Manufacturing Quality

"Jonathan Goodish" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Matt Whiting wrote:
Well, in 2005 Ford sold almost 10 times as many F-series trucks as the
closet Japanese competitor (Toyota). If 95% of truck buyers don't "use
it as a truck," there's still something that those buyers like better
about a Ford truck.

Its called the lemming affect. It took a while to fade in the car
market, but now it is almost gone, other than Toyota seems to be
developing it quite well for its cars. Trucks will follow,
unfortunately.


The Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck for 30 years straight.
It has been the best selling VEHICLE in the United States for quite a
number of consecutive years. That isn't because of a "lemming effect,"
though I know quite a few Honda and Toyota owners who are definitely
lemmings.

Ford would have to fall pretty hard for a pretty long time in order for
the Japanese to catch up. Ford's fall would have to be combined with a
broader and more capable line of Japanese trucks (i.e. heavy duty). So
far, the Japanese haven't been willing to make a truly heavy duty truck
for the mass market.

In 2005, Ford sold just shy of 1 million F-series trucks. The closest
Japanese competitor--Toyota--sold around 125,000 trucks. That's a huge
gap, and in the middle was Dodge with around 450,000 and GM, with
somewhere around 800,000, I believe. The Ford/GM dominance of the truck
market likely makes the costs to gain market share prohibitive for the
Japanese competitors.

Asuming ford will be around for any length of time. Ford's numbers are
dismal and Wall Street has their stock nearly down to junk value. The
Japanese can just sit and wait for Ford and GM to spiral into oblivion.

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
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On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 17:15:32 -0600, Newps wrote:



But it could be done. Look at the goofy looking Civic Honda brought
over in the 70's. We all laughed.

Remember when people laughed and said "Who the hell would want a
Japanese luxury car?"

Along came Lexus...

Which is now the highest rated car overall and tops in nearly every
individual area.

"Newps" wrote in message
...


Thomas Borchert wrote:

Newps,


We want big and powerful.



Until the fuel prices climb some more...

It's at $3 a gallon now and there's no sign of a let up in truck sales.

Except for the fact they can't give them away.

Stubby,

That's the only way I can explain guys driving around a load of air in
the back when they could be enjoying a nice Lexus.


You nailed it.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Morgans,

but for
some it is not want, but *need*, for the big and powerful.


For some, yes. Few. At least in comparison to the stupid SUV sales
numbers.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Newps,

It's at $3 a gallon now and there's no sign of a let up in truck sales.


See Barry's post.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

In an article before ,
someone wrote:

You don't fool people with an inferior product for very long.

unless you have something else going for you (like an monopoly).

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 17:15:32 -0600, Newps wrote:



But it could be done. Look at the goofy looking Civic Honda brought
over in the 70's. We all laughed.

Remember when people laughed and said "Who the hell would want a
Japanese luxury car?"

Along came Lexus...

If I remember correctly, the first Japanese luxury cars were the Acura and
the Toyota Cressida.

Michelle

"Newps" wrote in message
. ..


Jon Kraus wrote:
Heck, I see that Honda is now making a
better full-size pickup truck than Ford's F-150.

Please. I like Honda cars but that thing they build is not a full size
truck.

Well I bought a Ridgeline a few months and 7000 miles ago. While it isn't as
big as a full size Ford or Chevy it has LOTS of hauling room in the bed that
I get to use fully because I don't have to put a tool box in the back. The
reason I don't have to put in a tool box is because it has a lockable trunk
that I could hide a 250 body in. This trunk also has a drain and is somewhat
insulated so last 4th of July I filled it with ice and beer.

The thing rides like a luxury car and the back seats are real seats instead
of the padded rear wall that most 4 5 passenger trucks have.

So sure it can't pull more than 4000 pounds. I can live with that.

Jose wrote:
You don't fool people with an inferior product for very long.
Chevy Chevette.
Exactly. How long did that last?

1975 to 1987. Plenty long. Twelve years, but it seemed like forever
(my wife had one). I guess it wasn't all that long, but it was the best
selling car of its time.

Fleets! All of my local utilities (water, power, telco, etc...) had
them. They had a "Scooter" version that didn't even come with armrests
or a back seat. I had one assigned to me as a telephone company CO
technician.