31st Jul 2011, 15:15

How is the tsunami an excuse? It's absolutely straightforward and basic economic fundamentals. It can't be explained any more simplistically. But I'll explain it one last time.

Japanese car companies source a LOT of their components from Japanese parts producers. A lot of those parts are crucial for their global operations. The tsunami caused damage to many of these plants. A lot of them lost power. This in turn resulted in a shortage of parts, which in turn slowed vehicle production by over 50%. This goes for American car companies too, since many American cars use Japanese parts as well. This directly resulted in less sales.

If someone wants to come up with some excuse and claim that sales went down - exactly when the tsunami happened - and pin instead to a dramatic and sudden change in consumer sentiment, then go right ahead. But that's not based on anything factual.

1st Aug 2011, 15:27

Come on... manufacturers sell vehicles in quantity to new car dealers not just one at a time or built to order. Drive by dealerships and see that they buy on floor plans and have a full lot to select a vehicle from. There could be a few months of new vehicles on a lot. I know many that will drive a bit to get a new car as well. I wonder how long the actual waiting list is that you imply. I have special ordered with a deposit a few cars, and just waited.

3rd Aug 2011, 17:34

Last year, long before the tsunami, the national news reported that the car sitting the longest on dealer's lots was none other than the "Recall King", the Toyota Camry. Well before the tsunami, GM was selling rings around all Japanese car makers, as was Ford in the U.S. The sentiment of many buyers in the U.S. is changing in favor of domestics. Most of this is due to the facts that domestics consistently are rated best in most tests and surveys, as well as the fact that many buyers are growing suspicious of the quality of cars made by a company that has had the highest number of recalled cars since the car was invented. At any rate, it's good to see U.S. citizens supporting our own industry for a change.

4th Aug 2011, 07:24

This is not actually true. I was into a dealer last week for a new Prius, but was told that there was a long waiting list for that car due to production problems after the earth quake in Japan. Some models are available, but basically most models made in Japan, or models with a high content of Japanese parts, are still affected.

4th Aug 2011, 08:52

This was a 1992 review. Back then I had good luck with my imports and prior. After 2000 they just were a mess for us. If you have an early Japanese import; if the rust hasn't got it, I would recommend. The earlier low production models fared well for us... then. I now own both Ford and GM. So I am open minded even on domestics. They have had no issues. My favorite new car is our Edge AWD.

4th Aug 2011, 10:10

We've been through this over and over again. The discussion is about global auto sales. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi and other Japanese car makers ALL had a decrease in production and subsequent sales as a direct result of the tsunami. This all occurred precisely the same time as the tsunami. If people want to dispute that fact, then go for it, but that would be an inaccurate statement.

Secondly, everyone already knows Toyota and Honda builds a better product, so there's no argument there either.

5th Aug 2011, 10:46

Seriously, the "The new Japanese cars aren't any good" argument is wrong. If that were true, then our 2002 Prius, my Dad's 2002 Tundra, and my Mom's 2007 Honda CR-V would be falling apart. Yet the Tundra now has 250,000 miles, our Prius has almost 150,000 miles, and the CR-V is now close to 120,000 miles. They aren't rusting - not nearly as bad as I've seen some of the frames on newer domestic trucks - and they are every bit as good or better than the "old" Japanese cars.

You folks that keep posting stuff about "Imports" should give it a rest, because nobody believes it, and everyone knows who builds the best cars... and it ain't anything coming out of Detroit...

5th Aug 2011, 13:18

I also take high mileage claims with a grain of salt, as it's not a mechanical itemized list with repairs to get there.

Anyone that's bought an engine or trans with 3-4k can attest that sure you can buy another and drive farther.

My experience is at 100000 miles, there are front end expenditures, timing belts, failed A/C, and electrical woes on most of our imports. It adds up.

Also, on the whole, the import parts I found to be more expensive and the components seem weaker overall.

I like domestic V8s personally. They get pretty good mpg, require little maintenance, especially nothing major.

Switching to a German model comment on high mileage claims... I recall how great a diesel owner's claim was on how they run forever. That's great until I heard some of his bills like 5k alone to fix his A/C. But the odometer goes high as long as you fix everything.

5th Aug 2011, 18:19

Domestic auto makers had another great sales month in July. Ford and GM sales were up 7-8%, while Chrysler had a 20+% increase. Toyota and Honda continued their double-digit percentage losses (darn, that tsunami just keeps going doesn't it!). GM posted its 6th very profitable quarter, with a profit of 2.5 billion dollars last quarter. GM's sales successes world wide are attributed to an excellent line of products for the world market, higher fuel mileage cars than competitors and better build quality.

5th Aug 2011, 18:53

Once again that is your experience, good for you! I'm very happy for you.

And once again not everybody has your fortunate experiences. If they did, THEN there would be no argument about the whole Toyota builds the best cars myth. If Toyota is your preference and they do you good, that's fine, but please face the facts that Toyota does have its share of hereditary problems, just like EVERY other manufacturer out there; I see it every day. Therefore that makes them no better than any other brand, plain and simple, end of story, nuff' said.

5th Aug 2011, 19:59

I do not agree with you, so that's not everybody. We have had poor luck with new Hondas and Toyotas. We bought a new Mazda 3; so far so good with 2000 miles on it.

6th Aug 2011, 17:23

I have yet to see these sort of pro-domestic, anti-import statements being made on anything other than Toyota and Honda posts. If ALL "imports: are defective, then how come none of these sort of "I hate imports" comments show up on other imported brands? The generic nondescript word used is "import", which basically means anything not made in the USA, which thus I assume must also mean any American branded cars assembled outside of the USA or made out of imported components. If that's the case, then how could such a general, unspecified claim that ALL imports are bad? Is there some invisible magic wand that we're unaware of that dooms all things imported to instantly become inferior?

The only people I've read making grossly exaggerated claims against Toyotas and Hondas are from those who have never owned them. I say never, because if they hate Toyotas and Hondas so much, then they've never owned one period. Thus they really don't know anything about them. They just hate them because they're not from one of the Big 3. That's really all there is.

Secondly, people making arguments that Toyotas are bad would maybe have a chance of people believing them if the products were actually bad. The reality is that most people have had a good ownership experience with Toyotas. They built that reputation over the decades. I can only think of 2 or 3 people out of the 100's of people I know who have had major problems with their Toyota. Yet I can most definitely mention the endless number of those who've had serious issues with their big 3 products. The truth is easy to determine: Toyota and Honda make the best cars and trucks.

So the bottom line is that this is a tired old argument. Those that claim Toyotas are junk are wrong. Plain and simple.

Lastly, once more for the billionth time, trying to claim that Toyotas sales fell because people don't want them is wrong. Again - it's because their production got cut dramatically from the Tsunami. End. Of. Story.