R U thinking of a new tundra

jbear wrote: And listen to BKH too, he's always got "nuthin' but the facts". john

You lost me on that one John. Oh well . . .
BKH

ryanandrews wrote: why would someone in their right mind pay 36k for a nissan or toyota when you can get a bigger better truck for much cheaper price?...menatlaity that foreign is better!?

Because some people view the Nissan or Toyota as "bigger and better" and don't mind paying extra for it.

Remember, your love of Dodges is just an opinion, and others may have other opinions and might be willing to pay for those opinions. No right answer on the best truck or best price, just opinions.

One fact that might influence people's opinion one way or the other is that foreign vehicles bring more at resale than their domestic counterparts.

ryanandrews wrote: find me a tundra for that same dollar and the same truck...you wont, foreign trucks (i said trucks) are wayyyyyyyy overpriced

Thats a lot of truck for not a lot of money. While the price is a great deal for you, I wouldnt say its a positive for Dodge. Foriegn cars generally dont need huge incentives to sell.

My mom bought a 06 accord and somebody hit it already, she lives with my younger brother and he is asian cars all the way, nissan pick up and his wife has hyundai. I would never let something as this subject get in the way of any type of relationships, wether it be my family or my friends, its just great to debate a subject like this.
I ask why they buy foriegn cars and the typical answer is that US cars a POS's, Yes the persona is out there and that's what needs to be changed, Our shop works on many cars and the American auto industry did a complete 180 degree turn around, You need to research before you buy as stated earlier and give it a nice fresh start as if you didnt know anything at all about cars, go to forums and research and consumers magazines, test drive the piss out of them and then make your un-biased decision, As for the the reason this topic is started.... A Toyoyta Tundru? I doubt you will see them anywhere in farm country

The Fusion is definitely a nice car....way nicer than I would have thought after being in a couple of rented Tauruses (Tauri?)

You asked who thinks foreign cars don't strand wives...I said in a former post that my dad broke down and bought AAA coverage for my mom and sister (mostly my mom). I also posted what they drove. My dad and I are the only two who have American cars (trucks more specifically). My mom and sister (the two with AAA cards in case of break-down) drive Japanese vehicles, Isuzu and Honda respectively.

Also, so far as the mid-70's and 80's American vehicles: 1979 F-250 and 1979 1 ton Bronco. Cannot be beat for styling, simplicity, ruggedness, etc.

Of course my mom had a Pinto that literally blew it's engine apart when she was in high school in the mid to late-70's, car was only a year old...has the Polaroids of it and everything. Everybody makes Turds...Japanese or American.

I don't mean to get so hell bent on this issue, but I do believe very strongly in what I am saying. I was not very fond of the 2000-2003 f-150's myself but they are a ford made truck.

Eric my only problem with the fusion is it's made in mexico. That car was supposed to goto Wixom Assembly but thanks to Michigans dumb b*itch running the state they closed it.

I would like to ask a couple questons, how many people here that have foriegn cars have looked at and drove a new Ford, GM, or dodge? Questions two how many people here think foreign cars don't brake down and leave wives stranded? After all just ask Eric about a foriegn car braking down.

Yes the big three let a lot of people down during the mid seventies to the early nineties. With the exception of the ford and chevy pick ups from 76-79.

I can agree that some of us feel differently about the car situation for many different reasons. Which I can deal with.

Eric are you going to buy her a brand new fusion?

   Thanks for some of the insight James.I can't help but think that someone should have been planning better for the retiree situation.If you know you have to pay your taxes,you save some of your profit to do that,instead of trying to coax more money out of someone or cut costs after the fact to make up the difference.I guess it's on a much bigger scale than that in the real world,but it seems a little like corporate greed again.
   I think it's great that you defend your employer and the American Auto industry,the problem is definately alot bigger than just cars and trucks in this country.You are obviously a dedicated employee,hopefully Ford will reward you for that down the road.

   No offense on the 2000 F150 comment,Lake. Doesn't JBear also own one of those

    Mike

M3Fan

Surely you're not speaking disparagingly of my 1976 Nova that ran down the highway like a sideways dog?

Chuck

Courtesy? Who do the Japanese owe courtesy to? They are taking pride in what their country designs, just like some are telling us to do, so they buy those autos. In my garage and driveway there is a Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, and a Mercury. All have their good points and bad points. The Mercury pulls the boat. It is easier to work on the Mercury, though.
Here in Alabama, we have a Mercedes plant, Honda plant, and Hyundai plant. The labor at all of these plants is 95% American. What about their jobs? These are American jobs.

Canadians also drive alot of chevys, fords chryslers, I bet if you go over to the big J, you wont find any of the big three.
Next time you see a Japenese family around your town notice what they are driving, I bet you any amount of money they'll be in a Honda or a Toyota. where's the courtesy?

if your thinking about buying a honda accord go look at the ford fusion, we have one here and its a great looking car, i wonder what the pricing is compared to the sushi delivery car,
I am thinking about buying one for the wife, does anyone have one?

I think these are good discussions. Obviously how we live and work are huge parts of our lives, so we have personal feelings that come to the surface. I got to thinking, every car in our family fleet is a Ford, except for my oldest son's. He was able to find work at a Toyota dealership, so he drives a Tundra. Otherwise, next son a Ranger, youngest son a Mustang, my wife a Sable, and myself a 2000 F150--one of the ugly ones. Except for the oldest son we bought those vehichles primarily because they were the most economical choice for what we wanted.
It is my understanding that Ford and GM have to add about $2K per vehichle to take care of benefits for retirees--so that makes it tough to compete.
I do think these discussions help inform myself and others. Just as I learn about boats from you guys I can learn about other facets of life.

Chuck

87BFN owner wrote: From 1986-1996 for had the best selling car the Taurus.

87/James,

The Taurus was not the best selling car because it was a good car, or even a popular car. Rather, in 1987, Ford paid $1.3B for an 80% stake in Hertz. It then flooded the rental car market with Taurus and other Ford products. It did so primarily so it could make a claim as the most popular car in the world, and so it could keep other vendors out of the market, including other American car makers, and in particular at that time, Chrysler.

I think I could probably put forth a factual dispute to many of the points you've made, but
that's not my intent.

My perspective would be that you have a set of beliefs built around your own experiences, job, union membership etc. They are yours, and should be respected. No one is likely to change your opinion, and you aren't likely to change theirs. It's like trying to convince a person to change religions. Not likely to happen. My $.02. BKH

Mike alot has to do with ford and gm costs of retired workers. GM has over 500,000 retired workers collecting benefits. Ford has I think 180,000 plus workers that are retired receiving benefits. These benefits are just a cost, they are nolonger getting any work out of these people. The foreign car companies have not yet incurred any of these costs.

Toyota has come to the reallity that they are going to have to start paying some of these costs soon, hence why they have started to look at cost savings right now. But hat is only part of it.

By the way I apologize for my rant earlier, if I offened anyone that wasn't my intent. But some of the view points of people don't make sense to me. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. But please dont' say your mad at ford because a friend of yours and an entire community lost their jobs when you do not support their product. You can not own a foreign car and be mad at the big three for closing plants.

By the way it was asked earlier if the big three would screw the public if they could. From 1986-1996 for had the best selling car the Taurus. 1993-2003 The big three dominated the SUV market. Did they screw the public in any way shape or form? As long as the big three are around there is compotition. If you get rid of the big three and no car makers have there head quaters here, then our government has no control over them. They simply say don't like are rules, well we will take are car and go home. Then the US is left with out a car manufacture now what? I believe this is the point Eric was getting at.

BY the way next time you see a foreign car on a lot, check the sticker see if it was actually made here or if it was imported. Honda make a roughly 180,000 accords in the US and still imports over 200,000 accords. If your selling that many and your palnt can't keep up build a new plant.

Just so you don't think I am crazy, I practice what I preach. MY f-150 made in dearborn, my focus made in wayne both in Michigan. MY dad's dually f-350 made Kentucky truck, my mom's towncar made in Wixom also michigan. You will not find a car made in mexico or Canada in my fleet of cars or anyone in my family. My family owns all fords all made in the states. I can not control the fact that US goverment, signs free trade agreements which makes us companies use a certain amount of foreign supplied parts to build their vehicles in other countries, which no one will buy because of the hevy import tax that every country uses except the US.

I like all the guys people here on this site, so I am just going to keep my mouth shut on topics like this and I wont bring them up myself any more. The people are great people and hate to be at odds with them over car issue. It's a boat site, I am going to leave it at that. For those of us that like the big three we can shoot the sh*t someplace else.