Toyota’s Bad Day

The Truth About Cars ^ | June 1, 2009 | Ken Elias

[CSM]

Michigan ping.

[steve8714]

Yeah, right. With the union in control? And the big concessions, dental for retirees? T must be quaking in their boots.

[Wyatt's Torch]

The Camry might lead the C/D class in sales for now, but will this continue? What happens when Americans actually consider a Malibu or Fusion-based product instead? In terms of design appeal, the Camry looks dowdy or boring (take your pick) and its reliability isn’t any better than the Fusion. Put a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine in that Fusion and Ford wins.

LMFAO!!!!! Yeah, the Camry is boring compared to the Fusion...

[TurtleUp]

I believe the term for this article is “irrational exuberance”. The truth is that Toyota has had an issue for decades with patriotic Americans who wanted to buy American even if the American product wasn’t as good (by whatever standards the buyer cared about) as the Toyota. That issue is gone. Forever. Toyota is now in a much stronger competitive position. Toyota’s real problem is that Americans are going to be cautious about all big ticket purchases, not that the “new” GM is going to excite either liberals who love their foreign cars or conservatives who despise socialism.

[erman]

well since I'll NEVER buy a GM or Chrysler and I just got a Toyota Corolla for the daughter... I'll tell you what they've done for me. Fully loaded with side airbags and reliable for a 5 year no interest and no money down.

I could have paid cash for it (like I do for all my rides) but for no interest and using 75 cent dollars to pay them back... I'm good.

Michigan can f#ck themselves as well as all the thugocrats and boot lickers in the UAW. Enjoy the scraps from the master's tables.

[ilgipper]

Bad Management...check
Unions...check
Govt. involvement(enviro-car mandates)...check
Strong competition...check

Yeah, I bet Toyota and Honda are quaking in their boots today.

[1rudeboy]

As long as taxes—>government—>GM—>UAW—>Democrats, the premise behind this article will fail.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I think what the author has missed is that Toyota/Honda quality is higher than the competition. They have return buyers for cars essentially made in the US by Americans. In a Fiat an American car?? Would you by a car from the ChiComs?

I guess time will tell the tale.

[The Anti-One]

If Toyota (one of only a few American made cars) does fade into oblivion it will be because the UAW and their puppet obomba managed to steal GM and Chrysler. How does stealing GM and Chrysler put Toyota and Honda and Ford and all other automakers not owned by the jack booted thugs in Washington and in the Unions out of business you ask? By forcing legislation that will make it illegal for you to own anything but a GM or Chrysler. After all.... They are going to be building the cars America wants to drive right?!

Thats what happens when the communists take over don't you know!

[stevie_d_64]

All I remember is the “K” car Chrysler put out years ago...

Practically a snot box on wheels...Thats all it was good for...

And we are headed back in that direction at full speed...

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I don’t know who this guy Elias is, but is he on crack?

[skinkinthegrass]

*snicker*
Is this straight from the Zer0Bambi' s lips.
...more tripe, from Government Motors.

[calex59]

Yep, it’s a bad day for Toyota and a great day for America. You can look forward to a new Detroit that will be competitive, if not lead, in cars and trucks for mass market Americans. Count on it.

Could this guy be any dumber?

[Recon Dad]

I agree, Toyota's not the one that should be worrying. As well as the government has done in other business ventures Toyota should be talking about expansion.
The one that should be worrying is Ford.

[TennTuxedo]

What has Elias been smoking?

He’s buying the Obama spin.

[IamConservative]

Ford may well compete with Honda and Toyota. However, the author makes a HUGE assumption here; that GM and Chrysler will compete using only the tools of capitalism. Being government owned, they may also choose to compete using the tax code, legal code, etc.

How does Ford sit down with it’s labor force, which owns competition, and get a fair deal?

[bboop]

No kidding, is he on crack? haha.

[fortunate sun]

As a former internal combustion powered, personal transportation vehicle sales consultant, I can smell auto press BS from across the room. I can’t wait to see the Government Motors designed Corvette.

[Voter62vb]

Yep, even Iacoca said it was a box with Bling on it.

Remember all those GM cars? The Pontiac 6000 that working families bought (being good working families) only to see the paint peel off among many other things then have to wrestle with the dealership for repair?