so why support any American/Chinese corporations (like Ford or Walmart) with our patronage?
If I'm going to get foreign products via foreign labor, I'll just give my money directly to the foreigners and bypass the stuffed shirts. KIA, or some other completely foreign company. No need to buy American any more, because America has been long since sold to the highest bidder, and they're not American anyway...they're Chinese!! Ahhhh..you gotta love that capitalism!!

 

Yep, the largest corporation we have in this country has has been more than happy to sell us to the Chinese.

 

corporations....republicans blatently supporting corporations....elitists.....all the same damn thing. All should rot in Hell.

 

Both parties bend over for the corporations. It is not like the lobbyists on K Street go out of business when the Democrats are in power.

 

You're right of course, but again, my turd theory comes to mind.

 

Big turd. Bigger turd. It all tastes the same.

 

Yes it does. Might not the bigger one though, more easily, clog up the plumbing?

 

Pity pity
I can count on my hand 12 relatives who work for Ford, and 9 more who retired from Ford. Not a one of them work in China. They work in Michigan, and they are all union, less my brother who is wjite collar. Pity pity, my cousin Dave sweeps floors and my brother Doug in a suit and tie engineer.

Sad thing is they make less than 15K a year differance. Hmm, quit highschool and drag a mop around, OR, go to college for 5 years.........Unions, gotta love em yannow? Gee, I wonder why a new car costs 20K plus

I am not calling this out of my ass, ask anybody who has been here long....I am solid as a Detroiter and a Ford family guy. Unions make me gag with bile what they have done to the country.

 

I think my Ford Expedition was built in the US, by US workers.