Has anyone ever had a dispute/confrontation because their 4Runner is made in Japan?

[Hitman]

I never understood how it is hypocritical. Being able to buy the best product you see fit on the open American market regardless of where it was made is about the most American thing I can think of. Buy American if you want. Buy Japanese if you want. Our flag represents many amazing things, one of those being your ability to freely make that choice. Anyone trying to shame you needs to be educated.

One other thing: buying domestic under the pretense of loyalty to American companies does a damaging disservice to those companies: it robs them of the incentive to better themselves through competition.

Nobody is trying to shame me. It's just my own view. If I want to be a flag-waving American, that's fine....but I think that flying the American flag on a Toyota that was made in Japan is just silly.

I see a guy who lives down the road from me who has his Rav4 (which I believe is made only in Canada or Japan) decked out with American flags flapping in the breeze on both sides, as well as stickers that say to support America. Every time I see him on the road, I can't help but think how much of a hypocrite he appears to be in his Japanese car done up with American flags and symbols. Personally, I'd never put an American flag on anything that I own that was not at least made here. That makes as much sense to me as buying a Chinese-made American flag. No thanks.

 

[Hitman]

Is your Jeep married to Daimler-Benz or Fiat?

Neither. My Jeep is a bachelor. And it was born in the USA, with a majority of American parts.

Now my Audi, on the other hand, is 100% German...fresh off the boat and living in America!

 

[2012sr5]

Nobody is trying to shame me. It's just my own view. If I want to be a flag-waving American, that's fine....but I think that flying the American flag on a Toyota that was made in Japan is just silly.

I see a guy who lives down the road from me who has his Rav4 (which I believe is made only in Canada or Japan) decked out with American flags flapping in the breeze on both sides, as well as stickers that say to support America. Every time I see him on the road, I can't help but think how much of a hypocrite he appears to be in his Japanese car done up with American flags and symbols. Personally, I'd never put an American flag on anything that I own that was not at least made here. That makes as much sense to me as buying a Chinese-made American flag. No thanks.

Hypocrisy is the claiming of moral standards to which one's behavior does not conform. Your neighbor is apparently proud to be an American and not afraid to show it. My question to you is, how does putting flag stickers all over his Japanese car, which he freely made the choice to buy as an American in America, fail to conform to his patriotism?

 

[ElectroBoy]

A lot of union parking lots have signs saying that cars not made in America aren't welcome. Beyond that, a confrontation could happen anywhere. I was renting a car once and the lady in front of me was returning a Honda that she had just rented because when she got it home and her husband saw it he made her take it back because he wouldn't ride in a Japanese car. That's not anything major, but still....

Just wondering if anyone has a story to tell.

The Toyota USA website claims that they employ 137,000 workers in the US. Their worldwide workforce is around 350,000. GM’s worldwide workforce is around 180,000, with about 52,000 in the US.
No matter that Toyota is headquartered in Japan, they make a significant contribution to the US economy in manufacturing alone. When you add in after-market accessories and maintenance/repair facilities and dealers, etc., the positive effects are enormous.
I’d say Toyota is pretty damn good for the US and it’s citizens.

 

[alico268]

Neither. My Jeep is a bachelor. And it was born in the USA, with a majority of American parts.

Now my Audi, on the other hand, is 100% German...fresh off the boat and living in America!

Witty reply, but the Jeep is ultimately a product of FCA. Regardless, a nice looking pair of vehicles you have there, sir.

 

[eyerolleddapiece]

The Toyota USA website claims that they employ 137,000 workers in the US. Their worldwide workforce is around 350,000. GM’s worldwide workforce is around 180,000, with about 52,000 in the US.
No matter that Toyota is headquartered in Japan, they make a significant contribution to the US economy in manufacturing alone. When you add in after-market accessories and maintenance/repair facilities and dealers, etc., the positive effects are enormous.
I’d say Toyota is pretty damn good for the US and it’s citizens.

We have a North American HQ as well. Toyota really does do a lot for the US economy. They have done a lot for my ability to spend money on US based businesses. Of course some of the profits are leaving the US. But I would doubt any of the auto makers can say that theirs do not.

 

[Ausumm]

To be honest...
I am always hearing about vehicles that are made in one place...
or the parts are made in one place and assembled in another...
or companies that were founded in one country,
but now have plants in thirteen OTHER countries.

To say your vehicle is "Japanese"...
is like saying "I'm an Italian".
Your NAME may be Italian, but I'm pretty sure there are a lot of other countries floating around in your DNA.
Very few people (in the USA) can honestly state that they are 100% ANYTHING.
I think this "American VS. Un-American" argument about where your car came from is getting outdated
and should be retired.

 

[Hitman]

Witty reply, but the Jeep is ultimately a product of FCA. Regardless, a nice looking pair of vehicles you have there, sir.

Thanks. I really love both of them. The Jeep, despite what a lot of people on this forum will tell you, is really a great vehicle.

And BTW, it is a product of FCA and it the chassis dates back to the Daimler-Chrysler days. That said, it's built on a modified Mercedes ML platform.

 

[Hitman]

Hypocrisy is the claiming of moral standards to which one's behavior does not conform. Your neighbor is apparently proud to be an American and not afraid to show it. My question to you is, how does putting flag stickers all over his Japanese car, which he freely made the choice to buy as an American in America, fail to conform to his patriotism?

I think you're missing my point. I'm not questioning his patriotism. I'm sure he's a proud American and that's fine. So am I, for the most part. And of course he's free to put American flag stickers all over his Japanese car, after all, this is America, right? What I'm saying is that I'd never do that because it smacks of hypocrisy.

Right now I own a Japanese 4Runner, an American Jeep, and a German Audi. I happen to have an American flag sticker on the back of my Jeep. I wouldn't put the same stick on my 4Runner or my Audi. That's my choice. And if you ask me why I made that choice, I'd tell you that it seems hypocritical. I'm personally not going to display an American flag on something that was made in Japan or Germany. Much in the same way that I wouldn't want to see an American flag on the label of my shirt that was made in Guatemala.

I try to support American companies and American workers when I can, but in all honesty my purchasing decisions are based more upon what I like rather than if it's American or American made. Case in point--my vehicles of choice.

 

[2012sr5]

I think you're missing my point. I'm not questioning his patriotism. I'm sure he's a proud American and that's fine. So am I, for the most part. And of course he's free to put American flag stickers all over his Japanese car, after all, this is America, right? What I'm saying is that I'd never do that because it smacks of hypocrisy.

Right now I own a Japanese 4Runner, an American Jeep, and a German Audi. I happen to have an American flag sticker on the back of my Jeep. I wouldn't put the same stick on my 4Runner or my Audi. That's my choice. And if you ask me why I made that choice, I'd tell you that it seems hypocritical. I'm personally not going to display an American flag on something that was made in Japan or Germany. Much in the same way that I wouldn't want to see an American flag on the label of my shirt that was made in Guatemala.

I try to support American companies and American workers when I can, but in all honesty my purchasing decisions are based more upon what I like rather than if it's American or American made. Case in point--my vehicles of choice.

No, I get what you're saying. Your neighbor has patriotic stickers all over his Japanese car. You think he looks like a hypocrite every time you see him drive down the road in it. I'm not saying you're questioning his patriotism. I'm asking, why is what he's doing hypocritical? I understand that you think it's hypocritical, but you haven't explained why.

My point is, you (and your neighbor) bought all of your vehicles as an American, on an open capitalistic American market, in America. All three companies that build your vehicles play by American rules in order to offer Americans their products, and all of those vehicles are made from parts all over the world. Even Jeep is now owned and controlled by a multinational holding company incorporated in the Netherlands and headquartered in London.

Our goods come from all over the world, just like us Americans ourselves. More players in a market creates more competition and better options for Americans. This is how it works here, and it is a very good thing for us. It's part of what makes America, America. And like you just said, you made your purchasing decisions yourself the way YOU want to, not anyone else. This in and of itself is a very American thing. So, to me, there is absolutely nothing hypocritical about us celebrating our patriotism with US flags on any vehicle that we as American citizens made the free choice to purchase in America.

 

[UnderFire]

Funny, everything except the 4runner in Toyota's current line up has become too American for me. The current lineup, especially the GT86 and "Supra" are such a far cry from what makes a Japanese built Toyota great, I don't think I'd ever own one.

Even the very first crossovers, 3rd gen 4runner and 100 series cruisers vs 1st gen Tacoma and Tundras the difference in overall build quality is massive. Toyota USA just doesn't really care as much imo.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

 

[Hitman]

No, I get what you're saying. Your neighbor has patriotic stickers all over his Japanese car. You think he looks like a hypocrite every time you see him drive down the road in it. I'm not saying you're questioning his patriotism. I'm asking, why is what he's doing hypocritical? I understand that you think it's hypocritical, but you haven't explained why.

Actually, I did explain why. Not sure how you missed it, but I explained that goods made overseas with American flags on them seem hypocritical to me. I can't be any more clear than that. You don't agree? Fine. But that's not going to change my opinion. I will not ever put an American flag on my 4Runner or my Audi. On my Jeep? Sure, no problem.

My point is, you (and your neighbor) bought all of your vehicles as an American, on an open capitalistic American market, in America. All three companies that build your vehicles play by American rules in order to offer Americans their products, and all of those vehicles are made from parts all over the world. Even Jeep is now owned and controlled by a multinational holding company incorporated in the Netherlands and headquartered in London.

That doesn't change my opinion in the slightest. Not every component in my Jeep was made in America. I get that. But it's still an American vehicle, made in Michigan. Can't say the same for my Jeep & Audi.

Our goods come from all over the world, just like us Americans ourselves. More players in a market creates more competition and better options for Americans. This is how it works here, and it is a very good thing for us. It's part of what makes America, America. And like you just said, you made your purchasing decisions yourself the way YOU want to, not anyone else. This in and of itself is a very American thing. So, to me, there is absolutely nothing hypocritical about us celebrating our patriotism with US flags on any vehicle that we as American citizens made the free choice to purchase in America.

Then feel free to plaster American flags all over your 4Runner. I simply will not because it seems hypocritical to me. That's all.

 

[2012sr5]

Actually, I did explain why. Not sure how you missed it, but I explained that goods made overseas with American flags on them seem hypocritical to me. I can't be any more clear than that.

:deadhorse:

I understand that you think putting a US flag sticker on a foreign-made good is hypocritical. But if you're going to answer the question "why is it hypocritical?" with "because it's hypocritical", you gotta see how that's circular reasoning.

I don't have any stickers on the outside of my 4runner. But a lot of others do put US flags on theirs, including many veterans. I think that calling them hypocrites for celebrating their freedoms differently than you to amounts to a pretty fundamental misunderstanding of freedom. A friend served two tours in Afghanistan, and you're going to tell me he looks like a hypocrite for having an American flag sticker on his 4Runner? All the guys here on the forum who choose to bear the US flag on their 4Rs are hypocrites? Really? Give me a break, dude.

You can choose to put whatever stickers on whatever vehicles you want to. Or not. But, I take issue with you calling your neighbor (and by extension everyone else who does it, too) a hypocrite. I'm not saying you're not free to call him that. Just saying I think you're wrong. :cheers:

Sorry for the derail, OP.

 

[Banzai]

Sorry for the derail, OP.

No, not at all. I started this thread to hear about disputes, and if it wasn't for you two I'd still be waiting!

 

[mrblah]

Actually, I did explain why. Not sure how you missed it, but I explained that goods made overseas with American flags on them seem hypocritical to me. I can't be any more clear than that. You don't agree? Fine. But that's not going to change my opinion. I will not ever put an American flag on my 4Runner or my Audi. On my Jeep? Sure, no problem.



That doesn't change my opinion in the slightest. Not every component in my Jeep was made in America. I get that. But it's still an American vehicle, made in Michigan. Can't say the same for my Jeep & Audi.



Then feel free to plaster American flags all over your 4Runner. I simply will not because it seems hypocritical to me. That's all.

I think you are stuck at the physical representation of the flag, and the physical placement of a vehicle, and trying to make a logical connection, like a brand/trademark on t-shirt or jeans. A country's flag (whether its japanese, chinese, german, or whatever) is more than a brand, it represents an identity, or an idea. It has nothing to do with the physical flag itself. Thats why people get so angry when the flag is disrespected, or when other country's colors are flown in its place. To you its just a flag, to others, it represents everything.

There is no correlation between a flag and their vehicles. There is a correlation between the flag and the people inside the vehicle.

Everytime I see the American flag on a vehicle, its a small reminder of the huge sacrifices people have given to give me the opportunity to live the life I want. I thank those lucky stars and the red/white/blue.

 

[Hitman]

:deadhorse:

I understand that you think putting a US flag sticker on a foreign-made good is hypocritical. But if you're going to answer the question "why is it hypocritical?" with "because it's hypocritical", you gotta see how that's circular reasoning.

I don't have any stickers on the outside of my 4runner. But a lot of others do put US flags on theirs, including many veterans. I think that calling them hypocrites for celebrating their freedoms differently than you to amounts to a pretty fundamental misunderstanding of freedom. A friend served two tours in Afghanistan, and you're going to tell me he looks like a hypocrite for having an American flag sticker on his 4Runner? All the guys here on the forum who choose to bear the US flag on their 4Rs are hypocrites? Really? Give me a break, dude.

You can choose to put whatever stickers on whatever vehicles you want to. Or not. But, I take issue with you calling your neighbor (and by extension everyone else who does it, too) a hypocrite. I'm not saying you're not free to call him that. Just saying I think you're wrong. :cheers:

Sorry for the derail, OP.

I'm not sure if this is a reading comprehension issue on your part, but I'll try to explain it to you again:

First, I'm not calling ANYONE a hypocrite. Never did that once. I simply said that it seemed like a hypocritical act TO ME and that I would therefore never do it myself. I thought I was clear on that. My neighbor is a veteran. He served in the Marines. BTW, so did my father. My neighbor drives a Toyota. My father will never own or drive a Toyota. Those are their choices. My choices may or may not be different than either of them. But at the end of the day, I make MY choices based upon MY outlook of the world.

Secondly, the answer to my question is absolutely not circular reasoning. You asked why I considered it hypocritical and I clear explained that my opinion is that placing an American flag sticker on a vehicle that was built in Japan (or Germany or any other country outside of the USA) is where the hypocrisy stems from in the first place. I'm not saying that it's hypocritical just because it is, I'm saying quite simply like this: American flag on Japanase car = hypocrisy. How do you not understand that? You ask me why it's hypocrisy and I explained it over and over again. Sorry, but that's my opinion and you aren't going to change it. Does that mean I'm calling people hypocrites? No, not really. It's not something I would do myself, but I'm not going to make a derogatory remark about someone who chooses to do it. After all, this is a free country. You can burn the flag if you so choose. I don't agree with that and I obviously don't support it, but if you choose to do it, well, that's your choice. Same thing with someone pasting an American flag on their made-in-Japan 4Runner.

 

[Hitman]

I think you are stuck at the physical representation of the flag, and the physical placement of a vehicle, and trying to make a logical connection, like a brand/trademark on t-shirt or jeans. A country's flag (whether its japanese, chinese, german, or whatever) is more than a brand, it represents an identity, or an idea. It has nothing to do with the physical flag itself. Thats why people get so angry when the flag is disrespected, or when other country's colors are flown in its place. To you its just a flag, to others, it represents everything.

What you're saying makes zero sense. If I considering it "just a flag", then why would I care at all whether or not it's being displayed on a foreign vehicle? Do you not see the flaw in your logic?

There is no correlation between a flag and their vehicles. There is a correlation between the flag and the people inside the vehicle.

Oh, really? So using that logic, the flag itself MUST be meaningless because only the people matter when it comes to a correlation between the flag and people. So explain to me all the veterans who absolutely refuse to drive a Japanese vehicle. I know plenty of them.

Everytime I see the American flag on a vehicle, its a small reminder of the huge sacrifices people have given to give me the opportunity to live the life I want. I thank those lucky stars and the red/white/blue.

Every time I see an American flag on a vehicle, I think of how the owner of the vehicle must be at least somewhat patriotic to have put an American flag on his/her vehicle. And then when I see that the vehicle is one that was made overseas, I think to myself how hypocritical it is to wave the flag in support of America, but then support the GDP of foreign countries instead.

Ironically, as a 4Runner owner, I've obviously done the same. But I'm not going to advertise it by sticking an American flag on my 4Runner. I'll just do that on my Jeep instead.

 

[Shiftless Joe]

I guess some Axis powers are better than others

 

[spartacus]

So is it ok to put the flag on a tundra or tacoma which is made in America even though is owned by a japanese company and profits go to it? Someone putting a flag on a 4Runner could be the greatest patriot and are doing that to show their reverence to this country and it so happens they love their 4runner.Is this person a hypocrite. Don't go judging is a good rule.

 

[atalarico]

Gas chambers though?

Thank you. The way we somehow find Germany's tactics and atrocities committed during the war less "icky" than the Japanese really is racism at it's finest. They were both nations hyped up on a God complex who believed themselves to be divinely/racially superior to their neighbors...and they acted it out with the same ferocity and determination as the Japanese. You bet your ass race is a factor as to why we regarded their tactics as more "savage" and locked up all Americans with Japanese heritage in ****ing concentration camps (because "internment" is a comfortable euphemism).

Back to OP, both of my parents have a lot of stories about owning Toyotas in the 80s in Metro-Detroit. We had a blue Cressida wagon that my Mom remembers getting sworn at and called a traitor at a stop light by a bunch of guys in a pickup truck with big ol' UAW stickers on the back. The classiest part was my mom had both me and my brother in the car with her...in child seats...because you know...we were children.

Most members of my family worked for the Big 3 in some capacity. My grandpa worked for Ford for his whole life and once refused to get a ride to my aunt's wedding because he'd have to ride in my Dad's Celica. He had no other choice and finally relented but didn't say a word the whole ride. This was the same grandpa who bragged about how buddies on the line would put bags of bolts in the door panels to drive the future owners crazy trying to figure out what it was. No wonder the imports were outselling them!