Toyota roast courtesy us congress

[Chubminnow]

I've never owned a foriegn car and never will....I have a few friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even a few family members that own foriegn cars...but I don't understand why, I don't understand their way of thinking. It's a free country so they can buy what they want...but for me, even if you gave me the key's to a foriegn car and offered to pay the taxes and insurance I STILL wouldn't own it. It just goes against the grain for me.

Tie Toyota to the whippin' post!

[DJD]

When Firestone/Bridgestone had their problems and Audi, GM, Ford and on and on I always felt that these companies should pay the fines, legal losses and get it fixed. Same goes for Toyota.

The only difference it that it does seem unfair that the gubment and Unions have an interest in seeing this turn into a feeding frenzy at Toyotas expense...that's all I'm saying and have been saying for months now(started a post on this very point a month ago). It's not right...this sounds like something that a gubment in China or Russia would do. Uh lets see we will own a car company and if a competitor stumbles we will cripple them unfairly to increase our sales and help our workers (unions) pay their bills....after all it's our game and it's our ball and we make the rules....should not be this way folks.

Off topic a little but be aware....Gubment Healthcare is the same way. They will provide a service and sit back and wait for a competitor to make a mistake. Once they do all we will hear is how great it would have been to be on their system and they will try and crush the private sector. Don't think so? Hmmmmm step back and look at it and forget this is toyota just use the same model of gubment in private business just put different targets in that the gubment can benefit from if they crush the competition. It scares me and what scares me more is that people don't see this.

I'm not defending Toyota in any way this just stinks of unfair business practices.

[mhall]

Don, there is no doubt there is some of that going on, I agree and that ''PART'' of this equation is wrong.

[ToolMan184]

I've never owned a foriegn car and never will....I have a few friends, acquaintances, co-workers and even a few family members that own foriegn cars...but I don't understand why, I don't understand their way of thinking. It's a free country so they can buy what they want...but for me, even if you gave me the key's to a foriegn car and offered to pay the taxes and insurance I STILL wouldn't own it. It just goes against the grain for me.

Tie Toyota to the whippin' post!

Do you realize that TOYOTA makes more "AMERICAN" made cars than does Ford, Chevy or Chrysler? If you look at percentage of parts on each brand most Toyots have over 80% of their parts come from the US.

Why did you never hear of the 300,000 vehicles FORD recalled for the exact same problem the TOYOTA has? The parts were made in the same plant, but, you never hear of the FORD recall.

I have been in the Auto industry for well over 25 years and Im here to tell you its a with hunt by our government. They are just trying to protect their interest in GM and Chrysler.

[DJD]

Man I would like to know about those ford vehicles. What when and where? Thanks.

[ToolMan184]

Man I would like to know about those ford vehicles. What when and where? Thanks.

Just search for FORD recalls in 2010 and you will find a plenty. They are not getting hammered like Toyota.

[DJD]

Just search for FORD recalls in 2010 and you will find a plenty. They are not getting hammered like Toyota.

That don't surprise me cause this whole thing is a load of old Donkey Poo if you ask me.

[Devils Horse]

No offense to anyone.

I've never owned a 'foreign' made truck, and don't have any plans to buy one. IMO there is no need, my '99 Tahoe is as good or better than any Japanese truck that ever rolled off the line. So were my 2 GMC Sierras, 4 Ford F150's (one was made in Canada, but I don't consider them Canucky's foreign unless we're playin em in hockey), 2 Ford Rangers (Mazdas, but the titles read Ford), Ford F100, and even that old 3-speed-on-the-column 65 Chevy C10 Apache I drove in high school (the ladies always slid closer when they moved that piece of plywood on their side of the floorboard and saw the road going by underneath).

The wife's Toyota Sienna van has been a good one, and it's her choice what we get her to drive next. But when it comes to my personal trucks there are 2 kinds...American and rice burners.

I love ya Don, but you gotta man up and get rid a that Tyoter.

[DJD]

Haha we all have our flaws!

[Chubminnow]

Do you realize that TOYOTA makes more "AMERICAN" made cars than does Ford, Chevy or Chrysler? If you look at percentage of parts on each brand most Toyots have over 80% of their parts come from the US.

I have been in the Auto industry for well over 25 years and Im here to tell you its a with hunt by our government. They are just trying to protect their interest in GM and Chrysler.

I don't know who makes more cars and trucks here on American soil, maybe Toyota makes more vehicles here than Ford, GM and Chrysler, heck if I know. For me it doesn't matter because at the end of the day when it's all said and done, after all Toyota employee's have been paid their wages, their benefits paid, any raises and bonuses and 401K contributions have been made, etc, that what ever profit money is left goes in the pockets of Japan, China or where ever else these "foriegn car" companies are headquartered at. I view them (China, Japan, etc) as the competitor. Maybe I'm just stubborn and bull headed, but I'm never going to view a foriegn car without a critical mind, and I'll dang sure never own one no matter what the circumstances. I can't argue that foriegn vehicles are of poor quality either because I believe for the most part they're well engineered. But, once again, none of this matters to me...I'm sticking by Ford, Chevy and Chrysler regardless of how many "foriegn" parts they're assembled with.

I have no idea what the government is doing as far as protecting their "interests" in GM and Chrysler. You may be right on that, once again, heck if I know. Time will tell I guess.

[MrSplitshot]

If you are standing on the brake and taking the car out of gear and something is overriding your actions and causing the drivetrain and engine to keep going, that is an electronic, (computer) malfunction.

I agree 100% that there has to be an electronic issue there. When you're going 120, standing on the brakes, and nothing's happening....BIG issues that are more than brakes or accelerators. If I had a Toyota, you bet that I would be concerned.

And guys, I totally agree that if Toyota (or anyone) has ignored things and intentionally tried to cover things up that put people in harm, then they should have to pay the piper...but get the facts before putting them on trial in the public eye on TV by a bunch of members of congress with their own agendas...every sensational "journalist" and "media outlet" in the world is on the story like white on rice, and people will pay attention to that crap the next time they go to purchase a vehicle...long before they ever try to understand any facts. The media has established a Toyota = Bad premonition in the minds of Americans right now...and that may be true, but it might not quite be to the level that the media is making it out to be.
Toyota should have the opportunity to (1) fix the immediate problem before more lives are lost, and (2) pay the piper when it comes to the families of those who have died because of the problem....that in itself is enough to overcome from an image standpoint. Why make it worse through the media blitz when the company's survival is also the survival of thousands of American jobs?

Justice is one thing, but congress using the opportunity to deliver a huge blow from the bully pulpit because they aren't Ford or GM just seems wrong when so many American jobs are at stake...and the media loves it.

Congress can give us lip service that they are treating Toyota no different than anyone else, but will we see the same outcry the next time a Chevy has a problem that causes an accident that kills someone? That's all I'm saying.

[mhall]

I think we are all saying the same thing here. I do understand where you guys are coming from and agree. I know a couple of fellas that work at the Georgetown plant.

But if Greed to the front seat and safety took the back seat, LAY THE HAMMER!