US vs. TOYOTA LAWSUIT HURTS ALL CAR SALES

Is this REALLY in the best interest of the American automotive industry and all car sales?  How will this US vs. Toyota lawsuit affect the car buying public at-large?  Who will get this money?  Trust me when I say the cost of mounting this lawsuit and winning won’t put a dime in my pocket, yours, or likely that of any TOYOTA owner of the past ten years. WHO does get this money, btw? The current Toyota owner has already seen his/her Toyota resale values drop by 20% through no fault of their own, and without experiencing one occurrence of false acceleration or braking loss. However, the real loser is the American car buying public. This lawsuit hurts all US car sales regardless of make or model. This sudden effort to resurface the anti-Toyota sentiment and by association, all foreign named brands, has left the consumer wondering if any car is 100% safe of these “issues”, even as they have yet to experience any fault with their “old” car. As a result, many consumers may chose to “opt-out” of the car buying mode further slowing the recovery of the economy.  With justification not to buy a new or newer car; “My ‘old’ car is working just fine, so why look for trouble with these computerized ones?”  This latest action by LaHood and friends may send the summer car sales selling season into a slump just as showroom traffic was showing signs of picking up.  Is this US vs. Toyota lawsuit the latest gimmick  from the government (i.e. Government Motors) to launch a 2010 SALEABRATION for locally owned and operated auto manufacturers as “CASH FOR CLUNKERS” was last summer?  NOTE: the Toyota Corolla was the #1 replacement vehicle in that sales result.   The administration may have thought  “your in good hands with NHTSA watching out for you”  would play well with the public, as GM and FORD raise their JD POWERS Initial Quality ranking, but in fact, the US vs. Toyota lawsuit may have the EXACT reverse result on all auto manufacturer’s; GM, CHRYSLER/FIAT and FORD, as buyers sit out the car buying season waiting for the lawsuit to pronounce a winner, as in ultimate bragging rights to whose at fault.  Further push-back from the American public could come in the form of an audible grumble as the public wonders aloud at the choice of our elected officials to endorse spending OUR money on a lawsuit, rather than administering a fine and collecting on it immediately whereas a long-protracted lawsuit keeps the pot stirring for who knows how long.  IMHO, Ithink  a lot of people are already wondering where the money is coming from to prosecute the auto manufacturer, or is this a justification for bodies on the federal payroll. The secondary effect of the lawsuit is a reaction on Wall Street, where Toyota stock lawsuits are already piling up as investors try to reclaim lost value. The only winner in this US vs. Toyota lawsuit COULD BE be the person(s) BUYING a USED or NEW Toyota while rebates and incentives are HUGE and the prices on a pre-owned Toyota are depressed by 20% or more in certain Toyota models.  I’d love to hear your opinion, so PLEASE feel free to post comments here. ——————————————————————————————— MyCARLADY is a car buying consulting service. As a 20+yr. professional automotive executive acting as a consumer advocate for all aspects of the car buying experience.  Feel free to direct your questions to sarahlee@mycarlady.com,mvides422@gmail.com,carlady@cox.net ]]>