Mom, Apple Pie and...Toyota?

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 11, 2006 | JATHON SAPSFORD and NORIHIKO SHIROUZU

[SamAdams76]

Well from personal experience, Japanese cars are the very best and they put the so-called "American" auto-makers to shame. I just put an order in for a 2006 Nissan Altima with the 3.5 V6 engine. All my other Nissans went to 150,000 to 200,000 miles and still run flawlessly. Never had to use my AAA card for a Japanese car.

Of course, the distinction between "American" and "Japanese" cars are now blurred. But consider this: Nissan cars are made in Tennessee by non-union American workers. Ford and GM cars are made by union workers in Detroit. These unions are aligned with socialism and the extreme Left and strong-arm their workers into voting the straight Democratic ticket. Millions upon millions of UAW dollars are funneled into the campaigns of Marxists such as Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

[Figment]

"Chevy didn't give a rats rectal-function about me spending every last dime I had keeping a 2 year old Mazda running"

Why should chevy give a rats ass about your mazda lemon?

[Figment]

"A burger from a Tokyo McDonalds made by a local burger flipper is still American. A toileta assembled in the US is still a Jap car"

Except for the fact that it is not only assembled in America, but increasingly manufactured here. Toyota is making it's engines and transmissions here now as well as body parts. Check out Bodine Aluminums website for proof if you don't believe me

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

'Buy American' is not what it used to be.

American cars are crap

[Figment]

"Nissan is doing something right"

Decent designs, nothing spectacular. Make them in USA with non union labor. It's really simple

[Wally_Kalbacken]

It could have been worse. Perhaps a VEGA? A V8-6-4 Cadillac? A Cadillac diesel V8 from the early 80's? An Aztec? How about that '79-80 era model with the 45 degree sloped trunk (Seville and clones)? A Catera (sp?)?

In the 1970's when I got my learner's permit and Honda first started importing cars in real numbers I used to have arguments about how much better Toyota and Honda were in terms of build quality, etc. My father just wasn't willing to even look at Japanese autos. Then he met his Apocalyptic Lemon - a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Brougham. Engine problems up the wazoo, a mysterious rear drum brake that would lock up whenever it wanted to, etc. etc. etc. Since then he has owned 2 Maximas, 3 Accords, a Nissan minivan and a Honda Odyssey.

The point in the WSJ article that really kicked me was the fact that Toyota's market cap is greater than GM + Ford.

[Cobra64]

Chevy didn't give a rats rectal-function about me spending every last dime I had keeping a 2 year old Mazda running.

What does Chevy have to do with Mazda? Mazda is associated with Ford, not GM.

[Cobra64]

My spelling and grammar teacher would be appauled.

Your write they wood bee appauled.

[The South Texan]

I think he/she is confused. GM had a stake in Isuzu, not Mazda.

None the less, how many of you all are willing to wager that Toyota or Nissan come out with the first high MPG full size truck that will further put Ford and GM behind the 8 ball?

[Cobra64]

What does Chevy have to do with Mazda? Ford owns a large percent of Mazda, but there is NO association between Chevy, or any other part of GM, and Mazda.

I was wondering the same thing and mentioned it to Hodar. I think he's confused.

[Cobra64]

"Final Assembly in America". Where were the sub-assemblies made?

Probably all over the world. This has been going on for years.

My company sells thousands of tons of steel bars to a large roto-tiller company for their axles. I buy the bars from Japan due to their superior quality.

[Cobra64]

Did you mean Monza?

LOL. No wonder Nader put the Corvair (Monza) to sleep.

[FDNYRHEROES]

My spelling and grammar teacher would be appauled.

My spelling and grammar teacher thought a DNA test was for "Drugs 'N Alcohol"...

[Cobra64]

I want the best product, for my money. And I expect service after the sale. American car companies have not figured this out yet.

My '91 Vette still runs great. Then again, I'm the original owner, and have not beat the snot out of it the way some drivers do to their cars.

[Cobra64]

I don't like any of the car companies, so I built my own.

The problem is that there are no windows, or top, A/C or cruise control. But it goes like hell.

[knittnmom]

LOL!

[eraser2005]

I believe the Corolla has mpg ratings that rival the Yaris - the EPA ratings are 32/41 for a Corolla with a manual, and 34/40 for a Yaris with a manual... The Corolla is larger, and better looking, IMHO...

So if mileage is all you care about, don't necessarily jump to the smallest car...

[eraser2005]

I haven't had one lick of problem from my Taurus or from Ford customer service... can't say that Toyota even approaches Ford on customer service, in my experience. But that's just my experience...

[eraser2005]

Its too bad that Nissan's dependability has now dropped below that of Lincoln, Buick, Cadillac, Mercury, Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Saturn, Oldsmobile (now defunct, of course), GMC, Pontiac, and Dodge... In fact, Jeep is the only American nameplate which scores lower than Nissan...

[SmoothTalker]

Exactly. I'm just like you. The American companies drove me away with decades worth of poor products and shoddy design. American cars have improved lately but most of them still aren't up to the standards set by the Japs. I've been very happy with my Hondas and Toyotas. GM and Ford won't be getting any of my money unless they can make a product that is clearly better than the competition. Close to as good doesn't cut it. Nor does as good. They have to be better to win me back, and I have doubt they won't be beating the japs any time soon.