Just had to rant about this.

I saw in the news that Toyota has had to recall a couple million more vehicles due to faulty gas pedals that get stuck and cause unintended acceleration. It seems that the throttle linkage wears out prematurely and causes this issue. The factories stopped producing the affected vehicle lines and the dealer's can't sell what's on their lots. Worse yet, they don't even have a fix for it! There was a big article in our local paper today entitled "Toyota to drive or not to drive, that is the question". Some consumers were saying that they were not going to drive their Toyotas and some even wanted to return their leases early due to the fact that they felt this was a safety hazard.

And, they also recalled roughly 3 million more vehicles due to the floor mats getting stuck under the gas pedals and again causing unintended acceleration. They have recalled more vehicles than any other manufacturer. So much for japanese quality.

The thing that pisses me off is that if this story was about any of the big three, especially GM and Chrysler, the media would have been crapping all over them stating that these companies should fail because of the garbage product their putting out.

I drive a lot during the day and now I am paranoid if I even see a Toyota behind me!

So the question is, will Toyota still get a free pass and no one will hold this against them or will this be the opening the big three need to gain back market share? What do you all think?

 

Toyota and Honda both build as much junk as anyone, just as the darlings of the green/liberal crowd, it doesn't get publicized.


The one 'Yota I have ever owned (my first NEW car actually) was a bit of a lemon. 78 Celica GT coupe, 5-speed w/ air. It never delivered anywhere close to its advertised gas mileage (rated 29 and never got better than 22) and lost coolant from day one, and the dealer could never remedy either issue. Come to think of it, I don't know many folks who ever got satisfactory resolution to problems from the local dealer.

The Honda dealer here was notorious for sending rollbacks to pick up broken Hondas after dark, and then they'd cover the car so you couldn't tell what it was. No ID on the rollback either- nothing but the DOT/SCC numbers.

 

The problem is the type of plastic they used for the accelerator pedal bushings which caused consensation at the pivot point of the pedal assembly. This would eventually cause it to stick.

This problem could have happened to any car company on the planet as most of these parts are off the shelf parts from suppliers that sell to every manufacturer out there. Most car companies have had very similar conditions happen to them in the last 10 years they just haven't been publicized as much as this one.

Obviously it is going to hurt Toyota's reputation but in the long run it will pass and they will make and sell as many cars as ever.

Bash Toyota and Honda all you want but compare apples to apples and the number of cars sold vs recall campaigns and service actions and they win over GM & Chrysler hands down. Just look at the 2009 JD Power Initial Quality Studies.

 

I've got 134 alone in my wife's one Jag

 

Watch you mouth Jamesbo!!! Jaguar is a DIRTY word.

 

Just the same...Ihope this hurts toyota sales bigtime...Firm believer in buying american cars. No jap crap for me!

 

Ford builds an engine that blows out spark plugs, who's the F'n genius that decided that 3 threads are adequate on aluminum heads.

 

The first Toyota I ever got a ride in was a new 1971. We took it pheasant hunting and got stranded out in the country and had to phone for a ride from a farmhouse. I remember my Dad saying "The Japanese seem to build a pretty good motorcycle but their cars are junk"

 

The only car I ever had to PUSH out of a busy street was a toyo. I made it a rule never to ride in one if it was 10 years old or more.
I changed that rule to cover all toyos now. They even recalled another million or so in Europe.
They couldn't quite hide THIS one like the wrong suspension bushing issue.
BTW, the title of this thread is a good oxymoron...

 

They well have to come up with a new slogan. Let them try this one.
"Toyota you can ask for a whole lot more"

 

Actually, if their sales suffer, so do U.S. suppliers, as they manufacture parts for both the foreign and domestic makes. Campbell, Wyant & Cannon, a grey foundry which has been in my town for dang near a century, produces camshafts (rough castings) for GM. Ford, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota. It used to be the largest Grey foundry in the world, (camshaft, cranks, heads, block castings for cars, trucks, heavy trucks. and a big supplier of the aforementioned during WWII) so, it's will cost us. Check any of your old or new Olds camshafts, on the end you will probably see CWC...they were cast here.

 

destructor, what ford would that be?

 

Looked over the post about JD Power initial survey and it looks to me like there is no real difference in initial quality comparing Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet and Honda. All being better than industry average. But, the perception is that the japanese makes are better, not the same as the domestics. In light of data like this, and the massive recalls by Toyota, so much for that theory.

 

This statement is ridiculous. If buying American made means something to you, possibly, you should consider these models, since they are built in the United States.

Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma, Tundra, and Lexus RX330

 

But they are foreign companies that take our money and run. If they weren't here people would be making fords,chevys,

 

And you missed the last part of my statement....no jap cars!

 

I agree. And most of their cars that are assembled here have poor domestic parts content. They have gotten better in that area over time, but they still don't match the American big 3. (Although I admit there are some models from the big 3 these days that are now poor in that area too.)

 

Of course I would expect 500hsss that it would be sacrilegious to drive a foreign car in Michigan.

 

Nah, we got 'em all over, even in our UAW parking lot.

 

I have no idea what rock you are living under. Toyota has built a consistently better product for years. This is shown in the success and numbers that they have put out. This recall is big, but not going to hurt them forever.

Domestic automakers make garbage and have for ever. Some of the product (Ford) is finally, after all these years, starting to catch up.

So, Toyota and other foreign companies take the money and run do they? What did GM and Chrysler do with their money? They sure didn't reinvest it into their product, did they? These two companies couldn't make it due to their gawd awful products and **** poor management. They had to take public money to attempt to survive.

I guess government intervention is truly the American way these days.

I myself have never purchased a vehicle that had a 'foreign' name plate. I'm currently driving a Dodge Journey that was assembled in Mexico. It's a piece of junk,with new crap breaking on it once a week. The car we had before was a Ford Contour. Again, complete junk. I had an 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic that cost me a fortune to keep it road worthy. Garbage.

I'm done with piddling around with 'domestic' automakers. Since I don't know anyone dumb enough to work for a union, I'm going to support my local economy. The two big companies in my area make parts for Toyota and Honda. I'm going to choose a vehicle from one of them. Toyota personally takes care of my own personal economy, since I pull their parts from supplier to supplier.

I would rather support myself and my friends who work at these places much more than buying from Government Motors.

The majority of American car companies failed because they make crap product with terrible business practices. Deal with it.

 

If there is a UAW sticker on it, you know for certain, it's total junk.

 

The Corrolla and Tacoma are total piles too, because the UAW builds them right?

 

Could you be a bigger idiot?

 

Rocketradier, I dont know if you remeber if I told you that my Dad had a 1976 Toyata J40 Landcruiser from 1977-Sept 1980.
The 1979 J40s had a higher gear ratio, and were better on the highway.

One day, in late Sept of 1980, the 6-cylinder motor of the J40 threw a rod! I think Dad paid $4300 for it in 1977, sold it for $1200 b/o with blown motor. My folks used the sale of the J40, for a demo 1980 AMC Eagle.
My parent siad the J40 did not "grip" and/or the four wheel was not great, compared tothe rusty 1969 IH Scout II. The Scout could get up our hilly driveway(when icy), with BALD TIRES!

 

I know, truth hurts. The union propaganda runs deep in many, did any good for very few.

 

Red delta is just spewing his beliefs and the more he talks the deeper he digs.EH!

 

Best you could do? You know you are dealing with union member when you get simple, unsubstantiated sentences.

Why don't you attempt to explain why I'm wrong?

I guess the union bosses don't let you think for yourself. Oh well, at least you get paid well, oh, wait, never mind. Thank goodness for your job security...um, how about a great pension with health benefits? Oh, sorry about that.

So what have the unions really done? Other than bankrupting the employers with their overpriced demands. At least the union itself has lots of money, that they keep for themselves.

The government should have demanded the union kicked out before they got federal funding. That way the auto makers may have a better chance at succeeding.

 

Cool the name calling and flaming guys. This is the second thread this morning here things are getting out of hand. Civil discussion only, ok. Just stop have a cup of coffee and cool down.

Thanks

 

Union, not by a long shot. don't even like them. I am business owner in the recreation sector. nothing to do with the automotive industry. I just love american cars and collect them. Never liked foreign cars,never will. Being canadian you have no loyalty to american products so whats the point in arguing with you? BTW Ford didn't did not take bailout money and are building some of the best cars on the market today.

 

OK citcapp, sorry I am done!

 

I didn't mention Ford. I am very aware of their product that is beginning to approach the quality levels of Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.

You are only assuming that I have no loyalty since I live three hours away from you. My loyalty lies with companies that have invested in my local economy. Those companies are Honda and Toyota. You don't see a plant for GM, Chrysler or Ford for 200 miles of here.

 

red delta
Truce

 

We both like Oldsmobile's, right?

 

Delta,
The reason there are Unions is because most employers took advantage of employees. Wether you think they are good or bad, they have helped established working conditions that you have probably unknowingly benifited from. Like anything else in the world they are far from perfect. I remember a neighbor that worked at American Hoist in St Paul in the 1920's. He said they worked 7 days a week, 10 hours a day without a day off. Don't worry Delta, the momentum has shifted in favor of the employer and we'll soon be at the mercy of the employer and I'm sure they'll treat us all real nice.

 

Yep, just started restoring my'70 Cutlass I have owned since college in texas in 1979. was stored in my barn since 1988.

 

There are laws that prevent mis-treatment of employees nowadays. I agree that the unions were important in the development of fair work standards but their time has come and gone, in my opinion. It seems to me the only thing that the unions are concerned about these days, is that they get paid their dues.

 

I'm a UAW member and you hit the nail on the head. If your not buddy buddy with them. They don't give a damn about you. Then you are stuck in the middle because the company only thinks of you as a number and the union only want's your dues.

I was laid off for most of 08 and the way I found out was watching the local news. No calls from the company or the union.

I do get paid good, but sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. You fell like your stuck, because you can't find a job that pays as good and can't make your family suffer just, because you don't like your job. I have to remind myself just to be happy to have a job.

 

The time for unions might not be totaly gone yet. A good example of abuse would be the Walmart law suit where the employees were forced to clean the parking lot and work with being punched in. But we could find alot of issues with the unions too. We could go back and forth but the problem is were both right.

LOL, what about that barn stored Olds in Texas?

 

Umm Red Delta where exactly in Ontario do you live? GM, FORD & CHRYSLER all have plants in Ontario well within 200 miles of any Toyota or Honda plant.

 

I meant Kilometers.

I don't live near a main assembly plant. The two places near me make plastic parts for Honda and Toyota. I understand that my bud who works at the Toyota supplier is expecting a slow week next week.