11th Nov 2008, 15:03

"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."

Gee, sure SOUNDS like it would cost Toyota more to have a longer warranty to me. If not, how would just changing the numbers on the warranty papers cause Toyota to "spend more money"?? Printing costs are minuscule. No, if it would cause them to "spend more money" it would be on repairing all the flaws listed on the numerous consumer sites that the public is now having to foot the bill for.

What it still boils down to is simple: GM, Ford and Chrysler are not afraid that their cars will require major repairs in the first 100,000 miles or so. Toyota and Honda ARE. Otherwise, why NOT extend their warranties too?? If Japanese makers have so much confidence in their cars, why do they STILL have the worst warranties in the automotive business??

11th Nov 2008, 15:33

But again, if Toyota's were so superior and never broke down, why would it be an issue for Toyota to offer the longer warranty?

Could it be because of problems like these:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html

New engines are going for 5K+ a pop these days. I am guessing Toyota does not want to pay to replace all its engines that have been failing. The problems Toyota is having is not a fairy tale.

I have never had these types of problems with my domestics.

11th Nov 2008, 16:52

This message is for all the Ford and GM guys making unfavorable comments about Toyota on here...

GM and Ford would kill to be Toyota right now, or to have made the decision to build good cars like Toyota does, 30 years ago. If the government doesn't bail out those mismanaged sub-par automakers, neither of them will be in business next year.

I follow this stuff closely, and I just watched another story on CNN about it. Basically, what got said was that GM has been mismanaged, hasn't kept up with technology (until too late at least), and makes unfavorable, unappealing cars, has gained a reputation for cheaply made vehicles, and are on their way out. ALL TRUE.

I actually hope GM does pull through, and this is the wake up call they need to stop building garbage and make something that can at least be called comparable to a Toyota or a Honda. I seriously doubt that that will happen, and if it does, it will still take years for them to shed the poor reputation they've earned. I don't want to see them go under, I have friends that work there. Too bad they work for a company that doesn't know how to do it right. You domestic fans don't have a leg to stand on when criticizing Toyota.

11th Nov 2008, 20:33

Here's another view.

The majority of the time, my comfortable new GM SUV is the vehicle of choice to inevitably drive more than 2 adults or my family on a variety of activities. The small sedans, and also including friend's 2 seater sports cars, are parked and I typically always drive.

Smooth, quiet, comfortable and certainly very safe.

I do not know where you get your late model reliability statistics on my latest vehicle, but it has had absolutely zero issues. Maybe you haven't been in a fully loaded full size late model GM large SUV, but they are great.

I hate sitting in the back seat of small cramped sedans with my legs spread. I am thin, over 6 foot, and also hate cramped shoulder confinement. I drive my longest distances on weekends and add family, friends, and it's just a rough way to travel distance. Maybe if you are a solo commuter focused on the gas gauge.

Some are looking for overall quality, pleasure of the ride and driving, comfort, features. I typically buy very loaded vehicles with leather and many amenities. I stopped buying imports due to lack of warranty, or more so the rapid accumulation of mileage I attain in a short time of ownership.

I am not seeing any of the issues you mentioned with late model ownership; in fact my vehicles are extremely reliable, smooth, handle well and are a joy to drive.

Again, take a look at Toyota owners comments on consumeraffairs.com. The comments you are making seem more applicable in your direction.

A weak warranty does not instill faith... all car manufacturers warranties in my mind should be on an even field. All identical. Manufacturers should back them 100,000 miles standard. Maybe I would consider a return to new imports again.

In the interim I have zero complaints. Maybe you can take a long trip in one sometime, rather than walk around one to see why everyone rides in mine instead of being crammed up.

12th Nov 2008, 10:40

It has long been quite obvious that the domestic-bashing comments are based on the commenter's anger over owning a used, 20-year-old domestic with 200,000 miles on it that had minor problems.

This has no bearing whatsoever on new vehicles. All new domestics are as reliable, if not more reliable, than any imports.

If the commenter would take the time to drive a NEW domestic, (ANY new domestic), he would find that they all now have fuel injection, air bags, overhead cams, and all the same technical features imports have. If he actually LOOKED at new domestics, he would discover that the build quality is actually superior to most comparable imports, as is the interior quality.

I drive lots of cars, both foreign and domestic, and belong to 2 domestic car clubs. The Toyotas I've driven have not had any obvious edge over domestics. The feel is pretty similar, though imports tend to have a lighter, flimsier overall feel to me.

For performance and comfort, the domestics take it hands down.

And the final clincher is the warranty. A manufacturer that is afraid to put a decent warranty on their product is a manufacturer that lacks confidence in their product, pure and simple.

12th Nov 2008, 13:37

I love comments like this, I find them very funny. Cause if you look back a few years, these same people praising the new GM, Ford, and Dodge 100,000 mile warranty, are the same ones that said Hyundai's 100,000 mile warranty was just a marketing ploy aimed to increase sales numbers and you should never buy a car because of warranty. But the Hyundai still has the best warranty.

12th Nov 2008, 21:47

I also get a kick out of how these domestic owners think that because they have a 100,000 mile warranty, they have a better car.

Listen up domestic owners: GM makes junk. So does Ford. And by the look of things, NEITHER of them will even be around in a couple years to honor your warranty on that piece of junk. Good luck with your new GM car when the transmission scatters at 60,000 miles and they aren't even in business anymore or have declared bankruptcy, which looks like it's about a week away.

I'll obviously take the GOOD car (Toyota), not worry about it breaking down like a crappy GM, and know that if it does, at least they'll be there to back me up, as they already have.