Toyota Needs to Step Up!

Funny thing is you can easily find a new ranger and colorado these days. Tacoma not so much.

 

Like as an option or no longer making gasoline motors at all?

 

Yeah I think the difference would be even greater this year if this damn virus didn't throw everything out of whack.

 

He said the entire fleet would either be electric or hybrid. No options for gas only.

 

I agree! There are this if us that don’t want to have to build our truck to what we want. Build a truck that from the factory comes with the common upgrades we all are doing.

 

Out of whack is right. When small dealers are trying to sell used 2018 TRD sports for 50k, you know things are crazy. I fell out of my chair when I saw that ad by the way. Not even lifted or anything. So stupid lol.

 

Toyota is in the process of a giant expansion at an engine plant, I believe it was in Alabama and it was for the next Generation gasoline engine.

 

I looked closely at the Ranger to make sure I didn't want one and instead stayed with the Tacoma (my second). I didn't like it but didn't hate it either. I also want Ford to do well. They are a great American company and I wish them well. Also the more heat the put on Toyota the more Toyota has to compete. I don't really care for the religious Toyota versus Ford argument. Drive what you want.

But there is no question that Ford is pleased with the sales of the Ranger. In short order they are turning this into a two horse race and that has to be good for them. They also have data (from what I have read) that Ranger customers are not cannibalizing their F150 sales -- which is their bread and butter.

In any case, no question the Ranger has been a success for them up to this point. Where they go from here will be interesting. For example:

"We're pretty happy with where we're at," said consumer marketing manager Chad Callander. Speaking to The Detroit News, the FoMoCo official has also mentioned that “we’ve set some aggressive targets, and we're hitting those targets."

 

https://www.just-auto.com/news/toyota-alabama-plant-passes-two-expansion-milestones_id196583.aspx

https://global.toyota/en/mobility/tnga/powertrain2018/engine/

 

I gave Ford a chance with a 2016 Ford Focus and had problems within the first 12,000 miles with the transmission. Had to go through litigation and they eventually bought it back. They knew they had problems and continued to sell the vehicles and I'd be willing to bet they sold the one they bought back from me to someone else. That's why I will not buy another Ford.

 

Corporate babble for moving the goal posts to keep investors happy. What's Ford's stock and debt load like these days? I like Ford, but their financials

 

Thanks for posting those.

 

I don't disagree with you at all. This is the core advantage that Toyota has ... a rock solid reputation for long term reliability. No question.

 

Not really. But then again I don't care enough to argue about it. I think the Ranger was a smart move for them and it is too soon to tell. But they are selling.

As an aside, you are right about the fact that their financials stink. No question.

 

I will say the engine was rock solid (because it is a Mazda engine) and the transmission would have probably been fine had they left it alone. They modified Mazda transmission and screwed it up. My Mazda5 has the same, exact engine and the unmolested transmission and have not had a lick of trouble.

 

Dude. My sister had a Focus back in the day. I kid you not -- the axle came out at a stop light. I still laugh about that one because I have family members who work for Ford. They don't find it funny, though.

 

Literally Found on road dead lol

 

They just reintroduced it. They sold almost 90K last year, this year each quarter to quarter has been better than 2019.

 

I get it. All I’m saying is they have a long way to go still.

 

I was just reading about the Duramax 3.0, sounds like a massive pain in the ass. It has a timing belt submerged in oil that also drives the oil pump and requires transmission removal just to inspect the belt!