3rd Jan 2005, 08:44
The PAINT quality on the Passat may be good, but the quality of everything else is suspect. You only need to take a look at how many dissatisfied Passat owners have posted to this site.
Sure, buy a Passat. Those waiting rooms at VW dealer service departments have free coffee for the hours you will spend sitting there!
2nd Feb 2005, 15:57
Synthetic oil is better than conventional oil in every way. You turn off overdrive in the city to prevent the transmission from hunting between gears and prematurely wearing out the transmission.
15th Mar 2006, 14:02
I just knew if there was a negative Toyota review someone would jump all over it. And of course, the first commentor proved my point entirely. I must say "well done" to the individual who wrote the review. You bought a car, found some weaknesses and provided your input to the rest of us. Isn't that what this site is all about? Not crying and throwing a fit because someone trashed your overpriced asian import. Get a life, pal. And "Step up to a Lexus" basically means "spend an extra 10 grand for an "L" on your grille." Don't take it to heart, Tenderfoot. There are millions of vehicles out there and they all can't be perfect. Especially a Toyota.
20th Apr 2006, 13:56
The initial reviewer commented that she had issues with her Toyota Camry, an over-rated, over-priced vehicle that continues to sway those less knowledgeable.
There are many and numerous American-made cars that are better built and a far better value than a Japanese car.
The Camry is a lightweight, "thinly" built car,..that is NOT subjective. It does NOT have the road presence or safety of an American-made vehicle and never will.
Consider in the future a Ford 500, or perhaps a Buick Lesabre,...you will be satisfied and doing the right thing as an American.
20th Apr 2006, 16:28
Sure I'll consider a Ford or a Buick, just as soon as I get hit in the head by lightning and develop brain damage. No, a Camry does not have the road presence of an American car because it is not a big, gaudy, gas guzzling boat of car like a Buick. The rest of the world are driving mostly small, economical cars, and it is only American mentality that keeps the Buick's, Cadillac's, and Hummer's on the road over here, all of which cannot compare to Toyota's reliability. I don't doubt that the reviewer has these problems: nothing is perfect, Toyota isn't either, but they are better than any other make, except maybe Honda. I'm not an "import lover", I have owned a few so-called American made vehicles, some of which were surprisingly good, but still no match for any of my three Toyota's, which get better gas mileage, have fewer problems, last longer, run smoother, and after all that you still get a better resale value at the end. So, if doing the right thing as an American means wasting my hard-earned money on an inferior product; no thanks. I work hard, and buy the best- Toyota.
20th Apr 2006, 19:35
The only reason toyota gets better mileage is because they use those tiny 1.6s. American automakers need to discover the wonders of the DOHC engine.
21st Apr 2006, 11:24
To anyone who still believes American cars are better than foreign competition I suggest you read the April 17th article in BusinessWeek entitled "Getting out of Dodge".
Anyone with any talent is leaving American car companies in droves which means GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler have to hire even more mediocre talent and that will result in even worse cars.
Unless you want to buy your mechanic a vacation home, avoid American cars at all costs.
21st Apr 2006, 11:29
To the prom dress comment:
Yes, Lexus is now risking what VW is going through (why buy an Audi when a VW offers virtually the same experience for less money, and why buy a VW when Skoda/SEAT offers the same experience for even less money).
The new Camry and Avalon are essentially Lexuses if you look at the interiors, especially the Avalon.
But there are some models (LS, SC, IS) that are truly unique to the brand, and they are allegedly going to produce a $100K supercar soon.
21st Apr 2006, 17:30
I REALLY wish people would actually read post before commenting on them.
The point of my post about BusinessWeek, which you obviously missed, is that NO ONE associated with American cars/SUVs has any interest in building a quality product because they have zero morale and are most likely going to be laid off.
Now, do you REALLY think that any vehicle built under those conditions is going to be of any type of quality?
And please explain to me how China has any impact on the US AUTO market? It does not as far as selling cars.
And isn't it funny that all the talent from the American companies is moving to the foreign auto companies. Which means that Detroit's loss is their gain, so there is a net INCREASE of jobs created when Detroit goes belly up, something Wal-Mart certainly can't claim.
Sorry your xenophobia clouds your understanding of the modern American car marketplace. But, then again, why would I expect any pro-american car poster to see reality.
21st Apr 2006, 17:41
So the 15:10 guy is essentially saying we must all buy cars as long as they have an American nameplate on them, regardless of quality?
Please. No American feels that way and Wal-Mart is the proof.
21st Apr 2006, 22:12
I love you guys, we talk about the strangest things here. And it makes my night to come home and see this stuff. Chuckle chuckle...
6th Jul 2006, 20:15
In real world driving conditions A 2005 4 - cylinder Toyota Camry consumes more fuel than a 2005 Buick Park Avenue with a v-6 engine. It's funny sometimes how we think in a box. I fell for the Toyota hype and bought a brand new 1993 Corolla. It was a mistake. Toyota had a superior car 25 years ago. Jimmy Carter is no longer president of the United States.
2nd Jul 2008, 09:44
"I have not visited a Toyota dealer and have no desire visiting them. Had enough of experience with dealers when I owned my Taurus."
So basically you're comparing One Ford Service centre to a hypothetical visit to a Toyota Dealer?
2nd Jul 2008, 22:46
People have the misconception that Toyotas get better gas mileage OVERALL than GM. NOT TRUE. GM builds more 30+ mile per gallon vehicles than Toyota and Honda COMBINED. The recent sales reports for June indicate that GM sales were down only 18.2%, while Toyota sales were off 21.4%. The main reason is that more high-mpg cars are available from GM. Some GM dealers surveyed said they had run out of their high-mpg models (and there are a LOT of them). GM has geared up to produce the Cobalt/G-5 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet demand, while Ford is following a similar course with the 36mpg Focus.
As for this reviewer, he is right on on every issue. The overdrive serves no purpose at low speeds, and SHOULD be turned off. My car will not shift out of 4th under 40mph, and since my overdrive is 6th, It makes no sense to keep it on in town. Synthetic oil is best (and Ford now comes with it) and the Camry is a very flimsy car that is prone to shakes and rattles, and very easily damaged severely in collisions. I find this a very honest and concise review.
31st Dec 2004, 18:30
The first commenter got it right. The VW Passat is the #1 family car. For a lot of reasons. Paint quality, Body integrity, V6 performance, interior fittings, handling, ride, construction, etc. The Camry is a toy (and an ugly one at that) by comparison.
The Japanese are the best on the statistical bell curve, the Germans are the best on the road curves.