Prior to buying my 150 I did alot of research and spent some time on the Tundra site. I think its a good truck and that is the only reason I was considering it but, I read about alot of guys over there saying how they hope Toyota takes over the Truck market and takes sales off the big 3 I don't understand that.
If someone says I bought a Tundra because they are reliable, I had probs with my old Ford,GM, Dodge etc. I can understand that. Why would you want to see an American co. loose business to a foreign co. who cares where they are assembled I don't hate Toyota or Honda but, why would any American person want to see a Domestic co. of any kind fail isn't that a bad thing for this country? I don't want to start any kind of flame war or whatever just don't know what people are thinking anymore.

 

You're just hearing the opinions of a vocal minority.
Kind of like the people who hate President Bush. They yell and scream, but there was still enough votes from a silent majority to get him elected twice.

 

Anytime a new vehicle hits the market, it will draw sales from other vehicles. For example, 94,000 ppl bought Titans in 2004, its first year. What would those same ppl have bought if the Titan wasn't available?

Toyota only has plant capacity to build roughly 250,000 Tundra's a year, so unless Toyota adds a third Tundra assembly plant, there's ZERO chance of it taking over the half ton truck market.


Regardless of whether you visit FTE, tundratalk, titantalk, Ramsareus...whatever, you're gonna find the same predjudices against other makers trucks. Everyone wants their favorite to succeed.

 

Given the demographic (in 2004) - maybe a Nissan Z?

 

Thats just human nature, Its mainly people basing judgment on first and third hand accounts, word gets around that old bill down the street sold his ford and bought a yota, then the rest of the neighbors want on the band wagon. The tundra, in its current form, is brand new and for some people they just have to have the newest thing out there.

Just as I may say I hate Toyota and wish they went bankrupt, I really do, some other person may say the same about Ford.

CLG34, as you spend more time on FTE you'll meet the sites band of yota loyalist. They preach about a one world economy where nothing is American anymore. They harp on Ford for building models in mexico or canada, yet they consider Toyota American because the assemble models in America using foreign parts.

I'm hardcore biased when it comes to vehicles, all vehicles I've ever owned have been Ford, all produced by the old Ford [pre 97], and all were built in either Kansas City or Chicago. I take pride in knowing I drive a true American vehicle THE BEST VEHICLE money can buy.

 

By law, the Domestic Parts Content (parts made in the US or Canada) must be listed on the window sticker of every vehicle sold in the US. Visit several dealers, compare the parts content. You just may be as surprised as I was.

Toyota Camry Domestic Parts Content = 80%; Tundra 75%. Mexican made Ford Fusion = 30%

btw, this old Bill will never buy a Toyota.

 

Don't think so, the Z is one cramped puppy. You'll need a roof rack if you're a golfer.

 

How many golfers do you think would buy the Titan?

I would have targeted those who purchased a Titan in 2004 as those that aren't traditionally pickup owners. More likely to be the owner who buys the newest/latest/greatest thing.
A brand new pickup that can beat a lot of quick cars in a stop light race, with polarising looks, from a newcomer (to the 1/2 ton market) Japanese company.

 

Fred, from personal experience, I can tell you two things.

First, many 2004 Titan owners had previously owned half ton pickups, at least the ones locally (LA area) did.

Second, there's a local Titan Club (SoCal Titans) that meets at Stillen 4 times a year, and has one meet at Huntington Beach in January.

I know many of the local owners because, not only am I a premium member on titantalk, I own a 2006 Titan SE Crew Cab.

I didn't buy it because it was the latest thing, I bought it because as a disabled person with limited mobility, it has better ergonomics than my 2004 Lariat did. I still have the Lariat (tho my nephew is driving it), it was my 7th purchased new Ford truck since 1965. I still have my '65 F100, too.


Japanese Company? Titans are built in Canton Mississippi, no where else. The domestic parts content is 68%. Ford doesn't seem to mind using Japanese parts, as Rangers, Bronco II's and F Series trucks have Mazda transmissions, and have had since 1983. Rangers also use Mitsubishi transmissions, and most Fords use a version of the Nippondenso A/C compressor. Next time you visit your local Ford dealers parts counter, see how many parts cartons you can find that aren't marked: Contents Made in Canada; Contents Made in Mexico. Coming soon: Contents Made in China.


Ford, GM, Chrysler even Toyota have assembly and parts plants in Mexico. The same companies also have the same plants in China. India is next in both GM and Ford's scheme of things. It's a global economy today, which btw Ford started, as Henry built assembly plants worldwide to assemble Model T's.

 

i wouldn't wish for any company to go bankrupt, now days about any major company in the world is intermingled with the US in some way, either directly or indirectly, if it went bankrupt, it defintly would effect someone.

you will always have the american bashers, to wish a domestic company to go under is just arrogant, i guess they do not understand the domino effect.

 

I think, generally speaking, "better and cheaper" trumps brand loyalty. When people started buying Hondas and Toyotas (remember the gas crunch of "74?), it forced U.S. automakers to rethink their direction. It's been sink or swim ever since. Remember the Chrysler bailout? Competition can be a positive thing or it can kill you. Asian carmakers do so well because people want 'em. And how about this for a chicken or egg thing...do gas prices drive fuel economy or the other way around?

 

Toyota, Nissan and GM are pushing hard to unseat Ford as the #1 pickup truck manufacturer. Hopefully, this will make Ford a better company. I really like some of the things I see GM doing in the light truck market. They have a good truck with some well thought out options.

The Toyota Tundra is no more a Japanese vehicle than the Ford Cortina is an American vehicle. (It was built in the UK). What about the cars GM builds in China for the Chinese market? Are they American cars?

 

Agreed - but there is a fine line between bashing American auto makers and pointing out their faults. They have made lots of mistakes over the years, they have gotten arrogant and too big for their pants. The AW unions have put the automakers in a very bad pinch, and the consumers are the ones paying for it. It's not a favorable spot to be in, but they have made their bed and now they have to sleep in it.

Could I have squeezed another euphemism in there?

 

not to say toyota wants to take it over, toyota just wants to sell the vehicles they produce

 

90% of people who buy toyota's when ask why they bought it theyll say "because its a toyota"..

what so good about that???