Along the same lines as I mentioned earlier, read all of the posts.
When Toyota willingly advertises their product towing a space shuttle, towing a trailer up a lame CGI ramp on fire and stopping at the edge, the voice in the ad's are pumped in by a lame ass fake Texan accented guy trying to be big and bad etc, dont tell me they arent trying to touch the 3/4 - 1 ton market. I always laughed at their attempts at hitting the big 3 in the wallet again. In my mind it just dispalyed how out of touch Toyota is with what is expected of a truck in the US. I have freinds with new Tundras and they like them, but understand they are 1/2 ton trucks. Nothing more, nothing less. Unless the cams went flat or the tourqe convertor grenaded and took out the transmission or the tailgate folded up when they loaded quads or...

This isnt a bash forign manufactures thread from my standpoint. It's more informative than that and I hope no one walks away thinkng they cant speak their mind. Just make sure your opinions are informed.

If the truck pulling that boat out of the water was ANY manufactures 1/2 ton it would have been ripped to shreads, but it seems that their is some pent up frustration for Toyota which has brought about a healthy conversation about brand preference.
I dont hate forign manufactures, just want consumers to understand why they would rate a forign manufacture over a US manufacture. In my experience it has to do with mittle research other than reading US rags that are run by forign car lovers. Dont believe me? Check out who's driving what in three of the US largests automotive rags as long term drivers or better yet, what do they own.

last year I hauled my 84 Formula 402 sr1, 11,000lb. plus 200 gal. gas from chicago to dallas with a 2002 ford e-350 van with 80,000 miles on it, hauled like a champ and never a worry. I'd put that old van against any brand new foreign truck any day.

The reason I bought the last four new Toyota/Lexus vehicles is because of the four new General Motors vehicles I had before them. I won't be switching back either unless I pick up a Monroe Kodiak with the Isuzu diesel and Allison transmission to retire my Tundra.

The last decade my Dad worked at Cat was outside the UAW. He crossed in '92. After we as a family endured crippling strikes in the 70's and early 80's he said no more. My point had nothing to do with the UAW or unions in general. My point has to do with assertion that someone with a college education working in the office should always make more than the laborer out on the floor. If you look at some of the trades on the floor and consider the continuing education, intelligence, mechanical aptitude, and physical abilities they require one can make the case they should command as much if not more than certain 4 year degree + office jobs. Not to mention the fact that many of the floor jobs carry the risk of injury or death on daily basis. Something the average white collar worker isn't subjected to.

Say what you will, I am 39 years old and I will list all the vehicles I have owned since day one

Chevy Chevette
1969 GTO
1988 S-10 4x4 Baja
1989 Ford Mustang GT convt
1990 Chevy 1/2 ton
1989 IROC Z
1990 Toyota Corrolla (winter)
1992 Chevy Berretta Z26
1996 Trans AM WS6
1996 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo, valve lash adjusters only, covered
1997 Geo prisim (winter), fell apart, delco parts only!
1998 S-10 Blazer LT, bought back by GM under lemon law
1999 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 not one repair
2000 Sebring, blow motor at 41k, no warranty!
2001 Dodge Durango V8, junk!
2002 Ram 1500, owned 6 months...garbage!
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 crew loaded Duramax
2004 Subaru Legacy GT (winter) brakes only
2006 Ford F350 SRW Harley 6.0l
2007 GMC Yukon Denali (wife)
2005 Mercedes AMG Convt not one repair
2005 BMW 330xi not one repair!
2008 Lincoln SUV Wife brakes only

Current Toyota Tundra not one repair

Highlights

Almost all of these cars and trucks listed were purchased new

1990 Toyo winter rat was when I started thinking, hey...this thing doesn't break. Brakes at 180k miles, tune up at 220k, Nothing else!

1996 trans am ws6 was my first GM lemon, that car broke everything

1996 dodge stealth RT twin turbo was amazing quality, I was so happy to find such a great American car only to find out it was not American

1997 Geo prisim, needed to upgrade the 1990 toyo winter rat, so with with a Geo cause I thought it was the same car as the corolla but was 4k cheaper sticker. At 40k miles everything GM on the car was shot, brakes twice, shocks and struts gone, radio stopped working, traded off, terrible, lesson learned

1998 S-10 blazer, purchased for everyday use and winter, do I really have to tell you the problems here? That truck needed everything, so much my dealer turned me on to GM buying it back, and they got it done.

2000, Sebring, 2001 Durango, 2002 Ram, turned to dodge after some bad luck with GM, found worse than GM! The sebring threw a rod 4 k miles out of warranty and dodge said FU. The Durango lost a transmission at 50k, then a front diff at 55k, and rusted quickly, the 2002 Ram I had for 6 months, rusted at seams after one winter. Drove my friends new duramx and had to have one, Got out of Dodge!

2002 Duramax, crew, leather, everything. Let me just say I loved this truck, loved it! Until, first injector dropped at 18k, then 22k, then 28k, they 34k, then 36k then 40k dealer told me it needed all new injectors cause I must have got bad fuel, $8000 job! Called insurance company, they went down and sampled fuel and found nothing wrong, insurance guy told me they are know for injector problems and people are getting ready to sue. A truck with a $48k sticker I was told to pound salt. I purchased bully dog injectors, and fuel filter system. In 2005 the class action law suit was won by the people and I was sent a letter stating my repairs would be reimbursed and 200k warranty, they declined money because I did not repair at GM dealer and voided my warranty because I put aftermarket injectors in it. I sent them a cop of the sales agreement on my new FORD. Also replaced a lot of other parts on my GM, rear caliper problems severe, u joints, BCM, TCM, security system twice, heated seats, all four window regulators.

Ford 6.0, I think we have covered that

The Denali was also disappointing to say the least, big expensive fixes too

The Lincoln is holding up great! Wife wants a new Navigator or Cayenne next


My ownership experience, coupled with the fact that I have worked in industry that supports auto repair gives me more than enough experience to make my own decisions. You simple minded uaw guys can tell yourselves whatever you need to hear to make you feel better about the substandard product that you have put out, if marketing and brainwashing is what is going around the break room at your plant that go with it if you sleep better at night. Bottom line, you lost a customer.

Nobody cares.. But Toyota, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki have put food on my family's table for as long as I could work. Before that Toshiba and Sharp put food on my family's table when I was a kid. I also had a great aunt who was stationed at Pearl Harbor.. So I understand the Patriotic viewpoint. But the fact is Questioning Toyota durability is absolutely foolish. Look at the harshest areas on the planet and they are infested with 20 - 40 year old Toyotas(Landcruisers and Hilux)... Look at the years of desert racing success. People want to bring up the Toyota frame recalls? Those frames were made in North America. Having said that.... Obviously if one is looking to tow BIG boats.. Then you would need a big three diesel. My first car was a 1992 4runner.... And then I had a 1990 pickup. Those trucks lulled me into a false feeling of thinking that cars did not break. Sadly I married a girl who had a ford. lol.
Just my 2 cents.

Short list I' older then you!!Ouick true story n 1985 Harley $8500 just sold $8,500 jap bikes arte better and faster right?Gold wing still not sold not mine but can't get 1/2 cars are different but trying to get the Asian love out of you!!!Toyota many recalls the past years&LAW SUITS SEEMS LIKE YOU ONLY HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO??Ford or Dodge trucks for me remember the check in the end goes to Japan!:hitfan:

What is the issue with recalls... All of the manufacturers have recalls. Basically recalls show accoutability. If you are talking about the accelleration recalls... Please do your research and you will see that Toyota was vindicated on any electronic issues being the cause. Do you really think it is the manufacturers fault if somebody throws an aftermarket floor mat in the car and it interferes with the pedals? People sometimes need to be accountable for there own actions. Not to mention the fact that those pedals were also north american made... And installed in north american made cars.
Take a hard look at the newer Harleys .. Japanese fuel injection.. Japanese electronics... Japanese nissin brakes.. .Japanese Showa forks... etc. The real problem is China. Atleast the Japanese are commited to and proud of the products they produce.

Check goes to Japan, or goes to pay the American workforces and to build more factories HERE! Do you guy have any idea how a corporation works? Jesus, so sick of having to explain basic economics, you act like there is one may named Mr Toyota in Japan that is brainwashing us into buying superior cars so he can build an army to come over and bomb us....Wake up dude, WW2 is over.


And I didn't get my weekly profit sharing check from th big three, this year....did you?