Re: I RACED A HARLEY TODAY!
Flahthead<br /><br />
I have nothing against U.S. auto makers. I compared them all when I bought my vehicle, bottom line was the Toyota was far and away a better choice. At least the toyota manufactured right here in the USA are not laying off thousands!! <br />
They don't have to. American buying habits have changed. Quality is NO longer an issue. We meet and beat, in many catagories. Check out JD Power. But, it will take 10 years for consumers to figure that out. By then, too late. Americans will become a service oriented (manufacturing gone) society. That means second rate wages. <br /><br />Yes, you're product was ASSEMBLED here with 55% of the parts from overseas. Robots can assemble.<br /><br />Yes, they are laying off thousands of our neighbors, freinds, etc. But, we as a ME society, don't care nor will we look at what those people produce. Old habits die hard. ALL that profit is going-OFFSHORE. But, we don't care. I'll defend what I drive and you will too. We have been told, for decades now, that ONLY American companies are BAD.<br /><br />I'll also agree that the UAW wages are out of line. But, what do we do? They're not backing down. Wages are not the real issue. Health care, tort costs, retirement, are the REAL issues. Only American companies have to deal with those.<br /><br />Toyota has NO intention of letting ANY American worker worker get to retirement age, in the US. They've been here over 30 years and have 100, yes-100, American retirees. Plant facilities are cheap. They'll move on (build in other markets)when their promises come due. Seen it, believe it.<br /><br />Sure, Detroit put out crap in the seventies. But, that crap is selling for BIG $$$ because of marketing. I was AT Barret-Jackson for two days. Guess who's buying it? Cash flush orientals. The last stab. Plus, there is still allot of that 70's/80's crap running around with 400K miles. At least here in AZ.<br /><br />We seem to excuse the crap Japan sent us in the sixties, seventies and eighties. I know, I was Toyota Dealer Service Manager in the seventies and eighties. They built some real questionable stuff. I have the EXPERIENCE to back it up.<br /><br />I was amazed, at that time, to see the different attitudes of customers regarding foreign vs. American. Foreign owners would maintain the vehicle-impeccably, American buyers would maintain-NOTHING.<br /><br />I care more about this country than I do myself. That sounds corny and too patriotic, but I CARE about this country. I do not want to sell its citizens short.<br /><br />I still have faith in the abilities of my next door neighbor, not some "world" neighbor 4000 miles away making $2.00/hour.<br /><br />Done!
<br /><br />Friends? We can agree to disagree? Yes/No?
