Posted on 02/10/2010 6:57:36 AM PST by STONEWALLS
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Ford(F Quote) has finally found a major vulnerability in Toyota's(TM Quote) products -- and it clearly isn't willing to let the opportunity slip away. Following Toyota's two massive recalls, Ford is now attempting to grow sales with new commercials taking on Toyota. The commercials are part of Ford's "Spread the Word" campaign, which was launched on Jan. 12. Each of them feature Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, speaking to ordinary people in various settings about Ford vehicles. Rowe "spreads the word" at a gas station, in a coffee shop and at a school. In the school scene, Rowe finds a group of students at a library and quietly lets them know that "Ford has quality that can't be beat by Honda or Toyota."
(Excerpt) Read more at thestreet.com ...
Wow, you DO hold a grudge.
I’ll stay out of your way.
The “Ford Models” is my favorite division :)
A F-150, Taurus, and Camry Hybrid in mine.
That is exactly what this is about. Nothing more, nothing less......"
This is the only logical conclusion. Toyota has built some GREAT vehicles over the years, and still does. I would still consider buying a Toyota SUV,truck, sports car, Camry, etc., regardless of the Obama propaganda machine is trying to do to a truly great manufacturer.
That said...Truck in my driveway...? Ford.
I have no quarrel with Ford. They acted like any good capitalist competitor. If you see a marketing opportunity, take it. Japan certainly has taken every opportunity and leverage move possible.
However, somehow this article overlooks the potential that 99.5% of the whole Prius brake issue is being cooked by Obama Motors. When one car company has the ability to regulate the competition, something smells. AstroTurf anyone? I am impressed with the attention, openness and speed with which Toyota has addressed this problem. I recall how well our government addressed even the little bump of Cash for Cars.
The market lead held by imported autos is the direct result of the United Auto Workers and their pet congress critters.
I will like American cars much better when the UAW, the Teachers Union, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, and the SEIU are in the same bin as the Air Traffic Controllers.
The tires was a Firestone issue, I seem to remember cause I had a F-100 w/Wilderness HT (AT’s were the problem) at the time.
I’ll never forgive the Ford Motor Co. or the Ford Foundation for what they’ve done to the Detroit Lions.
That’s exactly what’s going on. When the government is in the car business they have an interest in trashing the competition. we love Toyotas, i have lost NO confidence in them.
Last I heard The Ford Foundation’s benfactor is the Ford family and that family still has a big say—if not actually runing—the company. Saying one has nothing to do with the other is like saying identical twins didn’t come from the same egg.
What I don't like, is that the parent company of GM and Chrysler (US Govt) has the ability to destroy their competitors through regulation, legislation and force.
“
Mike Rowe is a great spokesman
“
But the voice-over guy on the Ford radio commercials should enunciate
a bit more.
Because I suspect that folks that never watch “Dirty Jobs” think
the voice-over guy is announcing some guy named “MICRO”, not
“MIKE ROWE”.
Non union factors too. This whole Toyota thing is to get UAW workers at GM and Chrysler into non-union transplant factories. I own a Ford and their newest cars are outstanding. This Toyota bashing is BS and a put up job by the UAW. They want all those non-union factories unionized. This is what the attacks on Toyota are all about.
With Japanese engineering.
I’ve owned a Ford and now own a Toyota. I’ll never go back to Ford. Ride any 10 year old Ford, and the a ten year old Toyota, and the difference becomes really apparent.
My wife really liked the Infiniti M35 but we decided to check out the new Ford Taurus / Lincoln MKS. We went to Ford on two occasions to look at the models and the sales staff knew nothing, absolutely nothing, about the cars, features or operation. One guy even tried to show us a model that was being prepped up on a rack. Like, what good is that. Actually, she really liked the Lincoln but was so frustrated with not being able to get any information, she is now driving an M35. The sales lady at Infiniti as very knowledgeable.
I don't know where they get these guys. They stand around smoking all day doing nothing. If I were a Ford sales guy I would spend every spare moment in the cars, learning every feature, and would have my own personal demo of the GPS/Computer system. Go figure.
I stand corrected. I have always had Fords and every time I read something about the Ford Foundation regretted it. I should have looked in to it more.
Nope, no Fords on the Board of Trustees . . . I checked.
I still stand behind Toyota not only because we have 2 (Tundra and Avalon) but because the unions hate them so much and are kicking them while they’re down! I hope they come back bigger and better.
The Ford Foundation sucks but I do not think the family or the company has any control over it. Henry, like other business totans, set up these foundations and if they were not incredibly explicit in the bylaws, they become liberal toilets - doing the exact opposite the founder intended.
As far as vehicles - Ford and Lincoln/Mercury’s quality continues to improve.
No it is about engineering. Plain and simple. The press has done the rest.
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