Toyota Tundra HD Diesel

[AKaiser]

If you feel that you can work for low wages and no benefits in a work environment that gives you no recourse and still be able to live a middle class life style, I respectfully request that you seek a reality check, straightaway. GregH

I don't know, maybe we should ask the Mexicans at Saltillo. I suppose their working conditions are somewhat better than the average Jose in Ol' Mexico. The pay certainly has to be an improvement over typical wages. I'm not saying it's a fair comparison, it just "IS," IOW, it's reality. You want a long term solution? It's going to take a liberalization of politics south of the border, and/or a repeal of NAFTA. The only morally fair option is the former.

 

[brods]

Not jumping on anyone in particular but what is this suppose to prove? It's certainly not strength. We've got several trailers rated for 65,000lbs in 4ft and they will twist and bend like crazy but in no way would I consider them weak. Things that don't flex, break. Also these tests don't show "real world" situations. Who drives a bare frame? Answer no one, vehicles usually have bodies, engines, axles that believe it or not all contribute to the strength as a whole. If you were to remove your windshield and stand on the top of your truck you'd find out how much strength you get from small simple parts even glass. And no I'm not defending the Toyota, I don't care what brand anyone buys, I'm not in the market for a truck, in fact I only own one because I wanted to modify it, abuse it and, sell it. (and I've already done 2 of the 3) :-laf

See post #50 for the real world. The frame is the foundation of the truck, which would you want a strong stiff frame or a strong flexible frame? I'll take the one that will allow the suspension to work better and that will support the body better, transferring less twisting forces to it. Granted all these videos are Ford marketing propaganda, but never the less they have some merit.

 

[brods]

Gh, Ak, Touchy subject. Unions are necessary, but not the old school automotive style. What we all seem to forget is there is plenty of blame to go around for our current economic issues. Some belongs to the greedy execs who just want to drive up stock prices in the short term and cash out. Some belongs to the workers who feel a sense of entitlement and that they should be paid tons of money for doing nothing. And most blame goes to the uncaring American consumer who will by the cheapest crap they can find without a care if it was made by skilled trades people or child slave labor, as long as its inexpensive. Ultimately the consumer drives everything. If we don’t demand products to be produced in accordance with our own (USA) laws and environmental protection standards, then we are selling out our middle class and degrading other country’s environments, just so we can buy more cheap crap. Hi ho, hi ho, its off to Walmart we go... ... .

 

[GHarman]

I don't know, maybe we should ask the Mexicans at Saltillo. I suppose their working conditions are somewhat better than the average Jose in Ol' Mexico. The pay certainly has to be an improvement over typical wages. I'm not saying it's a fair comparison, it just "IS," IOW, it's reality. You want a long term solution? It's going to take a liberalization of politics south of the border, and/or a repeal of NAFTA. The only morally fair option is the former.

The Folks that benefited from the Automakers move into their country, those that were actually hired to work at the plant, the local economy and the general infrastructure in the area of the plant actually benefited from a TEMPORARY increase in wages and lifestyle, not a permanent reduction (the industry is gone), as our autoworkers experienced. Mexico has historically had the rich and mostly very poor with a very small middle class. We, on the other hand have a very large middle class. It is basically an international version of redistribution of wealth that primarily benefits the transient Corporation. There is no guarantee that those hired will maintain their jobs or the Corporation will stay in the Country. A "liberialization of politics", south of the border will have no benefit to the average peon. It is not in their culture. Thats why we have so many millions of illegal alien workers that cross the border to work in the United States. That, my friend is REALITY. GregH