The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / 1010 Easily Beats 640 On Tariff Coverage

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 5:55 pm

After building up all day to the 4 o'clock announcement of the U.S. tariffs, I was curious to hear how CFRB and AM640 would handle the coverage. In the end, it was a no-brainer - CFRB's was far superior to what Oakley had on offer.

640 tried to recap the long awaited reveal and had a guest or two about it. But within a few minutes after carrying Trump's endless boasting live, they changed subjects to something about a generator shortage, followed by Toronto Star film critic Peter Howell on Val Kilmer's passing.

Meanwhile, CFRB went wall-to-wall for the 2 hours that followed, bringing on expert guests to assess what it all means.

After all the hype about this stuff, why 640 would not have their ducks in a row is beyond me. If I'm just getting in my car and coming home from work on a white knuckle rush hour drive, I'd vastly prefer to hear about how this is going to affect me and my family - with no disrespect to Mr. Kilmer, this is a huge deal. Changing the subject after just about an hour was a really dumb thing for 640 to do.

Winner in the battle for AM talkers - CFRB by a mile. Or at least several kilometres.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 7:13 pm

Well, that didn't take long. At 6:30 PM Wednesday night, some 2 1/2 scant hours after Trump's tariff announcement on cars, I received an email from my car dealer telling me that their prices will soon be going up and to act now if I want to buy a new vehicle for the best price.

(The fact it's a Japanese automaker and thus should not have any tariffs applied in Canada did not seem to matter to them.)

I'll give them credit for trying to drum up business and to being quick on the draw, but come on guys. Talk about taking advantage of would-be customers. (Of which I will never be one again, after they sold me something of a lemon. Unless there's a tariff on lemons, now, too!)

**Posted by Jody Thornton** April 2, 2025 7:42 pm

I had 680 on for 7:30 pm. Tariffs and levies were pronounced "lee-vees". Sheesh! Now that's funny
Think I'll lee-vee the radio off ... lol.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 7:51 pm

Well, the tariffs ARE about cars.

Does that mean you took your Chevy to the levies? (If only the levies were dry...)

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 2, 2025 7:55 pm

RadioActive wrote:
(The fact it's a Japanese automaker and thus should not have any tariffs applied in Canada did not seem to matter to them.)

Just because it's a Japanese auto maker doesn't mean the cars are made in Japan. Toyota's RAV4, for example, is made in Canada. Even then, most cars aren't even made in one single place, as most parts and materials cross borders constantly.

Plus, American tariffs don't directly cost Canadian consumers, they cost US consumers. Our retaliatory tariffs will cost Canadian consumers.

**Posted by cash** April 2, 2025 7:56 pm

The Trumpers on 640 are having trouble dealing with this situation.

**Posted by Jody Thornton** April 2, 2025 8:11 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Well, the tariffs ARE about cars.

Does that mean you took your Chevy to the levies? (If only the levies were dry...)

Last edited by Jody Thornton (April 2, 2025 8:12 pm)

**Posted by Chrisphen** April 2, 2025 8:18 pm

Helming incisive and thoughtful coverage on a predicted breaking news event? Jim Richards?

Jesus Wept.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 2, 2025 8:18 pm

cash wrote:
The Trumpers on 640 are having trouble dealing with this situation.

Kind of funny they'd be surprised that Trump would impose what amounts to a massive middle-class tax increase.

**Posted by Dial Twister** April 2, 2025 8:47 pm

cash wrote:
The Trumpers on 640 are having trouble dealing with this situation.

One of their favourite throw-away sayings is, "You can't fix stupid", and every day they prove it to be accurate about themselves.

Man in the mirror.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 8:51 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
(The fact it's a Japanese automaker and thus should not have any tariffs applied in Canada did not seem to matter to them.)

Just because it's a Japanese auto maker doesn't mean the cars are made in Japan. Toyota's RAV4, for example, is made in Canada. Even then, most cars aren't even made in one single place, as most parts and materials cross borders constantly.

My Mazda 3 was. I know because a) the dealer confirmed it and b) it was delayed at the end of the COVID crisis for months, because it was "coming over from Japan on the boat" and only got here 3 or 4 months after I ordered it.

**Posted by RadioAaron** April 2, 2025 8:54 pm

Then you should have been more specific.

**Posted by Dial Twister** April 2, 2025 8:59 pm

Ra, the easiest way to tell where your car was built is to pull out your ownership to see what the first character of the VIN is...

The build location is determined by the first letter (number) of the VIN. The first digit can take on the following values:

The letters from A to H are Africa.
Letters from J to R - Asia (including the Middle East).
The letters from S to Z are Europe (cars that are assembled in Russia have the letter X in the first digit).
numbers from 1 to 5 - North America.
Numbers 6 and 7 - the Australian continent (New Zealand).
Numbers 8 and 9 - South America.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 2, 2025 9:22 pm

Good to know. Thanks.

Now to get back to the subject of this forum, the design of the radio in the car is awful!

**Posted by mace** April 3, 2025 5:10 am

RadioActive wrote:
Good to know. Thanks.

Now to get back to the subject of this forum, the design of the radio in the car is awful!

RA Your new vehicle has an awful entertainment system. I am sure if it was just an AM/FM radio, it would be fine. This is the main reason I have no interest in purchasing a new vehicle. I don't need an entertainment system. an ordinary AM/FM radio suits my current needs. My 2006 Toyota Camry is in good shape and gets me where I want to go.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 3, 2025 7:34 am

Don't let go of it if possible. The new "features" in modern cars drive me (you should pardon the pun) crazy. I'm not old fashioned, per se, I just find them more of a nuisance than a help. You should not have to go through three menus (while you're driving no less) just to get to manual tuning.

I don't take my eyes off the road to do that, but I wish I had one of those old radios like yours instead - there was no need to look at anything and it could all be done by feel.

**Posted by mace** April 3, 2025 11:18 am

RadioActive wrote:
Don't let go of it if possible. The new "features" in modern cars drive me (you should pardon the pun) crazy. I'm not old fashioned, per se, I just find them more of a nuisance than a help. You should not have to go through three menus (while you're driving no less) just to get to manual tuning.

I don't take my eyes off the road to do that, but I wish I had one of those old radios like yours instead - there was no need to look at anything and it could all be done by feel.

When I DX in the car I have no problem keeping my eyes on the road. I know what to expect on every AM and FM frequency. When I hear something unexpected, things get interesting.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 3, 2025 11:28 am

I can no longer do this, which used to be done with a turn of a knob by feel. Too many menus and too much distraction to make that happen now.

**Posted by mace** April 4, 2025 10:02 am

RadioActive wrote:
I can no longer do this, which used to be done with a turn of a knob by feel. Too many menus and too much distraction to make that happen now.

You make a compelling argument not to purchase a new vehicle. Unless the engine seizes or the transmission crashes, both highly unlikely, I will stick with my boring beige 2006 Toyota Camry.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 4, 2025 10:07 am

I often find that the more they try to improve things, the worse they sometimes get.

**Posted by mace** April 4, 2025 10:12 am

RadioActive wrote:
I often find that the more they try to improve things, the worse they sometimes get.

Technology is great...... when it works!

**Posted by RadioActive** April 4, 2025 10:16 am

mace wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
I often find that the more they try to improve things, the worse they sometimes get.
Technology is great...... when it works!

Oh, it works - it's just really complicated to use easily. Not a good thing when you're driving.

**Posted by mace** April 4, 2025 11:10 am

With computers, I am like Homer Simpson. Press any key. WHERE'S THE ANY KEY?