now that's an idea I'd willingly pay new car prices for

 

im gonna join that myspace group and cause a big ruckus...

this was my post on the forum from that michael guy on myspace

michael you are sorely mis informed...the reasoning behind americans losing jobs in general is the severe outsourcing from major corporations in america. so essentially companies such as GM, Chrsyler, Sony etc are finding it is cheaper to produce products in foreign countries, and #### over their american employees and the american public, because all that does is remove production from our america...no wonder we import more then we export. and funny thing is japanese car makers support america by producing a higher percentage of parts in america. get your facts straight...then we can talk.

 

The fact is the new Tundra is more "made in America" than the Ford, Chevy and Dodge trucks. The "Big 3" outsource their parts and assembly to Central and South America like crazy. Meanwhile, Toyotas are built in American factories by American workers using American parts.

Those folks on those threads will probably say "oh, that's because Toyota factories are non-union". Perhaps - but the reason they are non-union is because they treat their employees so well. The way I understand it Toyota has never told their workers that they couldn't unionize, just that the employees said "no thanks" to the union.

Chris

 

What people are willing to do is in direct relation to what constitutes a fair and livable wages. American companies aren't interested in paying fair and livable wages. Instead, they exploit illegal immigrants and third worlders for slave wages in direct violation of the law. Not only are these companies breaking the law, but they're being aided and abetted by a criminal and treasonous government.

Indeed.


But economics and politics aside, I'll drive whatever runs. Older model Chevrolet and Ford vehicles kick ass.

 

Just remind them that even "The Great ALL AMERICAN Company" (as most Harley guys refer to it)... gets some of its parts from overseas. Carb's, Ignition, electrical switches, lights, forks, shocks, and a few others...

not trying to start anything, just stating the facts...


BTW I own a 2002 Ford 7.3L diesel, 2004 Mustang Cobra, 1994 Yota 4x4, 2006 Kawi ZX10 R and will soon be purchasing a V-Rod. So I get it from all sides as well.

 

I love my Toyota but I need to correct a few misconceptions.

Nothing you buy from Toyota is more "American" than that of the big 3.

When you buy a brand new toyota, 40% of that money stays in the US.
When you buy, for example, a GM product 80% stays in the US.

It's about who owns the company and decides where the profits go. Toyota is a Japanese company and profits go to Japan.

If you are buying used than none of this applies.

All companies outsource most of the components all over the world. Toyota has Dana make frames in Mexico for example, that's not a dis, just an example of the auto manufacturing industry.

People hate our trucks for all sorts of reasons rational or not. I see Toyota owners do the same. Toyota didn't show up the party as a power train builder until the 3.4L. They plucked a 4 banger from their car line up to put in their trucks. People swear this little 4 cylinder which earned a great reputation in cars at a time when the competition's quality was at an all time low is so great even though it makes no sense to put something that small in a vehicle as heavy as say a 4runner. Ford and Chevy engines are excellent and appropriately sized for their vehicles. They clearly did their homework there. On the other hand, Toyota's chassis and coach works have been much better than the aforementioned examples and in the end, a chassis you are stuck with, an engine you are not so the Toyota lasts longer and IMO makes for a better build up platform.

I have a '94 Explorer and a '94 4runner and it is very interesting to see where each vehicle excels.

Frank

 

You bash anything you don't have, especially if it's a competitor. When I drove my old '91 Isuzu Impulse RS, the forum I was on said more bad things about Hondas than they did good about Isuzus. It's kind of the same thing here - we bash Jeeps here just like they bash Toyotas on their sites. Someone will always point out when a Toyota tows a busted Jeep off the trail, and I'm sure the Jeepers do the same thing with any other vehicle.

 

You're confusing profits with revenues. There's no way those figures are even close to right... do you have a source?

 

I agree with those who said that people are just brand loyal. and yes, toyotas are more reliable than most, if not all, american brands. but, as I always say, to each his own. everyone has their thing, some people like to have fun wheeling their trucks, some like to spend time fixing them. this isnt an insult to any other brand, just what I have gotten from talking with friends who have fords and chevys.

 

Honestly I've seen crap from crysler because of my father insists on buying them left and right to commute with...

My mom has a pontiac g6 with the 260hp 13.8 second quarter v6. Its fast and a nice clean car. But thank god for that warranty cause its been back at least 4 times in the last 6months 2 of which trips could have turned out to be expensive.

 

For me, its the love of hearing out on the trails, or driving around when the Swampthing looks like a moving glob of mud on wheels, people saying "Wow, is that a Jeep? Does great in the mud! What year Jeep is that!?" and just laughing my ass off in the most rude and abrasive way possible.

 

The real deal is that Americans as a whole no longer take pride in the work they do...they consider their job as just a job. Japanese people are proud and painstakingly precise....that's why their stuff stays together better. American's like the throw-away crap...that's why they make throw-away crap. I've never bought a new vehicle, but I've really enjoyed my subaru and my Toyota....I think because they are built with pride.

 

[/QUOTE]i just wish that toyota brought back our truck and put like 5.7L into the 4runners or our pickups. and we get to have those beloved diesels[/QUOTE]


I concur! Very well said! Just would be a pain to work on...the engine bay isn't THAT big.

 

well thats why the toyota engineers are gettin paid the big bucks! im pretty sure they would be able to fit in there or do somthing. But out of all the toyota pickups and 4 runners our body style is the most popular.

 

I'm well aware of that since I wrench on all my own stuff. It is my buddies who are not. The exception to that though is the pre AMF models which were all American made. I actually upgraded to a Mikuni carb on all three of the Harleys I've owned.

I remember reading somewhere about the percentage of American parts in different vehicles but I was never able to find it again. I do remember something about a Camry having more American parts than an F-150. If anyone has a link to a site that has these sort of figures, I would be interested to read it again.

 

Hey now, we have a 6.0 PSD and it has been about as perfect as anyone can ask for! The '03 and '04s had headgasket issues but thats it, and some of the 05s had turbo issues, but that's about it.

Thus far Im VERY happy with our 325hp/570tq PSD!

LMAO!!!

You mean the supercharged, GTP G6? It's going to take a whole hell of a lot more than 260 crank hp to make that car break mid 14s, much less 13s....LOL!

 

Not to be a jerk, but your 4Runner was 100% made in Japan and then shipped here. All 4Runners are made in Japan, many other Toyota products are made in this country.

 

I would never try to suggest that every 6.0 PSD will have issues, I did not mean to come across that way. And I fully agree with you on the power, those things are beasts stock, and with a little work they push ridiculous torque.


Also I missed the post about Runners coming from overseas, so my last post is useless but I don't seem to be able to delete it.

 

Hey, funny you say that, I wish the same, maybe not so much power, though. i say down with the mid-sized, bring back the mini!

But anyways, I am working on an abomination of a Toyota Pickup concept vehicle. its definatley rough around the egdes (My first time with Photo Shop, learning the whole thing as i go), but, when im finished, if anyone is interested, id be willing to post pics, and take some design ideas and modify the original.

I think they should bring back the mini, but with the 5vzfe V6 manual or auto (use a tacoma drivetrain), the 22re (on steroids of course!), and some Toyota deisel (Dont know which one would be best, but comparible to the 5vzfe, so it can share a driveline, also, maybe a turbo option on all the motors ).

What do you think?

 

Yes the 6.0 has a few problems... Our stock '03 excursion was in the shop way to many times within 50K miles because of turbo issues. But they finally put the right one on it and its been running great at 160K. I worked in an off-road shop for a while and I noticed more problems with them when you start to mod the engine. (HG, oil leaks, turbos). Every car company has its faults, there just seems to be a little more with American companies.