Tough Crowd

Beercan321 · 10-28-2007, 07:50 AM

Has any of you gotten insulted for owning a Titan? I live in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. I’m in the market for a new truck and have been looking at Nissan, Toyota and the big 3 domestics. Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas have a lot of highly-educated, upper class, white collar people but the majority of the people in this area are blue-collar. Everyone who owns a full-size truck drives a Ford, Chevy or Dodge.

The sales guys that I spoke with at the local Nissan and Toyota dealers told me they have a very hard time selling Titan’s and Tundra’s because nobody wants them. People who buy trucks in this area buy domestic.

Last night I was out at a bar making small-talk with some people and I told them I going to buy either a Titan or a Tundra. I’m currently leaning toward purchasing a Titan. After I said that they started laughing and verbally bashing me. They made comments like the Titan is nothing but a Japanese car with a bed on the back, it’s a Tonka toy, it’s a matchbox truck etc. They said I’m a fool for even considering a Titan/Tundra. One person said I might as well put a tow hitch on my Accord and use that instead of buying a foreign truck. I knew that blue-collar areas prefer domestic trucks but I had no idea that people in Western Pennsylvania hated the Titan and Tundra so much. I’m now debating if I actually want to get one because I’ll probably get harassed everywhere I go with it.

It seems that most people that buy Titan’s are in the Southern or Western portions of the U.S. Do any of you live in a blue-collar area where people hate the Titan/Tundra?

**redneckpapa1996** · 10-28-2007, 07:57 AM

Buy one and then smoke their "foreign made trucks".......
The new Furds, Dodges, and Chebbys are made in Canada or Mexico....
Nissans and Toyotas are made here in the USA....
Tell them to F'off !!!!!

**blavis** · 10-28-2007, 07:58 AM

It happens.

Like most on this site, I was a big 3 owner. But the Titan really caught my eye. Once I drove one, the choice was clear. My father gave me a lot of crap as well. So I let him drive it one day. He was very impressed. The Japanese truck market is still relatively new. It will take some time for more people to be open minded about how much of a beast the Titan is.

**Blackbeauty** · 10-28-2007, 08:17 AM

This truck, as well as the Tundra, albeit new to the market, are gonna change a lot of minds in the world. The power, handling, and just overall ergonomics are great on these trucks and the Big 3 is scrambling to keep up. They will get by on consumer loyalty for only so long. Idiots will still think the sun rises and sets on the Big 3, but people with intelligence know to look around. These trucks consistently rate higher than the Big 3 trucks in many magazines and tests. If the people that are ridiculing you can read, shove some of the articles under their noses. If they can't understand the written word, like RNP said, buy one and smoke their slowass Big 3 trucks... .You'll feel a lot better real soon after that!

Juday · 10-28-2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beercan321

Has any of you gotten insulted for owning a Titan? I live in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. I’m in the market for a new truck and have been looking at Nissan, Toyota and the big 3 domestics. Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas have a lot of highly-educated, upper class, white collar people but the majority of the people in this area are blue-collar. Everyone who owns a full-size truck drives a Ford, Chevy or Dodge.

The sales guys that I spoke with at the local Nissan and Toyota dealers told me they have a very hard time selling Titan’s and Tundra’s because nobody wants them. People who buy trucks in this area buy domestic.

Last night I was out at a bar making small-talk with some people and I told them I going to buy either a Titan or a Tundra. I’m currently leaning toward purchasing a Titan. After I said that they started laughing and verbally bashing me. They made comments like the Titan is nothing but a Japanese car with a bed on the back, it’s a Tonka toy, it’s a matchbox truck etc. They said I’m a fool for even considering a Titan/Tundra. One person said I might as well put a tow hitch on my Accord and use that instead of buying a foreign truck. I knew that blue-collar areas prefer domestic trucks but I had no idea that people in Western Pennsylvania hated the Titan and Tundra so much. I’m now debating if I actually want to get one because I’ll probably get harassed everywhere I go with it.

It seems that most people that buy Titan’s are in the Southern or Western portions of the U.S. Do any of you live in a blue-collar area where people hate the Titan/Tundra?

Seeing as how I am younger (22 years old), I might be more open minded about trying out new stuff. I too was like you, getting harassed about thinking about purchasing a "foreign" truck. I test drove all the "Big 3" trucks and quite honestly I didn't like any of them (some things I liked but not enough to spend that kind of money). I was brave enough to take a test drive in a both a Tundra and a Titan, but chose the Titan over the Tundra. The reason being is that the Tundra was just too much money for the options that I could afford. Everyone that harassed me about buying the Titan has now taken a test drive in the truck and they LOVE IT! Needless to say, I don't get harassed by them anymore and they're all looking at the Titan for their next truck. It's that "blue collar" mentality that they have to break and actually go do something they normally wouldn't do. Come to think of it, many of the options the "Big 3" are JUST NOW coming out with are all the things that have been on the Titan since its debut...

Please, I encourage you to think outside the box and have your friends join you. After all, its your money you're spending, not theirs. Do what you think is best for you. Best of luck to you.

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 10-28-2007, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beercan321

Has any of you gotten insulted for owning a Titan? I live in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. I’m in the market for a new truck and have been looking at Nissan, Toyota and the big 3 domestics. Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas have a lot of highly-educated, upper class, white collar people but the majority of the people in this area are blue-collar. Everyone who owns a full-size truck drives a Ford, Chevy or Dodge.

The sales guys that I spoke with at the local Nissan and Toyota dealers told me they have a very hard time selling Titan’s and Tundra’s because nobody wants them. People who buy trucks in this area buy domestic.

Last night I was out at a bar making small-talk with some people and I told them I going to buy either a Titan or a Tundra. I’m currently leaning toward purchasing a Titan. After I said that they started laughing and verbally bashing me. They made comments like the Titan is nothing but a Japanese car with a bed on the back, it’s a Tonka toy, it’s a matchbox truck etc. They said I’m a fool for even considering a Titan/Tundra. One person said I might as well put a tow hitch on my Accord and use that instead of buying a foreign truck. I knew that blue-collar areas prefer domestic trucks but I had no idea that people in Western Pennsylvania hated the Titan and Tundra so much. I’m now debating if I actually want to get one because I’ll probably get harassed everywhere I go with it.

It seems that most people that buy Titan’s are in the Southern or Western portions of the U.S. Do any of you live in a blue-collar area where people hate the Titan/Tundra?

Check the education of those guys....lol....I think you'll then understand. Then ask them when Mexico or Canada became US territory...which is where some of the dems are made. Ask them why they hate a truck that outpowers, outtows and outruns and outlasts the domestics and is built here in the US. The fact that you're actually considering not buying what you want because you're affraid of what others might think speaks volumes. Maybe a domestic nameplate fits you best then.

Papa_D · 10-28-2007, 09:37 AM

I had to represent at the track about three times before the local red neck populous came around and actually acnknowleged that the truck was quick for a brick. It's a place called Bithlo and it's just west of a town called Christmas. They call Bithlo "The nightmare before Christmas" for good reason because parts of it are right out of the movie "Deliverence". The track gets quite a diverse crowd but there is a large contingent of Mexamestic warriors that frequents the track as well. They can't say much when there are no newer naturally aspirated trucks running out there that will touch my Titan so they just have to put up with me beating their precious Canadomestics on a regular basis. It's funny though, take it to the track, win a few races and the interest then is nothing short of phenominal. "Hey what size engine is that, are you running NOS, what all have you done to it?" People even started taking pictures of it and a good smoke show never hurts in winning over a few folks. Buy what you like and kill em on race day and that may make them think twice about poking fun at the "super pig on wheels". As far as I'm concerned, the Titan was built by rednecks, for rednecks, right here in the good ole USA.

Titanequipped · 10-28-2007, 09:56 AM

I'm in the automotive equipment business and I can tell you I previously owned a Chevy and never not ONCE had anyone said anything bad about the truck.... Since owning a Titan I hear it all the time.

I'm sending the profit to Japan - True.

I can't belive the wheels haven't fallen off yet.

That thing is a tin can.

Can't pull with that thing.

I bet it smells Japanese when you turn the air on.

and so on and so on... (brakes, trans., rear end, rattles) I tell them they know my truck better than me???

Most comments are harmless, just a couple people were real upset that I'm supporting Japan.... Oh well, maybee the domestic market will get a clue and start building what we want and a better vehicle. Most of the time, I tell them, they should be thanking me, because the big 3 are starting to make better vehicle, because people like us buy Japanese...

EXILE · 10-28-2007, 10:11 AM

if they ever drove 1 they would change there mind....ive been a big 3 all my life and had 2 gm trucks when i went to the nissan lot told the salesman i want to drive 1 of these titans he asked me which one and went got the keys and tossed them to me...me and my wife went to the truck and just were checking it out (flipping up the backseat checking out all the room) i was in awww then the saleman started walking toward us and said whats the matter i laughed and said nothing just checking everything out. i was sold from the first impression

keiffers · 10-28-2007, 10:17 AM

Being in Texas, you would think they would dog what they interpret as being a 'rice burner' but most guys I know that own a so called 'American' truck really have nothing but good things to say about my Titan...the looks, the power, even the beefy stock sound makes them go 'oooh'. I've had more than one person ask if I have aftermarket pipes on my truck - they have a look of shock on their face when I tell them it's all stock.

But the one thing that I think will get them is when Mahindra puts out their light truck to test the American truck market in the next few years - yeah Mahindra is a tractor company, and a pretty good one at that, but they're an Indian company who wants to get into the American vehicle market a bit deeper - with everyones dislike of having to talk to an Indian whenever they call a company for some type of technical support, I'm kinda curious how an Indian light truck will go over, not because of power, but because it's simply 'Indian'

Beercan321 · 10-28-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyTitan

The fact that you're actually considering not buying what you want because you're afraid of what others might think speaks volumes. Maybe a domestic nameplate fits you best then.

In hindsight I won't allow other peoples opinions to dictate what I purchase. I was just shocked that people in this area have such animosity and hatred toward "foreign" trucks. When you spend $30k on something you want your friends and others to like it. You don't expect people to stay you are stupid for making the purchase. The local Nissan dealer in my area has a 08 Smoke Pro-4x that I really like. I can get the Nissan VPP discount through a family member so that makes the deal a lot sweeter. I'm 95% certain a new Titan will be in my driveway this week. If its not the Titan it will be a Tundra, though the Tundra would cost me a lot more money.

I can deal with the stupid red-neck insults, its just something that a new truck buyer doesn't want to hear after spending a lot of money on a new vehicle. My daily driver is a Honda Accord. I'll be trading in a Ford F-250 on the Titan. I don't foresee myself driving a Big 3 truck again any time in the near future.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the comments and input!

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 10-28-2007, 10:32 AM

""""When you spend $30k on something you want your friends and others to like it.""""

That statement sits in my craw a bit (lol...always wanted to say that!) YOU have to like it, nobody else. But ok....I can understand (somewhat) that you'd rather have people like your choice. Simple....let em' drive it. To those Ram owners bothered by profits going to Japan?.....ask them why it's ok to send their money to Germany (Damler is a German company). Unless they JUST bought theirs new (I believe Damler no longer owns Chrysler) their money went to Germany.
Just buy what YOU like. If we all conformed to what others said, thought or liked, we'd all be driving the same damn vehicles! Let the one toothed hillbillys revel in their own trailerpark mindset....lol. Good luck!

Beercan321 · 10-28-2007, 11:01 AM

I agree with you HudsonValleyTitan. You do need to buy what you like. The point I was trying to make is that I (or anyone) doesn't need to be hassled because of a purchase they make. I really like the Titan and I'm 95% sure I'll buy one. I'm just not looking forward to the insults that I'll get for buying it. The same people that trash "foreign" trucks have no clue what a global economy is. They bash people for buying Nissan or Toyota trucks but they don't realize that the majority of the electronics and other items in their house (i.e. TV, phone, clock radio etc) were manufactured by companies based in Japan, China or some other foreign country. Its impossible in this day and age to only buy products that are completely made in America or solely manufactured by American owned companies.

I'll deal with the Titan bashing idiots when the time comes...

beermunk · 10-28-2007, 05:37 PM

I bought a Titan because the truck drove nice and got really good reviews. That an compared to any other brand the options I got at the price I paid was a no brainer.

54warrior · 10-28-2007, 05:54 PM

I used to live near Kittanning/Indiana/Punxsutawney. I got **** all the time from all the domestic truck owners, then whenever I'd take them for a ride in my truck, they'd change their tune almost instantly. I think I even "sold" probably 3-4 new Titans just because of people riding in mine. Don't let their ignorance fool you.

Mark Arbuckle Nissan in Indiana, PA is a great dealership. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again. Those guys in at Pittsburgh East Nissan in Monroeville don't know jack. They are a bunch of city yuppies who don't know anything about trucks. That's been my experience anyways. I worked across the street from that place and they left a lasting impression, and not a good one!