US losing market share (My Title)

St. Louis Post Discrap ^ | 12/27/01 | Jeff Green

[demsux]

Toyota leads Asian automakers' charge on U.S. truck market By Jeff Green Bloomberg News 12/26/2001 09:50 PM CHICAGO - General Motors Corp. sold Renzie Davis his first two cars and a truck. But when the Chicago engineer decided to replace his 1999 Chevrolet Blazer sport-utility vehicle last spring, he chose a black 2001 Toyota Motor Corp. Highlander instead.

[demsux]

At the risk of burning at the stake (from the coming flames), I submit this article. These are the folks that attacked Pearl Harbor in a TERRORIST ATTACK...now they control a large portion of our economy from within our borders and at the expense of our workers. If history repeats itself, Islamic fundamentalist states will come to control some large portion of our economy. Which will it be? Oil, commerce or what little manufacturing we have left? Keep flying those American flags on those Japanese cars and let the profits flow to Japan.

[general_re]

"It does seem that consumers are becoming more picky in terms of quality," which especially benefits Toyota and Honda, said Norihiko Kamada, who helps manage $1.2 billion in stocks at Chuo Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo.

Toyota and Honda dominate U.S. surveys on vehicle performance in the first 90 days of ownership. Asian models had the highest initial quality in five of the seven truck categories and six of the nine car segments, according to the latest J.D. Power & Associates survey.

TANSTAAFL, my FRiend. I'll buy when they make things worth buying, comparatively speaking. I don't "owe" them my car-buying dollars any more than they "owe" me a car for less than they can get from someone else.

[demsux]

Exactly my point...when the talibunnies start making "higher quality" product, will you buy?

[demsux]

TANSTAAFL

What does that mean?

[agave]

Oh, calm down. A large percentage of the "Japanese" trucks and SUVs Americans buy are built in America by Americans, and have been for years.

Meanwhile, American auto makers are building and selling tons of vehicles in Mexico and points south, to say nothing of the "Arab World." You should've seen all the Suburbans and Tahoes (ne Sonoras) with Mexican license plates parked in the lots at the Tucson malls right before Christmas.

[SoDak]

I drive a Jeep, which I like and will likely buy again, but my sister and her husband bought a Blazer and it's true, the dang thing rattles like it's 15 years old and it's only 1 year old. It screams cheap and plastic. I would never buy one after riding in theirs. That isn't all either, they've already had a ton of warranty work done also. My sister drives it to work and back, not offroad. Another friend has a 96 Toyota T100 he's treated like hell on his farm, and he hasn't stuck a dime into it yet. That's anectdotal, but enough to keep me from buying a GM.

[SoDak]

You got it. There's nothing wrong at all with fair competition in the marketplace. it's what the country was built on.

[mjk19]

Its pretty stupid to call the bombing of Pearl Harbor a terrorist attack since the Japanese attacked military targets. Would you call the Israeli surprise attack on Arab air forces to start the 6 Day War a "terrorist attack"? I will never buy a Ford, GM or piece of crap Chrysler. I have owned a Honda for over 10 years and I have never had a major problem with it. The most major repair it needed was a new clutch and other repairs due to normal wear and tear. My wife drives a Nissan Altima and thats a great reliable car too. My dad owned a Ford Taurus but the AC broke and the transmission was shot after 90,000 miles. I know people who own Chrysler's and everything I heard has been negative about their relability. The only American car I might consider buying is a Saturn. If the American auto makers and UAW did not spend their time complaining about foreign competition and instead spent time figuring out how to build a relaible car than maybe I would change my mind.

[mjk19]

Ping!!!!

[agave]

As long as we're sharing anecdotes...I have a 94 Isuzu Rodeo with 108,000 miles on it. It's no luxmobile, but it has been very reliable and I'm not planning to get rid of it any time soon. Built in America by Americans.

On Memorial Day this year we dumped my wife's Olds Ciera Wagon (worst piece-of-crap car we've ever owned) and bought a Chevy Tahoe. The new vehicle already has 17,000+ miles on it and all we've done is change the oil. I would agree that the model it replaced was a piece of crap and I you couldn't have paid me to buy one. But the new Chevy is a quality vehicle, built solid and tough, and it gets surprisingly good mileage, too. Built in America by Americans.

[general_re]

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" ;)

And if and when the Taliboppers start making high-quality product, that suggests to me that they won't have as much time to promote terrorism, will they? Not much sense in trying to blow up the people you want to sell cars to, is there?

[Alberta's Child]

Relax. Did you know that most Japanese corporate giants are publicy-traded firms with a substantial number of U.S. stockholders? Did you know that some U.S. auto firms own large portions of Japanese auto manufacturers (e.g., Ford owns about 25% of Mazda)?

Have you looked at the Nikkei index lately? The Japanese aren't going anywhere when it comes to economic growth, and the fact that they own lots of auto plants in the U.S. is a sign of U.S. strength. What are the Japanese going to do if they get mad at us, pick up these plants and take them home?

[Arkie2]

Get a grip. The US automakers have had plenty of time to correct the quality problems and they've only paid lip service to it( Quality is joke one ). When their market share falls below 10% maybe they'll finally get the message.

[womanvet]

Let's see...Japanese-brand cars are made in the United States by American workers. GM cars are made in Mexico by...NAFTA workers.

So, if I ever had the money for another car, which one would I buy? Do I feel any need to see that Mexicans have jobs? Or do I care more about my fellow citizens? Do I want a quality American-built product, or something slapped together by underpaid, uncaring folks whose dream is to sneak across the border and make more money as below minimum-wage servants for wealthy Kalifornicators?

This is going to be a hard choice...

[Alberta's Child]

My dad owned a Ford Taurus but the AC broke and the transmission was shot after 90,000 miles.

Ford now uses a Mazda transmission in the Taurus. From what I understand, it has given the Taurus one of the most reliable powertrains on the road today.

[Aaron_A]

Toyota pickups also seem to have the dominant market share in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Atleast amongst the Jihadis... :)

[demsux]

It's a shame that all of you have had such bad experiences with American cars...I have a '96 Chevy Tahoe with over 100,000 miles on it. Nothing but routine maintenance. As a matter of fact, I am going to buy another one. Just don't go to slow in front of me with one of those weenie 4 banger rice grinders...the Tahoe would roll right over you (and probably dump it's huge 25 gallon gas tank on you).

[Alberta's Child]

Also, I might add that I've been driving a Ford Explorer since 1994. It now has almost 160,000 miles on it, and the only major problem they have is a recurring ball joint problem in the front end. It's a problem with all of those older Explorers because they're so damned heavy, but its worth the hassle because it was one of the last SUVs to be built with a truck suspension instead of the soccer-mom independent suspensions they use now.

[demsux]

Its pretty stupid to call the bombing of Pearl Harbor a terrorist attack

You are a moron, the reasoning further on in your post makes no sense.