I was going to let this die but Grandpa's 93rd birthday was Tuesday and I just have to say something.
I understand that many many Toyota's are made in America, But the profits still go to a foreign company.
Grandpa was a medic for the Navy in the Pacific during WWII. The stories he tells, most in our family could never own a Japanese vehicle. Now a days everyone bitches that everything is "made in China" but in the 70's and 80's it was "Made in Japan".
After Grandpa got back from WWII he bought a FORD and never looked back. I can think of at least 35 Fords that have been in the family with about 10,000,000 miles. I know at least 8 Ford Taurus's that have went to the crusher with between 280,000 - 310,000 miles. In fact one Uncle who for awhile was very frugal used to buy them at 200,000 for $1500 and drive them for another 100k. I grew up in a 1976 Ford F350, in 1995 dad got his first powerstroke and gave me the 1976, I put an engine in it which would have been its 3rd (original 360, 390 in the mid 80's and I put a 428SCJ in it The SCJ is a funny story). When I got my Powerstroke in 2002 and sold the truck the entire drive train minus the engine had over 800,000 miles. (minus normal ujoints and ball joints of course)
Grandma and Grandpa used to talk about how any Government employee who showed up to work in a Japanese or German vehicle should lose their job on the spot.
As a child I remember my parents looking at the "Made in" label and as Japan took over most of the manufacturing our family slowly lost that battle but we would not concede vehicles.
China now benefits from our lack of loyalty to our country. If anything can be said America builds countries and I think India will be next.
There have been a couple non-Fords, one uncle had a Chrysler Cordova and one cousin had a Toyota pickup. When the toyota was about 3 years old it burn to the ground in a parting lot. Karma was my thought, "we are not supposed to own those" is what I said.
Now as a Mechanic I would no doubt what so ever say that toyota (and honda ) build good shit. I have tried to talk to my father and explain that really the American Manufactures did it to themselves. They have made some total dog shit. I am here to tell you that domestically Ford is absolutely the best out of the "big 3". But and here is the big BUT even with Ford you have to be selective in what you get. I tell people even though I am a Ford Fan not every Ford deserves to be in my driveway. But with Toyota (and Honda) I think in General you can pick any car on the lot with any option and be GTG.
I respect the competition is my point. But I do in a little part think that every person driving a Toyota is a traitor. Today not so much but I have to think the people who bought the first toyotas were SJW's who "felt bad about nuking them". That is the only way I can see someone buying a toyota in the '50s and '60s.
The workers building toyotas and hondas today would be building Fords and GM products if they American Manufactures had pulled their heads out of their asses.
I know I am rambling so I will end with this. If Iraq, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia started to produce vehicles and your child bought one how would you feel, no matter how good it was. Yea that is how I feel with every Japanese car on the road.
If you have not noticed there are some textiles made in Vietnam in the last decade, With 2 uncles as Marines in Vietnam don't even get me started on that.
PS. I just remembered one cousin leased a Highlander a couple months ago. I hope that fucker burns to the ground also.
PPSS Grandpa will tell your the worst vehicle he every owned was a mid 70's Maverick with a 302 V8. Never really broke down, but in the snow he went in the ditch 3 times (he was a professional truck/bus driver for almost 45 years, the one thing he knows how to do is drive). He has never owned another V8 car since. He had V8's in his trucks but car have been straight or V 6's