Saw new Tacomas at plant tour

They were made in Japan for the 2005 model year, 2006 they started making it in AL, unless the early 2006 model year might of been going thru transition period but I know most of or all of 2006 was AL engines.

 

Is there any anecdotal evidence that the Japan made 4.0Ls are better than the Alabama made ones?

 

Umm never said the ones in Japan are superior not sure where you got that from just stating a fact

 

The Japanese engines are better because Japan!

 

When components are designed and built in Japan, it's about the training and complying with the import restrictions. It is not about the ability of the workers and it isn't about the country. When a car manufacturing subcontractor located in our town, it was about the availability of labor that drew them in. When they left, it was about the availability of "cheaper" labor elsewhere. These engines were at the beginning of a new model run..they could eventually be built elsewhere..where is the 3…5 for other models made ? The country first has to have a trainable work force. When another one has a trainable cheaper work force....guess what ? Much of the time it has to do with competition from other industries in the area also as well as the overall general economy.