BearsMod1: A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing. Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing. Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents, and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners, and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes, and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses, and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India. Sadly, The End. Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money paying American wages. TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US . The last quarter's results: TOYOTA made 4 billion in profits, while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses. Ford folks are still scratching their heads.
Buddha13:yea,.. but I got 214,000 miles on my '00 Crown Vic and it's still going strong
When the world asked for smaller cars, Honda gave us the Civic, one of the most reliable and economical cars ever made. We recently retired an '81 with somewhere near 300,000 miles on it. (actually, we took the motor out of the 81 which had deteriorated after 200,000 and put it in an '83 and got another 90 some thousand)
GM gave us the Chevette.
Case closed.
The Crown Vic is a fine machine, but it's still a pretty big car. I don't think American companies WANT to build an economical vehicle. Oil company interests involved? Hmmm...who knows?
I have an 2006 focus. I thought it was better than the Corolla, but inferior to the Civic. However I pay only $250 a month for my focus and with the Civic it would of been $380. Plus my insurance would of been higher.
So far I enjoy my focus.
Bassman45:When the world asked for smaller cars, Honda gave us the Civic, one of the most reliable and economical cars ever made. We recently retired an '81 with somewhere near 300,000 miles on it. (actually, we took the motor out of the 81 which had deteriorated after 200,000 and put it in an '83 and got another 90 some thousand) GM gave us the Chevette. Case closed. The Crown Vic is a fine machine, but it's still a pretty big car. I don't think American companies WANT to build an economical vehicle. Oil company interests involved? Hmmm...who knows?
Buddha13: Bassman45: When the world asked for smaller cars, Honda gave us the Civic, one of the most reliable and economical cars ever made. We recently retired an '81 with somewhere near 300,000 miles on it. (actually, we took the motor out of the 81 which had deteriorated after 200,000 and put it in an '83 and got another 90 some thousand) GM gave us the Chevette. Case closed. The Crown Vic is a fine machine, but it's still a pretty big car. I don't think American companies WANT to build an economical vehicle. Oil company interests involved? Hmmm...who knows?I need a big car...I tend to hit things.
Bassman45: When the world asked for smaller cars, Honda gave us the Civic, one of the most reliable and economical cars ever made. We recently retired an '81 with somewhere near 300,000 miles on it. (actually, we took the motor out of the 81 which had deteriorated after 200,000 and put it in an '83 and got another 90 some thousand) GM gave us the Chevette. Case closed. The Crown Vic is a fine machine, but it's still a pretty big car. I don't think American companies WANT to build an economical vehicle. Oil company interests involved? Hmmm...who knows?
Buddha13: Bassman45: When the world asked for smaller cars, Honda gave us the Civic, one of the most reliable and economical cars ever made. We recently retired an '81 with somewhere near 300,000 miles on it. (actually, we took the motor out of the 81 which had deteriorated after 200,000 and put it in an '83 and got another 90 some thousand) GM gave us the Chevette. Case closed. The Crown Vic is a fine machine, but it's still a pretty big car. I don't think American companies WANT to build an economical vehicle. Oil company interests involved? Hmmm...who knows? I need a big car...I tend to hit things.
Try pushing it around when there's no more fuel for it. You won't think it's funny then.
My family has always been Ford folks. It started in 76 when my dad bought a Pinto lol. One motor and 13 transmissions later it caught on fire. We had a Escort that wasn't that bad. My mom wrecked it before it had any real problems. The wife had a 95 Escort that just blew up at 125,000 miles. My dad bought a new Ford Contour in 96 and it was the biggest POS I've ever seen. My brother has a Mustang thats always in the shop. Long story short dad just bought a new car. A 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited.
I'm looking for a second car for the wife. We drive a Nissan Murano now. I was looking at the 08 Mazda3 Hatchback BUT it's part owned by Ford so I'm scared to buy it.
strangerwithcandy11: My family has always been Ford folks. It started in 76 when my dad bought a Pinto lol. One motor and 13 transmissions later it caught on fire. We had a Escort that wasn't that bad. My mom wrecked it before it had any real problems. The wife had a 95 Escort that just blew up at 125,000 miles. My dad bought a new Ford Contour in 96 and it was the biggest POS I've ever seen. My brother has a Mustang thats always in the shop. Long story short dad just bought a new car. A 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited. I'm looking for a second car for the wife. We drive a Nissan Murano now. I was looking at the 08 Mazda3 Hatchback BUT it's part owned by Ford so I'm scared to buy it.
I bought a 74 Pinto in 1987 for $100. It had nearly 120,000 mi on it. 35,000 mi later the timing belt broke. I took the motor from a 78 mustang II and it gave me another 25,000 mi.
I LOVE Pintos!
I will never drive, nor will I allow anyone I care about to drive a Toyota anything. Just personal.
A frind of mine was driving a Corrola (70's) and hit a 74 Nova head on. He and his GF were instantly killed, the two in the Nova had minor injuries.
Years later I'm driving a delivery truck when a Toyota Camery swooped in front of me while I was slowing down at a left turn lane. I rear ended the car trying to stop, (going about 10 mph) and the Camery caught fire. It was engulfed in flame in literally two minutes.
I will NEVER own a Toyota.
Bassman45: strangerwithcandy11: My family has always been Ford folks. It started in 76 when my dad bought a Pinto lol. One motor and 13 transmissions later it caught on fire. We had a Escort that wasn't that bad. My mom wrecked it before it had any real problems. The wife had a 95 Escort that just blew up at 125,000 miles. My dad bought a new Ford Contour in 96 and it was the biggest POS I've ever seen. My brother has a Mustang thats always in the shop. Long story short dad just bought a new car. A 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited. I'm looking for a second car for the wife. We drive a Nissan Murano now. I was looking at the 08 Mazda3 Hatchback BUT it's part owned by Ford so I'm scared to buy it. I bought a 74 Pinto in 1987 for $100. It had nearly 120,000 mi on it. 35,000 mi later the timing belt broke. I took the motor from a 78 mustang II and it gave me another 25,000 mi.
Why'd you replace the motor for a busted timing belt?
Mattm:Bassman repaired to belt, but later on when the motor finally quit he replaced the motor.
I'd hope so. Replacing the motor for a bad timing belt is a little extreme, but I'd love to drive a pinto with a mustang motor.
Decatur Staley: Mattm:Bassman repaired to belt, but later on when the motor finally quit he replaced the motor. I'd hope so. Replacing the motor for a bad timing belt is a little extreme, but I'd love to drive a pinto with a mustang motor.
Decatur Staley: Bassman45: strangerwithcandy11: My family has always been Ford folks. It started in 76 when my dad bought a Pinto lol. One motor and 13 transmissions later it caught on fire. We had a Escort that wasn't that bad. My mom wrecked it before it had any real problems. The wife had a 95 Escort that just blew up at 125,000 miles. My dad bought a new Ford Contour in 96 and it was the biggest POS I've ever seen. My brother has a Mustang thats always in the shop. Long story short dad just bought a new car. A 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited. I'm looking for a second car for the wife. We drive a Nissan Murano now. I was looking at the 08 Mazda3 Hatchback BUT it's part owned by Ford so I'm scared to buy it. I bought a 74 Pinto in 1987 for $100. It had nearly 120,000 mi on it. 35,000 mi later the timing belt broke. I took the motor from a 78 mustang II and it gave me another 25,000 mi. Why'd you replace the motor for a busted timing belt?
In the old ford 4-cyl, when the timing belt broke the motor usually blew a cyl. In my case it was #3.
Mattm: Decatur Staley: Mattm:Bassman repaired to belt, but later on when the motor finally quit he replaced the motor. I'd hope so. Replacing the motor for a bad timing belt is a little extreme, but I'd love to drive a pinto with a mustang motor. A Pinto with a mustang v-8 motor.
Not quite. We replaced the Pinto's 2.0 with a Mustang II's 2.3 . Still a 4 cyl.