Toyota now

[Ruffin' It]

I don't see it as a huge problem. Every single time there is a recall, any company is going to fight it. Every single time they "win" that fight, they are going to have some sort of documnetation. I don't think it is bragging to be happy about them averting a more serious recall.
I think America has a strong "anti-big business" ebb right now with what is going on wth the banks and Toyota just got caught up in the general tide. There is also a strong undercurrent of the (generally misguided) Buy American sentiment right now which isn't helping. Honda has a recall for airbags that are going off hard enough to kill passengers, but you hardly hear about it.
As for the CEO remaining quiet for too long; that is a cultural matter, pure and simple. Toyota has become the great company they are today mostly due to adherence to their Japanese values. Not discussing problems is part of the culture they are steeped in. It is more a matter of us expecting something different than them doing something wrong.
Personally, I wish I had the money to buy a new car right now. I'd be at the dealership making a great deal on, what I feel, are the best made cars in the world.

http://consumerist.com/2010/02/toyo...ng-100-million-with-2007-floormat-recall.html

http://consumerist.com/2010/02/tran...otas-lentz-defend-themselves-to-congress.html

http://consumerist.com/2010/02/tran...otas-lentz-defend-themselves-to-congress.html


Not sure if it's blown out of the water....very serious.

 

[Ruffin' It]

The best (worst) part about the Audi "sudden acceleration" issue what that is was eventually proven to be totally false. Audi almost tanked because of the type of media blitz that we are seeing on Toyota and there wasn't even an actual issue except loose nuts behind the wheel.

Not concerned, and would buy another Toyota.

It's not the first ever recall of vehicles on American soil, fer cryin' out loud. It's not the first "investigation" into a car company.

I can even recall several years back of another company's problem with sudden acceleration. There's also been bad tires, rollover problems, and let us not forget explosions and fire upon a rear end collision....that was back in the day, if your long enough in yer tooth to remember that one!

 

[Rattler]

I am convinced that this issue is 90% consumer incompetence. Remember the surging issues with Audi, that many years later were proven to be the consumer? Toyota makes a lot of cars - huge volumes. Much greater opportunity for the worst variables to coincide.

I feel that was the deal with the Explorer tire episode. Wasn't it mostly under-inflated tires that were causing the problem/lack of owner maintenance?

I will be a loyal Toyota customer for life despite of all of the current events and this is why.

I owned a 1990 Toyota p/u (V6) and got 225,000 miles on it. As some of you know there was a problem with the head gaskets blowing on these v6s due to the incompatible metals used in this early design. Anyway, head gasket blew in 1994 and cost $1300 to repair it. In 1996, I had a Toyota exec. as a patient in my dental practice, and he told me to submit the receipt for the repair done in 1994. 6 weeks later, I got a check for the entire amount with an apology from the regional manager. Totally exceeded my expectations about customer service. Needless to say, all of the vehicles in our family are all Toyotas and will remain that way for good. I don't think that you would find a story like this from any of the big 3.

The only problem is that these vehicles last so long, I will not be looking for a replacement for a long time...:victory:

Regards,

BWJ

I know a guy that had a similar story with is 3.0. Over 100k on it so he thought nothing would ever be done. They cut him a check also after he looked into it.

If you get bored, here is what I get to deal with all the time up here in MI.

http://www.michiganwheelers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=194888#post194888

Its a lost cause trying to explain anything there most the time on the subject. The lines were blurred a long time ago to me when it comes to this subject. Pontiac Vibes and Geo Prizms are only a couple reasons.

Wasn't Consumer Reports busted for rolling Sammys on purpose at a much higher speed than what they siad they would roll at too?

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here are my thoughts...

Toyota is getting thrown under the bus right now. I believe this is because they are like Tiger Woods -- we are holding them to a higher standard. If this were Ford or GM, no one would be surprised in the slightest. I have had several vehicles have their accelerators stick in the past. Almost all of these were European vehicles from the 80s or early 90s and largely due to their overly complex linkages.

Every manufacturer needs to deal with cost versus benefits and it is the nature of the business. The accelerator problem is so minuscule that **EVERY SINGLE MANUFACTURER** would have taken the same course of action.

 

[Rattler]

Here are my thoughts...

I believe this is because they are like Tiger Woods -- we are holding them to a higher standard.

Not everyone loves Tiger. You should have heard how his apology was rewritten by a co-worker. All I can say is it involved about 14 different revolving caddies and a 19th hole.

A quote from my local 4x4 thread regarding Toyota.

well ill i can says now we all know how toy was doing soo good will the big 3 were going down the big 3 make a good car and toy is make well just a haf *** car clad i never got a toy!!!!!!!

Can you figure it out?

 

[lowenbrau]

I sure hope the value of these things drops. Who sells trucks anyway? By the time I'm done with them I get the scrap steel price. Lately I'm shopping for a 1/2 ton and can walk into a Ford dealer and have them drop $10,000 off the price of an F150 without even asking. I'd be thrilled if Toyota began doing the same. I'd love a Tundra but just can't see paying $10,000 more for a truck that has 500lbs less payload.

 

[Rattler]

I sure hope the value of these things drops. Who sells trucks anyway? By the time I'm done with them I get the scrap steel price. Lately I'm shopping for a 1/2 ton and can walk into a Ford dealer and have them drop $10,000 off the price of an F150 without even asking. I'd be thrilled if Toyota began doing the same. I'd love a Tundra but just can't see paying $10,000 more for a truck that has 500lbs less payload.

I find it funny how my '04 Tacoma has a better resale value than my co-worker's '06 Chevy with more options.

The prices on Fords must be tempting because my always-lease boss actually bought one a few months ago. It will drive him nuts in another year though when he will want a new truck. I don't think he understands the concept of paying a vehicle off and to keep driving it.

 

[KaiserDTM]

No other vehicles interest me really, the only things I'd trade my 4Runner for are all toyotas (62,80, Tacoma or an FJ)

 

[Box Rocket]

This is what I think of the whole Toyota situation......

Not concerned. I just bought another Toyota a few weeks ago and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

 

[Mr. Leary]

This is what I think of the whole Toyota situation......

Not concerned. I just bought another Toyota a few weeks ago and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

So what you are saying is that very small Toyotas are lighter than ducks?

 

[Martinjmpr]

This is what I think of the whole Toyota situation......

My Toyota turned me into a newt.































I got better.

 

[Mr. Leary]

:xxrotflma

 

[CLynn85]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I love my truck, but in the 3 years and 83,000 miles I've had it, I've lost a lot of respect for Toyota as a company. Their newer products are living proof that they're resting on their laurels and focusing on profits more than product. I'm glad this issue has gotten so much attention just for the fact that it will hopefully be a wake up call to get their act back together.

While I'm not concerned about the falling values, as I don't plan to get rid of my truck, I will be royally pissed if someone totals my truck while they're in this slump and I don't get as much out of it!

 

[Corey]

No other vehicles interest me really, the only things I'd trade my 4Runner for are all toyotas (62,80, Tacoma or an FJ)

Same here.
The new 2010.5 FJ Cruisers are now coming with the Zombie Apocalypse package.
Courtesy of a thread discussing zombies.

I am going to upgrade to that option, if they can fit it to my tent.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I love my truck, but in the 3 years and 83,000 miles I've had it, I've lost a lot of respect for Toyota as a company. Their newer products are living proof that they're resting on their laurels and focusing on profits more than product. I'm glad this issue has gotten so much attention just for the fact that it will hopefully be a wake up call to get their act back together.

While I'm not concerned about the falling values, as I don't plan to get rid of my truck, I will be royally pissed if someone totals my truck while they're in this slump and I don't get as much out of it!

That highlights another interesting aspect of this "crisis." KBB values on Toyotas have dropped, and Toyota's value proposition has suffered as of late. Again, a topic my team and I have been trying to address in our Marketing class. We decided that Toyota should extend the warranty period by 2 years free of charge, offer $1000 over BB value for trade ins, and generally try to get these recalls done ASAP, whatever it takes. I wonder if Toyota will come up with any of the same solutions as we have?