Why Toyota is kicking GM's ass

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?

Toyota enjoys much lower labor costs in the United States and benefits
from an undervalued yen for cars made in Japan. In the United States,
this comes to about $2,500 per vehicle. The entry level and middle
level market segments are very sensitive to price and vehicle
durability. Toyota has been able to translate its cost advantage into
vehicles with higher, more attractive content and longer life than
General Motors. Toyota's Camry and Corolla, and derivatives of those
cars, have been able to dominate their market spaces -- they set the
standard others must follow and they establish the price thresholds.
==========
What strategies does Toyota follow to retain its No.1 position in the
global market?

Toyota is constantly looking for ways to lower costs and improve
products. It translates most of the additional profits it earns, over
GM, into better product design and additional capacity. At GM, the
executives vote themselves bonuses and the union demands more benefits
and featherbedding at the first sign of profits.
==========
While GM is closing its factories in its native country, how can Toyota
open its new plants in North America?

It offers customers cars that are less expensive and less trouble to
own over the life of the cars. Toyotas don't break as much and perform
well. GM vehicles require more repairs and don't age well.
==========
How will the native slogan "Wake up America and Buy American" affect
the future of Toyota in the U.S. market?

Not much. Thanks to big bonuses to executives, outsized fringe benefits
for the United Auto Workers union, poor product quality and just plain
arrogance, GM and the UAW have lost the loyalty of American car buyers.
Americans are not protectionist in their buying habits, and GM
executives and the UAW have lost the trust and loyalty of many younger
car buyers.

On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?

Cause they build good cars? Because they were ahead of the Economy cruve
30 years ago?

Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. One neat little thin I liked was
the heater and radio had no dash lights, there was a green piece of
plastic with a dome light bulb behind it that lit up the dash, and a
little tab on it. When you pulled the tab, it opened the green lens and
you had a map light. It was built into the overhang of the dash so you
could have the map light on and not upset your view of the road. Simple
little thing, but obviously meant a lot since I still remember it after 33
years...

It got 38 MPG on the highway, until I changed the tires from Bias-Ply to
Michelin Radials. Then it got 38 MPG IN TOWN.

The Nova I looked at was $3595, a V8 that got 18 MPG overall.

And didn't have a little green maplight.

If one listens to Toyotas ads, they say 'number one car BRAND name in the
US. As with many of Toyotas ads, while true in what they say, they are
disingenuous and deceptive.

Actually GM sells more cars in the US than does Toyota but they have several
different names on the grill. The most deceiving,, are Toyotas Tundra ads.
Tundra 'changing everything.' That is true in reference to prior Tundras,
but not in referance to GM, Ford or Dodge trucks. What the new Tundra does
for Toyota, is bring their full size truck closer to what the domestic have
been offering in their trucks for many years. Toyota touts fuel economy,
but GM sells more models that get 30 MPG, or more, than does Toyota

mike

.. "George Orwell" <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote in
message news:c72e5fc7ea894b1548fc37657c1d825b (AT) mixmaster (DOT) it...

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?

Remember it perhaps, but if you go to any of the old car shows around the
county, you will see a lot of '74 and older Novas, but you not likely see
any '74 Corollas. LOL

mike


"Vash The Stampede" <Trigun (AT) 2AM (DOT) cn> wrote

On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?


Cause they build good cars? Because they were ahead of the Economy cruve
30 years ago?

Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. One neat little thin I liked was
the heater and radio had no dash lights, there was a green piece of
plastic with a dome light bulb behind it that lit up the dash, and a
little tab on it. When you pulled the tab, it opened the green lens and
you had a map light. It was built into the overhang of the dash so you
could have the map light on and not upset your view of the road. Simple
little thing, but obviously meant a lot since I still remember it after 33
years...

It got 38 MPG on the highway, until I changed the tires from Bias-Ply to
Michelin Radials. Then it got 38 MPG IN TOWN.

The Nova I looked at was $3595, a V8 that got 18 MPG overall.

And didn't have a little green maplight.

According to Vash:

Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. >more crap snipped

I actually drove one of those cars, a model a few years earlier. All I
remember was you red-lined the engine in first gear at about 15 mph! It
was only marginally better than a kid's pedal car.

While you are plugging Toyotas, why don't you tell the public they all have
timing belts with non free-running engines (interference engines). That
means, if and when the timing belt breaks or skips, your engine is ruined
completely because the pistons will strike the opened valves. What you
have are holed pistons and/or bent valves, meaning a complete teardown and
overhaul. Figure on at least $4,000 when that $20 timing belt goes. Most
American cars do not have that fine Toyota feature.

In <Ja13i.12051$CQ4.12007@trndny06> Vash The Stampede <Trigun (AT) 2AM (DOT) cn> writes:

On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?

Cause they build good cars? Because they were ahead of the Economy cruve
30 years ago?

Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. One neat little thin I liked was
the heater and radio had no dash lights, there was a green piece of
plastic with a dome light bulb behind it that lit up the dash, and a
little tab on it. When you pulled the tab, it opened the green lens and
you had a map light. It was built into the overhang of the dash so you
could have the map light on and not upset your view of the road. Simple
little thing, but obviously meant a lot since I still remember it after 33
years...

It got 38 MPG on the highway, until I changed the tires from Bias-Ply to
Michelin Radials. Then it got 38 MPG IN TOWN.

The Nova I looked at was $3595, a V8 that got 18 MPG overall.

And didn't have a little green maplight.

That's a nice story.

However, did you ever drive a Nova with a 350 V8? I did, and it
was the most fun I ever had. No, it didn't have a little green
map light, but it did have a great roar and great acceleration.

I would have been lucky to get 18 MPG, but back then gas was cheap.

The Nova was probably one of the best and most reliable cars built
by GM through the 70s. Both the 6cyl and 8cyl were good engines.

On May 17, 4:21 pm, 6forPizza <6forPi... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

In <Ja13i.12051$CQ4.12007@trndny06> Vash The Stampede <Tri... (AT) 2AM (DOT) cn> writes:





On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:
post-gazette.comhttp://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?
Cause they build good cars? Because they were ahead of the Economy cruve
30 years ago?
Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. One neat little thin I liked was
the heater and radio had no dash lights, there was a green piece of
plastic with a dome light bulb behind it that lit up the dash, and a
little tab on it. When you pulled the tab, it opened the green lens and
you had a map light. It was built into the overhang of the dash so you
could have the map light on and not upset your view of the road. Simple
little thing, but obviously meant a lot since I still remember it after 33
years...
It got 38 MPG on the highway, until I changed the tires from Bias-Ply to
Michelin Radials. Then it got 38 MPG IN TOWN.
The Nova I looked at was $3595, a V8 that got 18 MPG overall.
And didn't have a little green maplight.

That's a nice story.

However, did you ever drive a Nova with a 350 V8? I did, and it
was the most fun I ever had. No, it didn't have a little green
map light, but it did have a great roar and great acceleration.

I would have been lucky to get 18 MPG, but back then gas was cheap.

The Nova was probably one of the best and most reliable cars built
by GM through the 70s. Both the 6cyl and 8cyl were good engines.- Hide quoted text -

Did you forget they also offered a 153 cid four cylinder engine in the
original Chevrolet Nova? It was more or less 2/3's of a Chevy 6. It
was last offered in 1970. In the late 60's almost nobody cared about
fuel economy. I doubt if 5% of Nova were ordered with this engine.
I've never seen one myself.

Ed

On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:21:33 +0000, 6forPizza wrote:

In <Ja13i.12051$CQ4.12007@trndny06> Vash The Stampede <Trigun (AT) 2AM (DOT) cn
writes:

On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:

post-gazette.com http://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from the
U.S. giant, General Motors?


Cause they build good cars? Because they were ahead of the Economy cruve
30 years ago?

Let's put it this way: I bought a 1974 Corolla 1200 for $2525, with an
AM/FM radio and a rear window defroster. One neat little thin I liked was
the heater and radio had no dash lights, there was a green piece of
plastic with a dome light bulb behind it that lit up the dash, and a
little tab on it. When you pulled the tab, it opened the green lens and
you had a map light. It was built into the overhang of the dash so you
could have the map light on and not upset your view of the road. Simple
little thing, but obviously meant a lot since I still remember it after
33 years...

It got 38 MPG on the highway, until I changed the tires from Bias-Ply to
Michelin Radials. Then it got 38 MPG IN TOWN.

The Nova I looked at was $3595, a V8 that got 18 MPG overall.

And didn't have a little green maplight.

That's a nice story.

However, did you ever drive a Nova with a 350 V8? I did, and it was the
most fun I ever had. No, it didn't have a little green map light, but it
did have a great roar and great acceleration.

I would have been lucky to get 18 MPG, but back then gas was cheap.

The Nova was probably one of the best and most reliable cars built by GM
through the 70s. Both the 6cyl and 8cyl were good engines.

The Corolla was in a minor 'one car' (ooops!) fender bender, and while the
Toyota garage was repairing it, they loaned me a '73 SS 350 (far as I can
tell, all the SS did was add the SS letters. No gauges, no four speed;
near as I can tell it was a Nova 350 with SS badges). I traded cars with
them.

I kept the Nova for 5 or six weeks, and when gas hit $0.75 a gallon, I
traded it back! Luckily, they went for it and gave me my Corolla back!

It is the same today. Toyotas best selling car in not their most fuel
efficient. Only those on the bottom of the economic scale consider fuel
economy at the primary reason to buy a particular vehicle. Even at $3 a
gallon, gas consumption in the US is up over 2% more than a year ago and
over 15% greater than when gas was $2 a gallon.

mike

"Ed White" <ce.white3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

On May 17, 4:21 pm, 6forPizza <6forPi... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:
In <Ja13i.12051$CQ4.12007@trndny06> Vash The Stampede <Tri... (AT) 2AM (DOT) cn
writes:





On Thu, 17 May 2007 20:13:31 +0200, George Orwell wrote:
post-gazette.comhttp://snipurl.com/1l0sj

How did Toyota manage to squeeze the U.S. passenger-car market from
the
U.S. giant, General Motors?

However, did you ever drive a Nova with a 350 V8? I did, and it
was the most fun I ever had. No, it didn't have a little green
map light, but it did have a great roar and great acceleration.

I would have been lucky to get 18 MPG, but back then gas was cheap.

The Nova was probably one of the best and most reliable cars built
by GM through the 70s. Both the 6cyl and 8cyl were good engines.- Hide
quoted text -

Did you forget they also offered a 153 cid four cylinder engine in the
original Chevrolet Nova? It was more or less 2/3's of a Chevy 6. It
was last offered in 1970. In the late 60's almost nobody cared about
fuel economy. I doubt if 5% of Nova were ordered with this engine.
I've never seen one myself.

Ed

"PerfectReign" <theperfectreign (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

My '02 Sedona had a belt. I even changed it at around 80K just to be
safe. I'm pretty sure my wife's '05 Vue has a belt, too.

A 4 cylinder Vue has a chain. The Honda V-6 installed in a 2005 Vue has a
belt (100,000 replacement interval). Gates claims the V-6 is an interference
engine.

Ed