The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Badgersmilk on November 12, 2009, 06:40:57 AM

Title: Rise of the German power!
Post by: Badgersmilk on November 12, 2009, 06:40:57 AM
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1161/volkswagen-steals-toyotas-crown-as-worlds-largest-automaker/

Let's face it, american auto makers aren't selling product because they've lost touch with the market, and quality has been dismal for over 10 years now (don't get me started on the last new GM I bought.  >:().  Asian's own everything else in our country (including the country itself through national debt loans). 

WELCOME OUR GERMAN FRIENDS!   They've made a quality, affordable product "for the people" for decades now.
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: tombogan03884 on November 12, 2009, 09:38:12 AM
Hitlers best idea. (other than locking up liberals )
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: Jackel on November 12, 2009, 04:29:01 PM
a while ago my oldest said she was talking about the counties economy in history, and was asked if she would rather have a Ford or a Toyota. Being my daughter she said Ford (couldnt be prouder  ;D) however most of the others said they would have a Toyota.

Her teacher said that Toyota can make better quality cars because they don't have to pay their Japanese designers health care, and can put more money into the product.

now, you know you have raised your kid right when she said; "yeah, but can it haul?"

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: fightingquaker13 on November 12, 2009, 04:35:05 PM
a while ago my oldest said she was talking about the counties economy in history, and was asked if she would rather have a Ford or a Toyota. Being my daughter she said Ford (couldnt be prouder  ;D) however most of the others said they would have a Toyota.

Her teacher said that Toyota can make better quality cars because they don't have to pay their Japanese designers health care, and can put more money into the product.

now, you know you have raised your kid right when she said; "yeah, but can it haul?"

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Damn straight. If she were twenty or so years older I would classify her as a keeper. ;D
FQ13
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: twyacht on November 12, 2009, 04:40:47 PM
VW & Porsche have had this going on for some time. Back in the late 70's the had a Porsche 914, it was UGLY!!!

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Porsche-914-3.jpg)

This was actually a VW, with a Porsche emblem on the rear end. It was a bomb. More designers, engineers, mechanics, etc,.. have gone back & forth between the two, I guess this makes it official.

OBTW, VW has a high performance sedan with a 4 cylinder diesel that avg. 50 mpg, it's not a wind up toy, or death trap, as it is Autobahn rated.

IT"S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE US!!!!, trade restrictions and tariff's on this model, plus we need the bailed out American Car Companies to keep putting out crap.

Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: tt11758 on November 12, 2009, 04:42:49 PM
Damn straight. If she were twenty or so years older I would classify her as a keeper. ;D
FQ13


And if she was MY daughter she'd STILL be off limits to you if she was 20-some years older.  ;D
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: tombogan03884 on November 12, 2009, 06:41:09 PM
VW & Porsche have had this going on for some time. Back in the late 70's the had a Porsche 914, it was UGLY!!!

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Porsche-914-3.jpg)

This was actually a VW, with a Porsche emblem on the rear end. It was a bomb. More designers, engineers, mechanics, etc,.. have gone back & forth between the two, I guess this makes it official.

OBTW, VW has a high performance sedan with a 4 cylinder diesel that avg. 50 mpg, it's not a wind up toy, or death trap, as it is Autobahn rated.

IT"S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE US!!!!, trade restrictions and tariff's on this model, plus we need the bailed out American Car Companies to keep putting out crap.

It's the Jetta, but not the one we get here, it also goes like raped ape. I used to work with a Dutchman who had owned one.
Need to get Ocin's comments  ;D
VW was a spin off of Porsche, in fact Ferdinand Porsche was the primary designer with input from Hitler of the first of the "Peoples cars" other than the minor body changes apparent in the "New Beetle" the primary difference between the early 40's and now was in window shape and size.
Remember the VW "Thing", It was built using the plans for the Nazi equivalent of the Jeep, it was called the "Kubelwagon".
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: 1911 Junkie on November 13, 2009, 03:43:54 PM
OBTW, VW has a high performance sedan with a 4 cylinder diesel that avg. 50 mpg, it's not a wind up toy, or death trap, as it is Autobahn rated.

IT"S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE US!!!!, trade restrictions and tariff's on this model, plus we need the bailed out American Car Companies to keep putting out crap.

 ???

Ummmmmmm.......I have one.   ;D  VW Jetta TDI. I like it. I only get 40mpg due to the way I drive. If I redo the injectors and put a different chip in it I could get over 50mpg.


They don't bring that many in and they are pretty hard to find.
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: Hazcat on November 13, 2009, 03:48:29 PM
Like the original Ford Escort.  I had one in Germany and when I came home and heard the Ford was gonna bring 'em here I was excited.  The ones in Germany sorta reminded me of a cross between a Falcon and an ole Chevy II.

6  banger 4 speed that would do 140 all day on the 'ban.  Tough cars that you couldn't kill with a sledge hammer!

Then I saw the CRAP they gave us called the 'Escort' and I wanted to puke!
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: twyacht on November 13, 2009, 05:33:06 PM
Then I saw the CRAP they gave us called the 'Escort' and I wanted to puke!

Saw many in England back in the early 90's when I was there. They had the wheels, suspension, the POWER, they even looked good.

They also had a Merkur X4RTI, made by the Mercury Division of Ford, both ran like "scalded dogs" on the M1, and back in the ol' US of A, we got the watered down, anemic, "family" sedan that sucked.

We had a Rover rental that even with the steering wheel on the "wrong" side, had some great performance, on the M1 and little, winding roads.



Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: brosometal on November 13, 2009, 10:17:51 PM
Most "foreign" cars are built here in the USA because of the the evil NAFTA.

I don't remember which year it was but GM and Toyota both sold about the same number of cars.  Toyota made billions and GM lost billions.  What was the major difference?  Toyotas were built in the South sans the union labor. 

I'm no expert but I think there a lesson in there somewhere...
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: tombogan03884 on November 13, 2009, 10:24:12 PM
When I was in Ca. I interviewed for the position of supervisor of a bunch of Mexicans making seat frames for the Toyota Tacoma's being built at the NUMI  (New United Motors Inc. ) plant in Fremont. I did not get the job because I don't speak Spanish and would not settle for the $7.50 an hour they wanted to pay a SUPERVISOR.
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: seeker_two on November 14, 2009, 12:15:32 PM

now, you know you have raised your kid right when she said; "yeah, but can it haul?"

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


Oddly enough, I'm shopping for a half-ton pickup now....and the Tundra and F-150 are running neck-&-neck....so I guess Toyota can haul now....  ;D
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: Badgersmilk on November 14, 2009, 01:26:09 PM
Test drive the Toyota.  I think you'll really be surprised how good those trucks are.  I was sure impressed with them.
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: WatchManUSA on November 14, 2009, 02:47:20 PM
Oddly enough, I'm shopping for a half-ton pickup now....and the Tundra and F-150 are running neck-&-neck....so I guess Toyota can haul now....  ;D
seeker, go to the Blue Oval Forum

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?showforum=45

The above is a link to their PIN number forum.  Ask for a PIN and you can buy the Ford at X-Plan prices.  It is pretty much at dealer cost.  I hear most people can't negotiate a deal lower.
Title: Re: Rise of the German power!
Post by: CJS3 on November 14, 2009, 03:14:28 PM
Saw this on Yahoo today.
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1162/five-clunker-cars-to-avoid/