Toyoda Scorns Watanabe

“Obama as a child”

Joined: Jun 18, 2009

Comments: 2102

Nunya

Very good read for those of you that can read and are actually interested. Looks to me like Toyoda has his head on straight and would like to keep the company on its roots. Can anyone remember the comments “Toyota is becoming a baby GM?”

And yes, the name is Toyoda with a D>

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

Very good read for those of you that can read and are actually interested. Looks to me like Toyoda has his head on straight and would like to keep the company on its roots. Can anyone remember the comments “Toyota is becoming a baby GM?”
And yes, the name is Toyoda with a D>

"Very good read for those of you that can read and are actually interested."---That's a sad but true statement. It also made me laugh. Thx!

It was a good article. Well put together and very informative. Good for Toyota to realize that it was beginning to head in the wrong direction. Get back to the basics and make those incremental changes that are necessary to make the company successful. Following GM's lead will only lead you to disaster.

“Obama as a child”

Joined: Jun 18, 2009

Comments: 2102

Nunya

Capt Concernicus wrote:

<quoted text>
"Very good read for those of you that can read and are actually interested."---That's a sad but true statement. It also made me laugh. Thx!
It was a good article. Well put together and very informative. Good for Toyota to realize that it was beginning to head in the wrong direction. Get back to the basics and make those incremental changes that are necessary to make the company successful. Following GM's lead will only lead you to disaster.

Anytime – BTW I say that because this board has become nothing more than a haven for bashing. I can’t remember the last time we had an “autos” forum.

Tom Loy

Joined: Apr 16, 2007

Comments: 3494

ridgefarm Il

ISP: United States

Definately an interesting read. It will be interesting to see if toyota adapts to the changing market.

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

<quoted text>Anytime – BTW I say that because this board has become nothing more than a haven for bashing. I can’t remember the last time we had an “autos” forum.

I absolutey agree with you. I think it lasts about 6 posts before people politicize it and about another 3 posts before people start bashing each other. I call it the online version of Jerry Springer. "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!!" lol!

Stop It

Windsor, Canada

Capt Concernicus wrote:

<quoted text>
I absolutey agree with you. I think it lasts about 6 posts before people politicize it and about another 3 posts before people start bashing each other. I call it the online version of Jerry Springer. "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!!" lol!

Ya got that right!!!!
It seems crude insults, profanity, and general rudeness are the standard practice here.
Sad.
That said, I agree the article was quite good.

“Obama as a child”

Joined: Jun 18, 2009

Comments: 2102

Nunya

Judged:

So the question now is… what’s next? I will be the first to say the reason Toyota’s quality has gone down is due to the quest to become the largest. So do they slooow production and build it right, or do they ramp up production and try to keep numbers?

Tom Loy

Joined: Apr 16, 2007

Comments: 3494

ridgefarm Il

ISP: United States

JJFADS wrote:

So the question now is… what’s next? I will be the first to say the reason Toyota’s quality has gone down is due to the quest to become the largest. So do they slooow production and build it right, or do they ramp up production and try to keep numbers?

With auto sales down industry wide, toyota would
be better off working on quality and dropping production, so that when the economy recovers,
they'll have their quality problems solved.

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

So the question now is… what’s next? I will be the first to say the reason Toyota’s quality has gone down is due to the quest to become the largest. So do they slooow production and build it right, or do they ramp up production and try to keep numbers?

Well I think they've secured the #1 spot at least for the next year or two. I won't make predictions any farther out than that. They still build quality cars. It has slipped some, but they're still in the top tier for quality with Honda and Infiniti. They should follow what Honda does (as stated in the article) and only ramp up incrementally. The worst thing to do is to build factories that can build 200,000 cars a year when all they need is 100,000 a year. A plant sitting idle or well below production capacity costs money. Keep the focus on improvements and quality. They have a good reputation for quality vehicles that people want. The worst thing they could do is lose that reputation.

“Obama as a child”

Joined: Jun 18, 2009

Comments: 2102

Nunya

Time will tell. Accordingly, GM Ford and Chrysler vehicles have made the greatest gains in quality. What do you think is behind this?

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

Time will tell. Accordingly, GM Ford and Chrysler vehicles have made the greatest gains in quality. What do you think is behind this?

Well they started towards the bottom and are working their way up, which of course is a good thing. It's too bad that they didn't learn the lesson that bad PR and bad quality spread faster than good PR and good quality. I learned that in my high school freshman year of economics. Anyway, I test drove a new Caddy CTS. I was very impressed with the fit and finish, the way it drove and the looks. IF I didn't know anything about cars and the badging was off I might have mistaken it for an Infiniti or something of that calibur. My friend and I test drove the CTS awd, G37 awd and 335xi awd back to back. All 3 cars were great. My friend ended up buying the G37 because it had more power. I just can't understand why GM can build a wonderful car like the CTS. Then turn around and build crap like well any of their Pontiacs because they all scored low in Consumer Reports. I just don't get it. You'd think their divisions would be a little more communicative with each other...or maybe I'm just stupid and have no idea how the auto industry works.:-)

Test

Fairfax, VA

test post

Test

Fairfax, VA

test post

“Obama as a child”

Joined: Jun 18, 2009

Comments: 2102

Nunya

Capt Concernicus wrote:

<quoted text>
Well they started towards the bottom and are working their way up, which of course is a good thing. It's too bad that they didn't learn the lesson that bad PR and bad quality spread faster than good PR and good quality. I learned that in my high school freshman year of economics. Anyway, I test drove a new Caddy CTS. I was very impressed with the fit and finish, the way it drove and the looks. IF I didn't know anything about cars and the badging was off I might have mistaken it for an Infiniti or something of that calibur. My friend and I test drove the CTS awd, G37 awd and 335xi awd back to back. All 3 cars were great. My friend ended up buying the G37 because it had more power. I just can't understand why GM can build a wonderful car like the CTS. Then turn around and build crap like well any of their Pontiacs because they all scored low in Consumer Reports. I just don't get it. You'd think their divisions would be a little more communicative with each other...or maybe I'm just stupid and have no idea how the auto industry works.:-)

Your first sentence is wrong, misguided, and shows that you were mislead, just as many other American sheep were. Think for yourself and don’t rely on magazine articles to decide what type of car to buy.

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

<quoted text>
Your first sentence is wrong, misguided, and shows that you were mislead, just as many other American sheep were. Think for yourself and don’t rely on magazine articles to decide what type of car to buy.

Did you happen to read the REST of what I wrote or did you just stop after the first sentence?

Do you really think that if the Big 3 were putting out excellent quality cars they'd be in the position that they are now?

Also, it's not wrong to read. Reading many different sources is what helps expand ones knowledge. Gives a person some background information before they make a big purchase like a car. I guess I could be one of those other people who just blindly walk into a dealership and take the word of the salesman because we all know that's the real way to conduct the transaction.

Not only that I've only owned GM cars.

Also, didn't we have a previous conversation about how many posts it takes before the conversation begins to degenerate? You already insinuated that I'm one of those "sheep".

I mentioned Pontiacs because not only did Consumer Reports rank them low, but I've owned two and my best friend and his wife have owned numerous Pontiacs and all of them nickel and dime you to death.

Capt Concernicus

JJFADS wrote:

<quoted text>
Your first sentence is wrong, misguided, and shows that you were mislead, just as many other American sheep were. Think for yourself and don’t rely on magazine articles to decide what type of car to buy.

So what is your take on it then?

Stop It

Windsor, Canada

Capt Concernicus wrote:

<quoted text>
So what is your take on it then?

He doesn't like CR as a resource---claims their methods are shoddy and unreliable.
That position not entirely correct,and I suspect he's speaking more form personal bias than sound judgement(He claims CR tends to favor offshore automakers--which he dislikes), but it's his opinion and we have to respect it.
I suggest you look at every resource you can get your hands on, and use your own judgement as to what you might want to buy.(Go by whatever the consensus is on reliabilty, resale, esthetics, fuel economy,performance, comfort, practicality, etc., these criteria should be your guide)
Don't pay too much attention to whatever the local so-called 'experts' here want you to believe! Most of it is personal bias.

Capt Concernicus

Stop It wrote:

<quoted text>
He doesn't like CR as a resource---claims their methods are shoddy and unreliable.
That position not entirely correct,and I suspect he's speaking more form personal bias than sound judgement(He claims CR tends to favor offshore automakers--which he dislikes), but it's his opinion and we have to respect it.
I suggest you look at every resource you can get your hands on, and use your own judgement as to what you might want to buy.(Go by whatever the consensus is on reliabilty, resale, esthetics, fuel economy,performance, comfort, practicality, etc., these criteria should be your guide)
Don't pay too much attention to whatever the local so-called 'experts' here want you to believe! Most of it is personal bias.

I already read Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Road & Track, Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Consumer Reports, Autoblog, Edmunds and Edmunds Inside Line and of course there's always the personal experience and that of close trusted friends.

I give American manufacturers props when they come out with something I think is good like the new Corvette, the CTS, the Fusion hybrid, the new Mustang and the Viper (I mostly just like the raw power of the Viper and 'Vette). Just about every manufacturer has one car that I like.

Stop It

Windsor, Canada

Capt Concernicus wrote:

<quoted text>
I already read Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Road & Track, Autoweek, Automobile Magazine, Consumer Reports, Autoblog, Edmunds and Edmunds Inside Line and of course there's always the personal experience and that of close trusted friends.
I give American manufacturers props when they come out with something I think is good like the new Corvette, the CTS, the Fusion hybrid, the new Mustang and the Viper (I mostly just like the raw power of the Viper and 'Vette). Just about every manufacturer has one car that I like.

The research you're doing is the best advice anyone could want.
Good for you.

Capt Concernicus