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  • #1

    Now THIS is funny...

    On the heels of our recent Toyota quality "discussion" initiated by my photo/post of the Toyota truck frame rusted to the point of collapse, is the following amusement:

    Yours truly just received a $50 Cash Gift Card for having test-driven -are you ready for this- a TOYOTA!

    Yep, we got an unsolicited invitation in the mail a month ago, inviting us to come test-drive a Toyota -no obligation- and get a $50 Gift Card for doing so! The solicitation had to come from our regular white pages telephone listing, because it was addressed to R.J. Palma. I don't have any cars titled or registered to R. J. Palma, and the only place my name appears as such is in the published land-line telephone directory. Ours is not an unlisted number.

    So I dutifully carted the mailer to Indianapolis' Butler Toyota and took the required test drive in the Toyota of my choice (admittedly, "Toyota of my choice" sounds odd when associated with my name <GGG>). 'Figured I might as well go the whole nine yards and drive a Prius, since I'd driven a Volt earlier, so as to compare the two. (I did not give the salesman a hard time; he was just trying to earn a living and was a nice guy. Indeed, I hope he got a "kiss" for spending the time to accompany a customer on a test drive and filling out the required paperwork for my $50 Gift Card.)

    Anyway, I was impressed with the Prius' low price ($25,000 sticker) compared with the Volt, but unimpressed with the Prius' unusually-high noise level when compared to the whisper-quiet Chevy Volt. The Prius' doors, when closed, sounded like they had no insulation in them at all...and to save weight, maybe they don't!

    The other thing that surprised me was how many Prius' Butler had in stock, and the fact that the one I drove was a brand-new 2011 model year car! I mean, by early March 2012 and the alleged market for Prius, I would not have expected them to have any 2011 models on the lot, but they had several...and even more 2012s lined up unsold. The salesman volunteered that they were "waiting for $5 gas." Indeed.

    And while we were on vacation in one of Prius' better markets (Washington DC), the $50 "Oh, what a feeling!" Gift Card arrived. (In this case, it does feel good.) <GGG>

    My humble nomination for Most Ironic Forum Photo of the Year, given the words thank you, rewards, and moving forward associated with the named recipient. <GGG>:



    (I've already used the card to buy a gasoline card, so it now has no value.) BP
    Last edited by BobPalma; 04-09-2012, 11:44 AM. Reason: added photo nomination....
    We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

    G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Bob...as my Mother used to say..."It looks better in my pocket than theirs!"
    Poet...Mystic...Soldier of Fortune. As always...self-absorbed, adversarial, cocky and in general a malcontent.

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by Gunslinger View Post
      Bob...as my Mother used to say..."It looks better in my pocket than theirs!"
      AMEN to that, Bruce; "Oh, what a feeling!" BP
      We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

      G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

      Comment

      • #4
        In Toyota's defense, Bob (and that phrase is almost as rare as "RJ Palma's Toyota of Choice"), I'm pretty sure the rust-prone Titan frames were made in Maumee Ohio, by Dana (one of the Excellent Companies from In Pursuit of Excellence). They've been a little bit of a disappointment to us in these parts.

        If a fella managed his funds carefully, did his own tune-ups, and ate lunch off the Dollar Menu, he might almost make a living test-driving Toyotas.

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by comatus View Post
          In Toyota's defense, Bob (and that phrase is almost as rare as "RJ Palma's Toyota of Choice"), I'm pretty sure the rust-prone Titan frames were made in Maumee Ohio, by Dana (one of the Excellent Companies from In Pursuit of Excellence). They've been a little bit of a disappointment to us in these parts.

          If a fella managed his funds carefully, did his own tune-ups, and ate lunch off the Dollar Menu, he might almost make a living test-driving Toyotas.

          Funny, Mike. I think you're talking about the later Titan frames they are now having trouble with, circa 2000 and up; larger trucks. The frame I photographed was on a smaller truck I'm all but certain was made in Japan.

          However, it's been my understanding that the earlier truck beds prone to rust were made in California and there mounted on cab & chassis shipped from Japan. But that was decades ago, too.

          All of this offered "for entertainment purposes only," as they say above the horoscope prognostications in each morning's newspaper.

          Off to the Dollar Menu, as you suggest. <GGG> BP
          We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

          G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by BobPalma View Post
            However, it's been my understanding that the earlier truck beds prone to rust were made in California and there mounted on cab & chassis shipped from Japan. But that was decades ago, too.
            Yes, Bob, that is/was correct. Otherwise, those little trucks were subject to massive import duties which would have priced them almost the same as a full-size domestic truck. That was the reason the Subaru BRAT had those two seats in the back. Being a unit body with integrated cab & box, it would have been impossible to 'field install' a box, and Subaru used some kind of loophole with those seats in the back to classify it as an off-road vehicle instead of a light truck.

            Craig

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by BobPalma View Post
              However, it's been my understanding that the earlier truck beds prone to rust were made in California and there mounted on cab & chassis shipped from Japan.
              We have many old Toyota trucks in this part of the country. They seem to rust because of the weird seam in the side of the box. No one-piece box panels.
              Poor design, no rustproofing, careless owners are probably all to blame.
              63 Avanti R1 2788
              1914 Stutz Bearcat
              (George Barris replica)

              Washington State

              Comment

              • #8
                We are not in a good position to criticize rusty vehicles!
                Don Wilson, Centralia, WA

                40 Champion 4 door*
                50 Champion 2 door*
                53 Commander K Auto*
                53 Commander K overdrive*
                55 President Speedster
                62 GT 4Speed*
                63 Avanti R1*
                64 Champ 1/2 ton

                * Formerly owned

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by ddub View Post
                  We are not in a good position to criticize rusty vehicles!
                  Au contraire, Don; I'd say we're in an excellent position to critique rusty vehicles...in fact, most of us are accomplished experts in the matter! <GGG> BP
                  We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

                  G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Point taken.
                    Don Wilson, Centralia, WA

                    40 Champion 4 door*
                    50 Champion 2 door*
                    53 Commander K Auto*
                    53 Commander K overdrive*
                    55 President Speedster
                    62 GT 4Speed*
                    63 Avanti R1*
                    64 Champ 1/2 ton

                    * Formerly owned

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Jeez, Bob, I hope nobody you knew saw you driving that. They might start questioning your patriotism. I know I'm wondering<G>.....

                      Of course, you know I'm kidding. I would never question your patriotism... but your judgment, well.......

                      Going into a Toyota dealership must be what it's like going into a porn movie theater. Hunched over, collar up, nervously scurrying in and hoping nobody sees you going in, knowing it's just wrong to be there...
                      Proud NON-CASO

                      I do not prize the word "cheap." It is not a badge of honor...it is a symbol of despair. ~ William McKinley

                      If it is decreed that I should go down, then let me go down linked with the truth - let me die in the advocacy of what is just and right.- Lincoln

                      GOD BLESS AMERICA

                      Ephesians 6:10-17
                      Romans 15:13
                      Deuteronomy 31:6
                      Proverbs 28:1

                      Illegitimi non carborundum

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Bob Andrews View Post
                        Jeez, Bob, I hope nobody you knew saw you driving that. They might start questioning your patriotism. I know I'm wondering<G>.....

                        Of course, you know I'm kidding. I would never question your patriotism... but your judgment, well.......

                        Going into a Toyota dealership must be what it's like going into a porn movie theater. Hunched over, collar up, nervously scurrying in and hoping nobody sees you going in, knowing it's just wrong to be there...
                        Well, ya' know, Bob, we were already babysitting our grandson Will that day and Butler Toyota is only a couple miles south of our daughter and son-in-law's house and Will the Wonder Tyke was down for his afternoon nap and I could score $50 in barely an hour's time, so we all have our price, I suppose! <GGG> BP
                        We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

                        G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Au contraire, Andrews; I'd say we're in an excellent position to critique ...
                          what it's like going into a porn movie theater.

                          I don't know; sometimes two sentence fragments just beg to be conjoined.
                          I have been to Brownsburg several times, and have never seen Palma going into a porn movie theater.
                          Well, not into a Toyota either, so you do have a point there.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Oh my word. I hope you washed your hands thoroughly after handling a foreign car before you touched that baby! Do you play with raw chicken, too? MAN, you're getting reckless!
                            Originally posted by comatus View Post
                            Au contraire, Andrews; I'd say we're in an excellent position to critique ...
                            what it's like going into a porn movie theater.
                            Speak for yourself, Michael S. I remain pure of heart and virtue. Is my story.
                            Proud NON-CASO

                            I do not prize the word "cheap." It is not a badge of honor...it is a symbol of despair. ~ William McKinley

                            If it is decreed that I should go down, then let me go down linked with the truth - let me die in the advocacy of what is just and right.- Lincoln

                            GOD BLESS AMERICA

                            Ephesians 6:10-17
                            Romans 15:13
                            Deuteronomy 31:6
                            Proverbs 28:1

                            Illegitimi non carborundum

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by 8E45E View Post
                              Yes, Bob, that is/was correct. Otherwise, those little trucks were subject to massive import duties which would have priced them almost the same as a full-size domestic truck. That was the reason the Subaru BRAT had those two seats in the back. Being a unit body with integrated cab & box, it would have been impossible to 'field install' a box, and Subaru used some kind of loophole with those seats in the back to classify it as an off-road vehicle instead of a light truck.

                              Craig
                              I remember vaguely at the time, and confirmed (like the Internet--feh!) by Subaru affic's since then that the Brat was essentially considered a CAR for legal purposes, as it was based on a car with external sheet metal change, which had already passed US standards. Which is why those plastic bun holders in the back had seat belts, since it was an alternative 2 door 4 passenger 'car'. There were licenced for road use, not just off road use. It had something "so they say" with Subaru being too small to justify trying to create a pickup by those other means that Toyota used for the US market. That and the odd outrageous duties on pickups

                              I do not recall seeing anyone actually USING those seats.

                              Comment

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