Comments on: Toyota Is World's No. 1 Automaker

First Quarter Sales Bypassed GM For The First Time Ever

[randalds]

Then again I do have a 1998 Chevy Tracker that I've now owned for nearly 10 years. I keep it around because it's been paid for for years and it runs great! I love it and have never had a bit of trouble with it. Just basic oil changes and tune-ups and one new battery.

Of course it IS made in Japan by Suzuki.

[sparks224]

GM, Ford and Chrysler should all merge and change their name to Big Stupid Trucks are us.

BSTs (SUVs) are cheap to make and can be sold for a huge mark up.

If Americans ever decide they want something more sophisticated than a pickup truck with gadgets on the inside, the American auto manufacturers will be out of business.

[glidescube]

I bought a new pontiac and the engine blew at 9,500 miles, the transmition followed at 16,000 and the alternator went at 22,000 miles. Of course it was under warranty but it still cost me time and lost hours at work to get it fixed. I bought a toyota Prius and have 25,000 miles on it and it still drives like new with out so much as a squeek.

Then GM wonders why it looses customers like me.

[vancouverboo]

It's only going to get worse.

The elite power structure of America focused on Short Term Greed. Long Term Greed was beyond their little minds. They couldn't/can't see quite further than the next quarterly statement.

[randalds]

The plain and simple truth is that they make better cars for a better price. In the late 70's the US automakers were almost taken down by the Japanese because of fuel economy. For awhile it seemed as if they'd learned there lesson, but then they started building their whole market based on huge SUV's who's sales are particularly sensitive to rises in fuel prices. Yes the public wanted them, but putting all of their eggs in this one basket was ignorant.

Besides many of the "foreign" cars being sold in the US are actually built here with American labor and the Big Three are all just as international as the Japanese are. There are no more American made vs foreign made cars sales any longer. All of the companies are worldwide.

[vastr-wcon]

There is no surprise in the news that Toyota is number 1. I just bought a new Honda Accord, after looking at Camry and a few GM, Ford, Chryslers. The Honda is great value for the cost and outstanding quality; the Camry was a close second. The others are total ***, with poor gas mileage.

[sparks224]

%u201CTHE UAW cause the big 3 to go DOWN. THE UAW they are no good.%u201D
Posted by lawandorder6 at 01:25 PM : Apr 24, 2007

Well I glad to hear the management had nothing to do with it.

Or the fact that health care cost in the US are double what they are in every other industrialized country.

[lawandorder6]

THE UAW cause the big 3 to go DOWN. THE UAW they are no good.

[supercoupe40]

Another truth is that the 'Little 3', have learned their lesson, and the benefit of their corrective measures are just now beginning to be seen and felt. Regardless of the fact that many people (myself included) don't want to believe that their quality ratings are climbing at a rate that will put them (on paper) near the level of Toyota or Honda within just a few more years, much of the general public has had their fill of problem-prone American automotive products of the past 40 years. And regardless of how many J.D.Power Initial Quality Surveys they come out on or near the top of, it will take another decade for a majority of public sentiment to turn back in their favor.

Besides - you ask me, and I couldn't care less about initial quality surveys. I EXPECT a car to do well out the gate! If it doesn't it IS a piece of ***! Where it counts is how that car does 5 years down the road. My SC400 is a '93 and still purrs like a kitten baby!

[supercoupe40]

Yep. They're reaping what they've sewn alright. Neither of them will go under though. There'll always be enough "Buy American" sentiment to keep them afloat. Plus, truth be told, they are starting to put out some products that people really do want to buy. You can't deny the influence and success of your Chrysler 300's, GM G6's and Ford Edges. Are they terribly fuel efficient? No, but not everybody makes purchase decisions based on fuel efficiency. Of all the places in the world to worry about fuel efficiency, America (the most prosperous, and free-marketed country on earth) is not where you'll find a grand percentage of that count. Heck, I don't drive a 4-ltr V8 Lexus SC400 for its fuel efficiency. I drive it because I fell in love with the car back in college and was finally able to get one pre-owned. I'll get no less than 400k mi out of it before passing it down to my son.