American Toyota..Junk or not.

[PierBridge]

Just wondering your guy's opinion on American made Toyota's if they are any good or not and if the American built Toyota's are junk if so how do they sell so many and can I really order a foreign one.<br /><br />Here is some more thoughts on the issue there a ways down in this post. TOYOTA

 

[DJ]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

If they are, you can't blame design. You have to blame the American worker. That's you and me.

 

[ehenry]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

I've got an 86 Toyota 4X4 with 289K on it nad a 93 Camry with 200K on it. Camry was made in USA truck was made in Japan. The way I see it.....any vehicle is going to hold up as well as you take care of it. <br /><br />Mechanical problems are one thing, but with vehicles now a days a C O M P U T E R / E L E C T R O N I C glitches is generally what type problem you will have. Be it Jap made, German made, Swedish made, or USA made or what ever.

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

JD power does not differentiate between the two and consumer digest lumps the us and foreign mades together. I would assume that means that these two companies feel they are virtually identical.

 

[JB]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Consumer Reports rates the US made Toyotas as very reliable vehicles. Better than most US made US brands and better than the Canadian made US brands.<br /><br />Every Toyota model listed in the 2005 Buying Guide is rated in the top 5 for its group, with the Avalon, Sienna, Land Cruiser and Tundra rated as the best vehicles in their groups. The Camry, Prius and RAV4 were rated second best in their groups.<br /><br />The only US brand vehicle rated above a competitive Toyota vehicle is the Ford Focus.<br /><br />Junk? Not hardly.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

I am with JB, they are not junk. <br />Some Japanese manufacturers use thinner sheetmetal, but usually use it on all their cars, no matter where they are built.<br />Like the guy in Armegeddon, "US Spacecraft, Russian Spacecraft, does not matter, all parts made in Taiwan!"

 

[Link]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

My brother has been driving those small Toyota 4X4 trucks for decades. Last year was the first time he was dissappointed. Seams were not all welded where they should have been and sealant wasnt used in other places. Had to take it back twice in the first three months. He usually puts 400k plus hard miles on them. Over all they are good little rigs.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

JB the Ford Focus (actually it's the Escort rebadged) had the highest recall rate in history. Ford went through the learning curve and they have gotten better.<br /><br />ALL dealerships (regardless of make) have differant mechanics now. It is common for a mechanic to have $40K worth of tools and diagnostic equipment. Shade tree mechanics are falling by the wayside.<br /><br />ALL vehicles are getting better. Years ago if you visited a dealership or a garage you would see major transplants...engines, tranmissions and other major components. Now that is not the normal situation. Mechanics are no longer doing rebuilds as much.<br /><br />We all hear about the "bad" vehicles because that is the news that travels furthest. <br /><br />Check the quality survey press releases at <br /> http://www.jdpower.com/cc/global/pr/search.asp <br /><br />Isn't it sad that everytime a contry is conquered they end up making better vehicles! Now Viet Nam is making major components too.<br /><br />Bob

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

I have been driving Toyotas for 15 years. They have been:<br />1977 Celica<br />1985 Supra<br />1985 &1/2 Supra<br />3 1986 4Runners<br />1988 4Runner<br />1993 Land Cruiser<br />1995 Land Cruiser<br />1999 Tacoma<br /><br />I know about Toyotas. Especially four wheel drive trucks. The Toyotas made in America are NOTHING like the ones made in Japan. They are junk. That is why I sold my Tacoma and bought a Land Cruiser that was four years older, had 100000 more miles on it, and was made in Japan. JD Powers and Consumer Reports don't have the real world experience with Toyotas that I do.<br /><br />The only American made vehicels that I have owned that worth anything were:<br /><br />1968 GMC step side<br />1928 Desoto<br />1939 Chevy Master Delux<br />1956 Chevy Truck

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Here is a whole page full of "best in class" lists. There are few areas of agreement...<br /><br /> http://autos.msn.com/home/windowshopping.aspx?src=LeftNav

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

I buy Chev trucks and Toyota cars, I believe you can't beat either. Both made with imported parts and assembled in the USA. <br /><br />The Toyota's just won't die, I've turned my wifes' '97 Camry into one of my office vehicles, it is a wonderful car, Replaced it with a new Landcruiser, an amazing vehicle.<br /><br />My son has wrecked and rolled his little '87 Toyota truck, and it just keeps going. I'm a believer.<br /><br />Still love those full size Chevy Trucks.<br />Spud

 

[PierBridge]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Originally posted by spudbartlett:<br /> I buy Chev trucks and Toyota cars, I believe you can't beat either. Both made with imported parts and assembled in the USA. <br /><br />wifes' '97 Camry into one of my office vehicles, Replaced it with a new Landcruiser, an amazing vehicle.<br /><br />Still love those full size Chevy Trucks.<br />

Sounds like a perfect vehicle's for you and the wife.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Excellant link Ralph. I will not point out any brand names but any consumer can read and keep score. <br /><br />Bob

 

[petryshyn]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

To answer the original question:<br /><br />I worked for TOYOTA for 10 years. No difference in warranty issues between the Japanese and American assembled units. The Japanese are strict here as well.

 

[one more cast]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

SoulWinner, That averages out to 1.5 years per Toyota. Please explain.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

OMC, The Celica I bought used with 200K miles, put 50K on it and met a brand new Pontiac hea-on. The pontiac was totalled, I kept driving the Celica for a while, but I couldn't afford to fix it so I traded it.<br /><br />The Supra was totalled twice, I rebuilt it the first time, the second time I called it quits and sold the car. It is still on thr road today.<br /><br />Two of the Supra's I bought and sold to guy to build for racing.<br /><br />Of the 4runners, one I got stupid and traded. It was my favorite, the '85 with a solid front axle. One '86 Runner we put over 300K miles on it. I have never seen an American vehicle that could stand up to punnishment we put that poor truck through. We finally gave it away when we got the wife's Cruiser. It is still on the road. One '86 was totalled in a crash that should have killed me. The 1999 Ford Explorer that rear-ended me was totalled and unrebuildable, as was my 4Runner. However I continued driving my wrecked 4Runner for a month or so, then parted it out.<br /><br />So, American cars = 0, Toyota = 2<br /><br />I was not at fault in any of the crashes. Guess I'm a target or something.<br /><br />Two days ago I extracted a Ford F-250 4X4 extended cab. He was sunk in sand. Had already had another F-250 try to pull him out. I showed up and he didn't think my cruiser could do it. It did, and I didn't even have t engadge the lockers. <br /><br />American Superior Truck = 0<br />Japanese Grocery Getter = 1<br /><br />Have a nice day.

 

[PierBridge]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Two days ago I extracted a Ford F-250 4X4 extended cab. He was sunk in sand. Had already had another F-250 try to pull him out. I showed up and he didn't think my cruiser could do it. It did, and I didn't even have t engadge the lockers.<br /><br />I call Bull.<br />That's ridiculous based on your prior post in other threads.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Here is what happened, he sunk his rear axle, then engaged his transfer case. He had street tires on his rig and the front tires proceeded to bury themselves. We were driving on hwy 90 coming from Mossy Head toward Crestview(we wereout serving papers). On the south side of the hwy is a rail road track, and on the other side of the track is a little service road that is basically just a trail that is very sandy. I saw him buried as we drove by and decided to see if I could help. When we got there he didn't think we were there to help because we were in a loaded, cherry Land Cruiser. Plus, he didn't think it could pull out his truck anyway. I backed up to him and hooked up his chain (from the previous failure to recover his truck) and pulled him out. My LC didn't even labor. You don't have to believe it, but there are a couple of guys in Crestview that are pretty amazed at my little grocery getter. Also sir, you are an A-hole. You could make an attempt to be civil.

 

[DJ]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Sure was nice to hear from Schematic.<br /><br />How ya doing?

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: American Toyota..Junk or not.

Schematic,<br /><br />You worked for Toyota? Cool! I tried out the Service Writer position here for a day, many years ago. I really didn't feel good about what they were asking me to do, so I left. <br /><br />I believe that mechanically (engines, transmissions, electrical systems, etc.) the ones built here are probably about the same as the ones built in Japan. The differences I am talking about are things like interior fit and finish, interior structural integrity, and the integrity of the body panels. My Taco, in comparison to ALL the other Toyota's I've owned, seemed junky. The dash squeaked, the glove box door was clunky and flimsy, the seats were mushy and unsupportive, and the ergonomics sucked. It was just like a 2005 Lincoln Navigator in those respects. The sheet metal was thin. I bent the brackets that the tail gate closes against while unloading the bed, and bent them back into shape by hand. The doors closed like a 1970 VW bug, they didn't feel strong and secure; they were clanky and unsubstantial, like the doors on my old '85 4Runner. Those doors didn't have sound deadening insulation or electric windows and locks, so I didn't expected them to feel and sound that way. I expected more out of the Taco.