XPost: alt.autos, alt.autos.toyota   
   From: scharf.steven@geemail.com   
      
   Sir F. A. Rien wrote:   
      
   > DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' (GM) U.S. sales plunged 21.3% in June and   
   > Ford (F) dropped 8.1% while Toyota (TM) reported a 10.2% sales surge   
   > compared with a year ago.   
   > Light-truck sales were up 11.9%, led by the redesigned Tundra full-size   
   > pickup.   
   > "Tundra really hit its stride this month, posting a record sales pace," Jim   
   > Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota's U.S. division, said in a   
   > statement. "In a short five months, the new truck's earned its stripes with   
   > both loyal Toyota owners and those new to the brand."   
      
   The Tundra has always been a favorite of contractors and those that use   
   their trucks for actual work and not just farting around.   
      
   Last week I was at In 'N Out and parked between an Ford crew cab and a   
   Tundra crew cab. The Tundra was a few years old with steel racks   
   carrying 2x4's and PVC, a tool box in the bed, and a big old vise on the   
   bumper. Three construction workers got into it as I got out of my car.   
   The Ford crew cab had two child seats in the back, and a mom was getting   
   her two toddlers out of the back.   
      
   The above scenario is very typical. The Ford is a passenger car   
   replacement for those that have occasional need for a truck for towing a   
   boat or trailer, or picking up gardening stuff from the home improvement   
   store. Heck, if I were going to buy a Ford, I'd buy one of their trucks   
   as well. The Tundra customer is buying a truck because they need a   
   reliable work vehicle, not a passenger car.   
      
   Oh, and as someone pointed out in a previous post, the Tundra has higher   
   domestic content.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)