9th Aug 2011, 22:26
Toyota has dropped to number three in overall world sales now. GM is number one and VW is number two. GM has outsold Toyota by better than 2 to 1 all year in the U.S. (yes, even BEFORE the tsunami import fans use as a excuse).
10th Aug 2011, 10:26
Saying that the Tsunami had nothing to do with current Toyota and other Japanese carmaker current sales is total misinformation and wrong. Frankly it's tiresome to constantly repeat what is already fact and well known. Give it a rest. Please.
10th Aug 2011, 12:20
10:09. The only end of story my family found was to quit buying Toyota. Sorry, my viewpoint rests on the last 2 or 3 we bought, not the many previously. We jumped ship.
10th Aug 2011, 16:10
Will you please learn a new song to sing. If many owners (and I mean many) have troubles with their Toyotas, then obviously they don't make the best vehicles.
11th Aug 2011, 12:55
I've read nothing in the past two years that would lead me to believe that Toyota (or Honda) build the "best cars".
The Ford Fusion has ranked higher than the Camry and Accord since it was launched in late 2005.
The Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus have beaten the antiquated Corolla and Civic in every comparison I've read.
Last year Lincoln surpassed Lexus in long-term reliability (meaning THEY have built the best cars since 2008, as the study went back three years).
At present both GM and VW outsell Toyota world-wide.
In the U.S. even Chrysler outsells Toyota.
Honda has never been a serious contender in U.S. or world sales, nor has any other Japanese car maker.
Even before the tsunami, people in the U.S. had stopped buying as many Japanese cars because of Toyota's massive recalls and a greater desire to support American jobs.
Frankly, all modern cars are very good. Any of them will generally go 100,000 miles with no repairs. For the most part the motivation to buy domestic cars is more out of a desire to support U.S. industry and workers.
11th Aug 2011, 19:09
The same thing can be said for those who insist on writing grossly exaggerated, overly negative, and often misleading comments about Toyota in particular, while making ridiculously glowing comments about supposedly perfect "domestic" vehicles for the single purpose of pushing an agenda.
These types of comments do not help those coming to this site. This isn't a site to post politically tilted agendas. The steadfast belief that we should all buy nothing but American-made products, regardless of whether the products are good or bad is most definitely a political subject. It has no place here.
Almost every single Toyota review on this site has the exact same comments - whether it be about "sagging frames", an uncle who owned 10 Toyotas that never made it past 10,000 miles yet had domestic vehicles that lasted 500,000 miles, exaggerated statistics about both Japanese and American vehicles, and so on and so on. If those who absolutely despise Toyota and Honda truly feel that way, then why post on reviews like these?
Nobody is going to change their minds. People like me who drive Toyotas will continue to do so because we've typically had a good ownership experience with them and have little reason to doubt their quality. Exaggerated claims and stories aren't going to change that. The vast majority of those who own these products have had a positive experience, which is why they continue and will continue to buy them. It's their choice.
We live in a free, capitalist country, and we have the freedom and choice to buy whatever we want to buy.
12th Aug 2011, 12:45
Well there's a single commenter on here who has had luck with his Toyota. We haven't had recent success with Camry. That's not a wild comment or exaggerated claim. If we had ongoing quality, we would still buy the same make and model, not shop around. I look at all comments, makes and years on this site. One commenter does not sway our ultimate new vehicle choice. I think someone going new to new, over and over, not used, has a good idea what is working. And what has diminished in overall quality and mechanical durability.
12th Aug 2011, 22:42
The only "exaggerations" I see in most comments are from people such as commenter 19:09. Please cite where anyone has claimed someone "owned 10 Toyotas that never lasted past 10,000 miles" If it's there, please state WHERE. I'd like to read it.
Also please state where the comments about domestics lasting 500,000 miles are (although Consumer Reports did an article on "Long lasting vehicles" in 2009 that DID feature a Ranger with 488,000 miles).
On the other hand, please explain (and cite references for) comments claiming domestics require TEN TIMES as many repairs as imports... PLEASE, we'd LOVE to see a reliable source for that jewel!!
Also, how about claims about a GM vehicle that had ALL FOUR rotors AND all four calipers go out AT THE SAME TIME!! The odds of that are about a billion times less likely than winning the Power Ball lottery. Please cite a reliable source for THAT as well. You might also want to consult a good statistician on that one. Let's see some VALID statistics on that miracle of automotive mayhem!!
As for "tilted agendas", I assure you my agenda was not tilted, but BOTH the imports I've had sagging suspension issues were!! This is from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE... with not one but TWO imports. Again, you might want to consult a good statistician. If ONE person has had the sagging issue with TWO imports, one could safely assume it would be pretty common.
I know import fans have the attitude of "Don't confuse me with FACTS", so I know mentioning the 22 million plus recalls or suggesting you look at the sagging exhaust system on virtually any 2000-2006 Camry with your own eyes will be pointless. Likewise the nearly countless number of failed Honda transmissions. I won't dare suggest you try to explain the vast sea of "frownie-faces" on all those "superior" 2006 Camry reviews!!
So yes, if you choose to send your American-earned income to finance some Japanese auto executives yacht, be my guest. Your mechanic will appreciate the business. As for me, I haven't the time or the money to waste on another problem-plagued Japanese car. Not a single one of my domestics has ever required a repair in 100,000 miles. My new GM's are under warranty for that long. I'll use my money to support American industry AND be free of repair costs in the bargain.
13th Aug 2011, 06:53
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steven@carsurvey.org
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Can I remind people, especially regular visitors who should know better, to please show other contributors to the site some common respect and courtesy.
Past experience tells me that when these arguments heat up to this level, no one is being persuaded to change their mind, as regardless of the merit of any particular point, responses are driven primarily by emotions, not analysis.
Steven Jackson, CSDO Media Limited.
9th Aug 2011, 10:09
To each their own I agree. But Toyota and Honda make better products. End of story.