18th May 2008, 06:44

17:04 The joke about the warranty is that GM makes such a crappy product that they MUST offer a 100,000 mile because nobody will buy them otherwise, and even that is a scam. What's 100,000 miles? It's nothing anymore. Even a junk GM will usually limp along to 100,000. What happens after that? Then you're stuck with an out of warranty vehicle that's about at the end of it's life, in the case of a GM. Buy the Toyota and you still have probably 200,000 more miles to go. Toyota doesn't offer that warranty because they don't have to. Plain and simple. People buy them on the well-earned reputation that they're actually built right and won't fall apart such as a GM would.

18th May 2008, 10:07

19:30 Yeah, I've heard about the Toyota recall. My truck is one of the ones being bought back. Guess what? As usual, Toyota is handling the problem and taking care of their customers. I'm getting 150% of Kelly Blue Book RETAIL (the highest), value (excellent condition every time, no matter what your Tacoma looks like), for my truck.

So basically, I bought the truck, drove it for three years, and am now getting back a few thousand more than what I paid for it. Basically, they PAID me to drive it for 3 years. What do you think Ford/GM would have done in their shoes? I'd be part of some huge class action lawsuit, and they'd have done nowhere near enough if not NOTHING; probably claiming that because I live in the snow belt and they salt the roads here, that it's my problem.

I'm getting enough money to buy a brand new Yaris (with additional rebates included for buying Toyota again) and I'll have NO PAYMENT on it. This is one of the many reasons I'm glad every day I don't own domestic. They NEVER would have treated me this well.

18th May 2008, 11:48

What's 100,000 miles? Well, more than the average driver ever keeps a new vehicle for one. Now days people trade more often, so having a car with a 100,000 mile warranty means never having to worry about it. Most people buying new cars today are looking at ride, reliability, fit and finish, convenience and safety features and overall build quality. In other words, they're looking for domestics.

18th May 2008, 13:07

I believe as well in following a track record... so it stands to reason if you purchase a dozen or more brand new imports (not used), and keep them each a minimum of 3 years with say at least 75,000 miles on them, that you have a pretty strong indicator of reliability. Buy identical make and model, and track repairs. Since you are the only owner, and know directly if each has been maintained, then you know if you will buy again.

I feel a repeat buyer, over and over the same model, not maybe 1 vehicle that you are keeping forever, is more informative.

New vehicle owners that start having catastrophic mechanical failure on engines transmissions etc are not going to be repeat customers anymore. You may grab a few at the moment based on fuel economy, but not retain them over time with lousy warranties. How do you explain all the Toyota late model owners on here and on ConsumerAffairs.com that do not agree with your comments?

I think it is sad you have an almost new vehicle, and no warranty is no warranty. Even Hyundai has the best warranty in America... what's with Toyota? If the vehicles never need warranty claims, then what's the big deal to the manufacturer to do so? The very lack of decent quality and warranty is why our household has new domestics and an old import. Why leave the flock and have bitterness if the service was there.

That is the question the old import owner will not have an answer to. At some point in time they may buy a couple new vehicles and experience the discontent we have had. If the domestics do not honor our warranty, then we will look elsewhere. But the very point is we left imports over lousy vehicles nowhere near as nice 10 plus years ago. We are not talking about several year old imports; they were recent..... guess the thought is put your head in the sand, and say hey they are imports, the problems don't exist.

Our new domestics are not breaking..... also don't see the dangling exhaust systems in 2008. What model are we discussing?

18th May 2008, 15:54

I just caught the part in comment 07:15 about domestic vehicle's mufflers and tailpipes "swaying with every bump". I should certainly HOPE SO!! They are mounted on movable elastic mounts in order TO MOVE!! If they couldn't move, static vibration would cause metal fatigue cracks and broken pipes. Another good reason to buy domestic. If Tundra has solid welded muffler and tailpipe mountings, they'll be recalling them REAL SOON for exhaust system failures. Of course, I guess they can just rebuild the exhaust systems when they replace their "disposable" engines.

18th May 2008, 17:38

So 715... What new full size trucks have you owned lately? I question how someone that owns a 10 year old Tacoma, not even a current full size, is a late model expert. It's great that you like your small pickup from long ago. A 10 year old Tacoma is worth maybe 5k more or less today... and you are comparing to new 2008 full size trucks some over 50K. I don't try to be an authority on all models, but I do test drive them and extensively test the newest ones and buy. I have lived with new imports recently, and personally in our household they stunk, plain and simple. So the older the import the better... newer I recommend domestics much higher quality.

I can fortunately buy the best full size pickup vehicle available irregardless of price, and it's not any import full size truck as of 2008. I was not impressed enough to buy one. In 2010 I will look again and drive them all....... if there's a hot Toyota loaded with features I may go with one. But it has to be better, and the first thing is to offer a decent warranty, then a stronger drivetrain, bed and towing capabilities.

19th May 2008, 08:10

I would rather have a full size capable pickup than a small compact Tacoma with twitchy, bouncy ride, noisy V6, terrible seats and uncomfortable, not much room, plain interior, and options that should be standard are extra.

Plus it's not even in the same league as a full size truck... discuss a Tundra at least.

I'll also take a 350V8 gas or diesel, and not limp along... what a cop out not needing a warranty. Does someone actual believe this?

Why ride even around the block in a cramped, uncomfortable, poorly supported seating pick up that has limited applications for decent hauling and towing, and is still uncomfortable and skittish empty on the highway? 100,000 miles of torture is not worth it. I drive long distances and need a truck that can endure severe towing on hot long stretches. Riding around empty does not impress me... and what is the point? It's on the wrong review anyway.