What Forbes had to say about Ford and Chevy owners... Ouch! - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

376matt · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Just ran across this from Forbes Magazine today...

Link to Article

"Only 45% of Ford owners have a college degree and 12% don't use the Internet."

"Only 35% of Chevy owners have a college degree and 13% don't use the Internet."

Edited.. just didn't continue reading. The article states that 60% of Toyota owners are college
educated and that Toyota is the overwhelming "family" vehicle with 70% of owners being married.

Comment away.. haha

Morning Glory · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 06:40 PM

Well, if you look at just the numbers, that sure as hell is sad.

However, once you look at the broader aspect of things, it's not quite as sad...

When you think of a truck, what kind of job comes to mind? Plumber, construction worker, painter, etc.

(I don't mean to step on people's toes at all by saying what I'm about to say, it's just an observation, so don't take it personally).

You don't really need a college education to be of the aforementioned occupation. IF you have a degree, you'll maek some more money.

Now, a lot of folks on here will tow their boats to the lake or their pop ups to their camp grounds, but the MAJORITY of construction owners drive Fords or Chevys. In two years I've seen only a handful of Toyota Tundras (new or old) on construction sites.

Sorry, but you tell me how many of these folks use their trucks for their occupation TO MAKE MONEY for Ford, Chevy, and Toyota. I guarantee you that a lot more Ford and Chevy owners rely on their trucks more so to put dinner on the table.

-rockstate

1keepitup · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 06:57 PM

Thank God I bought a Toyota, no wonder im still married.:clap2: Lol

Take Good Care

Coal Dragger · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstate45

Well, if you look at just the numbers, that sure as hell is sad.

However, once you look at the broader aspect of things, it's not quite as sad...

When you think of a truck, what kind of job comes to mind? Plumber, construction worker, painter, etc.

(I don't mean to step on people's toes at all by saying what I'm about to say, it's just an observation, so don't take it personally).

You don't really need a college education to be of the aforementioned occupation. IF you have a degree, you'll maek some more money.

Now, a lot of folks on here will tow their boats to the lake or their pop ups to their camp grounds, but the MAJORITY of construction owners drive Fords or Chevys. In two years I've seen only a handful of Toyota Tundras (new or old) on construction sites.

Sorry, but you tell me how many of these folks use their trucks for their occupation TO MAKE MONEY for Ford, Chevy, and Toyota. I guarantee you that a lot more Ford and Chevy owners rely on their trucks more so to put dinner on the table.

-rockstate

That article did not break down the stats into type of vehicles, just brand. So all passenger cars, SUV's, vans, and pick ups are included.

Tankerhank · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:04 PM

I see a fair number of Tundras around here used as work trucks, both 1st and 2nd gen. There are a fair number around here that know the Tundra will put the bread on the table too.

Not this is not so everywhere, when we took our trip up to northern Minnesota last month my bride commented on how many Toyotas she DID NOT see up north yet around Tucson it is not uncommon at an intersection that there will be 4 to 6 Toyotas looking back at ya.

Morning Glory · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:06 PM

Also, very true CD. However, how many Fseries trucks are tehre to the rest of the lineup?

HEre comes from Wikipedia (I'd go for another source but I don't have the time)

Quote:

nalysts estimate that the F-Series alone makes up half of the Ford Motor Company's profits in recent years.

It seems as if Ford sells more Fseries trucks to their total than Toyota does with the Tundra/Tacoma lineup.

-rockstate

Morning Glory · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:08 PM

You can also see the same trend in Lexus. They don't have any pickups and their college degree rate is about 71%...

They could do a more in depth study of looking at particular vehicles... muscle cars to mini vans to sedans, to station wagons to pickups.... You separate all the categories and you'll see a better trend... Heck, maybe throw price in there as a variable.

-rockstate

Tankerhank · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:09 PM

And there was a time that the economy could be predicted by watching GM stock.....

... well there may be still be some truth to that still.

Then GM used to be No. 1

Fords were Taxi tough... and so on.

gobblerman · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:32 PM

Big deal. Since when does it take a college degree to buy a vehicle. How arrogant to suggest a college degree makes for a better informed customer. This is no more than intellectual prejudice. I have known many phd's who knew as much about car function, value and durabilty as I know about brain surgery. Might it be that domestics are often less expensive attracting customers with lower incomes who often do not have college degrees. By the way, I have a BS in chemstry but do not feel this entitles me to look down on others who have chosen a different career path.

spenser24 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:47 PM

hmmmm, I've got a Toyota & a Honda.

nomadic · #11 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:50 PM

I have college degrees and I use my truck for work… maybe it was the critical thinking skills and analysis skills that I learned in college that led be to buy a superior product for my application.

dee08tundra · #12 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 07:57 PM

ha, i know a lot of stupid people with college degrees as well. What I think is dumb is people buying a car because of the make. I know so many sheep that buy foreign cars because their friend did. however, they haven't the slightest clue about what actually would make it better. I have owned a few makes as a car owner and i don't think the scales are tipped away from the domestics as they once were. Sure, when you are building an econobox, less things break. Also, since the foreign guys aren't being strangled by the unions and retirement benefits, they put more of that money into the car. Remember, their foreign workers aren't treating nearly as well.

However, once the cars started getting more powerful, getting lots of gadgets, and increasing in size(tundra), their reliability isn't nearly as great. I also believe those very same demographics have something to do with the reliability of the vehicles. If you drive them hard, don't maintain them as well, they are not going to be as reliable.

I own a tundra, but I don't have any illusions that it is bulletproof because of the badge. Toyota is having lots of issues these days. If the dollar continues to weaken against the yen, it ain't gett'n any better yawl!

sledhead907 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstate45

Also, very true CD. However, how many Fseries trucks are tehre to the rest of the lineup?

HEre comes from Wikipedia (I'd go for another source but I don't have the time)

It seems as if Ford sells more Fseries trucks to their total than Toyota does with the Tundra/Tacoma lineup.

-rockstate

Ford and GM have a lot of government contracts, where Toyota doesn't. Keep that in mind when you talk about the F-150. There are plenty of F-150's driving around the flightline.

376matt · #14 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 08:08 PM

Gobblerman,

Let me say to clarify that those are not my statements, but are those of Forbes Magazine which I linked. Just thought it was an interesting article especially the statistics for the Bentley and Rolls Royce owners.

We would like to assume that these figures are about the truck but these stats are for the entire product line as was mentioned earlier. I do think there could be some correlation between education and how much thought is put into making a purchasing decision. As with all things however there are plenty of exceptions to the idea.

The thing that I thought to be a little offensive about the article which no one has mentioned yet was the notion that Ford and Chevy owners are not quite as bright as others...

and I quote...

"A note to those wealthy employers: Think twice about splurging on even an understated new car. If you see scads of Hondas in your company parking lot, their savvy owners may be wise to your ways. If you only see Chevys, you might be able to get away with it."

Tankerhank · #15 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 08:14 PM

Well I am far from college educated, even though I drove past a Holiday Express once if that counts. Just the same I have been buying Toyotas since 1971. I knew little if anything about Toyota back then, heck I have had garages that were bigger than that dealer's showroom back then. I wanted a car that would run 100 mph from Rapid City SD to Souix Falls SD, I tossed around a Volvo, on ya and I wanted a small car not a big V8, I was SSgt in the Air Force back then so had to watch the budget. I drove the Corona off the the dealers lot onto the freeway and wound it up, it reached 108 mph, I slowed and took the next off ramp turn around and came back to the dealer, again winding the little car up to its limit. It didn't explode and had room for me and my family.... 326 miles in a little over 3 hours, gotta like it!! South Dakota was very lax on speed limits back then, in fact anyone driving under 85 almost got pushed off the road.

I bought my share of Fords, GM and Chrysler cars/trucks but always came back to the Toyota. I longed for the day they build a big truck..... dang I was patient!!!!