Is everything made in China?????

[KnockKnock]

I noticed Toyota North American vehicle standards and design really took a big direction change in 1995. They stopped doing things the "Toyota way" and started doing things exactly the same as Detroit builders for the American market.

Toyota (Toyoda) is a world company, they are beyond huge. They have an amazing array of different vehicles designed for their specific markets.

An example would be the difference between the 100 and 200 series Landcruiser that is sold in North America and the 70 and 105 series cruisers sold in Japan and Australia. America wants a suppository shaped SUV with loads of plastic crap, a high revving V8 and in dash navigation. Asia and Australia customers want inline six and turbodiesels with solid front axles and durability. Australian Landcruisers get the A442 automatic or H150 cast iron 5 speed. American versions get the A340/A343 autos with no option of stickshift since 1988. Americans buy on looks, widgets and a HP number. We want hype, not facts. Other countries buy on quality.

Bottom line is manufacturers make what the customers demand. The USA consumer trend is to buy cheap crap. Just look at how many Harbor Freight (Hazard Fraught) stores there are out there.

The good news is that there are still a large number of successful manufacturing businesses in North America building quality products for the world.

Toyota trucks run around here with "Made in Texas" stickers on them, and it drives me crazy - "Assembled" and "Made" are not the same thing. To me, it's a sticker that says, "This truck supports Japanese corporations on the backs of hard working Texans!"

Why does America end up with space-shuttle shaped SUV's? Smog-laws, safety-ratings, and MPG criteria. The same laws that forced the auto companies to eradicate the tried & true work-horse I6 from existence, and then backed them with autos because of warranty mandates, and (despite my love for a standard trans, admittedly, this may be well-founded) manufacturers don't trust the general public not to burn up clutches only to be replaced regularly by the dealerships for free. However, manufacturers also can't program a manual trans for mileage as they can an auto, so it comes full circle yet again. Try finding a new V8-powered 1/2-ton with a manual trans nowadays - Ram might make one, but Italian-owned Chrysler won't put one behind a Hemi, and I've heard that there are plans to do away with stick-shifts available behind the anemic Magnum 4.7 as well; meanwhile, there are no other choices. These are exactly the reasons I come here to praise the trucks of the good ole' days.

[Lee]

I noticed Toyota North American vehicle standards and design really took a big direction change in 1995. They stopped doing things the "Toyota way" and started doing things exactly the same as Detroit builders for the American market.

Toyota (Toyoda) is a world company, they are beyond huge. They have an amazing array of different vehicles designed for their specific markets.

An example would be the difference between the 100 and 200 series Landcruiser that is sold in North America and the 70 and 105 series cruisers sold in Japan and Australia. America wants a suppository shaped SUV with loads of plastic crap, a high revving V8 and in dash navigation. Asia and Australia customers want inline six and turbodiesels with solid front axles and durability. Australian Landcruisers get the A442 automatic or H150 cast iron 5 speed. American versions get the A340/A343 autos with no option of stickshift since 1988. Americans buy on looks, widgets and a HP number. We want hype, not facts. Other countries buy on quality.

Bottom line is manufacturers make what the customers demand. The USA consumer trend is to buy cheap crap. Just look at how many Harbor Freight (Hazard Fraught) stores there are out there.

The good news is that there are still a large number of successful manufacturing businesses in North America building quality products for the world.

Amen Brother!!!!

[averagef250]

Toyota trucks run around here with "Made in Texas" stickers on them, and it drives me crazy - "Assembled" and "Made" are not the same thing. To me, it's a sticker that says, "This truck supports Japanese corporations on the backs of hard working Texans!"

Why does America end up with space-shuttle shaped SUV's? Smog-laws, safety-ratings, and MPG criteria. The same laws that forced the auto companies to eradicate the tried & true work-horse I6 from existence, and then backed them with autos because of warranty mandates, and (despite my love for a standard trans, admittedly, this may be well-founded) manufacturers don't trust the general public not to burn up clutches only to be replaced regularly by the dealerships for free. However, manufacturers also can't program a manual trans for mileage as they can an auto, so it comes full circle yet again. Try finding a new V8-powered 1/2-ton with a manual trans nowadays - Ram might make one, but Italian-owned Chrysler won't put one behind a Hemi, and I've heard that there are plans to do away with stick-shifts available behind the anemic Magnum 4.7 as well; meanwhile, there are no other choices. These are exactly the reasons I come here to praise the trucks of the good ole' days.

What makes you think Toyota isn't making the components for those trucks here?

95% of Americans think that we are a service based economy.

If we didn't buy suppository shaped plastic 5 year lifespan can't fix unless you take to dealer vehicles the automakers would not make those vehicles anymore.

It's not the safety laws or the government or corporations- It's you, your family, neighbors, friends, coworkers.

We, the American consumers, dictate what we will spend our money on.

[averagef250]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... cfRMzu-qfY

[averagef250]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Laws+&+Regulations ... A)+Reports

60% of the components used to make current production Ford F-series trucks are made in USA or Canada.

80% of the components used to make the current production Toyota Tundra's and Tacomas are made in USA or Canada.

[KnockKnock]

What makes you think Toyota isn't making the components for those trucks here?

95% of Americans think that we are a service based economy.

If we didn't buy suppository shaped plastic 5 year lifespan can't fix unless you take to dealer vehicles the automakers would not make those vehicles anymore.

It's not the safety laws or the government or corporations- It's you, your family, neighbors, friends, coworkers.

We, the American consumers, dictate what we will spend our money on.

OK, I decide I'm going to buy the last truly American owned brand from back in the glory years, thus withdrawing my support for the over-legislated, and ultimately confusing, automotive industry.

P.S. That last link is broken.

[averagef250]

I can't remember where I read it, but IIRC, all American automakers switched from domestically produced steel to Japan steel in January 1970.

[KnockKnock]

I can't remember where I read it, but IIRC, all American automakers switched from domestically produced steel to Japan steel in January 1970.

I've heard the same with Ford being one of the auto makers to try and reduce "virgin steel" consumption by using a great deal of recycled materials during the mid-seventies - If this is true, then it explains why some of their cars (such as the Mustang II, and Granada) seemed to rust away more quickly than the rest (if this is untrue, please feel free to correct me here as I am far from an expert, but love to learn).

I guess I should apologize for ruffling some feathers on here over the Toyota-thing. While Akio's buck stops in Japan, and may likely never be used to help you get a home loan, he is in-fact creating state-side employment, which is something ole' Henry has gotten away from, and desperately needed in today's economy. It's all a matter of personal opinion as to what course is better for the present vs. the future, and I can respect another perspective.

[ZPC2THLgate]

I know I have low vacuum; maybe this has been my tranny problem all along.




























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[ultraranger]

The U.S. has the highest corporate taxes of any nation on the globe. http://taxfoundation.org/blog/another-s ... ates-world

If you started with nothing and invested all of your own hard-earned money and time into starting and building a successful company but as time went on, your country's government made it harder and harder for you to be successful, you would probably look at other less expensive alternatives to continue as a company (i.e., sourcing other material and labor markets). That, or simply go out of business.

The government and the EPA has a large impact on the direction and types (and the ultimate cost to the consumer) of automobiles a manufacturer can produce. More stringent mileage and emissions requirements means the manufacturers have to make a vehicle lighter to meet the requirements. To do this, it means they have to use things like aluminum, or most likely, copious amounts of plastic or polyurethane components. While these things help lighten a vehicle to meet the requirements, the trade-off is you are less safe in the event of an accident.

Nobody wants an unsafe vehicle (or vehicle components) but the consumer should dictate (with their pocketbook) what the auto manufacturers make and sell --not the government. The consumers should be the ones picking the winners and losers --not the government.

Free market competition keeps costs low and the quality high. If you have neither of these, you simply don't stay in business.

Until this country gets back to being less 'hostile' towards corporations that were once vibrant here & provided good paying jobs to the people that worked for them, the trend of once U.S.-produced products will steadily shift more & more to over-seas markets. It's simple economics.

[psquare75]

Just a thought. China has a space program. Are they really using the dollar store tool kits to get there? NO. It's OUR fault for buying the crap in the first place..

[averagef250]

The U.S. has the highest corporate taxes of any nation on the globe. http://taxfoundation.org/blog/another-s ... ates-world

If you started with nothing and invested all of your own hard-earned money and time into starting and building a successful company but as time went on, your country's government made it harder and harder for you to be successful, you would probably look at other less expensive alternatives to continue as a company (i.e., sourcing other material and labor markets). That, or simply go out of business.

The government and the EPA has a large impact on the direction and types (and the ultimate cost to the consumer) of automobiles a manufacturer can produce. More stringent mileage and emissions requirements means the manufacturers have to make a vehicle lighter to meet the requirements. To do this, it means they have to use things like aluminum, or most likely, copious amounts of plastic or polyurethane components. While these things help lighten a vehicle to meet the requirements, the trade-off is you are less safe in the event of an accident.

Nobody wants an unsafe vehicle (or vehicle components) but the consumer should dictate (with their pocketbook) what the auto manufacturers make and sell --not the government. The consumers should be the ones picking the winners and losers --not the government.

Free market competition keeps costs low and the quality high. If you have neither of these, you simply don't stay in business.

Until this country gets back to being less 'hostile' towards corporations that were once vibrant here & provided good paying jobs to the people that worked for them, the trend of once U.S.-produced products will steadily shift more & more to over-seas markets. It's simple economics.

I agree with your point that consumers need to pull their heads out of their @sses, but I think the rest is not the reality at all.

There are tons of manufacturing jobs and limitless opportunities for those who apply themselves in the wide range of industries in the USA.

There are less and less bottom skill level retard jobs in American manufacturing because this stuff is now automated. You don't need a fancy degree, you just have to be skilled. Engineering and machining are huge, but the goal isn't to make more jobs, it's to make more stuff using less highly skilled, well compensated people.

If you're good at making stuff there is no lack of opportunity for you in America. We make an incredible amount of stuff here. Big companies that off-shored manufacturing have realized EXACTLY what low cost China suppliers are all about and are frantically bringing production BACK to this country.

In many cases the parts can be made less costly and to a higher standard here. It just takes people who use their heads.

Personally, I think the big automakers should get zero assistance and there should be more competition. There should be more start-up automakers with fresh ideas who can compete head on with the few behemoths.

All businesses start somewhere and they all, every last one of them, die someday.

[ultraranger]

I don't dispute there are still manufacturers here in the U.S. but, its not nearly on the magnitude that it once was just 20 or 30 years ago. This is obvious for anyone to see. Go to Wal-Mart --or even the parts stores. Look and see where the items are produced from. It used to be normal to see, "Made in the USA" on them. Very few things these days says that on them.

I totally disagree with the bailout, which should not have happened either and, I'm not saying the corporations should be given government assistance (throwing the tax payers dollars at them). I'm saying that the corporations, just like private, individual, citizens should not be taxed to death. This punishes the achievers and the creativity to come up with and to produce new products that people want or need.

Ford was #2 in line "to fail" when the bailout was handed to Chevrolet and Chrysler. Yet, Ford didn't take any bailout money (the people's money), and they are still here. Chevrolet, on the other hand, not only took the (citizens) money but then turned around and declared bankruptcy on top of that! Bancruptcy should have been their first and only option with no bailout money at all. The company would have been restructed under new corporate leaders and a better plan forward and they would have gotten back to the task of getting back to work making automobiles.

If they couldn't get it figured out, it would not be the end of the world if they shut down and went out of business. Someone would come along to take their place. That's the way competition works. Other automakers have come and gone (Nash, Keiser, AMC, Tucker, to name a few) and yet, we still have automobiles.

[Dave H]

Like it's already been mentioned, larger corperations are going global, with their manufacturing taking place in more than one country...and often its hard to find out exactly where their products are made. You can call customer service and most of the time they don't even know.

Generally any type of production that puts out large amounts of pollution, as in smelting metals, isn't going to happen in the US, it will be China, India and now even Africa.

I've been working on a site that features American made products, and to date I have come up with just over 3,000 business...but I actually haven't checked into bearings.....yet.

You can check out what I've come up with so far here: http:usamadeproducts.biz

[psquare75]

I always read the ONLY reason Ford didn't go under was they had restructured some debt prior to 2008, in maybe 2005 or so, at much more favorable interest rates, allowing them to avoid the colossal mess. And don't forget, if GM and Chrysler went under, Ford would have as well.