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Comments
Won't that be fun watching 33 Prii trying to see who can get the best MPG for 500 miles
Hmm, about as exciting as watching a bunch of reality show wanna-bes turn left for 500 miles. NASCAR is the WWF of the car racing world.
When they stopped innovation at Indy by limiting the Turbine car Parnelli Jones was driving they lost me. It proved to be just another good ole boys club controlled by AJ Foyt.
I am glad my Camry and most Accords are 75% US part content made in the USA, vs. a Ford Fusion/Milan 50% US part content made in Mexico.
Goodness. Toyota doesn't build its low-volume models here? Next you'll be telling us that GM doesn't build the European CTS and Corvette in Poland. :surprise:
Doesn't Nissan build most of their truck models here in the US?
link title
Regards,
OW
The Ford and Chevrolet brands are drastically revamping their lineups in the face of record-high gas prices, but that North American turnaround could be coming a few years too late. Toyota is already the number one selling brand in the U.S. — followed by Chevrolet — and, as of April, Honda has bumped Ford out of the number three spot.
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Only a matter of 2008...in 2009 the big three are off-shore.
Regards,
OW
If they were talking just cars and not cars/trucks combined, I wouldn't be surprised. Honda has two very strong sellers in the Accord and Civic. With Ford, the Focus is selling fairly well, and I guess the Mustang might still be, but I don't think the Fusion and Taurus are selling well, at least not in retail sales. And I think this year, the Crown Vic is fleet-only, and not offered for retail sale.
But then when you factor in trucks, which had been Ford's strong suit, it's amazing that Honda's still coming in stronger. But I guess the F-series has really fallen off in these times, and the Explorer and Expedition have been languishing for what seems like years now. Meanwhile, Honda does very well with the CR-V and the Odyssey. And I'm sure the Pilot's selling well.
Let's watch the Asian car lovers have their hissy-fit......
Almost all "trucks" sold in the US are sourced from North American plants...and have been for decades. Because of the Chicken Tax, it's almost prohibitively expensive to import a truck into the US. Toyota builds its "trucks" in California, Indiana, Texas, and Mexico. Nissan makes its trucks in Mississippi and Mexico. SUVs are not trucks, according to the federal regulations.
Nissan's SUVs are built in Tennessee and Mississippi while Toyota's SUVs are built in Japan. Crossovers like the Highlander and RAV4 are moving to North America (and many Lexus RXs are built in Canada) but Nissan's popular Murano isn't due to come here soon.
This is precisely why I say it's over for the Big 2 really. Both GM and Ford are dropping market share like a lead anchor, and Honda and Toyota are gaining slowly, surely, continuously. The Fusion is selling well, the Taurus isn't. The Taurus/500 while a great car, is a bomb from a styling perspective. (It has none).
The BEST GM and Ford can really hope for is to reverse the trend enough to HOLD market share where it is, and they are only going to do that with some bold new styled cars (the names can remain the same). Same for GM.
I would LOVE to see Detroit back in control as in their glory days - however, this is not going to happen. Even if Detroit built the hands-down best cars on the market, the turnaround as people eventually started believing in American Cars again will be very slow. I've driven Fords for 38 years - still have two now, along with lots of other different makes from diverse places, and my American Cars still handle the job without a problem. Yet, I do see the superiority of the Asian cars in most areas, including NVH and yes, even looks. Japan finally woke up and started styling their cars, just at the time we came up with the Taurus & Malibu.
If you include fleet sales — which makes up 35 percent of Ford's business and virtually zero percent of Honda's — Ford still has the overall lead on the Japanese automaker.
Now, if my math is right that means Ford sold over 600,000 cars and trucks (180,000 is 30% of 600,000). I know many will say sales to Hertz is bad, but all the sales Ford makes to PD's and taxi companies are GOOD, as these vehicles will never see retail resales as their rental counterparts will.
Now, take out those numbers and it doesn't look good for either. I wish it were different but it is what it is. Perhaps it's time for me to take over these 2 shrinking giants.
Regards,
OW
Yes they are bad, because they're not really sales. Ford OWNED Hertz for how many years again? :shades: There's probably still a contract in place where Hertz gets them at the "Ford Family Discount" or something...
There was still considerable mileage differences between the fuel efficient Civic and my gas guzzling Neon. With gas hovering around $1.25 to $1.45/gallon in the 90's in CA, it still made a significant difference. And your argument goes both ways, if gas is cheap, then I'm really not saving much by it being in the shop all the time.
I've always looked at domestic offerings, and I just haven't seen the kind of improvement in ALL areas that is needed to win me back. When I've compared vehicles directly, the imports always seem to be "lightyears" ahead of the domestics. It's all the little things over so many categories that add up. An extra mile per gallon here, an extra 20 HP there, the lack of worry from breakdowns and expenses, better dealer service.
In a way, the 3 Dodge dealerships I dealt with (2 in Sacramento, 1 in San Luis Obispo) had a lot to do with my bad experience. The dealerships deserve their fair share of the blame to lost customers just as much as the factory workers, designers, engineers, & management at Chrysler do.
I mean, what kind of a Service Manager explains all of the successive repeat and frequent visits in a short period of time for a car by saying "Parts just break down?"
Then, simply because there are so many of the cars out there, it sinks their resale value. People become less reluctant to buy them new when they can get one a year or two used for roughly half the price.
A few years back, my Dad bought an '03 Regal, in September of '03, that had been a rental car. It was $12,840 out the door, with tax, tags, an extended warranty, and all the other little odds and ends they tack on. It had about 19,000 miles on it.
That car wasn't worth the $26K MSRP price, but I guess it probably would've sold new for around $21-22K, plus tax, tags, etc? Not too bad of a price, but then, when it plunges in value another $10K or so in just a year, from a already deeply discounted new price, it makes ya wonder why anybody buys these things new?
Heck, if I'd known how much Intrepids would depreciate, I would've bought one used!
My brother in law buys from the rental agencies. He just traded his 1996 Explorer for a 2007 Explorer. He wishes he had the old one back. The new one gets about 5 MPG less than the old one. He is trying to get them to take it back in trade. I think he is out of luck.
PS
The newer Explorer only gets about 14 MPG.....
Regards,
OW
Yes, and what a terrible and idiotic business decision for Nissan that turned out to be! They can't build anything but :lemon: (at least a lemon by Japanese standards) in our US factories.
Toyota is smart to still build stuff in Japan. Honda is smart too, our last two civics (for my then GF and now wife) have had a VIN # starting with a J for made in Japan and have been the best built most dependable vehicles along with my car that has a VIN # that starts with a W for made in Germany.
The Accord I had that started with a 1 for assembled in the US of A was the least reliable of the imports I've experienced, though it was still LIGHTYEARS ahead of Dodge's efforts.
One could move to some podunk town where the cans are being assembled and maybe be lucky enough to join the Imperial family..
Wonder if one as an employee could get both American and Japanese holidays off with pay...
Anyway, I want all you good people to stay employed for I need your Social Security payments to make sure my monthly check is covered..
If you are self employed be honest on your deductions and what you declare as income..
You all have heard of George Soros, the big checkwriter for the Democrat party, will he is a devout Socialist/Co--ie, and believes in euthanasia, so maybe retirement benefits are not needed for the future generations..Of course, AARP is a big lefty organization, so they won't be needed in the future either..With all this going on, who needs health care!!!
Life under ""Change and Hope" will be a surprise!!!
Filled up the GPGT today---toped off with premium petrol and was amazed at 20.12mpgs..It's improving, 90degrees, sunroof open, and a/c on..It's one beautiful car assembled by the shrinking UAW guys and gals who found out that the left hand party really didn't need those union payouts/contributions after all..However they have been promised GREEN JOBS to offset their loss of $100,000/yr deal they had in the old days..
What is a GREEN JOB?????????
The reason being is that I believe mechanics, tow truck drivers, and dealership service departments make a killing off of the unreliable Chrsyler filth that comes out of the assembly lines.
I'd have to be buying 100 imports before I could contribute to that tow truck/auto repair shop economy as much as I did when I owned a domestic vehicle.
I however, prefer spending my hard earned money on quality products that give me good value, which means good durability and resale.
So we have the Flex, new Taurus, Fiesta, CTS, Astra...
I would LOVE to see Detroit back in control as in their glory days - however, this is not going to happen. Even if Detroit built the hands-down best cars on the market, the turnaround as people eventually started believing in American Cars again will be very slow. I've driven Fords for 38 years - still have two now, along with lots of other different makes from diverse places, and my American Cars still handle the job without a problem. Yet, I do see the superiority of the Asian cars in most areas, including NVH and yes, even looks. Japan finally woke up and started styling their cars, just at the time we came up with the Taurus & Malibu.
What constitutes success though? I would say a return to profitability. Market share is meaningless if you are taking a loss on each unit. Build a few vehicles, build them right, and have enough resources to support their development. That is the direction they need to go.
So far, the '08 Accord seems to be getting beat up a lot for noise in the forums here. I don't know if that is representing a change in the tide or what, but to me, the car has always been not-quiet. Its a trade off for the perceived sportiness.
I would say the '86 Taurus was a game changer, as was the '86 Accord. The 93-99 Taurus was eh, lame, but the 94-98 Accord was really no prize either. The 500/Taurus is not exactly in the same category as the '03-07 Accord, being a bit larger, but the Fusion, while not class leading, was certainly in the competitive window, and having spent a lot of time with both, they are commonly bland.
I think you should by the vehicle that meets your needs and your criteria based on whatever research you do. I am not one to judge your needs, your criteria or your research methods.
In a way, the 3 Dodge dealerships I dealt with (2 in Sacramento, 1 in San Luis Obispo) had a lot to do with my bad experience. The dealerships deserve their fair share of the blame to lost customers just as much as the factory workers, designers, engineers, & management at Chrysler do.
Its too bad you weren't just a bit further south. I felt the C/J/E dealer in Santa Barbara was fine when the Caravan went in for service. Ironically, the two lowest rated dealers in town were the now out-of-business Ford dealership (fraudulent) and the Honda/Isuzu dealer (just incompetent). Thankfully, the excellent Lincoln Mercury Mazda dealer is just down the street from Ford, and a local independent mechanic was great with the imports. Incidentally, the Ford dealer in SLO is in the same family as the LM/Mazda dealer in SB.
Yeah, my '96 Contour SE MTX was in a similar situation. It had about 20k on it and was about half price. The 150k additional miles I put on it were a lot of fun. Those were the most comfortable seats...
It looks like those days are going away though, as resale values of Fords are increasing (excepting the trucks given the current fuel speculation).
That's always been my take on Accords. I like them just fine from the first generation on but they have never been anything near class leading quiet. If you want quiet buy a Toyota.
Why take them out??? If they don't sell them to the PD's and taxis, who will???
That's right, companies like Honda will. Then I suppose you will see an Accord cop car or taxi as a "good" sale??
I remember that. They also bought a lot of the little PU trucks because of the 100% USA made. What happened to that VW plant?
The VWs that came out of that plant were mighty bad. I had one of those Rabbits. It was fun to drive when it ran but that wasn't often enough.
One of the local PDs had a Rabbit cop car. Even at the time it looked pretty silly. The pickups basically looked like a Rabbit chopped at the back with a bed thrown on.
My Michigan based motorcycle license instructor was displeased to learn that the CHP uses BMW motorcycles and occasionally, Volvo S60/V70T cop cars.
I remember seeing a BMW 5er police car in England, one would think they would buy domestic, too.
My problem was loyalty to the US brands for way too long but I'm cured now.
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Hyundai and the Chinese. There's always someone a few rungs below you on the ladder looking to knock you off your perch.
seeing how complacency killed the big 3
the koreans and the chinese are closing in on their rear view mirror.
one luxury they do not have when compare to the big 3: blind loyalty
The Accord was a mistake. not because there is anything inherently wrong with the vehicle, but because I am not a 50 y/o man yet. I have also been less than impressed with interior fit and finish (the dash sucks) and the quality of the paint outside (it has way too many hood chips for how much the car is used and how much the front end is usually covered...the Subaru, with 3x as many miles, has none). It also seems to lack features, like an MP3 capable stereo (and you cant replace the HU since its integrated like that), and it can't control an iPod without optional pieces (and even with those, the integration is poor). That said, it was a tremendous value (end of model run), gets great mileage, and holds the infant seat very well. My mom likes it, that has to count for something, right?
I should have bought a MazdaSpeed6 (also NLA now), Civic SI sedan, or a CPO E46 sedan, or an Impreza WRX or Legacy 2.5GT. Oh well, perhaps I will be able to capitalize on the "Honda resale value" soon.
Go figure.
Power for the PreRunner comes from none other than GM's LS2 small-block. TForce crew member Matt Riggle told Levine that the team chose the 375-hp, 400 lb-ft powerplant because of its reliability, as well as its ability to run on regular Pemex gas that's much cheaper than facing fuel.
you can imagine that choosing a GM engine over one by Toyota because of reliability isn't exactly what the folks in Aichi, Japan like hearing.