Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truck maker in U.S. (If you can't Dodge it...)

www.autoblog.com ^ | 1-12-2009 | Staff

[Red Badger]

As we all know by now, auto sales are down, dropping by around 18% in 2008. Pick-ups actually fared worse, posting a decline of 26.5% over the same period. Still, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado maintained their positions as the two best selling vehicles in the United States, and these two manufacturers managed to post incremental increases in total pick-up truck market share after all was said and done.

Those increases came directly from the competition, especially Dodge. The full-size Ram truck managed to see its piece of the pie dwindle by almost one full percentage point. Dodge's drop in overall market share allowed Toyota, for the first time ever, to grab the bronze medal behind Ford and General Motors. However, it's not particularly good news for the Japanese upstart, which owns just 8.52% of the market after seeing Tundra sales fall by over 30% in '08 and well short of its stated goal of 200,000 units per year. The last place trophy goes to Nissan, as its 34,000 sales represent a meager 2.11% of the market.

These market share figures include both full-sizers and their smaller brethren, and it was the Toyota Tacoma and the aging Ford Ranger that made the biggest upward moves among the mid-size pick-ups. Again, the biggest loser award goes to Dodge, which saw its Dakota sales fall nearly 65%, and its Mitsubishi Raider stablemate, which posted an insignificant 2,900 total sales.

[Red Badger]

Toyota Tacoma

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

[Badeye]

I’m seriously considering the Tacoma come June. That said, I’m hearing a lot of good things about the new F-150.

I’ll probably go back and forth ten times between now and June....lol

[Renfield]

I love my Toyota Tundra...I can’t imagine owning any truck but a Toyota!

[Moose4]

I’m a little surprised by this, considering how expensive Tundras are. Then again, it’s not like Rams are a whole lot cheaper. I own a 1996 Ram with 162,000 miles on it and I’d love to get another one someday, but their prices are simply insane. It was bad enough paying $23,000 thirteen years ago for a decently-equipped but not super-luxe rig. The same truck now would probably go for near $35,000 to $40,000. And Tundras are even pricier.

}:-)4

[Red Badger]

Oh, what a feeling.................

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Sad that foreign pickups are now surpassing American made.

At least Toyota makes a lot of vehicles in the USA...though much of that wealth ends up being sent back to Tokyo....

[Red Badger]

...much of that wealth ends up being sent back to Tokyo.

They get pieces of green paper with pictures of dead presidents and we get vehicles.....................

[mtnwmn]

We have a diesel motor home and are selling our Wrangler to one of our grands. We need a vehicle that can be flat-towed and have been looking at the Ford Ranger. Anyone with advice, or suggestions, have at it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If you shop around, you can find a loaded Dodge for much, much less than that. Dealers have more than a 150 day supply of Chrysler products. Nobody’s getting even close to list price.

[WackySam]

It was bad enough paying $23,000 thirteen years ago for a decently-equipped but not super-luxe rig. The same truck now would probably go for near $35,000 to $40,000. And Tundras are even pricier.

I haven't checked the prices on the new Toyota's, but in 2004 I bought a new V8 Tundra SR5 TRD model for 24,000. I wouldn't trade it for anything (except maybe another Tundra)

[Spktyr]

The Ranger can be flat-towed and while it’s fairly reliable, it is the oldest design on the market and does not handle, drive, or tow (or do anything) as well as the newer competition.

[mrmargaritaville]

the Tundra is a great truck. But I love my 2005 Dodge Durango. Much roomier than an Explorer, but smaller and more fuel efficient than an Expedition (I get 17-18 mgp mixed city\hwy). I’d hate to see Chrysler go out of business. That new Challanger, especially the one with the 6.1 Hemi is SMOKIN’.

[Spktyr]

The Tundra is made in Texas, the Ram is made in Mexico.

Most of that wealth stays here, the profit margins on cars is very small. And of course, if you are not making a profit, it doesn’t go anywhere.

Buy a Ram = All your money goes to Mexico. It doesn’t come back.
Buy a Tundra = Most of your money goes to Texas and employs Americans, a small percentage goes to Japan.

[AirForceMom]

We bought a Tacoma a little over a year ago. We LOVE it. First time hubby bought foreign. Just under $20,000.

[NC28203]

>>>At least Toyota makes a lot of vehicles in the USA...though much of that wealth ends up being sent back to Tokyo....

You could always buy Toyota stock and keep some of that wealth at home.

[Spktyr]

Let me guess, been wondering why it took you so long? :D

Also, your Tacoma was probably produced in California, not Japan.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Between those two, I’d go with the F150 if I were in the market. It seems with small/midsize pickups you gain nothing in fuel economy and lose a lot in payload and towing capacity, at least if you’re buying a truck because you plan to use it as one.

Haven’t seen much in the way of reviews, but on paper the new F150 looks like a really good truck.

[Spktyr]

Love how the new F-150 incorporates so many ideas from the Nissan Titan.... :P

[mtnwmn]

Give me some examples, please. I know very little about trucks. Gas mileage is more important than size or typical truck functions. We have a Subaru Outback (which I love) but it can't be flat-towed and I really don't want to have to deal with a trailer.