8th Jun 2011, 08:38
The key word to your whole comment is "perceived". When perceived is used, it is basically the same as opinion. It has been formed by many media sources that are biased and flawed. If you really take the time to look at all of the data out there, it is so contradictory and so flawed it is really useless data. People will continue to believe what they believe. Just drive whatever you like, and leave the import drivers to drive whatever they like. Statements like "much higher quality GM and Ford products that get better gas mileage" are totally biased and not fact based.
If I went purely on ratings, I would still be wasting valuable extra money on repair bills for the latest GM products. I am not sure what your definition of higher quality is, but a car that doesn't constantly break down is my definition of a higher quality vehicle. I drive imports mostly, and never have any trouble with them. Therefore, in my experience they are higher quality.
My current Toyota just got a recall notice for the floormat issue. This is a good example of how they blanketed the recall notices. My vehicle has a floormat that is at least 3 or 4 inches away from the gas pedal all the way around it. There is no way it could ever jam the pedal as it also has two hooks holding it secure. We still got a recall because maybe, just maybe it might have not had the newest version of the floor mat in it. Probably one in 5,000 or less has the older mats in them at this point. Since no auto company tracks each and every last floor mat put into their vehicles, they have to recall all of them just to check. Hence, the millions of recalls. Mine needs nothing, and is perfectly fine and safe, but to the uneducated average consumer who only listens to the media hype, my car is a deadly Toyota. Funny thing is, everyone I have known with a Toyota through this recall mess has had the same exact experience. They got recall notices, but needed nothing done to their vehicles. One family member is on his 5th Camry, and has had new ones all through this recall fiasco, and not one has needed anything after being looked at. So again, getting a recall notice does not automatically mean your car is faulty and in need of any new parts!
Yes, Toyota screwed up, but the actual number of faulty cars that are out there is such a low number in comparison to the amount of recalls, and it has totally been blown out of proportion. Domestic lovers were looking for a reason to bash Toyota though, so the myth that every single Toyota is dangerous and that they make poor vehicles has become a media sensation. Of course most of them never have even driven a Toyota, let alone owned one, so they are basing their opinions purely on speculation and media hype.
The thing that really makes me laugh is ratings like J.D. Powers. People just love quoting them as the holy grail of ratings companies. Toyota is 21 out of 33 car makers and such. Lexus is the highest ranked company on their site across the board in overall quality. This is because these ratings are based on consumers who know little about cars. The media tells them Toyotas are recalled, so immediately they plummet in the ratings. Funny how their top rated Lexus likely has the same exact powertrain in it though huh?
Seriously, it is ridiculous to take any ratings list as an accurate gauge of what cars are good and bad... especially ones based on consumer perceptions! Just drive what you like and get over it already. It is a myth that imports are more expensive. It is a myth that GM and Ford vehicles suddenly get better mileage. Most are equal nowadays... at least on the small and mid-size car lines. Since GM is still in love with their large SUV and truck lines, their overall mileage is less than most brands. Ford has scaled down most of their line now. Even Chrysler redesigned the Durango to be a better, more efficient vehicle.
The other comical side of this whole debate is that the line between domestic and import vehicles really no longer exist. Every vehicle is made up of a mixture of parts from everywhere. This is fact, not opinion. I just don't get why people are so defensive over this topic. If your coveted brand is so great, then you have absolutely no reason to come onto any forum and talk badly about other brands.
8th Jun 2011, 08:54
Yeah, unfortunately our own companies provide better quality vehicles for other countries like yours. Here in the US they are junk compared to the import competition. Americans have low standards I guess, and are willing to accept sub par vehicles as long as they are good ole American ones. Ford is at least starting to offer European models here like the Fiesta and Focus, and soon the Escape. I guess getting buried by Honda and Toyota for 3 decades was long enough for them to at least try to make their cars more attractive here.
Now if GM and Chrysler could only do better, especially in the small fuel efficient cars. "Imported from Detroit" is not really impressing too many people! We've all been there and done that unfortunately.
7th Jun 2011, 21:41
Every single article I've ever seen tied to current Toyota, Honda, and Nissan sales is related to the effects from the Tsunami. Trying to twist the story to somehow indicate that Americans suddenly had a change of heart in 1-2 months in regards to the cars they buy is inaccurate.
Here's the deal. These types of arguments on this and other sites - which are so incredibly predictable with the same types of comments meant to somehow discredit Toyota and Honda aren't based on anything other than blind patriotism. Patriotism is in itself a good thing. I'm patriotic myself. But when people take it to a whole different level, where anything that happens to be foreign is automatically written off or even falsely claimed as inferior - because it's foreign - isn't very beneficial to anyone.
My Grandad was exactly like this. He drove American cars all his life. Didn't matter that he actually had to borrow our Camry on a semi-frequent basis while his truck was in the shop-again. Heaven forbid he ever buy one of them "Foreign" cars. To him it didn't matter how crappy the American car he drove was. Blind patriotism led him to totally write off entire companies. This in my opinion is one of the reasons the Big 3 got away with making garbage for decades, and only changed their tune once it was becoming clear they were losing their customers to Toyota. Back in the 70's and 80's, I bet the Big 3 could've stuck a potato on wheels and these same people would've bought em'.
Either way, these non-stop arguments are pointless because those that are of the kind like my Grandfather will never change their minds. Those who have no reason to switch Toyotas aren't going to change their minds either. It's a useless thing.