Ford: We're gonna need a bigger boat!
GM: (crickets)
Chrysler: Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!
Referenced articles
autoblog: Toyota expecting profit drop in 2008
We've been thinking a little more about Toyota becoming number two after we re-read these posts :
Kicking Tires reports: How Ford Lost The #2 Spot to Toyota.
Edmunds reports: 2007 Toyota Tundra: Best Year Ever.
We've speculated the Tundra was going to be Toyota's albatross and that still remains to be seen. According to that Edmunds link, Toyota was hoping to move 200k units of the Tundra (they sold 196k of 'em). That's a pretty significant number since these buyers had to come from the big three. In fact, let's take a look at the sales of trucks for 2007:
Ford F-series: 690,589 -13.2% over 2006It looks like (with really no additional research) that Tundra sales are coming from Ford and Nissan folks. So, while Toyota has knocked Ford from the number two position, it sure seems like all big three should pretty concerned about the Tundra's movement upward.
Chevy Fullsize pickups: 673,807 -2.8% over 2006
Dodge Ram: 358,295 -2% over 2006
Nissan Titan: 65,746 -9.2% over 2006
Toyota Tundra: 196,555 +54%
Well, Edmunds tested the family sedans (they missed the Altima, which is a little odd to us) and proclaim the all-new '08 Accord as the one that rules them all.
Edmunds reports: Revitalized Malibu Takes on Accord and Camry.
Surprisingly, the Camry came in third. Or is it surprising a Chevy beat a Toyota? In any event, neither of them were better than the Accord, so arguing who comes next is like (something funny here and make sure to link to Alison Krauss 'cause she's so purty).
We're still disappointed that cars seem to be getting bigger and bigger. The EPA's designation that the Accord is now a large car is a testiment to even green Honda getting sucked up in the bigger is better game. It's hard to argue, however, since the car, according to Edmunds, is still the best family sedan. Shame on Honda, however, since during the test Edmunds only saw 20 mpg from the 4-cylinder engine in the Accord.
That's a snap of the winner: 2008 Honda Accord LX-P.
AutoWeek reports: Toyota brings A-BAT pickup to Detroit.
We don't have a lot to say since the thing is a truck and we're strickly a cars and Alison site, but, come on! Way to run of ideas, Toyota.
Shoulders make us swoon. And that's a snap of the Ridgeline -- the original funky truck.
AutoWeek reports: Feisty VW wants to surpass Toyota.
Feisty? How about "high"? How about "pissed that it's still working on that 50-state diesel engine"?
Don't get us wrong, we're chubbed to see that VW is going to be pushing hard to not only stay in the game, but to head for the top... But VW still has that reputation of being a problematic brand whereas Toyota does not*, so we're not sure this will happen. Meanwhile, VW, pass that over here so we's can have a toke.
*Toyota has been running into some reliability issues, so they could sink themselves. If we had to guess, however, Toyota will quickly correct the problems before its reputation is seriously affected. If Toyota doesn't, then we hope other manufacturers are prepared to pounce. Pounce!
Can the domestic auto news get any crappier? Check these out -- and this is just within the last few days!
The Detroit News reports GM takes $39B charge in quarter.
The New York Times reports: Ford Warns of New Steps if Sales Decline.
AutoWeek reports: Chrysler cuts four models, five shifts.
What could be worse? Well, maybe if the competition was kicking arse that would be an issue. Let's just (shuffles the pages of the internets) see what we have here. Oh, crap. The Detroit Fress Press reports: Toyota reports record income.
The only way it could get worse (for us, you see) is if we read our court-delivered restraining order. There's no way Alison said that about us. And she too does like husky, bald dudes. With bad eyesight. And weak bladders.
She's smiling because she's thinking of the Cars! Cars! Cars! editorial staff.
Come on! GM's gotta be chomping at the bit (is that the correct expression?*) about all of this. See, Toyota's been doing a lot of whoopin' lately, but it seems the whoopin' has turned on the master! (How's that for barely making any sense?)
Anyway, what we're saying is that for a long time Toyota was kicking GM's arse (well, lots of arses, not just GM's) in terms of quality. But now something's changed over in Toyotaville and quality is slipping. Here's a few recent articles:
The New York Times reports: Toyota Loses Top Spot in Reliability Rankings.
CNN reports: Toyota skids in reliability rankings.
Autoblog reports: Toyota Tundra hit with two more quality issues.
This following piece is pretty interesting because a few should-be homeruns from GM have turned into solid singles. Here's one example:
CNN reports: Déjà vu for GM: 2008 Chevy Malibu.
So, with the Camry having some issues and now the Tundra having issues, GM has to be pretty excited with the timing of the all-new Chevy Malibu and equally excited to have the Silverado matched up against the problematic Tundra. The key question here is, "Can GM keep up the quality?" We're not so sure. But we hope so.
*We were going to use the expression "Foaming at the Alison" but it's still a bit obscure. Feel free to use it. Liberally. All over your body... There we go again, foaming at the Alison.
CNN reports: Ford lures Lexus chief away. Another person leaving Toyota for a U.S. company? What gives? Here are the people who have left Toyota recently:
Jimmy Farley: VP of Lexus --> Ford's marketing division
Deb Meyer: Head of marketing at Lexus --> Chrysler's marketing division
Jimmy Press: Head of Toyota's North American operations --> Chrysler co-head honcho.
OK, these are all wins for U.S. companies, but how about getting some of them fancy engineering folks from Toyota over here? We don't need more marketing in front of us, we just need better cars. In fact, if Detroit can prove to consumers that their cars are as good as the leaders (Honda, Toyota), folks will buy them purely because they are American -- no marketing needed.
How can Detroit prove that their cars are as good as, or better than, the others? Do they need an independent company to help (like a Consumer Reports)? What's the basis? Reliability over five years? Anyone have a CR to see how Detroit is doing compared to the others? Is it time to buy yet?
AutoWeek reports: 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Pricing Announced". Holy crow!
Price: $64,000
Engine: 5.7l, V-8
Power: 381hp
Fuel economy: Shh....
$64k for a Toyota? That's a ton of dukets. As in, you'll need an SUV to carry the cash to the dealer. See, GM? If you make good products, you can charge up the wazoo. We mentioned that in a very odd rant some time ago (hell if we can find it now, though). When we see GM and the rest of Detroit starting to raise prices then maybe we'll think they really believe they are making a better product (the longer warranties are just to get folks back into the showroom).
They're snatching* everyone else the hell up, why not us, too? Please?
CNN reports: Cerberus' Chrysler bombshell.We're so very glad to see Cerberus making these big moves to get a kick-ass leadership team into place to kick-ass. Because kick-ass products don't just happen, you need to kick-ass.CNN reports: GM China executive departing for Chrysler.
Is this going to really hurt Toyota and GM's China division? We don't think so -- at least not just these two dudes moving. As far as Toyota is concerned, the level of its engineering prowess and the rock-solid build quality of (most) its vehicles to do not fall onto the plate of just one man, regardless of how influencial he is.
It's going to take a long time for Chrysler to redo its product line and to rebuild its reputation as a quality builder, but stealing away these guys is a good start and we are hoping to see even more (in terms of dude-stealing, new/better products** and general kicking ass).
*Heh, heh. Snatch.
**First move should be to kill the Avenger. What a yawn-maker.
