The returns are in for car company sales, both for December and all of 2007 (first figure is December, second is for full year; sources are here, here, and here):
- GM: -4.4%, -6.0%
- Toyota: -1.7%, +3.1%
- Ford: -9%, -11.8%
- Chrysler: +2%, -3.1%
- Nissan: -2.4%, +4.8%
- Honda: flat, +2.8%
Toyota is listed second for a reason that would have been almost unthinkable three years ago (bolds are mine):
Ford Motor Co., in the midst of a restructuring, fell to No. 3 in U.S. auto sales last year, as Toyota Motor Corp. posted its 12th straight year of record U.S. sales and moved up to second place behind General Motors Corp.
Even though Ford held on to pickup leadership with its F-Series -- the nation's best-selling vehicle nameplate for 26 years and the best-selling truck for 31 years -- the company's Ford brand is no longer the nation's best-selling make (Note: Chevrolet now is -- Ed.).
Story Continues Below Ad ↓..... George Pipas, Ford's top sales analyst, noted that the company's sales decline was largely expected and planned at the beginning of the year. Ford deliberately cut sales to the fleet market, where vehicles are sold in bulk at discount. He said the decline was 18%.
Pipas said Ford's retail sales in showrooms fell 10%. He acknowledged that those sales were at lower-than-desired levels during the last two months of the year.
Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president for marketing and communications, said Ford is accelerating its product plan and will unveil a "humble and honest" marketing approach next year, although he declined to give more details.
"We're going to stick to our guns," he said.
..... Despite all the new trucks and incentives, executives at Ford were proud the company held on to its truck leadership, with 690,589 sales. That is a far cry from the 900,000-plus sales Ford recorded in 2004 and 2005, but it allowed the F-Series truck to keep a solid, if shrinking, lead over the Silverado and its 618,257 sales.
Ford plans to launch an all-new 2009 F150 late this year -- about the time the housing crisis might ease, it hopes.
The industry's overall decline in unit sales was 2.5%. Considering Ford's drop and its 14.8% market share in 2007, that means the other car companies collectively sold less than 1% fewer vehicles than they did the previous year.
What's going on? In 2007, Ford decided that its slavish devotion to politically correct causes was more important than trying to stay Number Two overall and maintaining the Number One brand. Toyota didn't just pass Ford, it left the Dearborn-based company in the dust, selling an astonishing 234,000 more vehicles.
Old Media continues to look the other way and make excuses for Ford, including some of the items bolded in the excerpt, as the American Family Association's boycott of the company (what I call "The Biggest Boycott Never Reported," now up to over 775,000 signers) over its open support of homosexual rights, events, publications, and causes enters its 23rd month. In that time, I estimate that Ford's sales have fallen about 16%.
I have previously estimated that the AFA boycott is impacting the buying decisions of 15-20 million adults making up at least 10% of the potential market (Cliff's Notes: The AFA has 3 million members who influence 3-5 other adults; the dozens of other profamily organizations that have signed on to the boycott are also influencing milllions).
The idea, in the face of the hard sales numbers, that the AFA boycott is not a factor that continues to merit no mention in Old Media reporting has gone well beyond absurd.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
Comments Policy
This is what the RICO statutes were for
January 5, 2008 - 12:55 ET by c5thenFord Inc. and the MSM are colluding to keep this information away from the general public as much as possible. It's ironic and sad that the major beneficiary of the AFA boycott of Ford is Toyota, but that's the way it falls out.
You're right that this is the biggest story that has never been reported.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Labor costs?
January 5, 2008 - 13:06 ET by VT Con ManHasn't the outlandish union labor cost at Ford also helped their decline, compared to Toyota?
Also, if Ford embraces liberal causes and efforts, doesn't it make sense, from a conservative standpoint, that they will inevitably fail? (just like any of the many failed liberal "efforts".)
EvilCon555 That and
January 5, 2008 - 14:00 ET by EvilCon555EvilCon555
That and the fact that Ford's generally suck - though that always was not the case.
Back in 1975 Benjamin Rosenthal, NY Congressman may have hit Ford's coffin nail squarely when he was quoted as saying "Where the union movement gets weak is where you have all those g-dam (sic) paid union staff organizers, who are no longer workers. They build a union bureaucracy which is just as decadent and inflexible as management bureacracy."
Between that, a constantly degrading product marketed at a time when most competitors have achieved previously unimaginable levels of efficiency and customer satisfaction, and politically correct ideology, Ford doesn't stand a chance. Behind it will be many other American iconoclastic companies that stand ready to shill for politicians, lawyers, and the MSM at the suffering of their productivity and market share. They eventually get what they deserve. The fact is the MSM is one of those corporations in the midst of it's great decline for exactly the same reasons. To report on Ford's losses as they relate to cultural pandering would simply cast a mirror on themselves.
c5then
January 5, 2008 - 20:12 ET by shawn228You're right that this is the biggest story that has never been reported
GM is losing major market share as well, Do they have a agenda not reported either?
You will notice that Ford's
January 7, 2008 - 10:03 ET by Full MonteYou will notice that Ford's sales decline is twice that of GM.
I, for one, will never even
January 5, 2008 - 13:29 ET by kgI, for one, will never even consider a Ford. I can look elsewhere instead of allowing Ford to press their lack of morals on me. There are many, many causes that Ford could support that would help this once great country. Instead they chose to cater to a fringe that is hell bent on on forcing their lack of values upon the people who have no desire to participate.
While I applaud the AFA and
January 5, 2008 - 13:35 ET by jdhawkWhile I applaud the AFA and their actions against Ford, our largest corporations are the target of an organized and concerted effort to force racial and sexual quotas. Ford is practicing legal and public relations cost avoidance.
For example, the company that I work for (one of the largest banks in the United States) has a quota system to promote at the senior vice president rank and above minorities and women ahead of others simply on the basis of those discrminators. They inagurated this policy to avoid being the target of multi-million dollar lawsuits that other large corporations have been forced to pay (ie those with deep pockets and sensitive public relations).
For the lawyers who make this their stock in trade it is only second place in terms of gain to sueing our health industry.
Ford, like many of our largest corporations, are caught between a rock and hard place. And, the threat of lawsuits and the ensuing public relation's drubbing by our liberal press are trumping the likes of the AFA.
JD
January 5, 2008 - 13:39 ET by botgYet another reason to keep SCOTUS appointments high on your priorities for your POTUS selection next November
GoHunter08
You are correct, and we
January 5, 2008 - 17:00 ET by GregEYou are correct, and we could have an entire open discussion forum on the things we have run into in our workplaces regarding sexual and minority preferences.
I work at one of the largest corporations in the US. On a divisional conference call one day (happens more, but this one stood out), the following statement was made...
"We currently have 50 department job openings, down from 70 earlier in the year, so we're tracking well. We're interviewing the right number of women and minorities....."
Now tell me what the "right number" is, and how many well-qualified (perhaps more qualified than some of the eventual hires, eh?) people (also in this case known as "white males") were discriminated against so that the "right number" could be achieved? And political correctness has dictated to people's minds, in that if I was to have asked what the "right number" means and why, I'd have been labelled sexist, racist, or some other nonsense. This is how it works. Suppress thought, threaten differing viewpoints, and ram yours down everyone's throat, daring them to view differently.
All this while supposedly being against discrimination. All the political correctness, and governmental nonsense has many, if not most, people actually thinking that this is not discrimination, when it's really blatantly so. But people are fine with this form of it. Hmmmmm!
Ford
January 5, 2008 - 13:40 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI hear Ford's next move will be to equip all their vehicles with radios that only tune in 'Air America'.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Well if I had known about
January 5, 2008 - 13:52 ET by wiwfWell if I had known about their support for dumb causes, I wouldn't have bought my Focus. I always liked Ford, but not anymore.
I might have just totally missed it while reading, but are there examples of the causes they support, like actual names?
Sign me up!
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
FORD
January 5, 2008 - 14:07 ET by doug1950Ford has hardly been the target in this case but it has rather launched an aggressive and active role in supporting the homosexual agendas around the country. They have not only played along but have instituted their own parallel programs pumping millions of dollars into pro homosexual, transexual programs. They have been much more than willing accomplises, in fact eager to push those agendas. When faces with the boycott by AFA , Ford chose instead to push the envelope even further. You won't see me crying for FORD. Henry must be spinning in his grave by now. If interested you can go to AFA website and follow the links to exactly what FORD is deeply involved in. Go to www.boycottford.com
I'd like to know how it
January 5, 2008 - 14:10 ET by cleverpigI'd like to know how it factors into your analysis that Ford's vocal support for gay rights issues might make gay people, who make up 10% of the population before they influence any friends, more likely to buy Ford vehicles.
While I agree that a longstanding boycott like this deserves at least a modicum of news coverage, I wouldn't be so quick to claim you know the real reason why Ford is failing. There are a lot of factors, the prime one being, as someone mentioned above, the disproportionate pension and benefits burden that Ford is carrying by virtue of being the oldest car company in existance. The amount of money they have to put into brands affects how well they sell.
cleverpig
January 5, 2008 - 14:13 ET by botgwe'd like to know where you come up with 10% ?
that bit of propaganda was debunked decades ago.
GoHunter08
Sorry, Miss Piggy. It's not "10%"
January 5, 2008 - 14:14 ET by RJYou need to stay current. Maybe it's 10% where you live in the land of Berkley, but even the major gay groups admitted in federal court a couple of years ago that the true figure is more like 2-3%.
That 10% figure is a lie that has been aggressively, deliberately, and disingenuously sold to America by gays and their supporters in their war to force themselves on the rest of us.
Okay, let's go with 2-3%.
January 5, 2008 - 14:27 ET by cleverpigOkay, let's go with 2-3%. That would still be 6-9 million people. You don't think that's worth considering? Where I live, incidentally, I expect it's considerably higher than 10%.
that's a potential gain,
January 5, 2008 - 14:31 ET by botgthat's a potential gain, what's the potential loss?
GoHunter08
"considerably higher than 10%"
January 5, 2008 - 14:39 ET by RJA meaningless point when it comes to the national figures. I'm sure there's "considerably" more Communists, Socialists and various other anti-Americans in Berkely, too. Of course, they haven't had a deliberate, disingenuous campaign to lie to the American public about their numbers.
But back to your question. How many people, both gays and their supporters, do you think are motivated to buy Ford BECAUSE of that company's political/social position? Damned few, I'd guess. On the other hand, I'm guessing that there are FAR MORE who are motivated to avoid Ford.
That might be true. I
January 5, 2008 - 16:55 ET by cleverpigThat might be true. I suppose with all the car choices out there there are lots of reasons to choose a certain car, and political concerns tend not to be as compelling as one's pocketbook. I just don't think it's realistic to look at a company's political stance only as a liability, adding up the costs but ignoring potential benefits.
Well, Miss Piggy, you made some good points
January 5, 2008 - 17:20 ET by RJearlier that Ford is hurt by being locked into various union compensation packages. Given that their financial picture is already shaky, wouldn't it make sense to not be aggressively in your face toward a segment of the buying public?
It's a practice that reminds me of the greenies who forced ethanol on us at huge environmental and social cost. They think it's the "right" thing to do, and effects be damned.
How is Ford being
January 5, 2008 - 17:29 ET by balboaHow is Ford being "aggressively in your face"?
Read the thread, balboa
January 5, 2008 - 17:41 ET by RJand the blog at top.
Actually, balboa has a good
January 5, 2008 - 20:23 ET by cleverpigActually, balboa has a good point. I didn't know about any of this until I joined NB, and I'm exactly the sort of person Ford would want to tell. Politics are definitely only a negative if the only people who know about them are the ones who disagree!
Great Post Mr. Blumer
January 5, 2008 - 14:20 ET by Lame CherryWith some additional information Mr. Blumer:
There are 2 reasons Ford pick ups were leaders for so many years. I can remember my Uncle bought a Ford in 1970 and he had driven Chevy's his entire life...........his remark was it was the first time he had ever driven a real pick up.
The beet farmers of North Dakota added to the "real pick up" gossip in the mid 70's when they were pulling those huge liquid fertilizer tanks..........Chevy did not have an extra cooler for the auto transmissions and they burnt up while Ford's did not.
There were countless tales of like me driving a friend's Chevy on a deer hunt and going down a dip and "springing" the hood that people just knew when you wanted something which lasted, you bought a Ford.
The second reason is the MR. Majestic movie with Charles Bronson. That is how farmers and ranchers drive Ford pickups daily and it made Ford a name.
THAT NOW HAS ALL CHANGED. While I will not buy a Chevy pick up if I can help it, the GMC line is very good and the real pick up coming on is the Dodge Ram. They are less expensive and from the people I have talked to hold up as good as a Ford now.
The small pick up market is leaning toward Toyota as 1 million terrorists can not be wrong in the hinterlands buying a pick up that holds up.
Ford is faced with not only the immoral problem, but with inferior vehicles now with massive parts costs when Ford's break down. I have related how it costs $600 for the electronic fuel pumps INSIDE THE GAS TANK which burn out quickly after replacement........and gone are the days when you could leave a Ford sit for a year, have it buried in a snow drift and go out and start her up.
Ford does not have a restructering problem. Ford has a customer problem who are not buying Ford and will never go back.
My nephew just had to replace a transmission on a diesel Ford pick up only a few years old. Another fact that is spreading throughout rural America.
Fact 2: Ford and all the manufacturers set up a dealer buy back program decades ago to get rid of all the old vehicles which were dependable and replaced them with all this junk to make more profits.
That is why you don't see any old vehicles for kids any more in the $300 range. The dealers bought them back, trashed them for scrap and took a tax deduction...........all at the AMERICAN TAX PAYERS EXPENSE and Ford's profit.
If one wants a nice Lincoln or Mercury.........BUY A BUICK as they give you are 60,000 dollar ride for 17,000 in a Century.
If you want a pick up, buy a GMC or Dodge diesel.
If you want a small pick up, buy a Toyota.
Ford had 2 vehicles which buoyed them up, Mustang and the F series, but they have run their course.
Excuse my French, but if Ford or any American company wanted to "Fix" their lagging sales, all they would have to do is get rid of all the electronic sh*t under their hoods........crank out a 289 special with a carb CHEAPLY and that would end it.
With all that electronic crap to break and it costing a fortune to fix, perhaps the new Chinese vehicles will be that and sweep away all this global warming non sense.
I despise Ford, they are a sodomite den filled with communist sympathies which brutalizes their workers and are turning out Soviet products which are shoddy.
Oh and they have a huge problem with all those benefit packages those commies gave retirees.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Last time I checked GM and
January 5, 2008 - 14:56 ET by jarednt1Last time I checked GM and Chrysler gave the same packages.
I rarely find anything to
January 5, 2008 - 17:48 ET by Gary P JacksonI rarely find anything to disagree with you about, but you are dead wrong on the "electronic sh*t". Cars are so much more reliable than they were in the 289, carb, points and condenser days. It's not even close!
Most cars require little regular maintenance past fluid and filter changes these day. Spark plugs last a minimum of 100,000 miles. (and that is the depth of a "tune up") Electronic ignition is the best thing to come along since the electric starter! And even hard core hot rodders are putting EFI on older motors! You can buy a set up from RetroTech that resembles the old 1930's Stromberg carbs, popular on vintage engines, like flathead Fords, 50's and 60's small block Chevys, and the like. They also make a throttle body that looks like a Holley, and is a direct bolt on deal. Another popular modification is taking old Hilborn and Enderle mechanical bodies and converting them to EFI.
Another thing, besides the better fuel mileage, and infinite tunability of EFI, the engines burn the fuel cleaner. No way a carb will pass modern emission standards. It's why there are no carbs on cars anymore. The rest the hot rodders figured out! EFI is also becoming more and more standard on motorcycles as emissions become an issue.
As far as fuel pumps, every manufacturer puts 'em in the fuel tank nowadays. EFI takes a lot more fuel pressure than a carb. They are no more or less inclined to fail than the old engine driven fuel pumps back in the day. And there is no such thing as vapor lock with EFI. They are more expensive though.
The various computers on a car are expensive if they fail, but aren't, as a whole, all that inclined to. Anything to do with emissions, like the EFI and engine computer are covered by the federally mandated warranty. Not a bad idea to buy the extended warranty, if it is the one sold by the manufacturer. They are cheap, cover the high cost things, and are transferable when you sell the car, or you can cancel them, getting a refund for the unused portion.
You are right about Dodge being a great truck. The Cummins diesel engine is top notch. The trucks themselves are very reliable.
I have to be honest.
January 5, 2008 - 14:34 ET by jarednt1I
I am conservative, I believe marriage should be between a man and a women, I am Pro Life. I believe we should say Merry Christmas.But what is the big deal, if Ford advertises in gay magazines? As a conservative I believe it’s IMPORTANT to buy American (Cars Built by Americans, and for an American company). This scares me, because we seem to be redefining conservatism as being against gays and abortion. I have news for ALL of you there is MUCH more to it than that. Besides perhaps one of the reasons for their sales decline is selling less to the fleet market, and relying more on retail sales. Let’s face it EVERY company, gives to causes we may not always support. I for one OWN a Ford, and I will be buying another one shortly. Have we all forgotten that the global warming kooks are all up and arms about Fords fuel economy? If Ford was beholding to the left, they would have a 100% green lineup.The real fact of the matter is, Ford is a multinational corporation who has to play both sides of the fence.Besides what about the computer your using, do you think Microsoft or Apple don’t give to a bunch of left wing causes?
I too am a Ford truck owner.
January 5, 2008 - 15:15 ET by jdhawkI too am a Ford truck owner. After being a three time full-size Chevy truck owner, we bought a Ford. Why? Because it was the best deal. Our last Chevy truck was about $32k. The Ford, recently purchased, was listed at about the same price, but was discounted $9k. It was simply the best bang for the buck. That being said, the only contenders were American brands. There may have been better foreign deals, but I won't buy a foreign made car.
AFA has not asked Ford to
January 5, 2008 - 22:53 ET by lotrAFA has not asked Ford to be "anti-gay," but rather neutral in the "culture wars." Ford "reneged" on a promise (according to AFA), so AFA has (rightfully) led a boycott like they said they would. Ford would put out better fuel economy vehicles if the demand were there for them -- rather, the demand has been for bigger and more powerful trucks and engines (not exactly good for gas economy), and given the law of supply and demand (with regards to oil), this will have to change, indeed is already changing. Given how the "traditional family" is considered the most basic unit of a functional (not dysfunctional) society (don't take my word on it -- just refer to recent Popes on the subject), this issue is considered, by some, to have greater weight than issues like "buy American." Just some thoughts....
To me, the biggest cause of
January 5, 2008 - 15:05 ET by fitzfongTo me, the biggest cause of Ford's decline is its poisonous link to the ball-and-chain of the UAW. Simply put, Ford negotiated contracts with the union that future sales couldn't cover. Money that should have been invested in R & D to make Ford more competitive was instead spent on inflated salaries and benefits. This means that prohibitive health care and pension costs are built into the price of increasingly inferior automobiles. Meanwhile, Toyota is churning out better cars, more efficiently and contributing to our GDP.
Biggest problem: bad product line
January 7, 2008 - 12:15 ET by SactoGuy88I think the biggest problem plaguing Ford here in the USA is outside of their excellent pickup trucks and the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan sedan, there's no good model worth buying. Ford's decision to NOT sell the much-liked second-generation Ford Focus sold elsewhere in the world is really hurting Ford severely in the USA (a true successor to the current model won't arrive until at least early calendar year 2010!), and Ford's excessive dependence on SUV's will also hurt them, too.
If you've seen Ford of Europe's product line, they have several models--especially the Mondeo mid-size sedan, the Galaxy minivan, and the S-Max sports van--that could potentially be HUGE sellers in the USA. Why is Ford in the USA not selling US-legal versions of these models?
My first and only Ford
January 5, 2008 - 15:25 ET by BlondeI've owned a Ford for two years...but only because I absolutely had to have a 50th Anniversary Edition T-Bird.
I'll keep it for another year or two, so far it's been okay (only one whoopsee so far).
But I'd not buy another Ford. For automotive reasons, BTW.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde, you're not alone...
January 5, 2008 - 16:17 ET by heldmywOn a Christmas trip from Michigan to Florida, I noted that, once past northern Ohio, the dominance of American pickup trucks ended.
The further south I went (and the reverse was true on the way back), the more Toyota Tacomas and 4runner trucks there were.
That the good ol' boys had abandoned Fords, and GM products (Dodge seemed to be the choice down there) was telling.
The same was true of SUV's and crossovers.
Sounds like Ford (as with
January 5, 2008 - 16:23 ET by RackieSounds like Ford (as with many big INCs, and local gov'ts. too) will do and say anything just so they won't get messed with(and affect their bottom line) by buying peace from the unions and the various and assorted activists, lawyers and lawmakers. It is another version of "giving up freedom in bits for a little peace". Money has no morals, no character, no patriotism, no loyality, no reason to exist other than to increase. This tactic works only in the short run and don't ya know BigBusiness is famous for it's short term thinking. It will catch up with them and bite them in the ass. BigTime!
well we just got an fj cruiser and couldn't be more happy
January 5, 2008 - 16:24 ET by lunaticcringeradionot knowing anything about fords touchy feely concerns, we got rid of our ford ranger and got the fj cruiser and couldn't be more pleased with the superior product, the excellent service, and extras that were given to us which left me incapacitated to debate a single thing on the deal that was below what i was expecting, and we are happy with out choice. simply put toyota gave us a superior quality product for it's know dependability(my dads 80 toyota with 600k is still running today) the capability of the 4x4 fj, for a price and warranty better than ford or chevy could ever offer.
one thing i grow tired of seeing is that silly pink haired esurance cartoon chick perpetuating scare tactic global warming myths in their advertising and other such silliness like their recent commercial where they are suggesting that buying their product helped bring snow(oooh they're saving the planet) to san francisco(bag of liberal crap town). i will never buy their auto insurance even if it were $10.
lunaticcringeradio
Thanks for your post
January 5, 2008 - 16:44 ET by doug1950I too own a Ford truck for my business but have been seriously toying with getting rid of it for ALL the reasons already stated and the vehicle I have been looking to is the Toyota FJ Cruiser. I have owned several Toyotas in the past, gave them away to family members who needed a dependable car. All of them are still in service, my old 88 4 Runner has over 300K on the original engine and going strong. If you buy a Toyota you better like the color, you are likely to have it for a while. I feel no sense of loyality to a company that hasn't got the same sense of loyality to me or my country.
After buying a number of GM
January 5, 2008 - 17:11 ET by AlphaNumericusAfter buying a number of GM and Ford cars, and being really unhappy with the quality, we finally bought a Honda. It's like day and night. No more "big 3" cars for this family.
Never bought an "American"
January 5, 2008 - 17:26 ET by balboaNever bought an "American" car, because I've never seen one that I liked the look and design of, and I've always heard bad things in terms of reliability (except for Saturns).
Don't move, Bal.
January 5, 2008 - 17:52 ET by Roger the ShrubberDon't move, Bal. Representatives of the UAW will be at your front door shortly.
Is that what that microchip
January 5, 2008 - 17:55 ET by balboaIs that what that microchip embedded under my skin is for?
Damn...should've seen that coming.
Uh-oh. You're in for it
January 5, 2008 - 20:00 ET by Roger the ShrubberUh-oh. You're in for it now....
Now days it's more past
January 5, 2008 - 18:00 ET by Gary P JacksonNow days it's more past reputation than anything else. American cars are just as reliable as anything out there. (but remember, many popular models are actually built in Canada and Mexico) GM is showing great improvement in all of it's brands, including Saturn.
Spent my entire working life in car dealerships. Mostly in the service end, later in sales. First Job was a Datsun-Mercedes dealership.(1970's) The shop was full all day, every day.
The American companies got a bad reputation in the seventies, because they didn't react quick enough to the gasoline shortages. In the Carter years, I think the workers just got in a funk. It's taken 20 plus years to get over that!
The point though, there isn't a dealership in the country that doesn't have a service department, and they are all busy. All day, every day, regardless of the brand.
The point though, there
January 5, 2008 - 19:15 ET by balboaThe point though, there isn't a dealership in the country that doesn't have a service department, and they are all busy. All day, every day, regardless of the brand.
True, but I never had any problems with my first car, a Honda Civic, which I had for five years. My parents never had a problem with the Nissan's they owned.
You and your parents are
January 5, 2008 - 23:29 ET by Gary P JacksonYou and your parents are lucky then. Had a Datsun pick-up that had 5 count 'em 5 catastrophic transmission failures in less than a year! It was a common problem, that plagued every 5 speed Datsun made at the time. Essentially, 5th and reverse gears were on the same shaft. The nut that held the gears, synchronizers, bearing, etc in place would come lose, destroying the gears, synchros and bearings. It was prone to do this while you were going down the highway. The car or truck would jump out of gear, leaving you with four forward gears and no reverse.
That was back when Nissan Motor Corp had a 12 mo, 12,000 mile warranty. At the time I was parts and service director for the dealership. You know how many out of warranty customers Nissan took care of? ZERO, nada! Not even for the sake of good will. As a dealership, we found "creative ways" to get the repairs done at no cost to the customer.
Ten years at a Chrysler store found them doing a lot of good will repairs, even for customers who didn't deserve it. In fact, until the Germans took over, Chrysler had a fairly liberal buy-back program, again even doing this for customers who didn't have a case, and many times for something that was not even a mechanical problem, such as paint issues.
Spent a year running a motorcycle store that sold both Suzukis and Kawasakis. Kawasaki was good about making good will repairs. Suzuki didn't know the meaning of the phrase!
So you'll know, good will repairs are generally repairs done at no cost to the customer, even though the car or truck is out of warranty, or is due in a small way to customer misuse, or abuse.
Again, the point is, every make of vehicle breaks, there are no exceptions to that rule. Obviously how one cares for their vehicles, plays a big factor in the service they get out of them. But every dealership has a service department. A trip to a Honda, Toyota , or Nissan store will find them very busy all day, everyday.
I have a Jeep Cherokee with over 300,000 miles on it, it is pretty bullet proof. I have done very little to it, besides normal wear stuff. It's not my daily driver, I just hate to get rid of it.
With few exceptions, every manufacturer makes a good car. Nowadays it's more about how a certain vehicle fits your needs and wants. The imports have went a long way on perception, and a little ways on GM, Ford, and Chrysler's poor quality back in the 70's and 80's.
In fact, Ford got 5 top in class quality awards in the 2007 J D Power survey. Mercedes Benz, who's quality had slipped significantly, was "most improved.
http://money.cnn.com...
The only problems our Datsun
January 5, 2008 - 23:39 ET by balboaThe only problems our Datsun had was rust. :-)
I love my Jetta, but it's had problems. But for some strange reason, I still want to buy another one...?
Gary
January 5, 2008 - 19:58 ET by shawn228Exactly Gary, They are losing market share because of their rep, not some silly hidden agenda.
Growing up in the 70's & 80's
January 5, 2008 - 23:16 ET by MPayneGrowing up in the 70's & 80's it seemed like we had endless problems with American cars; I think this has skewed my perception a little. My Mother then bought a Mazda (late 80's) and a Toyota (mid 90's) and they ran like champs; the Toyota is still being driven by a cousin.
I do think the American cars have come full circle somewhat, since she and her husband drive F-150's (late 90's) and they seem fine. I have had wonderful luck with Nissans (a 91 pickup for 11 years & currently an 00 Xterra). The good news with those is that the Nissans are built by American Labor in Tennessee, so in essence, I am driving an American car, and to my knowledge, not supporting the UAW.
" Courage - a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. " - William T. Sherman
ashamed ot the truth
January 5, 2008 - 17:56 ET by CatherwoodThough it embarrasses them, any Ford dealer will tell you their cars and trucks are priced high because Ford has a retirement plan for its retired workers which drains too much money. the plan was negotiated by the UAW in 1972 and redone in '88. Of course, many workers have lost their jobs because of these union demands and even more jobs have been exported in an attempt by Ford to stay in business. It's no big mystery. The UA's nearsightedness and greed and slowly be surely ruined Ford. None of the liberal press wants to admit that and report on it, but it is true. Score another hollow victory for unions. Pyhrric vicotry???? Most of the army of workers was lost but the union got what it wanted.
Gays
January 5, 2008 - 19:11 ET by ScrapironOld, Retired and glad of it.
So 6-9 millions citizens are gay. Probably 75% of those live in the liberal cities where few own a car. Take out another large percentage that are suffering from AID's and other STD's (so bad they can't drive) and Ford is supporting very few actual car buyers and killing the company. How many of the Ford family are gay? That could be the reason for the support.
"Large percentage"? Any
January 5, 2008 - 19:17 ET by balboa"Large percentage"? Any facts to back that up with?
Buy American...Gimme a break
January 5, 2008 - 19:18 ET by Kuso JijiIts been a long time since the big three could claim they were building an American product. The auto industry went global decades ago and there are no longer any borders. Toyota with its 13 plants and 30,000 workers in the US is every bit American as GM and Ford.
The big three lost me back in the 70's when they were in cahoots with one another spitting out the same line up only with their own names, tail lights and front grills to distinguish one piece of crap from another.
As a consumer, I'm picking the best product for my money. Those of you who choose a vehicle under the false pretense of national pride, thats your problem. Ford and GM are still a long way from ever winning me back.
Well put. I totally agree
January 5, 2008 - 23:21 ET by fitzfongWell put. I totally agree with you, Kuso.
No conspiricy theory
January 5, 2008 - 19:55 ET by shawn228The simple reason why Ford has lost so much market share to Toyota is because of high gas prices. Ford does not sell as much of their bread and butter products like the Ford F series becauses not many people can afford to drive V 8s that cost 100 bucks to fill up and a full tank last for two days.
Also the Japanese auto makers did not really go after the SUV or Pickup markets until a few yrs ago. Honda introduced their Ridgeline model a few yrs ago and it was voted best pickup of the yr. Also the Toyota Tundra is getting a loyal following. Sorry Fords fall from grace has nothing to do with its Homosexual agenda.
Toyota has been a player in
January 5, 2008 - 23:55 ET by Gary P JacksonToyota has been a player in the SUV market for decades, like when Toyota, Jeep, and Land Rover were basically it! Toyota has always had a good reputation in this area, which is well deserved.
The Ridgeline is not a real truck. Toyota, however is very America centric. They studied real trucks, and real owners. They did what they are good at. They researched how work trucks are equipped and used. The Tundra is a serious truck. It's not Chevy or Dodge serious, but awfully close.
Good fuel mileage and trucks don't go together. The Toyota is in the same ballpark as everyone else.
I'm not a big believer in hybrids, because the cost of the car over the savings in fuel means you gotta be buried with the damned thing to come out ahead. But Chrysler and GM worked together on a hybrid system for their trucks and SUVs.
Chrysler will have a Hemi powered Aspen and Dodge will have the Durango (basically the same thing) on the market this year. It is what they are calling a two-mode system. The Hemi is not exactly the most thrifty engine out there, but with MDS, multi-displacement, that allows the engine to "kill" 4 cylinders under no load situations, like cruising the highway, it gets respectable mileage. Couple that with the electric motor and Chrysler is claiming 40% better city mileage and 25% overall savings. That's huge! If it really works as advertised, you will have the best of both worlds. Torque wise, an electric motor does well. So the Aspen/Durango will haul 9,000 lbs when needed and get very good mileage when empty.
Again, if this works as well as it is supposed to, it will be interesting to see how Chrysler, and later Chevy/GMC will do against Toyota, Honda, etc. Toyota/Lexus does have a hybrid SUV.
The F-series took a hit
January 5, 2008 - 21:26 ET by jpm100The F-series took a hit because of the price of gas. With a new model looming later this year, that will also contribute to sales declining.
With the perception that the same size/class of car will be more fuel efficient from Toyota than Ford (and Toyota still quoting Fuel Economy numbers from 2006 before the assessment procedure changed), that explains Toyota's rise.
I'm sure the boycott hurt some, but there are legitimate other factors.
What Ford stands for...
January 6, 2008 - 00:17 ET by goldenthroatF.O.R.D. - FIX OR REPAIR DAILY
FOUND ON ROAD DEAD
D.R.O.F. (spelled backwards) - DRIVER RETURNS ON FOOT
"Yeah! That's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
Ford wants back on top?
January 6, 2008 - 01:31 ET by Unsane1) STOP MAKING CRAP.
(I drive a Dodge. I love that thing. Its legend grows daily.)
2) It's time to figure out that you can't do business with an organization that artificially sets the price for labor.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Ford and afa
January 6, 2008 - 12:44 ET by mikebromoDo you foreign car buyers have an "I support the troops" decal on your vehicle?
I'm going to my Ford dealirship tomorrow and buy a new F-150 and boycott the bigots at the AFA!
Soros sucker
January 6, 2008 - 17:14 ET by j17ghsWith all the money Soros pays you to post your ignorant hate, you can probably afford to pay cash. BTW, don't wear a seat belt and always drive 30 mph above the speed limit. You deserve it!
Irony
January 9, 2008 - 10:55 ET by UnsaneIronically, the Toyota Tundra is built in Military City U.S.A. and employs quite a few people there. So I'd imagine that many of those foreign car buyers of foreign cars made in places like San Antonio WOULD have those "Support Our Troops" decals on them.
By the way, as indicated above, I own a great vehicle (no doubt made of U.S. and foreign truck parts) manufactured in Warren, MI. If they are still making trucks of outstanding quality as mine, they can expect to make yet another for me at some point in the future!
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Ford boycotts
January 6, 2008 - 17:17 ET by j17ghsThe article's author (Tom Blumer) is correct -- in the politically incorrect sense, which is admirable. Boycotts against the arrogant and ignorant Ford family leadership have caused the auto maker's fall, no doubt. (Let's not even talk about the Ford Foundation's hate machine.)
When a significant number of Americans boycott Ford, it's a non-event and a non-story. But if a few people claiming to represent [enter the PC name of a special-interest social group of your own choosing] were to complain about a company's alleged discrimination, then media elite would be all over the story for months.
double post.
January 7, 2008 - 09:42 ET by Full Montedouble post.