In Toronto you can get just about any model as a rental from the major chains (Hertz, Budget, E, Avis, etc)

But, rental cars have short life spans. They live as rentals for a year or 2 and then get traded in. They are not around long enough to see the same punishment as aCrown Vic does as a cruiser or cab.

 

No arguement here-

But, price is a reason too as well as size.

In order to get a car the size of a Crown Vic from Japan or Europe, you'll fork out major coin. In fact, to get the Vicky's size, we're talking 745, S-Class, A8, Q45 (Not really big enough) and LS430 (Not big enough). THey don't really build anything that can compete as well as the Vicky when it comes to size, comfort & economy.

In fact, since 1996- no one has.
WTF was Chevy thinking when they killed the Caprice?

With PD sales alone, Ford would be STUPID not to redesign and keep building the Crown Victoria; but, a freind of mine at Bob Tommes Ford told me that Ford has considered using the 500 as the replacement vehicle for the Crown Victoria... I sincerely hope they aren't that dumb.

But, here in TX, our police drive Tahoes, Impala's, F-150's, etc... Even the State Troopers drive Rams and F-150's. So, there are big, RWD, powerful vehicles to be had aside from the Victoria- but, something should remain as is...

 

Factor in that Hertz is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford...

...and General Motors was a minority shareholder in Avis...

Have to protect their investments, right?

 

what WAS Chevy thinking????

You are right on the value management. I'm not sure how much resale fators into the Toyota/Honda decision but it must to some degree.

 

do GM and Chrysler still have ownership in any rental companies? AT one time they did.






oh irony... a can't reply to the webmasters post because "Sorry! The administrator has specified that users can only post one message every 60 seconds."


he he he

 

Certainly was true for Ford & Hertz.

That's how the Taurus became the "Best Selling car in America" for a year or two, because Hertz was flooded with them.

But, since then the baton has either been held by Toyota's Camry or Honda's Accord.

 

That might fly if you directed it at anyone but me. I'm the guy you see in stores throwing chit back on a shelf muttering about made in China/Mexico/country y. I'm the guy who spent $50 on a pair of bolt cutters because they were the only ones that I could find that were made in America. No I don't think that I'm to blame for NAFTA. And FWIW I despise Republicans as well as Democrats, there's but a dimes worth of difference between the two parties anymore. JMO.

 

01 makes a good point, but that's not goign to change...

Everybody wants to get the most for their money, and everyone wants to be well-paid. That's just how it goes.

Our industries now realize that having items such as sneakers, blue jeans, paper towels, etc made overseas and shipped back was cheaper for them, and they could pass the savings on to the consumer and make a profit- it's just now they realize they can make even more profit and keep the prices cheap by sending our jobs over there too.

Once the industries get the communications infrastructure in place in China and India (where there are more English speaking people than in the US); and it pays for itself and can support the business- you can count on more jobs going overseas... Where's that going to leave us wage-earners? Only the best of us employees and those of us with entrepenurial mindsets will have a career that can support our familes (Outside of medical, dental, transportation specialists (truckers) and lawyers).

I'm thinking about restarting my custodial and commericial lawn-mowing business; who's with me?

 

If Ford sold F-150's in Japan, How would you fell abought the profit's going back to the U.S.A?....

 

PONY DRIVER,

Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you specifically to look in the mirror. I did say that I suspect a good 80% or more Americans support NAFTA with out even knowing they do. I am basically like you where I don’t just buy the cheapest product to save a buck.

It has proven time and time again, at least for me, that when you try to save a buck it cost you a lot more in the long run. I use to buy the cheap tools, when I was in my early 20’s, but have come to realize that Craftsmen, and others like them, though more expensive, are cheaper in the long run.

I think many industries are beginning to realize that as well. It is cheaper in the short run, or so it seems, to send work overseas but the quality is just not there, the loyalty is just not there. Hell, if you want to talk to someone you have to stay up real late or get up real early just to “try” and communicate the problem.

We have constantly had quality and deliverer problems from our overseas vendors and when you need something quick it cost a bundle to ship next day. In the past year we have begun to implement Lean Manufacturing in our company. You know who basically mastered that to a science? Toyota did with their auto manufacturing. It’s been around for a long time, mid 80’s I believe, but it’s very hard for most manufactures to implement because many employees are just used to “the old way”. Some just don’t understand that unless they change, unless they open their minds to a completely different way they will in fact be out of a job. We are coming along pretty good now, still a long way to go, but we are just beginning to see some changes for the better.

I am currently a Value Stream Manager which translates into the person in charge of a complete product line from raw material to finished goods. It use to take 4 – 6 different supervisors to do that and with one it flows much more efficiently and much more cost effective. To long to go in to here but we now produce twice as many electric motors in the same time as we did just 6 months ago. People do not have to work harder or faster, simply smarter and eliminating as much waste as possible.

If we continue on this path we have a very good chance of keeping 6 different motor configurations here in our plant, that are in my product line, rather then out sourcing them to China as that is where they are currently slated to go in 12 – 18 months from now.

 

Very interesting point you bring up. I don’t know if it is currently still a major problem, but it use to be hard for Ford or any American auto manufacture to get their automobiles exported to other countries such as Japan.

Basically countries like Japan close their markets to but only a very few autos per year as well as many other goods from America. I wouldn’t feel bad for a moment if Ford was to open a plant in Japan and sent every penny it made home, where it belongs…

 

one more point...if you vaule the "Made in America" stance, than you should not buy any Ford, Chrysler, Gm products...all three are cross bred with global intrest's, From mazda to Issue....my leaf springs on my 04 f-150 were made in Mexico.....China is the hot market now....Canada and the U.S.A don't rate very high in the global market place...due to high cost of labour/heathcare + inflation Ford, Gm, and Chrysler are going else were to make thier big bucks and The Toyota's of this world are replacing the North American Auto because the big three can't build and make a profit in North America...

 

Just trying to say(as I was running out the door this morning) that I wonder what would happen if we were at war with Japan again.
What would happen to their manufacturing here? I don't think Toyota would be considered an "American" company at that time.

 

this is exactly what i love about this place




look whats happening here

i remember when buick, pontiac, oldsmobile,

ran in nascar with ford, chevrolet, plymouth.(dodge)

now the ricecar invasion is taking place

pretty soon you will see suzuki and hundai out there


think about that for awhile

yuk

even drag racing is being taken over by rice

i dont wanna go there but if any of you get national dragster

check out the article a couple of weeks back about the race at englishtown where it was 500 ci of 2X4V pro stock against 4 cyl of whatever on whatever

after 3 rounds it was rice winner

i give up



not


...zap!

 

Politics aside, that's why allowing others in the race, regardless of where they're from, is good.

It spurs competition. Raises the bar. Brings out the best in everyone.

You'll have to work harder and be better than you were to win.

Nothing wrong with that . . . it means the outside competition forced us to improve.

It's a win-win- for everyone.

Kobi