8th Nov 2008, 03:11
17:28 2 questions... care to once comment on late model Toyota actual mechanical issues on consumeraffairs.com and why are most import manufacturers standard new factory warranty only half or less? The excuse that it is not necessary to sell, when in the same vein you are purporting high quality, does not add up. It seems like the manufacturer may be dodging high warranty costs and expecting the consumer to carry low mileage major issues. That is why we are not buying them now, and we bought many new ones.
I wonder how many individuals buying have been long term repeat import buyers vs. newcomers? I switched lately after owning new imports since the first gas crisis in the early 70's due to quality and mechanical concerns with newer Japanese models. There may be a lot more newer buyers entering, and maybe a lot of us older ones dissatisfied leaving.
It would seem to reason that it comes down to who has the most complete lineup of fuel efficient vehicles with gas pricing. Lately the pricing has come down, and personally I prefer a roomier more comfortable vehicle with children involved. Being squeezed up and staring at a fuel gauge is not everything. But with the tight economy, it's definitely a factor.
8th Nov 2008, 12:19
"Back as recently as the early 2000's, their small car offerings were cars like the Cavalier... These cars were jokes and had zero appeal whatsoever."
You know the Cavalier was the best selling small car in the country into the 2000's don't you?
8th Nov 2008, 15:07
It seems the Tacoma guy can't get his time machine out of the 1980's. If you look through these reviews, you'll find HUNDREDS of former import owners who have switched to domestics because the newer domestics are MUCH more reliable, have better warranties, and are far more comfortable.
He may not know anyone who has swapped a Toyota for a Ford, GM or Chrysler, but I know quite a few. 99% of the ones I know traded a Camry for a Fusion or Chevy Malibu. One of them traded a Camry for a Ford Escape.
As comment 03:11 makes a VERY good point. If Japanese cars were so reliable, why on Earth WOULDN'T the manufacturer give them a good warranty? Sounds like fear of too many repair issues to me.
8th Nov 2008, 21:32
22:32 It also seems like it should only be full size pickup truck comparisons on a full size pickup truck review. The import owners keep switching to very small car comments. If you are commenting on a Tundra, Ford F Series, Silverado, Titan, Ram models and less about Prius, Tacomas and especially cars over and over, would make the most sense. I would like to see everyone buy a new vehicle and stir up and stimulate the economy, import or domestic. I find little benefit reading about small cars when the focus could be on load carrying, towing, warranty and full size mechanical issues on new full size pickup trucks.
And again, who is the first import owner that is ever going to comment on consumeraffairs.com with Toyota late model issues? It's there.
8th Nov 2008, 22:50
3:11 The warranty argument DOES hold up, plain and simple. Toyota doesn't need to offer the same kind of warranty GM does. People buy Toyota's knowing they're extremely reliable and are not that concerned about the warranty. GM doesn't make good enough vehicles to pull that off; that's it. People know they won't last nearly as long as a Toyota and will only concede to buy one if GM offers a long warranty.
If I'm the guy that owns Toyota, I'm offering a 36,000 mile warranty, and STILL outselling GM, why am I going to spend more money offering a longer warranty when I don't have to? It's common sense.
If I'm the guy that owns GM and I see Toyota kicking my a** around the block because I know my company has a reputation for making disposable cars, what are my options? I don't build them as well as Toyota, so my only option is to offer a longer warranty for when they DO break down. Again, common sense.
It's sad really. When GM goes under, it's going to put a small dent in the economy, and as an American, that bothers me. It's only a matter of time. They can't keep losing billions of dollars and stay in business. In fact, the last article I read on my homepage said that GM is at the point where they have just enough money to function. It bothers me that an American automaker doesn't care enough to make a car, or truck, that can compare with a Japanese automobile.
This is no ones fault but theirs. Make a decent product and people will buy it. That is what Toyota and Honda have proven. GM's constant losses prove that if you make junk for long enough, Americans get tired of it and look for a better product, even if it's from a foreign company.
I know where the money goes when I buy a Toyota. Overseas. I also know that I'm going to keep buying them because they don't break down like the garbage Fords and Chevy's I've owned. What am I supposed to do? Buy a GM out of patriotism and have it empty my wallet with repairs in the long run? When I can buy a Toyota, do routine maintenance and drive it for 300,000 miles without a single issue? That's an easy decision for me. I work too hard for my money to trade it for a junk GM or Ford when Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and even Hyundai offer a much more reliable product.
9th Nov 2008, 12:03
"When GM goes under, it's going to put a small dent in the economy... It bothers me that an American automaker doesn't care enough to make a car, or truck, that can compare with a Japanese automobile."
GM's problems are NOT vehicle related, but management related. It has to be the worst run company on the planet. It is way too top heavy with too many managers, has too many brands and too many long term expenses (i.e., health care, pensions, etc.).
If you want to bash GM for the way it is run, I will do so right along with you, as it is appalling. But do not say GM's problems are vehicle related, because that is just not true. By contrast, it is Toyota that is having significant issues with quality control (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html), and people are finally starting to catch on whether you want to admit it or not.
Likewise, you might have also seen that Toyota's sales are way down too.
7th Nov 2008, 22:32
I don't know why Ford and Chevy owners insist on trying to sell Fords and Chevy's to Toyota owners on a Toyota thread. Nobody I ever met that owned a Toyota EVER switched back to a domestic. Every time, it's somebody who is tired of Ford's breaking down and finally buys something well built, like a Toyota or Honda. Seems like every domestic owner that posts here gets 3 or 400,000 miles out of a Dodge or a Ford. You'll have to excuse me for not believing a single word of that.
I've never met a person that got within 200,000 miles of that out of a domestic. OK, my buddy has a Dodge Ram with a 318 that has a little over 200,000 on it. Just one domestic. The rest of the examples of seen, hundreds of them throughout my lifetime, never got there. 200,000, that's it... That is nothing for a Toyota owner. EVERY old Corolla, Tercel, Camry, etc. can do that and far more with no trouble. I've seen dozens of old Honda's, Civics and so forth with well over 2 or 300,000 miles. Not domestics.
Sorry, Ford, Chevy and Dodge just don't design or build them well enough to do that. If it happens, it's a fluke. So go ahead and tell stories about high mileage Fords. I'll believe it when I see it. I HAVE seen countless Toyota's and Honda's do it.