New Toyota Tundra ads really annoying me

[John Larkin]

Japanese automakers focused first on transportation, second on style and content. Remember how bare boned early imports were?

American automakers focus first on style and content, second on transportation.

That is the first flaw.

The second flaw is the US operated in a vacuum for decades. Japan is not a large place. They do not have the population to support the amount of product they produce. On the other hand, the US is a large place. Plenty of consumers with few options of what to purchase. US automakers did little to update their cars; we were stuck in 1950s technology until around 1970 when real competition started to arrive along with the first Energy Crisis.

The third flaw is US government regulation. Sure, cars need to be safe, efficient, and eco-friendly for consumers. But the US government invaded the automobile industry more fiercely that other governments of the world in their respective automobile industries. The result was US automakers ducking for cover and scrambling for quick fixes. They had nothing efficient and outsourced drivetrains into the poopy cars of the 80s. Ford got drivetrains from Nissan and Mazda, GM used Isuzu, Toyota and Suzuki, and Chrysler grabbed Mitsubishi. What few engines they produced domestically were so new that they were inherently problematic in the rush to market. So in short, the government drove them away from technology by moving too quickly.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Black-Jacket]

i used to mildly hate imported cars, then i worked for honda. now i despise every last one of those goddamn peices of ****

 

[GSX-PKV]

American car companies have "legacy" costs... pensions & insurance they are obligated to pay retired workers. If these companies go out of business it's the hard working retired workers who lose out. In my opinion, those "leagcy" costs should be calculated and then added as a surcharge or tax to all auto manufacurers who do not have those costs to contend with. The $$$ should then be put into the social security fund. That would level the playing field for all auto manufacturers and most of all protect what former workers have "earned". One more reason to buy American.

 

[mazdatech78]

You guys make me laugh. You have no clue do you. Im a used car tech for a Honda/Toyota dealership. My main job is to get the non Honda and Toyota vehicles ready for the used car lot. Do you know how sh*tty newer model American cars are? They cant even hold Honda or Toyotas jock! For example: Right now im getting a 02 Buick Rendezvous ready for the lot. With 55k miles on is in needs over $3500 worth of work! Also this vehicle was 35k new. The customer only got 7k in trade-in value. WTF is that? What a money loser. This happens daily. Im not here to stroke off Honda and Toyota, they have their problems also. But for resale value, and fuel economy. Why would you go anywhere else. My 06 Tundra has 12k miles and I havent had one problem with it. It also has the highest resale in its class and gets about 17mpg in all around driving. Try that in a Ford or Chevy. And for you foriegn car haters. Most Hondas and Toyotas are made right here in America. Go pop the hood on you "American" car and see where its made. Try Canada and Mexico. Last time I checked neither of those places are in the USA!

James

 

[forzfed]

You guys make me laugh. You have no clue do you. Im a used car tech for a Honda/Toyota dealership. My main job is to get the non Honda and Toyota vehicles ready for the used car lot. Do you know how sh*tty newer model American cars are? They cant even hold Honda or Toyotas jock! For example: Right now im getting a 02 Buick Rendezvous ready for the lot. With 55k miles on is in needs over $3500 worth of work! Also this vehicle was 35k new. The customer only got 7k in trade-in value. WTF is that? What a money loser. This happens daily. Im not here to stroke off Honda and Toyota, they have their problems also. But for resale value, and fuel economy. Why would you go anywhere else. My 06 Tundra has 12k miles and I havent had one problem with it. It also has the highest resale in its class and gets about 17mpg in all around driving. Try that in a Ford or Chevy. And for you foriegn car haters. Most Hondas and Toyotas are made right here in America. Go pop the hood on you "American" car and see where its made. Try Canada and Mexico. Last time I checked neither of those places are in the USA!

James

I bought a Colorado not to long ago. It was either that or a Tacoma but there is no way I could get a Tacoma for the price of the Colorado and the Colorado get's better milage. I've owned 2 Toyotas in the past and currently still own an '88 SR5 that has the 22RE and 155k miles on it. It is a total piece of crap. I've owned a Toyota diesel pickup and that think was absolutely amazing. It's funny because when I tell people about my SR5, it is like I'm lying to them. A co-worker owned a 98 Camary with 50k on it and he has had nothing but problems, yet he owns a '04 Corolla and it has been very good.

 

[Renthorin]

James, my point wasn't American better than Import....it was more...what the hell is up with these Tundra commercials acting like that truck is so revolutionary.

They can't even get the facts straight about what the market has to offer in comparison.

Since, however, you bring up the point of foreign better than domestic I think you are still stuck in the "old days" mentality. For the most part the media is finally admitting that the Big 3 quality has caught up to the imports.

It is time we put the aged, negative opinion of American cars behind us and give the big 3 (yes even Ford) a second chance.

I will use my father as an example of why things like Consumer Reports are a joke.

My mom had a 90 something Accord. It had numerous problems...tranny broke ..oil leaks..power steering problems...etc. When my dad was asked to fill out an "owner satisfaction" survey from CR he declined. I asked him why and this is what he said... (are you sitting down?)

"Honda builds quality vehicles. The fact that your mother's Accord had problems is because it is a lemon and I will not tarnish the automaker's reputation but listing this car in a negative light".

Wow..... then take a look at what CR says about cars like the Vette "harsh ride....too stiff...noisy.....poor gas mileage." Ya think? It isn't a town car ass clowns!!!

But the American people eat that crap up because we have been brainwashed from the experiences of the 70's and 80's that American cars are junk.

As for the Rendevous... my friend took his Honda CRV in for some routine maintenance at 70k. Cost him almost 3000 in "maintenance". He was floored. He now owns a Mercury Milan.

 

[mazdatech78]

Everyone has different experiences with cars. All I can relay my experiences. If the big 3 have caught up why do they need 2-3 times the work of a Japanese car with the same mileage? I wish American car companies built a better product, but they dont, and if you could see what I see every single day you think the same way I do.

James

 

[whitehot84]

My son has a Toyota 4Runner with over 300,000 miles on it. He's had to change the plugs twice now. I don't know if he can afford to keep the thing at this rate.

 

[1 RARE T]

You guys make me laugh. You have no clue do you. Im a used car tech for a Honda/Toyota dealership. My main job is to get the non Honda and Toyota vehicles ready for the used car lot. Do you know how sh*tty newer model American cars are? They cant even hold Honda or Toyotas jock! For example: Right now im getting a 02 Buick Rendezvous ready for the lot. With 55k miles on is in needs over $3500 worth of work! Also this vehicle was 35k new. The customer only got 7k in trade-in value. WTF is that? What a money loser. This happens daily. Im not here to stroke off Honda and Toyota, they have their problems also. But for resale value, and fuel economy. Why would you go anywhere else. My 06 Tundra has 12k miles and I havent had one problem with it. It also has the highest resale in its class and gets about 17mpg in all around driving. Try that in a Ford or Chevy. And for you foriegn car haters. Most Hondas and Toyotas are made right here in America. Go pop the hood on you "American" car and see where its made. Try Canada and Mexico. Last time I checked neither of those places are in the USA!

James

For all you who are still living with that chip on your shoulder, this pretty much tells it like it is. Deal with it. Domestics quality better than "imports"? Don't believe everything you read. The only imports that have quality issues are some that are built here. By you! Sad but true.

American car companies have "legacy" costs... pensions & insurance they are obligated to pay retired workers. If these companies go out of business it's the hard working retired workers who lose out. In my opinion, those "leagcy" costs should be calculated and then added as a surcharge or tax to all auto manufacurers who do not have those costs to contend with. The $$$ should then be put into the social security fund. That would level the playing field for all auto manufacturers and most of all protect what former workers have "earned". One more reason to buy American.

Dude, you are living in a time warp. "Hard working auto workers"? Ever been in a plant or had beers with them? Hard working all right.:wink:

I keep reading your comments on surcharging auto companies for not having those "costs" and I still don't get it. Shame on them for running a profitable bussiness. The usefullness of the unions is gone. The auto companies can't afford them anymore. I've got lots of freind who work/worked at various plants and I here all the stories. Makes me sick. Dog-fukers making what they do and laugh about it. Crappy parts and completed cars going down the line because all they care about is production numbers. Let the dealers worry about it they're told.

I could go on but I'm sure you're all ready to unload on me.

 

[Roc87]

Wow..... then take a look at what CR says about cars like the Vette "harsh ride....too stiff...noisy.....poor gas mileage." Ya think? It isn't a town car ass clowns!!!

My '01 6 speed Vette got me 22mpg mix of city/freeway (22miles each way, took an hour) on my daily commute. Got a little over 30 on the way up to Denver last year.

Grandfather had given me an '86 Mazda B2000 that he had bought new, wouldn't get out of the way of itself, plenty of oil leaks, needed a/c compressor, alternator, cat went bad, and this was with less than 60k miles. it NEVER got 22 on that same commute.

CR is getting paid under the table.....

 

[Whut]

I just didnt like the one where the guy was all "Back in the day my daddy used a hammer, times have changed (holds up electric nail gun) thats why I own a Tundra"

WTF?? comparing a hammer to a pickup truck?

 

[Black-Jacket]

Everyone has different experiences with cars. All I can relay my experiences. If the big 3 have caught up why do they need 2-3 times the work of a Japanese car with the same mileage? I wish American car companies built a better product, but they dont, and if you could see what I see every single day you think the same way I do.

James

i have, lets see. every bloody civic from about 1999-2004 needs struts because they leak, odessy van puking trannys left right and center, the faulty odometers running people out of warranty quicker.

and

toyotas famous engine sludge issues (google it)

HONDA GETS SUED

Honda settles suit over defective odometers

Tentative plan includes Acura; customers will be reimbursed for repairs, warranties will be extended.

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- About 6 million Honda and Acura owners will get extensions of leases or warranties, or in some cases refunds, as part of a $16 million-plus settlement stemming from faulty odometers, which chalked up miles too quickly.

Because of the defective odometers, warranties expired earlier than they should have.

In some cases, leaseholders had to pay for miles they did not drive when odometers showed they exceeded mileage limits.

As part of a tentative class-action settlement, American Honda Motor Co. will:


Extend by 5 percent the mileage-based coverage period of its warranties.


Extend mileage allowed in leases by 5 percent.


Reimburse customers for repairs made just after their warranties expired.


Refund $6.1 million in fees for exceeding mileage limits to about 25,000 former leaseholders -- who will receive $265 each.

The suit began in April 2004 when a Texas woman complained that her 2002 Odyssey was overstating her mileage by 2 percent to 4 percent. Other drivers also complained their odometers weren't accurate.

"People who had been making the 300-mile trip to Grandma's house found out that Grandma had moved 12 miles away when they bought a Honda," James Holmes, an attorney for the car owners, said Monday.

Honda said the problem stemmed from the automaker inadvertently overcorrecting inaccuracies in an earlier generation odometer.

Even so, the margin of error was acceptable under industry guidelines, which calls for odometers to be accurate to plus or minus 4 percent.

"Our standards didn't change, but it was well within the accepted industry standards," said Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman.

"Customers expect it would be based on (close to) zero (error). It's never going to be perfect."

Honda has since moved to a speed sensor in the transmission, and a computer calculates the mileage.

Martin said he didn't know how many customers were charged for repairs in error. He noted many repairs would have been done at dealerships, which keep good records.

Holmes wondered whether Honda was seeking to reduce its warranty costs by overstating mileage -- something the automaker has denied.

"With everything you know about Japanese engineering, it's hard to believe 2 or 3 percent just slipped past them," he said.

Attorneys for the Honda owners will be awarded $9.5 million in legal fees and $300,000 in expenses, if U.S. District Judge T. John Ward approves the settlement.

Meanwhile, three new suits have been filed against Honda in Canada.

A similar suit charging Nissan with having faulty odometers is pending in U.S. District Court in Marshall, Texas.

Nissan has denied wrongdoing.

For more information, go to www. odosettlementinfo.com.

You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662-8735 or dshepardson@detnews.com.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tentative agreement


Covered vehicles: 2002 to 2006 Hondas and Acuras, purchased from April 13, 2002, to Nov. 7, 2006. Some 2007 Honda Fits are included as well.

Honda will extend by 5 percent the mileage-based coverage of warranties and lease terms. The company also will reimburse owners for repairs made during the extended warranty period. It will also repay leasees for some excess mileage charges.

An approval hearing is set for May 30.

 

[whitehot84]

In early 2005, the Auto Alliance International (AAI) facility, a joint venture of Ford and Mazda in Flat Rock, Michigan, completed a community impact assessment pilot and issued a report – "Connecting with Downriver."

And what will we call this facility?????

 

[whitehot84]

Here's a good American auto maker:

Mexico

General Motors de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C.V.
Cadillac Chevrolet HUMMER
Pontiac Saab

Mexico
Overview

General Motors de Mexico leads automotive companies in Mexico in sales. It began operations in this country in 1935 and today has efficient and modern manufacturing plants in Toluca, State of Mexico; Silao, Guanajuato; Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila; and in Mexico City. GM's investment is substantial as Mexico's single largest private employer. GM Mexico assembles many models for the domestic sales and worldwide export. It markets the Chevrolet, Pontiac, Cadillac and Saab brands, and Fiat.
GM Mexico Imports:

*
Cadillac -- Seville STS, DeVille, Catera
*
Pontiac -- Firebird Trans Am, Grand Prix, Grand AM
*
Chevrolet -- Chevy Station Wagon, Impala, Tracker 2 & 4 drs., S-10 Pickup, Blazer, Camero Z28, C-15 Pickup, C-20, P-30, Express Van, Cargo Van, LUV & LUV Crew Cab, C-15 Extended Cab 3 drs., Malibu, Venture, Tahoe 4 drs., Corvette, C-35 H.H.

GM Mexico Exports:

*
United States -- Cavalier, Sunfire, Silverado, Suburban, Aztek (CY2000)
*
Canada -- Cavalier, Sunfire, Silverado, Suburban
*
IPC - Cavalier, Sunfire, Silverado, Suburban, Suburban RHD
*
Argentina – Cavalier
*
Chile - Cavalier, Suburban
*
Ecuador – Cavalier
*
Peru – Cavalier
*
Central America and Caribbean - Cavalier, Sunfire, Chevy, Chevy RHD Silverado, Suburban, Kodiak

Facilities

*
Ramos Arizpe
*
Silao
*
Toluca
*
Toluca GM SPO Mexico

 

[whitehot84]

I really love this little tidbit off the news line.


Ford logo. Ford Motor Company confirmed plans to update facilities in Mexico but would not comment on whether it planned to build a new plant there as AFP reported earlier this week.
(Ford)

Ford Motor Company confirmed plans to update facilities in Mexico but would not comment on whether it planned to build a new plant there as AFP reported earlier this week.

"We remain committed to a new low-cost manufacturing facility. But we have made no decisions on where it will be located," Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas, said in a statement.

"The key to success will be high quality and low cost, and that certainly can be in the US, Canada or Mexico."

Building the plant in Mexico is likely to draw the ire of the United Auto Workers union which has, until this point, been relatively supportive of Ford's massive restructuring plan which includes the shuttering of 12 plants in Canada and the United States and the loss of up to 30,000 jobs.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said earlier this week that the union had not had a chance to review Ford's plans in Mexico.

Meanwhile, Gettelfinger appointed a new top bargainer at Ford, Bob King, an experienced UAW vice president, who is expected to take a harder line in talks over plant shutdowns than his predecessor.

According to a document obtained earlier this week by AFP, Ford plans to invest 9.2 billion dollars in a new plant in Mexico that could create some 150,000 jobs. That, according to the document, would reduce the number of jobless in the country by 15 percent.

It would represent between seven and nine percent of the total annual foreign direct investment in Mexico and would also generate exports valued at 18 billion dollars, the internal report noted.

The documents also indicated that Ford expects to increase its purchases of Mexican-made components by 300 percent, their investments by 3.6 billion dollars.

Ford said Friday that details of the overhauls of its two existing Mexican assembly plants in Cuautitlan and Hermosillo, and its engine plant in Chihuahua, will be announced over the next several years as the improvements take place.

"Ford has been doing business in Mexico since 1925, and we were the first automaker ever in the country. We are proud of our manufacturing capability in Mexico today, and we plan to upgrade our facilities for the future, just as we have been modernizing many of our facilities in the US and Canada," Fields said.

Ford inaugurated its first plant some 80 years ago in Mexico City to build the Model T. Today, Ford builds the F-Series pickup and Ikon small car in Cuautitlan. Engines for several vehicles sold globally are made in Chihuahua. The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr are built in Hermosillo.

"For more than eight decades, we have worked hand-in-hand with Mexico, its people and its government," said Louise Goeser, Ford of Mexico president and chief executive.

"Mexico remains an excellent business environment for Ford, and it will remain a key manufacturing location for our global automotive operations as a result of these investments."

Now how much of that profit do we see. ?????? And, 150,000 jobs could really help the economy here, ya think?????

 

[watz]

Just want to vent a bit about the new Tundra ads.

Stuff like:

"For years you have asked for a truck with a 6-speed transmission....happy birthday. The new Tundra...bla bla bla"

"For years full size trucks offered 300 ft-lbs of torque....Tundra has 400..bla bla bla"

I thought they were comping the Tundra (26k-32k) to the ½ ton Silverado (18k) and such. But for the price you need to step up to the the 2500 Silverado(24k)

Let's see......2500 has 6-speed and 660 lb.-ft. of torque....huh.....

Why are they pushing these ads at us so hard? Oh wait....I know...probably trying to make us forget about the NUMEROUS recalls over the past few years for this truck. Ball joints...brakes...exhaust rubbing on brake lines.... steering problems ...frame collapsing.......

Buy American!!!

Where can I get a 2500 with a diesel (660 lb ft) for 24k????

I think it's great Toyota upped the ante a little. 380 hp and 400 lb ft. Dodge will top it in 09 then Ford MIGHT actually step up, I doubt it but maybe...Then Chevy can knock it out of the park, with 450hp from the factory... This is great Now all we need is 20 mpg and 450 hp.... Before you diesel guys pipe up.... We need this for UNDER 30g's.... I got Buick parts to buy you know

 

[fitz3820]

I just didnt like the one where the guy was all "Back in the day my daddy used a hammer, times have changed (holds up electric nail gun) thats why I own a Tundra"

WTF?? comparing a hammer to a pickup truck?

The competition is the hammer = low tech. The Tundra is the high tech, modern tool.

Everyone stop the whining, competition improves the breed. My GN was put together like crap - horrible panel gaps, insulation over the concert sound speakers, power antenna lasted about 6 months, horrible paint, etc.

Like it or not, the Japanese make the best cars in the world and therefore have a growing market share and high resale values.

 

[whitehot84]

Check this out. You will be surprised.

TMMK -|- Toyota Georgetown

98% of the steel used at the Toyota plant is American made.

They also have the highest percentage of American suppliers. This means more Americans are working. NOT MEXICANS.

 

[Black-Jacket]

The competition is the hammer = low tech. The Tundra is the high tech, modern tool.

Everyone stop the whining, competition improves the breed. My GN was put together like crap - horrible panel gaps, insulation over the concert sound speakers, power antenna lasted about 6 months, horrible paint, etc.

Like it or not, the Japanese make the best cars in the world and therefore have a growing market share and high resale values.

that claim is laughable at best

 

[whitehot84]

that claim is laughable at best

Let me see..........Japanese or Mexican, Japanese or Mexican???????? I think I will go with Japanese.