Question for those who swore to never buy another American made Car

[Griffeycom]

It's a bit ironic that the Japanese mfg.'s didn't start having these problems until they started building their vehicles here...

Interesting point. The effected gas pedals for the big Toyota recall were made in Ft. Wayne or South Bend I believe!

However, I don't think Toyota nor Honda, who both have many manufacturing plants in Indiana have produced any less quality vehicles than in the past. I believe that not only are they making more, but also that this recent recall from Toyota has been blown out of proportion and not nearly as bad as it's been made out to be.

 

[MikeBear]

I can't think of any American car I've owned that didn't get recalled for something. I think this problem with Toyota is government sponsored

 

[MinuteMan47]

Interesting point. The effected gas pedals for the big Toyota recall were made in Ft. Wayne or South Bend I believe!

However, I don't think Toyota nor Honda, who both have many manufacturing plants in Indiana have produced any less quality vehicles than in the past. I believe that not only are they making more, but also that this recent recall from Toyota has been blown out of proportion and not nearly as bad as it's been made out to be.

Toyota factories in Fort Wayne and South Bend??? ....only one I know of is in Princeton.

 

[MinuteMan47]

....but YES, the pedals were manufactured in Elkhart. Still only one Toyota "factory" in Princeton.

 

[HollidaySlim]

I have had really good luck with my wifes 2002 Monte Carlo. The only thing I have had to replace is the intake manifold gasket that plagues the 3100 motors, aside from that no issues (with regular maintenance performed by me) in 150000 miles.

I have had 2 Camaros 86 & 97 and never had any issues with them.

Had a 99 Grand Am that again needed a intake manifold gasket at 120000 miles, and then the transmission took a dump at 150000.

My 03 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been nothing but problems. New Transmission at 63000 miles, rear end seized up at 72000 miles, and then the transmission controller went bad at 80000 miles. Needless to say I'm done with Chrysler products.

With all that i just don't see myself buying anything foreign (foreign= foreign owned+foreign built) Looking at new Mustangs (5.0 baby) and the F-150's.

The wife wants a new Equinox this spring and I am really not happy with the choice but I am not going to tell her that she can't buy it cause
1. She makes her own money and can spend it how she chooses
2. I like sex.........A LOT!

 

[Griffeycom]

Toyota factories in Fort Wayne and South Bend??? ....only one I know of is in Princeton.

I didn't say there were factories in Ft Wayne or South Bend, I said pedals were made in one of them, or actually Elkhart as your second post says, I wasn't sure the exact city.

 

[MinuteMan47]

...Toyota nor Honda, who both have many manufacturing plants in Indiana ...

Sorry, I must have mis-read what you wrote.

 

[johnb62]

I once was one of those guys who was looking to imported or US made imports for quality and gas mileage. I am now happy to say that my driveway currently contains an F150, Ford Edge, and my sons Pontiac Grand Prix.

It just feels right to me.

 

[22lr]

Pontiac is no longer around, what other American car is worth buying? My next car will be a Pontiac GTO, I wont be buying a new GM until they buy there soul back from the devil.

 

[jclark]

All of my vehicles are Chevrolets. The newest one is a 99... the oldest is a 69.

Imports are nice cars, but I'll still buy a GM. I don't buy new because purchasing a new vehicle is a bad investment.


I wonder if the imports will last 30 plus years on the road like some of the American cars I own....

 

[littletommy]

All I know is my 92 Camry is like a damn snowmobile, I have not been able to get it stuck, it's the best vehicle for driving on snow I've ever had, and I've owned 5 4-wheel drives. When it snows, my F-150 stays home.

 

[Stove]

I have owned them all, well most of them. I have 9 or so on the insurance. Vehicles are mechanical things, they break plane and simple. I have broke a 80's toyota truck in 2 with the rotted frame, same for a datsun truck, while the 78 chevy 2500 keeps getting abused(had 2 motors and trannys). My 01 chevy 2500hd gasser had a junk tranny front the beginning, and it was eventually replaced with one off the line and had no further issues. My current primary truck, 05 Chevy 2500HD duramax/allison, built tranny at 40k after to much tuner killed the original, my fault. Since then big custom program, about 500 hp to the ground on stock motor. Did the headgaskets at 90k and head studs, for more power!!

The tundra is a nice truck, if you need to haul your arse around. It cannot hold a candle to any 3/4 ton truck, despite the great commercials the put out. Seriously the tailgate is glued together, there was problems in the beginning with guys bending it loading 4 wheelers up ramps into the bed.

Ridegeline is a car. It is possible to compare it to an avalance, but not really.

I would drive either one, but they don't suit any of my needs.

My yamaha roadstar on the otherhand, suits me really well!


For the I would buy anything from government owned company. I pose this question; aren't they all government owned on some say or another. All of them get tax abatement's for building plants, they get workforce grants for training, and so on. IMHO they all take OUR money.

 

[chuckp]

I have owned American cars most of my life. Two years ago I got a Honda and so far it has more miles than any of the Americans have had before they died. I bet I can get 350k+ miles out of her before she dies.

Honda rules in my book. America does not make a car that lasts that I can afford.

Chuck

 

[apovinelli]

I think that this is an interesting topic...I heard that all of the toyotas that had problems were all made here, so yes a jap brand, but american parts and americans put them on it. I also heard that the same cars that have problems here are NOT having the same problems there. So after hearing that, yes, i would buy a toyota

 

[SavageEagle]

Wow, all this Ford bashing... I've owned Fords all my life. I can honestly say I've never had a single issue out of any we've had. Our 89 Ranger was bought new in early 90 and we used it for scouts. We had put 150K miles on it and it didn't have one single issue beyond normal maintenance. I got it as my first vehicle at 15 and drove it for another 2 years and put another 50K on it before it was totaled by an old woman who ran a red. In that time frame, it never gave us any grief and never let us down. Every ford we've owned have had similar stories.

I have to question some people who bash Fords. I've known people who do that but in turn, don't take a bit of care for their cars, yet every car they own they call a POS.

Ford might not be 100% American made, but it is made here, parts are made here, the Company's HQ is here, and it's roots are 100% American. I'll never own anything other than a Ford from now on unless it's a really nice older muscle car or vintage truck. (GM, Chrysler, Studebaker, etc) Also, I will not be buying a hybrid or full electric vehicle until they can make them self sufficient AND safe. If I wanted to ride around in a death-trap tin can for a car, I'd buy one of them smart cars or a Kia, or something stupid.

I don't care how many MPG's you get in them stupid little foreign cars, if you hit my F150 head on, I'm still walking away while you're getting wheeled away.

 

[turnandshoot4]

I got 275k out of my last integra. I've got 160k on this 96 integra and it is still going strong. It need brakes and it doesn't look pretty but I don't care.

Oh and savage. About that whole "walking away thing" You won't be walking if you hit me offset. You'll have broken legs. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-gpi3cS0zw"]YouTube - F150 Crash Test Update[/ame] I know. I work in ER. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5EmJBaGeQ[/ame]

 

[SavageEagle]

Nope, try again. I won't own them Plastic trucks. I like full steel bodies and frames. And something that I can actually work on. This 94 still has too many damn sensors and electronics for my taste.

 

[SavageEagle]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ReZ0C_UF-8]YouTube - Crash test F-150 vs Ford escort[/ame]

 

[Jack Ryan]

Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Recall January 2010: Gas Pedal Recall / Toyota
Toyota recalls

Toyota files safety recall on some RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra, and Sequoia models for sticking accelerator pedal.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/29/news/companies/toyota_lexus_floor_mats/index.htm
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Toyota issued a safety warning for 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota cars because of potentially deadly floor mats.
In statements released Tuesday, the world's largest automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned drivers to remove the mats or risk a forced-down accelerator pedal that could lead to a fatal crash.

Toyota recalls 1.4 million cars | Planetary Gear - CNET News
January 28 2009
Jan 28, 2009 ... Toyota Motor plans to recall 1.4 million cars throughout the world for ... Earlier this month, Toyota recalled over 200000 Lexus 2006-2008 ...

www.Toyota.com/Recall

Recalls are nothing new for toyota...
Is your vehicle involved?

Below are the vehicles involved in the recent recalls.
Click on your vehicle for more information:

• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2010 Prius
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
• 2008-2010 Highlander
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2009-2010 VENZA

Toyota Recall: A Time Line Of Toyota's Checkered Safety History | InjuryBoard Kansas City
Time Magazine published a time line of Toyota's checkered history of safety problems. Some highlights:
September 1986
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") orders its first recall of Toyota vehicles because of "speed control" problems.
April 2003
Toyota internally deals with an "unwanted acceleration" incident that occurred during production testing of the Sienna. Toyota would not report the incident to the safety officials at NHTSA for another five years.
March 2004
The Center For Auto Safety reported about sudden acceleration problems in 2002-03 Toyota Camrys and solaras and the 2002-03 Lexus ES 300. The Center pointed to the electronic throttle, which was a relatively new technology at the time, as the most likely culprit.
March - July 2004
NHTSA conducts what would be the first of many defect investigations regarding speed-control problems, all of which would lead to the current furor (partially about Toyota and the NHTSA's neglecting to pay attention to the abnormal number of investigations). The first three investigations primarily involve the Camry, Solara and Lexus ES models.
August 2005 - January 2006
NHTSA conducts a second evaluation after Jordan Ziprin, a Camry owner, reports "inappropriate and uncontrollable vehicle accelerations." In a subsequent questionnaire sent out to owners, hundreds of people report problems with acceleration and braking, but the NHTSA determines that their concerns are of "ambiguous significance" given the variety of defects described.
March 2007
NHTSA begins a fourth investigation into uncontrollable-acceleration problems with Lexus vehicles. In its preliminary evaluation, it suspects the floor mat to be the culprit.
July 2007
Troy Edwin Johnson is killed when a Camry accelerating out of control hits his car at approximately 120 m.p.h. The driver had been unable to slow the car for 23 miles leading up to the crash. Toyota eventually settles out of court with Johnson's family for an undisclosed amount.
August 2007
NHTSA upgrades the investigation to an "engineering analysis," meaning it will do full-fledged vehicle testing instead of just reviewing complaints or single vehicles and crunching questionnaire numbers as it had done in the past. This leads to a floor-mat recall of the Camry and Lexus models in September.
January 2008 - August 2008
NHTSA denies the petition of a Toyota Tacoma owner who has asked the agency to investigate the unwanted sudden acceleration he experienced.
Late 2008
Toyota learns about the "sticky" gas pedal problem in its European vehicles and begins work on a fix. Toyota would not acknowledge the same problem in America until January 2010.
April 2008 - January 2009
Another investigation, regarding the Sienna, overlaps with the Tacoma petition review for four months. This one gets bumped up to an engineering analysis, which leads to a recall of Siennas. In the event that the clip securing the floor-carpet cover is missing, the NHTSA report reads, the accelerator pedal can become stuck. It is the same problem that had been noticed and dismissed by Toyota in 2003.
April 2009
NHTSA receives another petition, this one to investigate throttle-control problems unrelated to floor-mat issues in Lexus ES vehicles.
August 2009
An off-duty highway patrolman and his family are killed when they rent a Lexus ES350 and have a runaway crash. The NHTSA and the California Highway Patrol investigate the incident and believe the floor mat snagged the pedal, causing the uncontrollable acceleration.
Also in August, Toyota changed production of its European models to repair the very same "sticky" pedal problem it would continue to deny in American until January 2010.
October 2009
Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles on the grounds that floor mats can trap the pedals.
November 2009
Toyota publicly apologizes to the NHTSA after reporting that the administration found that "no defect exists." Even when closing the book on a complaint, the NHTSA includes a disclaimer in each report explaining that its determination not to look into an issue doesn't constitute a finding that there's definitely no safety-related defect.
December 2009
NHTSA officials go to Japan to discuss the recall process. A press release from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood's office states that the "NHTSA indicates that it expects improvement in [Toyota's] responsiveness in the future."
January 16, 2010
Toyota informs the NHTSA that the pedals themselves have a dangerous "sticky" habit. It's not just the floor mats, after all.
January 19, 2010
NHTSA meets with Toyota in Washington to discuss the sticking-pedal business, and Toyota calls the administration later that day to announce its plans for a wider recall.
January 21, 2010
Toyota recalls approximately 2.3 million more vehicles because of sticking pedals.
January 26, 2010
Toyota stops selling eight models as part of the recall, which leads to thousands of losses in unit sales.
January 27, 2010
Toyota announces the recall of an additional 1.1 million vehicles because of pedal-entrapment problems.
February 1, 2010
Toyota announces that it has a "fix" for the "sticky" gas pedal problem. However, Toyota keeps the replacement parts for itself, sending units to its own factories rather than to dealers across the country to replace defective vehicles already on the road.
Also on February 1, Toyota USA's president makes demonstrably false statements on national television about Toyota's sudden acceleration problem.
February 3, 2010
Toyota announces worries about brakes in Prius models. As of Feb. 4, 458 complaints would be filed on the NHTSA's website regarding the 2010 Toyota Prius. By Feb. 8, there would be 1,310 complaints. (The 2010 Honda Insight, by comparison, has just two.)
Also on February 3rd, Toyota is called out by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood for being "a little safety deaf" on its sudden acceleration problems.
February 4. 2010
Toyota announces antilock problems as the source of brake issues with the Prius.
February 9, 2010
Toyota announces that it will recall 437,000 hybrid cars worldwide, including the Prius, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, the Sai and the Lexus HS250h, to fix a problem with the brake systems.
February 10, 2010
Toyota's North American president, Yoshi Inaba, is set to testify with other company bigwigs about Toyota's safety record at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing. LaHood has said civil penalties are a strong possibility.

Like cockroaches, they just aren't used to having a light shined on them yet...

 

[ATF Consumer]

[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Obama Waging Economic Warfare on Several Fronts, Including Japan[/FONT][/FONT]

Obama Waging Economic Warfare on Several Fronts, Including Japan