28th Nov 2012, 09:05

With all due respect, to the best of my recollection, the "political debate" was initiated by a person who once owned a Honda and considers import buyers "unpatriotic". Not by Toyota or import defenders.

Your real experiences with Toyotas are valid, however those who give second hand accounts speaking about "friend's cars" and comparing those who buy imports (or in my case, a domestic owner who defends the right of Americans to buy whatever they feel best fits their needs) with being disloyal to their country (or worse) in my humble opinion should tone it down and stop the name calling.

I agree, this is a site in which to review cars, not argue over politics, the economy & other off-topic rhetoric.

28th Nov 2012, 10:56

"The big 3 would still be making junk"

Sorry, but that never really happened, it's all in your mind.

28th Nov 2012, 11:09

Here are the facts:

Toyota sells more cars than anyone else on the planet.

Toyota routinely is placed at the top as the most reliable car maker, and this was done so less than a month ago... again.

ALL car makers have recalls, the latest of which for Toyota was incredibly minor... a possibly faulty power window switch. BIG DEAL.

We can come up with anecdotal stories all day long about uncles and distant friends of a friend who "quit buying Toyotas because of recalls" and whatnot, but obviously that tactic isn't working at all, seeing as how Toyotas's sales in the US have climbed double-digits for months.

28th Nov 2012, 12:32

Can you guys quit harping over politics and focus on the millions of recalls? Do you buy a new car this way, or do you visit the service dept or go over the product? If President Obama is on the test drive and hands me a checkbook, I will be part of a debate. But I am deciding if I want to risk a 2013 new Toyota purchase.

28th Nov 2012, 14:02

It seems pointless arguing about buying American versus foreign products. As has been stated repeatedly, the American consumer has no clue about what the difference between supporting American industry and foreign industry even means. Apparently our decaying educational system has given up on teaching anything related to economics, business or patriotism. We might as well throw in the towel and get used to becoming a nation of maids and fast-food employees.

28th Nov 2012, 20:13

Thank you for being a voice of reason. Well said!

29th Nov 2012, 09:05

Toyota's latest recall was power steering loss on the Prius. I wouldn't consider that minor.

The window switch recall was months ago; the second recall for the same problem that is.

29th Nov 2012, 09:48

You lost 4 new Toyota sales with our family this year. What about engine sludging, trans issues, brakes, air bag issues? Typical minimizing with a power window comment.

By the way, if Toyota is so infallible, why justify a comment by saying others have recalls? It's not the greatest with millions of recalls so frequently.

Glad you are so brand loyal. Not once in all your comments have you indicated the year and model you own. My guess it's 10 or more years old. If newer, you may be commenting like us.

29th Nov 2012, 11:31

If schools taught children that they should be "Patriotic" and support only products from the "motherland" then I'd call that a disservice. It's annoying to have to repeat very well understood, basic economic facts. YOU CANNOT have a closed-circuit economy. It does NOT work, and even though a number of Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War tried, well we all see how that worked out didn't we? Besides - if there was no competition, then the American people would have nothing to choose from but shoddy, incompetent products. Again - look up those countries who tried in the 50's-80's during the Cold War. They failed.

This isn't just basic economics, but basic history as well. Since the very second explorers set foot on American soil for the first time, we have been trading with other countries: They buy things from us and we from them. That's the way it's always been. So if that's the case, then in reality, those who accept economic process as vital to American interests are in fact the real patriots.

And what of those recalls? Again - SO WHAT? At this point, there isn't one single automaker who hasn't had recalls, and even now, not only Toyota, but the Big 3 continue to have them. This by no means indicates that there is a quality issue. In the end it's all about the median outcome: Who builds the best product when all factors are included, meaning what is the result of the average ownership experience of the average owner, spread out amongst millions of people over years of ownership? Well the collective results - and I repeat - as of very recently - STILL shows Toyota as the most reliable automaker. Yes - this INCLUDES those recalls as well. Beating a dead horse about recalls doesn't and will not change that at all.

29th Nov 2012, 12:04

First six months, Ford was the world leader by 27000 cars... The Corolla had 462,187 and the Ford Focus was 489,616. Big deal on your enormous leader spread...

That is one category by the way. There are luxury cars, SUVs, sports cars and trucks, which many of us drive instead.

Seems like the millions of recalls have more relevance at the moment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/ford-focus-may-be-new-best-selling-car_n_1846131.html Everyone should read this.

29th Nov 2012, 16:33

I think a lot of the rabid Toyota fans are young and inexperienced drivers who are driving their first car. I also suspect that their cars are older, and built well before all Japanese cars became junk. Buyers of new cars today aren't impressed with grandpa's 15 year old Tacoma. They want cars that are not recalled every week.

30th Nov 2012, 07:32

I will take it one step further and say there may be posters so young that they don't even drive yet. It may be just to get a rise out of people.

So what about recalls? And then you are supposed to hand over a large sum of money for a new one. Baffles the mind! We do not have the time to drive back and forth to dealerships with new cars. It is a real pain, and it inconveniences others to pick you up and drop you off. Tying up 2 people burning $4 gallon gas to run back and forth stinks. I have sat in the waiting room as well. No more Toyotas.

30th Nov 2012, 20:07

We have friends who insist on buying Toyotas no matter what. Their Tundra has been in the shop repeatedly for steering, brake and front suspension issues. Their Camry left the wife stranded twice within 6 months of buying it brand new. We have dropped them off in our rock-solid domestics (none of which has ever had a single repair) to pick their vehicles up at the shop, and yet these people, like the import fans on here, staunchly argue that imports are "better". It defies logic.

1st Dec 2012, 21:53

More with the "friends". If it isn't firsthand, it didn't happen as far as I'm concerned. Why not write about your "rock-solid" domestics and leave the imports to the import owners.

2nd Dec 2012, 10:46

We were Toyota new car owners. We certainly would not recommend any to our friends and or anyone remotely considering one on this review. The only satisfaction we have at this point is warning others relatives, business acquaintances, friends. That's the cold hard reality when it hits your wallet hard; you will not just sit idle. The millions of recalls is something you can face; not us on any new future purchases.

18th Mar 2013, 14:36

I bought my 2000 Tundra new in Bend OR. For YEARS I thought I must have ABS because of the vibration when braking. It became irritating only recently, with 170,000 miles. I replaced rotors for the first time, and experienced relief for up to 5000 miles. The situation is now dangerous, and at 178000 miles I'm ready for this to affect my loyalty to Toyota.

Yes, I will be happy to testify!