What's more American? A ford Mustang or a Toyota Sienna?

Omaha Steve

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Tue Jul-18-06 05:43 PM
Original message

What's more American? A ford Mustang or a Toyota Sienna?

http://www.laborradio.org/node/3750

This is the complete short article.

Economic Report: What IS an "American" car?

Economic Report

By Jesse Russell

What's more American? A ford Mustang or a Toyota Sienna? If you look under the hood and beyond the name you might be in for a surprise. New statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and reported in Thursday's Wall Street Journal show that the Sienna, assembled in Indiana,
contains 90 percent North American parts. On the flip side the Mustang, an American icon, is assembled with 45 percent of its components coming from abroad.

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davidwparker

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Tue Jul-18-06 05:48 PM
Response to Original message

1. Where is it built? If Toyota hires Americans, then ...

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glitch

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:12 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. My 87 Toyota Corolla was built less than 20 miles from my house in CA.

Buy local. This was 87 though, I don't know if that factory is still there now.

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A HERETIC I AM

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:19 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Did you live in the Bay Area?

Edited on Tue Jul-18-06 06:20 PM by A HERETIC I AM

There is still a plant near Fremont, South of Oakland, NE of San Jose, right along the 880 freeway.

"New United Motor Mfg."

A joint venture plant that makes Toyota products and is, as far as i know, the last auto plant left in CA.

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glitch

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:22 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. That's the one. Glad it's still operating. As is my car, very reliable.

About 40mpg on the freeway now. It used to be 44mpg.

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A HERETIC I AM

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:29 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. They build pickups there now....

and a few other things too. When i was hauling cars i picked up there once or twice. There used to be a GM plant down in the LA area (Ontario?) if i am not mistaken. Gone for years now, though

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Tesha

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #5

10. NUMMI...

Edited on Tue Jul-18-06 06:48 PM by Tesha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NUMMI

> Currently, the NUMMI plant produces the Toyota Corolla compact car,
> Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and the Pontiac Vibe station wagon.

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tocqueville

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:14 PM
Response to Original message

3. a GM-Renault ?

coming soon to your local dealer...

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rubberducky

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:22 PM
Response to Original message

6. This makes me want to cry

:cry: I`m a UAW- Ford worker. I truely feel we are coming to the end of the big three. So much of Ford work has moved to Mexico. BUT, have the prices come down?? We are portrayed as making sssooo much money, but factor in helping your kids and parents. We are just getting by.

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Omaha Steve

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:36 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. Ford retirees hit with high health care costs (also from WIN)

http://www.laborradio.org/node/3742

Ford retirees hit with high health care costs - 07/17/2006

By Doug Cunningham

Retirees at Ford Motor company are the latest autoworkers to be hit with higher health care costs. Ford will begin charging retirees more on August first after a federal court cleared the way for them to do it. Retiree families will pay up to $752 more per year and that could go up by three percent every year. By charging retirees more Ford will fatten its profits by taking $5 billion from the overall retirement benefits earned by the retirees.

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A HERETIC I AM

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Tue Jul-18-06 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #6

9. What plant? assembly?

I used to work for E&L Transport - almost exclusively Ford products. I have hauled out of Wixom (Town Cars), Flat Rock (Joint Venture Mazda/Cougar Plant), River Rouge (Mustangs), South Chicago (Taurus), Wayne Assembly (Expeditions & Navigators), Edison, NJ (Ranger P/u's before it closed), Norfolk, VA (F-Series P/U's), And occasional specials for GM and Chrysler. I was a Teamster, Local 299. I should have never left that gig but i am doing MUCH better now and in hindsight, it's best i moved on. I sympathize with you, Mr AutoWorker. You may not be a dying breed, but certainly an emasculated one.

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Clark2008

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Tue Jul-18-06 07:02 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. Thank you for making my Mustang.

I think American sports cars have sooooooooo much more "personality" than those foreign cars. Also, those Mustangs just last and last. I only had problems out of one, an that was because the person who owned it before me treated it like crap. My others have last years without service - one was totalled (obviously not its fault) and the others I still see on the road. :)

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driver8

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Tue Jul-18-06 07:10 PM
Response to Original message

12. I love Toyotas. I wouldn't drive a piece of shit Ford if you gave

me one. (Well, Ok...I would drive a 65 Mustang convertible if you gave it to me. Or maybe a 67 or 68 Fairlane, but that's it! I mean besides a '64 Falcon.)

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