Toyota is, or is going to build, a truck plant in your state. What are you opinions on this? Do you think it will effect F-150 sales?

 

In Texas, American-made trucks are king... and will be until gas prices go over $3/gal more than likely. Sure the factory workers will probably buy toyotas, but at the end of the day, not much will change. Just a couple extra hundred jobs in a very very large state.

 

Ford wont be replaced as the truck of texas. Chevy came out with a texas edition that didnt see at all. Dodges dont seem to get any buyers cept for the rich pretty kids that want a "real" truck. The only jap trucks you see here are the little compacts and noone will buy the "fullsize" toyota. It will provide a lot of new jobs here which is a very good thing, but almost all of the trucks will be shipped out on that big truck to the sky.

 

Toyota expects to employ around 5,000 workers when at full capacity. There is an additional accessory jobs that is estimated around 7,500 for the various subcontractors that will also move to San Antonio with Toyota. Add the truck drivers, jobbers that carry assembly-line parts, maintenance,etc there is an estimated 5,000 jobs that will occur over time. Will it effect Ford sales? Yeah, but not a lot. Toyota Tundra is not the carefree truck most would like to think it is. They have their issues with bad brakes, front end problems, and as the "most safe" truck in America, is prone to rollovers in emergency stops while turning. I'm sure that there will be more Toyota Tundras sold in Texas but all things considered, they are too expensive and not near enough value. And their 4.7 V8 can certainly drink gas, my brother has one, it's not good. I think Toyota is attempting to cash in on the reputation of the Tacoma which has a good record for reliabilty.

 

I don't think the Toyota plant will affect Ford sales very much. I'm sure there will have to be SOME effect but not enough for concern. Toyota is definately making a bold move by choosing to put the factory in Texas as opposed to another state. We Texans are pretty proud, needless to say, and I'm bettin that their plan is to exploit Texas pride to cash in. Some Texans are pretty biased when it comes to things made in Texas - I'm sure Toyota did their research and realized this. I realize the world is shrinking in terms of a global economy but I still can't help but take some pride in buying American. Time will tell. Perhaps it'll prod Ford to make an EVEN BETTER truck - nothing wrong with a little competition!

 

Well, I'm not brand loyal myself. I've stuck with Ford when buying domestic mainly because the Chevy's and Chrysler's I've owned were absolute junk! I've owned a half dozen imports as well. I also believe that Toyota will pick up sales here in TX. As mentioned before, Texans are proud of their state. I don't know about other parts of TX, but up here in Dallas you already see a ton of Tundra's. Also, up here in Dallas, Toyota's hold their resale value much better then the domestics. I've owned a couple 4 Runners and a Tundra myself. I ran the two 4 Runners into the ground. Both had over 100K miles on them when I traded them in and I got great trade in prices for them. The Tundra I only had for a year when I decided I needed to get a F-250. Once again, I got great trade in money on the Tundra. Wish I could say the same for the F-250. Anyway, I went with a Ford when I decided to drop back down to a 1/2 ton because I was very impressed with the way my F-250 held up. Put 80K miles on it with just a couple electrical problems. Another reason was the towing capacity and the fact that the Tundra just wasn't "full size" enough. I might have considered the Titan, but being a completely from the ground up new truck, didn't want to take the chance.

 

I live in Fort Worth and I have to agree with the Tundra holding their own. the Tundra was gaining a real hold around here, but it seems like that is falling to the F150 and Titan. I am seeing so many Titans now, it is scary. There is no way they will take over here though. The order is probably Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Chevy, Nissan (moving fast).


Just my opinion of course, but I am always watching the competition.

 

I do see quite a few Tundras here in Houston But I would be willing to bet most of the Toyota truck owners here are not native Texans and live in the cities,(Houston,San Antonio and Dallas,). Most Texans are stuck on the big three and will not have anything else. It is kinda like that if it is not American made or is not one of the big three it is not a real truck. But anyway The Toyota plant being built in San Antonio is not expected to increase truck sales that much in the state. I think Toyota making a credible truck such as the Titan and the F150 will do the most for increasing truck sales. Again I think most Texans consider the Tundra to be more like a midsize truck and not ready for primetime. Truckworld did not even include it in the mix with Ford Dodge Chevy and Nissan this year.

 

Plain and simple, it doesn't matter where a truck is made. We buy what we like, what we see, what we're "sold", etc. Just because Toyota will be made in San Antonio doesn't mean squat. They're advertising will be the same, the truck will be the same, etc. "Foreign" labeled trucks will have a hard time competing with "American" made trucks ... know what I mean!?

 

My family (native Texans), has slowly begun the transition to Toys from Ford. My sister had numerous trans. problems w/ her F150's. She drives over 50K per year and between 2 seperate f150's she never went more than 9 months, during a 3 year period, w/o having a trans. rebuid. Got a 00' Tundra and didn't have a single problem she now owns an 04' T.My parents had the same problems on their expedition and their E150 van. Switched to a 03' Sequoia-no problems (34k miles). Now my uncle (the last person I thought would buy anything but ford) has just bought a 04' double cab for his wife. I've seen more and more in their area as well (fairly rural area). All told they have ~200,000 between the 4 trucks and NONE of them have had warranty repairs needed. The thing I like most is the engine bay, you can actually get to everything. Having a plant in Texas might be enough to sway my grandparents to get one as well. Although the 4.7 is a great little motor w/ decent mileage, I would probably still go F150 to get a 5.4, as long as the next couple of years prove the new ones more reliable.

 

I live in San Antonio and not to far from where the new factory will be built. There are alot more toyotas around . I have been a chevy man all my life. I ordered the 05 f150 because the truck was built new from the frame up and has alot of nice features. I feel i should go to a diesel but i will try a gas one more time. If you go to a mall around here it seems every other vehicle is a truck or suv.

 

No doubt, I also live in the San Antonio area and it is TRUCKVILLE. We actually counted one day while traveling up I-35 toward New Braunfels. Yes, we were bored. It seemed like every 5th vehicle was a F-Series truck. Crazy, Ford has to be loving Texas..................