Why Toyota has lost the edge.

[HHGT]

"After owning several Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles over the past 17 years, Randy Sterling traded in his Tacoma pickup this month for Ford Motor Co.’s F-150 truck. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...ades-as-damage-brings-sony-style-decline.html

 

[Luke Warmwater]

One of my daily drivers is a Tacoma that I bought new last year. Biggest hunk of junk ever. Radio stopped working within 2 months. Has nasty piston slap when started on cold mornings. Transfer case has developed a nasty growl on deceleration. Truck has <30k miles and is falling apart. I plan on trading it on a new Ford very soon before the thing leaves me on the side of the road. Complete Junk!

 

[BlackICE]

Why would anyone buy a Toyota pickup in the US when any of he US brands are better and cheaper too. :confused

 

[Luke Warmwater]

That's a subjective opinion at least the "better" part. Toyota had a reputation as being bullet proof and for many years they were. My experience with Fords throughout the 90s was not any better than my current Toyota experience. Was very unimpressed to say the least. I'm going to take a close look at them soon but will reserve opinion until I have had one on the road for awhile. It will be a cold day in hell before I purchase a GM product of any kind.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Some while back, I outlined how Toyota, hand-in-hand with one of its dealerships in Arizona, raked my daughter over the coals re: the clutch in her Celica GTS (bought NEW...'clutch SHOT at 32K miles). Because of that, no one in the family has even looked at a Toyota since - nor will we. So, being the rotten person I am, I've been taking no small amount of pleasure in the fact that 'CARma' (sorry...) appears to have finally paid a little visit to all those fine folks.

 

[MNJason]

Ive been happy with my wife's 05 Highlander other than getting a letter for the THIRD recall a month ago.

 

[BlackICE]

My 1991 Chevy Pickup is still going strong. One of my definitions of better is parts costs and ease of maintenance.

I just replaced my wiper motor, door windowed regulator and motor, rotor/cap and plugs.

Parts costs:

wiper motor $60

window regulator $36

Rotot/cap $30

Plugs $18

Previous repairs part examples:

slave brake cylinder rebuilt $10
Power Steering pump rebuilt $60
Alternator rebuilt $50
Headlight $35

I would bet the prices on a Toyota would be much more. Some would say a Toyota wouldn't need any repairs, I would say a Toyota wouldn't last 20 years sitting outside, with minimal care or servicing. BTW just did a compression test, all 8 holes are within 6%, the engine is still like new!

 

[Cobrar]

Next candidiate for global supremacy - VW.

 

[2112]

Next candidiate for global supremacy - VW.

+1

Now they need to greenlight the 05' Miura concept.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Next candidiate for global supremacy - VW.

Have they fixed their electrical problems yet???

 

[BlackICE]

Have they fixed their electrical problems yet???

VW uses Bosch not Lucas,

 

[Empty Pockets]

VW uses Bosch not Lucas,

I dunno who's system they use, but, regardless, they supposedly were having electrical "issues" over the past few years.

 

[RV King]

Toyota Forerunner 200,000 + miles no issues
Honda CRX 230,000 miles no issues
Honda Accord 140,000 + miles no issues

Fact of the matter is the Japanese make better cars than the Americans period. I don't think I will be going out on a limb by saying that Toyota & Honda's problems started when they started manufacturing in North America. I own 3 American cars now (two out of necessity) and they constantly have issues. In fact one of them I bought from HHGT because it was three years old with only 30,000 miles on it and he was wise enough to get rid of it before the warranty expired. He is no dummy, he knew what was coming. It has 95,000 miles on it now and has seen the repair shop more than the three Japanese cars ever did! So be worried GM, Ford & Chrysler when the Japanese build a 3/4 ton vehicle with a large motor in it you will be done.

So Sam stop stirring the $hit, get a job, get off of your wife's ipad and stop sending me these links. Apple Rules!!! :biggrin

 

[2112]

Fact of the matter is the Japanese make better cars than the Americans period.

Totally disagree.

Several hundred thousand miles on Ford products in the last 21 years with no problems.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Fact of the matter is the Japanese make better cars than the Americans period. I don't think I will be going out on a limb by saying that Toyota & Honda's problems started when they started manufacturing in North America. I own 3 American cars now (two out of necessity) and they constantly have issues. In fact one of them I bought from HHGT because it was three years old with only 30,000 miles on it and he was wise enough to get rid of it before the warranty expired. He is no dummy, he knew what was coming. It has 95,000 miles on it now and has seen the repair shop more than the three Japanese cars ever did! So be worried GM, Ford & Chrysler when the Japanese build a 3/4 ton vehicle with a large motor in it you will be done.

...'can't speak fer the resta yuz...but, I'm now headed fer muh bunker... ld: :willy

 

[HHGT]

Toyota Forerunner 200,000 + miles no issues
Honda CRX 230,000 miles no issues
Honda Accord 140,000 + miles no issues

Fact of the matter is the Japanese make better cars than the Americans period. I don't think I will be going out on a limb by saying that Toyota & Honda's problems started when they started manufacturing in North America. I own 3 American cars now (two out of necessity) and they constantly have issues. In fact one of them I bought from HHGT because it was three years old with only 30,000 miles on it and he was wise enough to get rid of it before the warranty expired. He is no dummy, he knew what was coming. It has 95,000 miles on it now and has seen the repair shop more than the three Japanese cars ever did! So be worried GM, Ford & Chrysler when the Japanese build a 3/4 ton vehicle with a large motor in it you will be done.

So Sam stop stirring the $hit, get a job, get off of your wife's ipad and stop sending me these links. Apple Rules!!! :biggrin

Every car in Cuba has over 1,000,000 miles on it and they are all American cars. Most Taxis at airports are American made cars with millions of miles on them. When safety and reliability is evaluated for USAF, US Navy, US Army, Police, Fire, Secret Service, Public Service, Rangers, Code Enforcement etc... they buy American made cars. Parts are inexpensive and you can get them from any auto parts store. You just like Japanese cars because you're cheap. Have my coffee waiting tomorrow morning and make that reservation at Ruth Chris for that bet you lost.

 

[Kayvan]

NYT had a Sunday magazine 10 page article 2yrs ago on how the Japanese studied the F-150 as being state of the art

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/magazine/18Toyota.t.html

The Japanese will have to match the $100 million R&D investment the Big 3 spent on trucks to unseat them.

Toyota unseated Ram in 5yrs; not bad considering they had Pup / Hilux trucks before Tundra, Tacoma.


I dont think quality will drive car demand; price will.

The Chinese or Indian cars being sold at Walmart in future will take 50% of market, where people view it as an appliance; they might only come in white; 33% of cars already do.

Just like you dont see an RCA, Zenith, Maganvox storefront on main st anymore; they drove down the price to a shelf item.

Big appliances are same; Americans makes (Kenmore, Maytag, GE) making the big-iron (Washers, dryers, fridges) still have a toe hold; but its being outsourced to Mexico; Koreans and Chinese will take that over, soon. Sony has trusted their mfg to china for years and others will too.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I dont think quality will drive car demand; price will.

The Chinese or Indian cars being sold at Walmart in future will take 50% of market, where people view it as an appliance...

Well, "price vs. quality" up to a point, anyway.

Remember the "Yugo"?