Did a doubletake on a silver 2005 Tacoma. It was behind me while driving, and I was studying it. Mimicks the new F150 body style just a bit,,, but in my own words, it looks like a "serious hippopotamus."

 

Moooo?

I havent seen one yet.
TONS of trucks around here, but very few of them are not from the big 3.

 

Here's a pic...

 

I've seen worse, but that doesnt mean I would drive it

 

still a cheap piece of forign made ****, live in America, buy American

 

A 4x4 model was revving his engine next to me at a light yesterday, looking over at me. I didn't really acknowledge him, there was a few cars on the road. I don't know what he was thinking, I left him without really trying. He may have changed his mind or something. Strange...

 

I don't disagree with you, but isn't the Tacoma designed and made in California? How many Fords are made in Canada and Mexico?

 

Crown Vics and Freestars in Canada. Mexico has Focus and I think the new Fusion (Lobo doesn't count as that is not for sale in US)

All F150s are US built.

 

What seems to be the problem with trucks made in Canada?!?! Yes we make engine for the F-150 (Windsor, Ont) We make tons of vehicles but guess what? we also buy those vehicles too.

 

unfortunatly....they are made in the us...and now toyota is gonna get into nascar next yr with a camrey...god help us... ...zap! is nothing sacred?

 

All F150's weren't always built in the US. Mine was built in Canada. I think it was just last year that Ford closed the plants in Canada.

There are a few of thoes Tacomas running around here. They may resemble the F150, in a deformed kind of way.

 

The plants are not closed. I pass the plants everyday going to work. They make the Freestar and something else. Apparently there is a new SUV going to be built there. It's a huge plant. I know the lightning gets made there cause you see tons of them there. They don't make the new F-150 there anymore or for now...

 

You people are missing the point entirely. My Lightning was built in Canada, big deal. It was designed and engineered in the USA by a company that keeps its profits here and pays people a fair wage in Canada. Toyota keeps 'some' of the money that it uses to run Toyota N. America here. The rest of the profit goes back to Japan. I laugh at your rationalizations.


Also, Tacomas are "partially" assembled in Freemont CA. And no those factory workers do not make as much as factory workers for GM, Ford or DB.

 

Here's a little perspective:
I used to work for Lexus ad agency, and was a writer for Toyota & Lexus sales training materials.

There are hundreds of thousands of Americans that depend on this company, and others like it, for their livlihoods. To put food on the table, to keep a roof over their heads.

Add-in dealership employees - dealerships are all independent businesses - and suppliers, and you've got darn near a million Americans earning a good wage here.

Plants in several states, in areas that were economically devastated before the car business arrived. We're talking 40% unemployment, $5/hour average wages, going to near-full employment and $25/hour jobs. The quality of life has skyrocketed for many areas.

Design centers and technical centers in the US that employ thousands of designers and engineers. Lots of American suppliers, too.

Point being, it's a global economy. Toyota is a public company. Profits go to shareholders the world over. They do not "go to Japan." Same with Ford, GM and every other publicly-held company.

Plant workers make approximately the same wage around the country. Similar benefits. they are good jobs. If the wages/benefits were far below union wages, the plants would unionize in a hurry. But getting another $1/hour at a UAW plant - money that goes right back to the union - doesn't mean that union workers make more money.

And with the domestics trying to close plants due to overcapacity, while the imports are BUILDING plants and hiring people, well...

Where a compay is headquartered means very little in a worldwide economy.

That being said, I choose to buy American iron. But to even imply that folks are somehow "un-american" when they buy other goods makes no sense.

 

Blah Blah Blah. More rationalization. Let me guess, you own a Lexus or Toyota product. I hope you relish the fact that you put Americans out of work. But then again, I doubt you care with your attitude.


BS. Ask the Tundra employees what they make per hour. It's not anywhere near 25-30 bucks per hour like their UAW counterparts. Facts, just the facts.