5th Oct 2010, 10:34
Seems to me the economy was thriving and the domestic auto industry did well 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s with cheaper fuel. When gas shot up, production rose. I don't recall any domestic car boycotts then. Now the automotive industry has been affected. Maybe remove tax concessions to import manufacturers would help too.
5th Oct 2010, 11:10
"Okay, one customer gets jacked by a Toyota dealer for a large repair cost and that is your view of Toyota's warranty? Whatever..."
From the comment on 3 December 2008:
"I'm the original poster. I still have the '07 Camry. The problem turned out to be an exhaust valve choking one of the cylinders. It cost almost $1,500.00, under warranty, to repair one valve."
I think this comment reveals a lot about the whole Toyota system and customer experience, which includes dealerships.
5th Oct 2010, 12:14
We sold our Hondas and bought new GMs because of the better warranty. Also the quality drop we saw after owning many new Hondas since the 80s, 90s and our last in 2004 sold in 2007. No major low mileage drivetrain issues since.
5th Oct 2010, 12:30
"Well, NOT supporting America is a BETTER solution???"
Supporting America by having cars manufactured in Canada and Mexico? How does this support America? How does paying a workforce in Canada and Mexico support America?
5th Oct 2010, 13:17
If you want more than a single comment, go to consumeraffairs.com and review sludging, braking, airbags, trans issues, acceleration issues - to name a few.
5th Oct 2010, 15:10
Again, this is one post. Do you have any personal experience with Toyota dealers? If not, then you have no basis for your claims. I have had bad experiences with Nissan dealers, Ford dealers, Chevy dealers. Should I assume that all of these brands are lousy too? Well Chevy and Nissan are, but that's beside the point!
If you have one dealer that is trying to get around a warranty somehow, then go to a different dealer and make absolutely sure this is a company policy and not just that one dealer. This poster never really said they tried that, as most people don't. Dealers go by their own rules much more than people think they do. If they saw an opportunity to take someone for $1,500, they obviously took it! I find it hard to believe that any car company would deny you warranty coverage on this type of part.
5th Oct 2010, 15:15
"We sold our Hondas and bought new GMs because of the better warranty."
Please explain to me how the GM warranty is better than Honda's? Oh, before you answer, I drive 60K miles or less in 5 years, so how would GM's warranty be better for me? I am well within the average miles, and my cars are paid off before I am out of warranty, no matter what I drive. I, like most others, then trade the car in for a new one. So again, why is the GM warranty better?
6th Oct 2010, 02:07
Or even Korea, like with the Chevrolet Aveo, a car completely designed and built outside the US? Or the Ford Fiesta, designed in Germany and built in Mexico. How's that's helping the US economy? Even if GM or Ford did make a profit, how does that help the US worker, considering that neither GM or Ford is investing anymore in the US?
People here bashing the 'import' auto manufacturers probably still think GMs, Fords are made in the Detroit area. The truth is that most 'domestic' cars are made overseas, and GM and Ford are closing plants in the US as fast as they can.
6th Oct 2010, 08:38
I think people switch brands a lot when their low mileage, just out of warranty, vehicle fails. Picture paying 4k and you will likely go from the staunchest import lover to a totally disgusted owner. Personally I don't care if a CEO from Japan has a new yacht until I feel my 4k repair helps pay for it with low mileage. When your wallet feels the pain, you look for better vehicles. That's why we switched, not politics.
6th Oct 2010, 12:16
Couldn't have said it better myself. However, I would also like to add that numerous "Imports" are made in the USA, therefore, they are American made and are more domestic than anyone's GM, Ford or Chrysler made in Canada, Mexico or elsewhere. Those cars made outside of the USA are really Imports as they are built with a Canadian and Mexican workforce, benefiting their economies and societies. How does that benefit the average American? The answer, it doesn't.
People who still believe that "domestics" are only built in Dearborn, Michigan and other US cities are only lying to themselves, and are misinformed and are only looking for a scapegoat or someone to blame for the failures in mainstream America. You want to blame someone? Blame GM mismanagement, blame Chrysler for selling 50% ownership to a foreign company from Italy. Blame GM, Ford and Chrysler for closing their plants and opening plants in Canada and Mexico. BTW, both Canada and to a lesser degree Mexico, have stronger economies than the US. Coincidence?
6th Oct 2010, 12:40
I buy cars based on styling, reliability and performance, not whether they are domestic imports or import domestics.
6th Oct 2010, 12:45
With that in mind, maybe indicate what model you are discussing vs a brand. My worst car I ever had was the top of line Honda. Acura "TL" sedans 3.2 VTEC models, wherever they were made, it was my worst experience with multiple trans issues. I agree, mention the exact model vs a broad sweep of an entire manufacturer.
6th Oct 2010, 12:51
Well put. After our imports fell apart before 100,000 miles, we looked to domestics and have not been disappointed. No issues with our Ford or GM vehicles. In addition, we are helping U.S. companies, not foreign companies.
6th Oct 2010, 12:51
This is EXACTLY why I will never buy another GM vehicle! Too many pains in the wallet!
6th Oct 2010, 13:19
"We sold our Hondas and bought new GMs because of the better warranty."
Many people drive over 100,000 miles in one year, let alone 5. I have a salesman friend who put 100,000 on his car in one year (he had no problems, it was a domestic). Another friend has over 40,000 miles on a Toyota after just 1 year, and it is already having major problems. Obviously car makers that offer 100,000 build better cars and have more confidence in them. Our GM is approaching 100,000 miles and we've never needed a warranty. Can't say the same for our imports.
6th Oct 2010, 15:03
Once again, my experience is exactly the opposite. Imports are way better in my experience, and GM builds junk, plain and simple. Glad someone has luck with them. I wish it was me... I would have saved tons of money in that case!
6th Oct 2010, 15:42
"Many people drive over 100,000 miles in one year, let alone 5."
Statistically the average is around 60K miles in 5 years... just where most warranties end, including GM's. Trust me, GM would not offer up a 100K mile warranty unless they did their research and made sure that the majority of people would be off of it by 60K miles.
Anyone who thinks the GM 100K mile warranty is nothing more than a marketing ploy needs to take a marketing course. It has worked like a charm, with people claiming it is such a superior warranty. For most people, you can buy pretty much any car and it will have an identical 5 year warranty, as the extra mileage will mean absolutely nothing when you don't use it! If GM cars are so great, they should have made their warranty 7 or 8 years at least.
Guess you have to buy a Hyundai if you want a real warranty.
5th Oct 2010, 08:56
Okay, one customer gets jacked by a Toyota dealer for a large repair cost and that is your view of Toyota's warranty? Whatever...
The point I made was at one year old and 42K miles, why would someone say the car is out of warranty? If they were talking about the 3/36K basic warranty, then anyone would be in the same position as there isn't any car that has longer than that for a bumper to bumper warranty... at least none of the cars people keep arguing about having better warranties!