When will it end?

[HOUSTON RICK]

When our daughters are dancing on the pole for tips from Japanese businessmen to put Burmese rice on the kitchen table made in China and to pay the Vietnamese landlord, at least we can all remember what a great bargain those Toyotas were...

 

[JoseyWales2]

BTW, it wasn't just the EPA that killed off the Steel Industry in the US, it was a result of Environmental regs, piss poor management with an unwillingness to re-invest in state of the art upgrades, and unions who didn't think it was possible for the gravy train to end. ....

Agree completely with this statement. It's more of the first and third reasons than the second, but they're all to blame. I could name a couple of airlines that are no longer around for the same reasons.

I personally have driven a Honda Accord for many, many years and have never had a problem with it. Ever. That's quality that I don't see in a Big Three vehicle. Plus it was assembled in a U.S. plant and if I recall correctly the U.S. parts content was high, something like 70%. How many of the Big Three vehicles are actually made in Mexico or Canada?

The way things are now, I would NEVER buy a Gov't Motors vehicle until they really pay back the loans (instead using a new gov't loan to pay off the old gov't loan) AND the gov't sells off their stock in GM and Chrysler. I'd consider buying a Ford truck though, if I was in the market for one.

 

[27145]

You can trash the Japanese automakers all you want but the fact of the matter is that they provide a lot of jobs for us Americans. Personally I've been a parts manager for a Toyota dealer for the last 24 years so I owe my living to Toyota. We were also a GM dealer until we were dropped last year in the bailout. Speaking from years of experience, GM vehicles are junk compared to a Toyota and the Government bailout pretty much proves that. Toyota also stands behind their vehicles better than GM would in a million years. Couple that with the fact that there is more of a Toyota Camry built in this country than there is a Chevy Suburban, and I wouldn't have a GM vehicle in the dooryard. I would be proud to have a Ford though, and my next new car, (my first new car), most likely will be a Ford Mustang Convertible.
I realize that there is something to the fact that the profits go overseas but I think that the jobs provided more than make up for this fact.
There, I've stirred the pot so go ahead and flame away!

I am not sold on the Toyota brand, I feel a lot of vehicle issues are covered up. I own a Ford, but they are outsourcing to Mexico. We supposedly have all these free trade agreements, yet other countries tariff our products almost out of existence.

 

[27145]

When our daughters are dancing on the pole for tips from Japanese businessmen to put Burmese rice on the kitchen table made in China and to pay the Vietnamese landlord, at least we can all remember what a great bargain those Toyotas were...

If things get any worse, my two son's will be doing that!

 

[HEAD0001]

Everything in life is a cycle. And it really depends on how long it takes that cycle to come back around. And it is usually darkest right before the dawn.

Our politicians have become so absurd that they are making themselves totally irrelevant. Just look at our President. People are starting to look at him and just laugh. Wondering what stupid thing is he going to say today?? Even his devout supporters are loosing faith in him. I would not doubt if they kick him out and put another Democrat in the race for the next President. I think Bill Clinton still has more power in the Party than Obama. I really believe that. The big guys in the Democratic Party are getting fed up with Obama.

There are still alot of resilient Americans left in this Country. And they have just about reached their absurdity point.

In this world what it really comes down to is will and natural resources. And in America we still have both. This nonsense is going to stop sometime soon in the near future. As soon as we can stick those closet liberals back in the closet. And the way you are hearing them scream lately they know they already have one foot inside the closet door.

The cycle will come back to America. I really do believe that to be true. It is just going to take a large wake up call. I thought 9-11 was that wake up call. But I was wrong.

But once that wake up call comes the closet liberals will stand together with us. And get the ball rolling again. Have faith in that.

I remember something my dad always said. He said we should buy every barrel of oil in the Middle East. And then when it is all gone. We should start selling them back water for the same price they sold us their oil for, and in the same barrels!!

He also said to pay them for all that oil in dollars. And when it is all gone just change our currency. We already have started that by the way we are devaluing our dollar. It is just a matter of time.

Just think about it. I know people who are old enough to remember buying bread for 5 cents a loaf. So what is 14 trillion really going to be worth in another 20 years?? I believe that is what they are counting on. A RESTART!! Tom.

 

[roscoguy]

Agree completely with this statement. It's more of the first and third reasons than the second, but they're all to blame.

Or maybe the second.

I personally have driven a Honda Accord for many, many years and have never had a problem with it. Ever. That's quality that I don't see in a Big Three vehicle.

Bull. Check JD Powers. All 3 US automakers are dramatically improving their quality.

Plus it was assembled in a U.S. plant and if I recall correctly the U.S. parts content was high, something like 70%.

MAYBE. But from American owned parts suppliers? Not last I heard!

How many of the Big Three vehicles are actually made in Mexico or Canada?

Canada doesn't pay sub-poverty level wages. We had trade agreements with them for a looooong time. And Mexico is somehow worse than China (the source for almost everything else you buy)?

The way things are now, I would NEVER buy a Gov't Motors vehicle until they really pay back the loans (instead using a new gov't loan to pay off the old gov't loan) AND the gov't sells off their stock in GM and Chrysler.

Well, that'll sure teach 'em. Are you going to invest more money in Wall Street though? They're the folks who raped all of us, not the automakers. (Who did, for the sake of honesty, make plenty of mistakes - as did the UAW & our government. It's a much more complicated issue than Fox news would like you to know... )

 

[roscoguy]

We supposedly have all these free trade agreements, yet other countries tariff our products almost out of existence.

And there you go. If our government had imposed the same sort of import restrictions & tariffs on incoming vehicles as other countries attach to our stuff, there'd be far fewer Japanese vehicles here. The problem is that while foreign governments seem to understand that a strong auto manufacturing industry is beneficial to a strong economy, our government has always sold out the auto companies in favor of the importers. They have never, ever tried to level the playing field (with tariffs, etc.) & have even allowed the Japanese to dump vehicles below cost, just to establish or gain market share.

 

[Jst1mr]

An American brought the idea of quality to Japan after being ignored in this country. The big three became arrogant and complacent and didn't listen to the voice of the consumer, but rather continued churning out truly epic junk. I judge they would still be doing the same had not someone else offered a quality built, efficient alternative. It only took thirty some years for our guys to react, and then only at risk of bankruptcy. Build it better and they will come...I refuse to buy absolute junk due to some misguided sense of patriotism, but will gladly be the first to choose American when the product is comparable in quality.

 

[Armyphotog]

Start brushing up on your Mandarin Chinese, it's the most common dialect.

Oh, I hope not. According to my English professor, Mandarin Chinese is the only language in the world more difficult that our own English. And, I haven't quite mastered it, yet. Oh, dear!

 

[JSR III]

I refuse to buy absolute junk due to some misguided sense of patriotism, but will gladly be the first to choose American when the product is comparable in quality

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

 

[roscoguy]

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

They did that??? I thought it was some guy name of Al Kider.

 

[M29since14]

I'm surprised this isn't locked by now, but I'll just add my reaction when I saw that story was the same as yours - it was a bit sickening.

 

[DeadAye]

Oh, I hope not. According to my English professor, Mandarin Chinese is the only language in the world more difficult that our own English. And, I haven't quite mastered it, yet. Oh, dear!

Chinese can't be too hard - I know several people whose little kids can speak it.

 

[JoseyWales2]

Bull. Check JD Powers. All 3 US automakers are dramatically improving their quality.

Well, it's good to know that YOU know more about my experience with my own vehicles than I do... and improving quality doesn't mean BETTER quality. For your information I've owned a GM car in the past and quality wise there is no comparison to Honda.

Canada doesn't pay sub-poverty level wages. We had trade agreements with them for a looooong time. And Mexico is somehow worse than China (the source for almost everything else you buy)?

So, I guess you're saying it's okay to buy from Canada then and not the US? Who cares how long the trade agreements have existed. How is that even relevant? I guess we know why that is... autoworker unions in Canada.

Well, that'll sure teach 'em. Are you going to invest more money in Wall Street though? They're the folks who raped all of us, not the automakers...

I really don't care if it "teaches" them or not. I buy the best quality for my money. I owe nothing to any union especially the UAW. And the automakers didn't rape us? You must be kidding! How many tens of billions did the gov't give them that we'll never see again? Not to mention how the stockholders and bondholders were shafted in order to pay off the unions. For your information, many public pension plans and individual 401ks got "raped" on that deal as a result.

Based upon your location and tone, I'm sure you feel otherwise. Feel free to do so.