More Common Sense from Toyota

Why isn't there just ONE god in the world?

Very often the manufacturers wanted to make money out of spare parts. At least in the past it may have been possible when the market was controlled by the producers.

Now in customer controlled market this has turned to be a great disadvantage.

There is such a big change in mentality needed that the question is if they will be able to do it.

If they do want to survive in todays market they will have to do this.

How l> I just finished reading an article

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 09:46:39 -0700, got out the hammer and chisel and etched in the wall:

Well, AFAIK, a 6.6L LBZ won't fit in a Grand Am or in a Saturn Ion.

GM is moving on the route of sharing platforms and parts. Notice that many of the new cars are on the zeta platform and that your trucks are pretty much all on the GM900 platform.

Toyota does many things right, and that is one example. However, GM does many things right, too. Just look at the new trucks that are out.

Sounds simple but it doesn't work that easily, for Toyota or any other manufacture..That article was obviously written by somebody who does not have an engineering degree. . If all of the parts on the Corolla were the same as on a Lexus who would buy a Lexus? Imagine the problem for Toyota if all of their cars had the same V6 engine that is involved with their 'oil gelling' problem? All manufacture use common parts when possible, in a any event. LOL

mike

Where would the line end? If all of GM's makes shared the same equipment (engines, transmissions, etc.), what would make you want to buy a Cadillac when you can get a Chevy cheaper, with the same parts? I think some parts can be used on several different models, and I think they are already doing it. Hopefully, anyhow.

Honda does a better stealth job, they make everything they sell base on two car chassis. Their so called trucks are a joke as a result At lest Toyota and Nissan make a truck chassis. They do not sell well but at least they make the effort to compete in the truck market LOL

mike

Why would you want to buy a Cadillac anyway? Many of the parts ARE the same.

Cadillac traditionally sold for the wealthier crew, the 'bluehairs'. There was luxury and quality in the older Cads...not so much now.

You could put any crabbing powertrain in glitzy Cadillac clothing, and there would be people who would buy it based on the old perception of quality and luxury.

People are stupid, Knight. Painted with a broad brush, they buy with their emotions...their heart...not their brain. And they dont research anything.

That pretty much describes the average Toyota owner, females or males over

1. LOL

mike

Um, there is. Standardized parts is why you have 12 different brand names for the same vehicle. My Silverado has the same alternator my s10 had and my wife's Impala.

Even YOU could name a hundred parts common to all lines;

Mufflers, radiators, alternators, fuel-injectors, etc. etc.etc.

I doubt anyone would pass up on a Corvette if it shared these components with a Cobalt.

Just think... they'd only have to engineer it once, manufacture to one set of specs design to ONE form/fit/function stock one kind of "radiator"

Do Chevy, Pontiac, Buick all need different 3.1 V-6's ? Wouldn't it be nice to drop a ( standard ) GM 3.1 into any model ?

If you can't see the savings, then it makes all your other posts quite clear.

mike

WOW, the same alternator! What did you need to do when you drove the different vehicles, switch the alternator? ;)

mike

Time to adjust the meds Mr Hunt

I recall GM starting on standardization in the 50's. Take a look at the glass in any 1959 GM car for starters. This is not a new and bold idea. US auto makers have been doing at least some of that for many years. You can also buy the same part with a different label and different prices too. The trick is in knowing what brake pad or transmission module is the same on a Jaguar and Chevy (yes, really they were, Jag used GM tranny at one time) or Lexus and Camry.

There are far more standardized parts on GM vehicles than you apparently realize. Most of what you listed are standardized parts.

Yea, yea, Ok same model alternator, but I suppose if one ever did die I had a way to troubleshoot.

Yep by standardizing with CHEAPER materials.

TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Toyota Motor Co is developing a radically different carmaking process that will drastically cut costs across the entire chain of production, President Katsuaki Watanabe said in an interview with the Financial Times.

'The focus is on low-cost technology,' Watanabe said. 'Everything from design to production methods will be radically changed and we are thinking of a really ultra-low-cost way of designing, using ultra-low-cost materials, even developing new materials if necessary.'

Watanabe said the company will review each step in the production process to lower costs for a new model and then to apply the lessons across its line-up.

Asked about the price of a car produced via the new process Watanabe said the company has a rough target of being 'at least' cheaper than the Renault (other-otc: RNSDF.PK - news - people ) Logan.

Watanabe also denied media speculation that Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ) is poised to strike a cooperation agreement with Ford, saying no specifics have been discussed.

I didnt read this as saying they would standardize their lilne with cheaper materials. Maybe I got it wrong. I supposed that the Japanese want to compete for the very low end Renault car which presently sells for $6200 (but not in the USA).

As many Yugos as were sold, I would suppose there is a market for the ultracheap heap here in America. If it lasts three years and then can be recycled into door mats or cattle feed, maybe that is good enough. Would I buy a $5000 car or light pickup that would get

50 mpg, maybe do 70 mph top speed??? Who knows...maybe...Not as a road car, for sure, but for grocery shopping, going to the dentist, etc...why not?

IF the government is going to make good on the goal to reduce gasoline consumption by

20% in the next decade, then we are going to have a tidal movement toward low horsepower higher economy cars, diesel, mass transportation, alternate fuels, and possibly punitive taxes on gasoline.

There is no other way to do it that I know of.

Apparently YOU did not read the last sentence of that post ;)

mike

Perhaps, but I already know the difference in the meaning of the words 'same' and 'common.' ;)

mike

Guess you mised the part,' as well, that said 'All manufacture use common parts when possible, in a any event;)

mike