"IME almost every foreign-make owner I've ever met are 'fanboys' 4 their ride, and they'd swear by their foreign-make to their dying breath.. even in the event of a MAJOR quality/design problem..."
Sigh.
Brand loyalty is most often created by having a positive experience. If you buy Brand "X" and it works well, you are more inclined to buy Brand "X" again. If you have a terrible experience with Brand "X," that reduces the odds of a repeat purchase.
A detailed analysis of how U.S. auto makers went from 95 percent market share to under 50 percent market share is detailed in this Federal Reserve report. Toyota became the largest auto maker in the world--surpassing GM in 2008--because of the individual, independent buying decisions of millions of consumers.
Here's the reality. Toyota became the largest auto maker on the planet because they build more cars that people want to buy. Now, if the quality of Toyota vehicles take a nose dive, they will face exactly the same situation as the "Big Three" in Detroit... they will lose market share, that is if some other company is building and selling a better option.
Brand loyalty is most often created by having a positive experience. If you buy Brand "X" and it works well, you are more inclined to buy Brand "X" again. If you have a terrible experience with Brand "X," that reduces the odds of a repeat purchase.
A detailed analysis of how U.S. auto makers went from 95 percent market share to under 50 percent market share is detailed in this Federal Reserve report. Toyota became the largest auto maker in the world--surpassing GM in 2008--because of the individual, independent buying decisions of millions of consumers.
Here's the reality. Toyota became the largest auto maker on the planet because they build more cars that people want to buy. Now, if the quality of Toyota vehicles take a nose dive, they will face exactly the same situation as the "Big Three" in Detroit... they will lose market share, that is if some other company is building and selling a better option.
That's a nice story. Sounds good to the typical American "I-keep-hearing-how-awesome-Toyota-quality-is" lemming with a disposition for self-loathing from their foreign car purchase.
Millions of consumers began buying Japanese made autos because the Japanese manufacturers gave them away at a loss. Massive PR efforts, slick advertising campaigns, and the 'statist' media you most likely depend on for newz was also key in Toyo's increase in market share.
There's plenty of reports that expose foreign manufacturers quality being no better than domestic's- and in some cases worse.. but, sigh, somehow these lemmings, er.. consumers keep having 'positive' experiences with Toyota's.
But I'm not worried. I figure the Obama administration will require Toyo to take stimulus money, force Watanabe to resign, have a "money for malfunctioning" cars program- and we'll all be good.
Late to this one. But for the California patrolman crash, here's my understanding
1) the throttle pedal was stuck (or there was a different issue with the same result).
2) the car was a loaner. The PRNDL had a detent for manu-matic shifting, and the N mark was very close to the "+" mark on the shift lever
3) the car did not have a keyswitch, but a push button. The push button needed to be held down for three seconds before shutting down a running engine. This function may not have been in the operators manual. Either way, it is a very serious thing from a controls perspective to shut down an engine when there are conflicting indications.
4) I thought the passenger was doing the phoning?
On a related note, a consumer magazine checked two German cars with electronic throttles as well as an HHR. The German cars (a VW and BMW) closed the throttle when both the throttle and brake were applied. The Toy and HHR behaved like their analog predecessors. Also, IIRC, both the German cars shut the engine off (with a non-zero vehicle speed) if the on/off button was jabbed three times in quick succession.
I do not know how GM's push button start works, but I'll bet from now on EVERY on/off switched car will have prominent warnings and a "Jab-panic" mode to act as a kill switch.
Of course, I might be responding to something entirely different, in which case I beg an apology.
Anybody remember the Audi 5000 problem back in the '80's? I think that turned out to be something like "unexpected acceleration" due to a bad computer chip. Sounds familiar.
Jim
__________________
Can somebody remind Susan that I really do want bagpipes for Christmas?
The worst vehicle I ever owned was a early 90's Toyota T100 truck.
Many electronic and battery problems. Traded about 4 years later for
a concrete driveway ( trade value approx. $ 10,000.00 ). The new
owner contacted me later and asked me about the engine recalls.
I had no knowledge of any recalls. Toyota failed to reach me even with no address or phone # changes and I was even letting Toyota do all
recommended service. They new how to reach me but chose not to...
I've owned cars ranging from a Hyundai Excel to an Audi A4, a BMW convertible, a vintage Jeep, new Pontiac Firebird and Chevy Tahoe. I've bought new, used and one that was older than me. And I've been happy for the most part with all those cars. They really shined in some areas, and were lacking in others -- but so far nothing has left me stranded on the side of the road. And that includes our two latest: an '05 Prius and '08 Highlander Hybrid. Both have been wonderful, well-built cars.
And since there's about as high a chance that an F-150 was built in Mexico, and a Honda Accord was assembled in the middle of Ohio... I'm not going to waste time waving flags or picking countries when it's obvious that very few of us really know which dollars are supporting the economy of which country.
If supporting the U.S. economy in one's vehicle purchase is such a critical factor, one ought to go buy a quarter horse and an Amish-built buggy. Now that's guaranteed 100% American built.
As for me, I'll continue to base all big purchases on reputation, consumer reviews, a history of customer service, first-person recommendations, my perceived value of features and personal taste. This method hasn't let me down so far!
But Kim, in Canada you are not immune from the all-powerful "statist media." They are so incredibly effective that you really want to trade in your current truck for a 1975 Pontiac Acadian (aka the Canadian Chevette). With the "rally package," you could probably tow your 28' Classic. You just don't realize it yet... probably the cold slowing the synapses.
You see, Kim, we Americans were too stupid to recognize well-built classic cars like the Ford Pinto, the AMC Gremlin and AMC Pacer, the Chevy Vega and (one of my personal favorites) the Ford Maverick. We failed to appreciate the pinnacle of automotive engineering embodied in the Chevy Citation or the AMC Eagle Wagon. When President Obama called the the Ford Granada "the worst car Detroit ever built," he probably forgot to add, "but it was still better than anything not made in the good ol' U.S. of A."
C'mon, Kim, are you going to believe FCJoe or your lying eyes?
Quick Links
Hybrid Mode
