YEah, and see what happened to broken marine? he now has a broken Ford

 

If you buy a F-150, it's going to be made in one of four places: Norfolk, VA; Kansas City, Detroit (future plant), or Oakville, Ont. Some SuperDutys are built in Mexico, but NO F-150s. Titans may be ASSEMBLED in Mississippi, but how many parts are made in Japan and shipped over here? And where do the PROFITS from the Titan go? Back to Japan. As long as Ford re-invests the majority of its profits in American plants, I will continue to support Ford. As for Titans assembled in Mississippi, I sure hope they're better quality than those Mercedes they build in Alabama- they've been nothing but nightmares from day one.

 

When I ordered my SD, I told them I would only accept it if it was made in Kentucky (and it was).

Profits from the Titan go to Japan (2/3) and France (1/3). Most of the R&D go back to Japan.

OK, the workers in Mississippi get wages which is great. But I would rather have a truck that 99% of the money stays in the USA (profits, R&D, labor costs, etc.). I guess I am just an old-fashioned American that loves his Country and his fellow Americans

 

how many Ford parts are imported these days?

 

If you think that 99% of our trucks are US built, I think you are fooling yourself. Go order parts for your truck, especially transmission parts or electronics. More than likely they are imported from Mexico. I think the window stickers even tell the buyers what percent of the vehicle is made in the US and other countries and all it requires to be "American Made" is 70% .
Don't get me wrong, I love my Fords, but we are in a global economy these days and we need to accept that.

 

There are alot of people talking out of thier butts about profits and where thier truck is made. I don't claim to have the answers, but I can smell the BS on both sides.

I would love for someone to show proof of thier claims on here. I have a feeling that unless your the chief financial officer for Ford or Nissan your going to have a have a hard time tracing the profit trail.

Maybe if we say it enough it be true. In paticular, I'm talking about comments like "profits go back to Japan", "Ford's money stays here", "% made wherever". Just because that seems like what the case should be doesn't make it so.

I still think of Ford as domestic and Nissan as import but I have no idea how much of the profits stay in the USA. Profits is not everything either in this case. How much of the production cost is funneled into the American and foreign economy? Building those factories in Mississippi and Mexico put money in somebody's pocket.

This arguement would probably make a great thesis for someone's MBA but so far I give us all an "F".

 

If I knew I was going to be graded, I would have used footnotes!

 

Wow I really started something here.
Mt real gripe as you say should be with FORD and some of it is but in the three years I have read Car and Driver I have seen them go over board on the IMPORTS regardless of if the plant is here or not. THE MONEY from the TITAN still goes to JAPAN.
I should also FAULT the UAW for the way the negotiate and are allowed to be sloppy about vehicle contstruction and for not taking PRIDE in and putting QUALITY first on the assembly line.
RIGHT ???

 

Digger,

I would love to have the time to research all of it, but frankly, I don't and I really don't care that much. I support my country in other ways.

TLD-
that's what I'm talking about.
Exactly what were Nissan's gross sales and profits last year? Exactly how much of that gross was paid out in wages to their American employees and to thier Japanese employees?
How much was paid to American sub-contractors and foriegn sub-contractors?
What was the financial impact on the surrounding community in Canton, Mississippi from the increased tax revenue?

Now, those questions.... apply them to Ford.

Also, Japan is one the largest markets for our other consummer goods so if thier economy is doing well that is also good for us. It's just not as simple as Nissan = Japan = Bad!......... Ford = USA = Good!

And yes... fault UAW. The unions had thier place when my great grandfather was working but today they make you and me pay more money for an inferior product. Of course, I can't tell you exactly how much more money.

 

barley got my feet off the floor in time

 

I currently subscribe to Automobile magazine, which has been fairly decent, but they do favor many of the imports, but back up their reasoning. The problem I have with many of these magazines, C&D, Automobile, etc... is that they do slant towards imported vehicles heavily. For one thing, the Titan has never been produced before in any form, and I don't think Nissan has produced that engine or transmission before either. Ford, Dodge, and GM have been building trucks since when? The 30's or 40's? I'm sure the quality on the Titan will be decent, but the magazines should also go on somewhat of a proven track record. I know, the imports have produced cars, small trucks, etc..., but how many TRUCK V8's have they built or heavy duty transmissions? Definately not as many as the Big Three. IMO, Detroit is getting back on its' feet and they will retain market share in trucks and gain what they lost in cars. Also, to those of you who say where do we get info from that our vehicles are produced in the USA or Japan and question how many components are imported. Here is a site that I found when I looked up where the components are made for my Jeep. I didn't look for Ford or GM yet, so I'll post the link where I found my info. It lists all the casting, electronics, assembly plants, etc..., and for the Jeep, basically all of them were USA. Just my $0.02.

Link:http://www.autointell.net/nao_compan...-plants-00.htm

 

I have been reading Car and Driver since 1989 and I don't plan to cancel my subscription. I was dissapointed the Ford didn't win but the Titan was one heck of a competitor. The stats don't lie.
I believe the testers gave all the trucks a fair shake. In the total tally the Ford was only 7 points behind. The Titan was lighter, faster, braked better, quieter at idle, better road holding. Overall the Ford did very well. The Chevy got remarks like weak engine, dithering transmission, spine bending seat, etc. and came in dead last. Not to mention the Titan was over five grand cheaper than the Ford. This was a fair test in my opinion.

 

I'm as true red white and blue as the next guy, but I think that the Titan looks like a great truck. All I've seen is numbers so far though, so time will tell. I would say that more money from the Ford product stays in the US and the Japanese product takes more home to Japan. I have nothing to back this but it makes sense to me.

Mike

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TLD
[B]but in the three years I have read Car and Driver I have seen them go over board on the IMPORTS regardless of if the plant is here or not.




Would you expect anything else from a "French" owned magazine?

I quit reading C&D back in the Eighty's because of their anti-American attitude.

 

It seems simple to me also. I am a financial analyst by trade, but I am not convinced anyone would change their mind if the numbers were presented.

The global economy works both ways. Coca-Cola pours sugar, water, and food coloring in a bottle and makes more profit overseas than it does in America. I am sure alot of Japanese people make money on Coke also by selling it to other consumers in their Country (and they may own the stock). Those foreign profits have done alot of good for this community and the people of GA. And how many copies of Microsoft Windows has been sold to foreign consumers?

RedRanger03---I just found that out. Someone had mentioned it was owned by Primedia. It is not. It is owned by a media comapany based in France! Go figure. I think I remember that they also own Automobile mag.