"Buy American" author now taking shots at Toyota

Aren't the faulty accelerator parts in question American made?

 

As I have said before, if an American car company builds an EV, or at least a car with better gas mileage (and I need to buy a car), I will buy it.
<cricket... cricket... cricket>
What's that? They don't? Ok, I will stick with my choice then

 

SPOT on Z!

Whatever it takes to stop sending money and military to the ME.

 

Yes, they were. Interestingly enough, Toyota did not, themselves, point the blame at this Indiana supplier. They said in two different news reports that I have read (from a Toyota spoksperson) - "the parts supplier built these parts to Toyota's specifications, and the problem is a Toyota problem. We take full repsonsibility, and do not blame the supplier." Refreshing to hear that at least publically, they are NOT playing the blame game. Could you imagine if this was GM, and how they would shift the blame to one of their vendors...

 

Honestly, I thought they were Canadian. Plus it doesn't really matter. As already posted Toyota is taking responsibilty they aren't suggesting that the supplier failed.

The supplier has always said the product was produced to Toyotas standards and Toyota hasn't suggested they weren't.

I think this was a case of a defect that revealed itself in the field.

 

Read the reports on this. Toyota claims in their field reports that the material used in the actuator assembly would swell under certain conditions of moisture and humidity. Sometime in late 2009, Toyota specified using a different material. Is the problem solved? TBD.

Bottom line - not the suppliers fault. They built the parts to Toyota engineer's specifications. Only after years of being in the field, and getting worn/used has the problem revealed itself.

Those that are not engineering inclinded seem to get all worried and make this into a huge deal. But all cars are very complicted these days, and sh*t happens. Did toyota intentionally do this hoping to kill Americans? A Jihad, if you will? I'm sure there are folks at the Detroit free Press that honestly believe this was intentional. BS, and shame on them for making people scared.

 

Or rather, all the recalled Toyota were built in American factories.

That makes no sense as you have a hybrid, not a EV, and Ford does make a quality hybrid. Why the double standard?

 

Ford's hybrid is 20% heavier and roughly the same interior size as the Prius - and as a result, the mileage is 20% worse...

As for "quality", that word is allowed to be used in a separate context from "reliability", in advertising at least. But IMO, reliability=quality, and I doubt that Ford will measure up long-term.

 

Z stated an EV, not a hybrid. Big difference.

many of us are waiting for a Volt, when we can finally give the finger to OPEC.

 

IMO, you are in for a long wait.

The Volt wasn't even at the Washington DC auto show. If it was going to be released in 2011, then it would have been at the DC auto show...especially given all the taxpayer $$$ given to GM, and Obama's rhetoric on "green technologies". Sorry, but still a ways off. The Tesla was here, but they wouldn't let you get close to it, and provided no info on the car...so still treating it much like a "concept car".

 

Z has a hybrid, not an EV, unless he meant he's in the market for an EV and "sticking with his choice" refers to his next car, not the current one.

 

There is no double standard. Which Ford gets better gas mileage than my Prius? I would accept better than a stock version, as mine gets 63-75mpg, so lets call it better than 51mpg on average.

 

Actually I stated:

I am not tied to a hybrid, I would, when buying my next car, very quickly buy a non-hybrid IF it got better gas mileage.
I am also eager for the VOLT. But I have doubts that GM will deliver on their promises. Hope to be surprised though

 

There is a Tesla running around the DC Metro area with the Virginia license plate "NO OIL", so someone has one. Tesla was signing people up for test drives last month, when they open up their dealership in northern Virginia.

 

Then you shouldn't bring up the issue of buying American if your primary criterion is gas mileage as no other cars come close to the Prius (including other Japanese hybrids).

 

/\ That's his point! There isn't a better offering, but we still wait and hope.



Yeah, like the Tesla is feasable for anybody but the very wealthy...

The reason we are all still waiting for a good EV has to do with battery patents.

 

Aha, that was the cause of the confusion, my appologies all.
"Sticking with my choice" means that I am choosing the vehicle that uses as little gasoline as possible (yet meets my needs). Currently that is a Prius with a Hymotion battery pack. If EV's are available (the roadster doesn't meet my needs) I will be buying one of those sooner than I normally would buy a new car.
If EV's aren't available, then I will buy the most fuel efficient car.

Currently the Nissan Leaf is on top of the 'most likely' list.