Toyota on the mend?

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Comments

  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    Mitsubishi's CEO stating they are not going to abandon the U.S. market.

    Isn't that what a CEO says just before he goes ahead & does precisely the opposite?

    When did you last see a Mitsubishi that didn't have rental car bar code stickers in the rear side windows? Is anyone actually laying down cash for one of these things?
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Isn't that what a CEO says just before he goes ahead & does precisely the opposite?

    AFAIR, Wagoner wasn't going to resign, and GM wasn't going to go bankrupt, either. :shades:
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    edited March 2011
    all of you will be dead and gone before Mitsubishi leaves the U.S. automotive market. Mark 'em, don't bark 'em!

    Truth...Mitsubishi doesn't need you. They'll get along fine without you.

    Mitsubishi's just getting started.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,696
    >Don't forget that Toyota gave $1 million to the American Red Cross and matched employee contributions after 9/11. Ditto Nissan. Honda contributed 1.5 million to the United Way of NY and the Red Cross.

    As they should have done.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,696
    >As I sit here in our house that literally straddles a huge fault!

    And after such great movement in the plates on the far edge of the Pacific Plate, I expect movement in the plates on this side of the Pacific now at a higher probability.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    Truth...Mitsubishi doesn't need you. They'll get along fine without you.

    That's a relief! Knowing that, I'll sleep better tonight.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Question asked: Mitsubishi's CEO stating they are not going to abandon the U.S. market......why should they?

    Question answered: They don't rely on the American market

    Sorry iluv, I just couldn't resist, you really just stepped right into that one! :-P :shades:

    Besides, Suzuki has to go before Mitsu does, so you have a few years of new Mitsus to go yet.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    that interests you, Mitsubishi is winning.

    DUH!

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You can say for Mitsu that they have sold 54% more cars YTD than they did last year. Where is most of their production? Has this horrible disaster in Japan put them out of business for a time. I see this morning Toyota has shut down all production in Japan for a few days. That is bound to make all sales fall after the current inventory of Japanese built vehicles are sold.

    Korean car makers will probably be the big winners.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The BBC reports that Toyota is suspending work at their Japanese factories through Wednesday, resulting in a production loss of 40,000 vehicles.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If they get any parts from the cities destroyed by the quake and tsunami it will hold up production even further. That goes for all manufacturing in Japan. Add to that the shipping has to be a mess right now.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You can say for Mitsu that they have sold 54% more cars YTD than they did last year

    Perhaps but they would have to be up 500% to match their best year, 2002.

    54% more than nothing is still nothing.

    Korean car makers will probably be the big winners.

    I could not agree more.

    Toyota will do OK in the USA because it seems like mostly smaller car production is affected, plus in terms of volume most cars sold here are built here.

    Globally, though, production will take a big hit, I predict. Look how many are still without power in Tokyo.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    There will be huge cascading effects on production.

    Millions in Tokyo have no power, plus resources will be diverted to the recovery (and later rebuilding) effort.

    Folks, the island moved EIGHT FEET! Simply stunning!

    I imagine, in fact, that GPS maps will have to be updated, since some of them are accurate to the foot (or less). A GPS may think you're in the wrong lane, for instance.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    No surprise:

    Japan automakers extend shutdowns amid parts shortages as quake impact widens

    Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110314/OEM01/110319954/1117- #ixzz1GaJtQrLC

    U.S. production may even be hit if plants there can't get parts normally imported from Japan

    Honda has 113 suppliers in the quake zone and still can't get in touch with 44 of them

    Reported gasoline shortages, triggered by damaged refineries, have further contributed to a logistical and transportation snarl.


    A trade-off of the just-in-time inventory is that they don't exactly have stockpiles of spare parts laying around.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    "Toyota sources nearly 50 percent of its global production in Japan, Nissan and Honda about 25 percent each."

    Auto Industry Shuts Down in Post-Quake Japan (Inside Line)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    U.S. shipments of vehicles from the Toyota Prius and Scion xB to most premium Infiniti and Lexus models could be held up indefinitely.

    That's worse than I thought.

    Prius sales were way up last month, so the timing could not be worse. Supply will be well below demand for a while.

    Lexus was also short on supply, and that'll only get worse. They may not have any cars to sell at all. Only the RX is unaffected.

    The Yaris and Scions haven't been doing too much volume, so the US market won't be affected much by those.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    It's going to hurt a lot. Makes you wonder if they'll try to move some stuff to Subaru.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Subaru only builds the Forester in Gunma, and it's been a hit in short supply since it came out in March 2008 or so. Subaru is screwed also.

    My brother is waiting for a manual trans Forester Premium, and if it didn't get out before the quake, he's screwed.

    They make the Legacy and Outback in Indiana but that plant has been chugging along at capacity. They gave one of those assembly lines to Toyota, ironically, to build Camrys. They didn't know the new Outback would be such a hit, now that model is in short supply.

    Subaru has wanted to shift more production here and this may only help that argument.

    Subaru could grow another 20% overnight if they only had more supply right now. Looks like the opposite will happen. :cry:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    More bought Toyotas (7.7%) than Buicks (6.7%):

    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/study-pontiac-drivers-mainly-sticking-with-gm- /

    Overall GM did well, though, retaining just over half of them.

    That's better than Chrysler did when it phased out Plymouth.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...now take advantage of the sudden shortage of Prius and Lexus automobiles? I can see some shark gouging a customer over the price of a Prius with ever-escalating fuel prices.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Wow, this thing is huge. I can see it affecting all industries and products around the globe, even the ones here in the US that are considered "domestic"...

    Even the most hardcore racist "Buy American" types should take notice...

    Such a sad and horrific event, everytime a new piece of video makes it to the airwaves, my heart sinks. My thoughts and prayers certainly go out to the people of Japan.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They're independent, so surely some will.

    Toyota would be wise to phase out incentives on any model directly affected.

    Lexus CT sales will likely be affected, big time. Just when it launched, too.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I can't believe how many suppliers Honda cannot even reach! Incredible.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    ...now take advantage of the sudden shortage of Prius and Lexus automobiles? I can see some shark gouging a customer over the price of a Prius with ever-escalating fuel prices.

    I think all dealers are unscrupulous - or at least it has no relation to the make of car. In the latest CR, they reviewed the Volt and indicated that they paid a $5K premium above list to buy it on the open market.
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    Isn't that what a CEO says just before he goes ahead & does precisely the opposite?

    That's always been my experience....
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Besides maybe changing the allocation of Volts to sell, there's not much Chevy can do about it, either.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    "Consultant firm IHS Global Insight reported Toyota’s shutdown would lead to loss of 40,000 units of production and that overall, Toyota had shutdown 45 percent of its global production."

    Quake Aftermath Severe, Deep Auto Sector Impact (AutoObserver)
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited March 2011
    " I think all dealers are unscruplous"

    Oh really?

    If the current MARKET for a Chevy Volt happens to be 5000.00 over MSRP than that's what it is!

    What if the car became a flop and the dealers had to lose money in order to sell them? would that make the buyers "unscrupulos"?

    Personally, I wouldn't buy a Volt for what a dealer paid for one but if someone is willing to pay a premium price to be "green" or be the first one on the block, that is their choice!

    You mentioned "open market" and that is exactly what it is!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    edited March 2011
    You mentioned "open market" and that is exactly what it is!

    I agree that adding to MSRP on a car is legitimate. What would you call selling water during the 9/11 attack for way over the regular price? Such as Starbucks did on that fateful day? I am not comparing a Volt, Leaf or Prius to selling water during a disaster. However taking advantage of a situation such as the high price of gas when selling the presumed best cars to cope, is stretching the concept of fair market price. I would never succumb to the temptation. Many buyers are weak. I had a thought of buying a Honda when they first offered the Accord Hybrid. The dealer had a $3000 premium tacked on and not allowing test drives. I have not entered a Honda lot since that day. That is just my way of dealing with such nonsense.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Personally, I think its dumb to buy a new model right out of the chute, particularly at over MSRP. You're going to get ripped on depreciation and you'll probably combine that with new model teething problems.

    I agree that a retailer has the right to sell at over MSRP. However, if I was one I probably wouldn't use that ebay approach in my business. I think in the long run you end up alienating customers more than what you gain short term. There was a very successful independent chain of gas stations/convenience centers around here. Right after 911 they really gouged up their gas prices. People were offended and outraged. Customers responded with a boycott and the chain was out of business within 6 months. Not only did the owners make very little off their ripoff attempt, they ended up losing it all and IMO they deserved to. Very few successful business people make it with shortsighted, short term practices.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    " I think all dealers are unscruplous"

    Oh really?

    If the current MARKET for a Chevy Volt happens to be 5000.00 over MSRP than that's what it is!


    I worded it incorrectly. I meant that "dealers from ALL makes can be unscrupulous". Meaning that the brand does not matter - you can get good dealers or bad ones. And supply and demand is the way it is. When a car is scarce (in my example, the Volt), some dealers are going to take advantage of the situation by marking up the price. When nobody wants a model - you will see big incentives. And this is true no matter what brand it is.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    My Uncle just went through the exact same thing with the Sonata Turbo and Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai wanted 4-5k over msrp for each and he had to just walk away. He told me he won't be returning to a Hyundai lot anytime soon.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    No test drive? Heck, I'd have told that dealer, (to do something, if described here, would get me banned from Edmunds forever).
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    No test drive?

    I told the Honda salesman I have never bought a vehicle without test driving it. His response was the Accord Hybrid was in such high demand they did not want to put miles on the ones they get in. We all know how the Accord Hybrid sold for Honda, ZILCH. A big waste of R&D. It sits in the hall of flames. Honda never caught up with Toyota on the hybrids, technology wise.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,522
    Second stickers on those? In this economy? Seriously? Along with the heavy fleet sales, it seems H is trying to emulate some of the worst practices of others.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    One peek at that chart tells you which models will be affected. Many were already in short supply - Lexus LX, ES, IS, and LS. Wow, that's nearly the whole lineup.

    That explains the dip in sales Jan-Feb. They had no cars!

    4Runner is also on there.

    Leaf will continue to command markups when there's a 7 day supply that just got cut off. Nissan has 6 models on that chart, too.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,522
    I didn't know the quake impacted Jan-Feb sales, but a dull and aging lineup might have :shades:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Lack of supply, not the quake.

    My brother is shopping for a model on that list - when shoppers don't find the color and options they want, they postpone their purchase. He's still waiting.

    I doubt Lexus didn't have the capacity, so blame poor planning. They didn't expect sales to bounce back so soon.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,522
    Were there really supply issues? My local dealer always seems to have plenty of RX and IS sitting around, not to mention a horde of HS which have become loaners.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I agree that adding to MSRP on a car is legitimate. What would you call selling water during the 9/11 attack for way over the regular price? Such as Starbucks did on that fateful day?

    That startled me enough to look it up and it's true! Too bad I don't like Starbucks. I can't stop going because I didn't go anyway.

    Meanwhile, though, yo blaming Honda for the ADM and the other poster blaming Hyundai are barking up the wrong tree. The problem is the dealers - not the manufacturer.

    I hate markups beyond MSRP and there are dealers here that do that kind of junk on really pedestrian cars and get away with it. They just don't get my business.

    When we bought our first Ody it was back in the time when the dealers were selling over MSRP. I wound up with a choice of being on a six month wait list for MSRP or another dealer who would deliver immediately for $2K over. I chose dealer number one and had teh car in a matter of weeks as it turned out - before I even needed it!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    when shoppers don't find the color and options they want, they postpone their purchase. He's still waiting.

    Don't let Craig see that.....

    that said, one of my key things in buying cars is to never buy a car in a color I don't like. It's not even just color - but I won't touch something that has any feature that I really dislike. Life is too short to put up with an ugly car.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    15 days' supply per Automotive News last I heard. That was last month.

    Of course we also have to look at the supply side - they may have cut production.

    I think it's that plus a lot of sales pulled forward for those annoying December-to-Remember ads.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    To be fair he wants a manual transmission with AWD, and each is a rare combination. Both are EXTREMELY rare.

    Couple that with a model and color, and who knows if he'll ever find one.

    He's shopping for a Forester, and Subaru is affected like most.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Well, AWD shouldn't be hard on a Subaru....

    Yeah, if you're not buying a Miata all of a sudden a manual transmission is a hard thing to come by anymore.

    I love that one of my coworkers just bough a Fusion with a stick. She'd been driving an old Outback with one and when it hit time to replace the car a stick was at the top of her must have list.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited March 2011
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/are-2007-2008-jeep-wrangler-suvs-spitting-up-- - gas/

    many of them were unfounded and based solely on the urging of message boards

    Careful what you say on line!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    AWD is easy, sure, but less than 10% are stick, and those sell the quickest.

    He is on the wait list waiting for next month's allocation. Of course those may be delayed now...

    RAV4 is auto only now. The Fusion you mentioned offers a manual or AWD, but not both. We drove an Escape but out of hundreds in stock not a single one was manual, and it would have to be FWD anyway. CR-V is auto only. Sportage manual forces FWD, same for Tucson. No manual Equinoxes.

    Rare, rare to find AWD+manual. Subaru is just about the only one...
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,522
    Funny, both of my cars have puked gas at me, because I look at "do not top off" as a suggestion rather than a rule...in other words, it's user error. I bet it is in those cases too.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Careful - on modern cars the evaporative emissions controls can get damaged if you top off regularly.

    We have a PZEV model so who knows what would happen, probably a big explosion and lots of endangered species becoming extinct. LOL
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,522
    I think the E55 has only puked up on me once, now I don't go far past the cut off. It does seem to cut off too early, which is annoying.

    Fintail on the other hand, where you can see into the gas tank (predates every emissions control) will overflow with little warning, gotta keep an eye on it.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I haven't had an issue in years. They'd only take a tiny amount of topping off anyway, so it hardly makes a difference.

    Perhaps here in MD the pumps themselves do a good job of sucking out the fumes to make room for the gas? Could be.
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