Why have Americans been flummoxed by the Toyota hype?

Question

For years, back in the late seventies, Toyota made a better
car than the US did, but that all ended years ago, now Ford
and GM and Chrysler have as many good cars as Toyota.
In fact, some of the GM and Ford cars have surpassed
Toyota in quality, gas mileage, and long life, yet Americans
continue to buy Jap cars due to the hype.
The Toyota Camry gets the EXACT same gas mileage as
a new Tahoe. GM has 19 cars that get over 30 MPG, Toyota has only 9.
And the Toyota trucks have LOWER MPG than American
trucks, the new Tacoma had 100,000 of the 135,000
that were sold RECALLED for torque converter problems,
they pull NOWHERE near the capacity that they advertise,
and they are butt ugly.

Again, you believe the hype. Have you
even bothered to TRY an American car?

Andy Rooney made a big deal out of this 3 years ago, bragging about buying a Toyota, but when asked, he admitted he hadn't test driven an American car in 18 years. He now owns a Cadillac.

Answer 1

So far I am the only one that has cited a reliable source.

It only ended last year, according to Consumer Reports. I don't think one year is enough to erase a generation of satisfied customers. I'll take my 12-year-old Camry over a new Ford any day.

I have owned Chevrolet Nova and Vega, Dodge Colt, and Ford Escort.
.

Answer 2

I am a true believer that what you are saying is true. I can give you some supporting examples. I have owned two Toyotas in the past couple of years. The first, a 2002 Prius was purchased new. My comments about this car are censored, however here are a few of the highlights. 20,000 miles, all 4 tires worn out. 34,000 miles, mileage dropped and the dealer stsed that it was normal because the battery was aging and dropping in efficiency. At 48,000 miles the car would not start at all. This was caused by a seal in the fuel tank failing and sending an out of gas signal to the computer. When that was repaired I inquired about the cost of a new set of batteries and was told that they could not even estimate the cost, and that it was likely to exceed the value of the vehicle. I traded it in the next day on a 2004 Mercedes 230 sedan.
My 0ther Toyota was a 2002 MR2. it was fairly trouble free, but suffered greatly from quality issues. The heat shields on the exhaust system buzzed and rattled, the drivers door panel began to remove itself from the door, and the paint began to peel off the engine compartment cover. I traded it in on a 2004 Ford F350 Superduty. I will never go back to Toyota. I think that their service departments are hacks.My Ford dealer has been great as is the Mercedes dealer. I recently upgraded ny 2004 MB to a 2006 and never had one single service issue. The same with my Ford truck. Flawless performance and at 50 k still running and driving like a new one.

Answer 3

Hype is Hype. Toyota seems to be prospering off of ingenius marketing schemes that sell cars. Maybe the cars are better overall or maybe they aren't. Ford seems to be having the most trouble due to its never ending stream of recalls. My parents Ford Escape has had I swear 50 recalls, it's a safety hazzard on the road. Then again, my dad's Ford E series van ran 499,999 miles on the original engine/tranny. GM struggles due to more expenses than revenue. I've always thought Chevrolet was the best value for price. I have a '91 Lumina with 230,000 miles and runs like new, very few and minor problems along the way. I know some people who only buy Toyota and I am not very impressed. They are 2004 and newer and are always in the shop for some kind of tune up. I know a few construction companies struck deals on the Tundra, but got rid of them due to underperformance, poor payload, and tow struggle. And I know a lot of people who love them. Seems like most consumers of Toyota are older women and larger city inhabitants. You go to a small farm community, people don't want Toyota. A scion wouldn't last on a gravel road in the winter, lol.

Answer 4

I am not certain what your question is but americans have proven that they can be swayed by advertising more so than performance . I tend to agree that gm is better that toyota but it is my opinion. The fact is most people want what others have . For instance the Beta video tape recorders where far superior than the VHS models but vhs won out because more people wanted what others had bought few even considered quality. It was strctly marketing Sony is to blame for their failure by not shareing the beta machine with enough manufacturers like JVC shared the vhs and JVC talked about their one good point and that was 8 hours of recording time even though you could not find 8 hour tapes, and if you did the quality was horrid. Look at the Toyota truck ads ...DO you think you might have to climb a giant teeter totter pulling a trailer? Did they show other trucks not being able to do it ? Toyota has fantastic marketing but it is mostly show with not much go.

Answer 5

I think that the fall of quality for the Big Three started in the late seventies. American engineers have allot to learn, which I hope they do. I have seen Toyota's with 300000 to 400000 miles on them coming in for routine service (just an oil change) I cannot recall the last time I saw a domestic model with that many miles on it. So what would be more energy conscious, buying a new car every 3-5 years driving the same one for 15 years.

Answer 6

Consumers praise Honda for their 50 MPG Civic Hybrid, but don't care to touch their 12 MPG Ridgeline or even their 15 MPG Pilot.

Consumers also praise Toyota for their 60 MPG Prius (which Prius has been proven to only get 45) but also don't bother to touch their 16 MPG Sienna, their 14 MPG Tacoma, their 13 MPG Tundra, 14 MPH 4Runner, their 12 MPG Sequoia, their 15 MPG FJ Crusier, or even their 10 MPG Landcruiser, because they are brainwashed into thinking that Japanese cars are flawless, and have always been for decades

I have always been a GM Guy.
GM pays more taxes, employs more workers, has more domestic plants, supports more families, retirees and their dependents, and has a higher overall domestic parts content than the foreign competition - hands down. American quality is on the rise. Efficiency has increased. GM kept America rolling by donating millions of dollars in cash and vehicles in the aftermath of 9/11. Where was the foreign competition in America’s time of need? They were busy reaping in record profits and sending them home to reward foreign owners at the expense of an American company that built the foundation of prosperity that America as a whole enjoys.

Answer 7

I've owned American and I've owned Toyota. The American cars/trucks were junk, Toyota is not.

Edit: Yes, I have tried American Cars. I've had a Buick (LaSabre), a Ford (Expedition) and a Chevy (Z71) and presently have a GMC Denali...all junk, when I got over 75,000 miles on any one of them (and out of warranty) they all nearly self destructed. Problem after problem, the Ford being the worst.

I have owned 3 Honda's, and 2 Toyota's. The Honda's I drove well over 100,000 miles, a Prelude for nearly 200,000 and the only persistent problem with it was the A/C. I owned an Avalon which was the most comfortable car I've ever owned. I presently own a Toyota 4-Runner. When I was in the market for a mid-size SUV I drove literally every one on the market. As soon as I got behind the wheel of the 4-Runner and started the engine I knew it was for me. Three years and not one iota of trouble later and I'm still loving it.

I'm not sure what is behind your question/statement but I completely disagree with you. But to each his own. I just take exception to your calling anyone that does not share your opinion 'flummoxed'. One thing I can guarantee I'm not is 'flummoxed'.

Answer 8

All I can say is you're full of BS.

I have owned:

1-'49 Chev
2-'51 "
1-'52 "
1-'54 "
4-'55 "
1-'57 "
1-'59 "
1-'62 " Impala SS
1-'63 " Nova
1-'64 " Impala
1-'65 " Nova
1-'65 " Malibu
1-'66 " Malibu
1-'66 " Impala
1-'77 " Impala
1-'84 " Impala
1-'86 " Monte Carlo SS
1-'98 " Venture van
1-'92 GMC Pickup
1-'94 Suburban

NOW I drive and own ONLY Toyotas

TOYOTA did not get to the top by building JUNK pal.

FACE IT!

Answer 9

Unfortuately many Americans have bought into this. Most new cars are very reliable, and will last well beyond the point you need it to. I won't buy a Japanese car because i feel they have no personality, whereas American and German cars do. And, looking at Toyota recently, they shown that their quality isn't as good as it once was. I would trust GM over Toyota lately.

Answer 10

Gm makes one good car, corvette and the price is outragus, a cobalt ss is a supercharged 2.2 liter with 195 bhp now a 01 honda prelude has a naturaly asperated 2.2 liter with 200 hp? american cars are week and can only make power with big displacemt gas guzzeling v8s and all there "improvements" have bin made by stealing from imports.