Topic: Toyota / Lexus Tidbits

[Greg B.]

Toyota has had its problems lately but over all they are still the leaders in reliability. GM on the other hand by and large have products that are at best average - the only possible exceptions to this are the malibu and the GMT900 pickups.

Ridiculous.

[Roddy]

Toyota has had its problems lately but over all they are still the leaders in reliability. GM on the other hand by and large have products that are at best average - the only possible exceptions to this are the malibu and the GMT900 pickups.

Ridiculous.

Not in the least.

[Frontier1]

http://www.canada.com/business/fp/Toyota+cuts+paid+days/2109035/story.html

[Frontier1]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-toyota-crash25-2009oct25,0,2288195.story

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/toyota-floor-mat-problem-was-known-two-years-ago/

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/10/18/Experts-Toyota-safety-flaw-systemic/UPI-80491255880161/

[ArticSteve]

 the only possible exceptions to this are the malibu and the GMT900 pickups.

Speaking of the Malibu; I rented a 2010 unit and I could not locate a key lock for the trunk    I am going daft or is this a fact Monsieur PATATE.  If would appear that since the trunk is electrically operated if the battery dies then access to the trunk is DENIED TO USER. 

[Patate]

the only possible exceptions to this are the malibu and the GMT900 pickups.

Speaking of the Malibu; I rented a 2010 unit and I could not locate a key lock for the trunk    I am going daft or is this a fact Monsieur PATATE.  If would appear that since the trunk is electrically operated if the battery dies then access to the trunk is DENIED TO USER. 

Well I just went outside to check and you are right, you can't open it if the battery is dead.  However, you can fold down the rear seat.. does that work for you?

[ArticSteve]

Not really.  When this car gets older and the electric trunk release breaks, and it will eventually break, then there will be no practical way of using the trunk the old fashion way.  That's why these cars have almost no value when they are older.  Stupid stuff like no key lock in the trunk flips ppl out.  How much money did GM save on that one

One thing that really bothered me as a tourist with the Malibu is that my luggage, passport, drugs  , etc. locked in the trunk where not secure.  There was no lockout for the electric trunk release.  Once someone gained access to the vehicle then they had quick access to the trunk vis the release button on the driver's door.  Smash the driver's door glass and bingo the trunk is open. 

[Patate]

Not really.  When this car gets older and the electric trunk release breaks, and it will eventually break, then there will be no practical way of using the trunk the old fashion way.  That's why these cars have almost no value when they are older.  Stupid stuff like no key lock in the trunk flips ppl out.  How much money did GM save on that one

One thing that really bothered me as a tourist with the Malibu is that my luggage, passport, drugs  , etc. locked in the trunk where not secure.  There was no lockout for the electric trunk release.  Once someone gained access to the vehicle then they had quick access to the trunk vis the release button on the driver's door.  Smash the driver's door glass and bingo the trunk is open. 

If you're worried about thieves when buying a car, you don't live in the right place.

Also, what tells you this trunk thing will break down? I agree with you that no key lock is dumb, but wow.. "when it'll break".  I'd be more worried about the floor mat of a toyota. :/

[Honda Owner]

Not having a lock cylinder on the trunk is about costs. It would save about $10 per car not to include it. I prefer having said cylinder to not having it.

[Ex-airbalancer]

prius has no key for the rear hatch

[ArticSteve]

If you're worried about thieves when buying a car, you don't live in the right place.

Occasionally ppl travel in their cars away from their place of residence.    I grew up with vehicles that gave ppl the option of having a locked trunk.  If I had to valet my car I like the option that the parking dudes don't have the option of rifling thru my possessions.  To me it's a pretty basic part of the car.

The fact of the matter is that the Malibu still suffers from some pretty cheap applications:

When engaging the security system the horn sounds.   How annoying is that at 2:00 a.m.   

Another thing is the continued use of the 1 bulb tail light/brake system.  How utterly cheap is that and not particularly safe.

Some of the car seems really well done and then some of the car seems like it is stuck in the 90s.  You get what you pay for.  Currently, the US and Canadian taxpayer are subsidizing every GM sold.  That will end in about 18 months and even though the product is much improved it's not first tier despite all the taxpayer sponsored TV spots claiming otherwise. 

[Patate]

If you're worried about thieves when buying a car, you don't live in the right place.

Some of the car seems really well done and then some of the car seems like it is stuck in the 90s.  You get what you pay for.  Currently, the US and Canadian taxpayer are subsidizing every GM sold.  That will end in about 18 months and even though the product is much improved it's not first tier despite all the taxpayer sponsored TV spots claiming otherwise. 

Could you stop it with the taxpayer nonsense? For the record, GM has been "bought" by the governement, so in no way has it been free money. 

I also like how however a GM car is good, you'll always try to find flaws (you're not alone in this).  But then I never see you talk about how inferior some Toyota products are.  Instead, you're busy trying to find that little something that's wrong with the Chevrolet.  Sales-wise it's the same thing (I don't remember if it is you, or Honda Driver, or that other import lover): When the Tundra gets outsold 10 to 1 compared to Ford or GM, you say it's a good start, and the share will build up, but when the Malibu gets close to 1-to-1 (Canada) or 3-to-1 vs the camry, it's'" not good enough", and GM bought those shares with our taxpayer's money.  Well guess what, those Chevys sell for more $ than the Toyotas.

[Leviathan]

If you're worried about thieves when buying a car, you don't live in the right place.

Occasionally ppl travel in their cars away from their place of residence.    I grew up with vehicles that gave ppl the option of having a locked trunk.  If I had to valet my car I like the option that the parking dudes don't have the option of rifling thru my possessions.  To me it's a pretty basic part of the car.

The fact of the matter is that the Malibu still suffers from some pretty cheap applications:

When engaging the security system the horn sounds.   How annoying is that at 2:00 a.m.   

Another thing is the continued use of the 1 bulb tail light/brake system.  How utterly cheap is that and not particularly safe.

Some of the car seems really well done and then some of the car seems like it is stuck in the 90s.  You get what you pay for.  Currently, the US and Canadian taxpayer are subsidizing every GM sold.  That will end in about 18 months and even though the product is much improved it's not first tier despite all the taxpayer sponsored TV spots claiming otherwise. 

You're reaching  

[Frontier1]

Petty issue, a trunk lock on any car when hardly used because we use the remote or the button on the inside or the small lever, will be seized and useless in 7-8 years.  I was in the locksmithing business for 14 years, repairing/cleaning/replacing trunk locks was common, Toyota no exception.

Light bulb, give us a brake, how many GMs do I see driving around with burnt tailight compared to others? no worse than others.  Actually your in the wrong thread, that's a VW problem

The fact of the matter is that the Malibu still suffers from some pretty cheap applications but tops the cheap Camry interior big time.

No fail safe system on the $80k Lexus throttle by wire system compared to the german competition, that's cheap.

Here's a refresher for you
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/eyeonasia/archives/2009/10/toyoda_on_toyot.html

Akio Toyoda thinks he knows what’s wrong with Toyota, the world’s biggest car maker. Success has made it cocky. It has been expanding in an undisciplined fashion. It has been in denial about the peril it faces. Now Toyota is “grasping for salvation,” Toyota’s president told a news conference today at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. “But I’m not the savior.”

[inco]

Scions will soon be here.

As much as I like the concept and execution of the Scions I can't help but think this will further dilute sales from other in house brands such as Yaris.

Can there be such a thing as too much Toyota? Soon we will see.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/718374--toyota-s-funky-scion-coming-to-canada

[Ex-airbalancer]

Scions will soon be here.

As much as I like the concept and execution of the Scions I can't help but think this will further dilute sales from other in house brands such as Yaris.

Can there such a thing as too much Toyota? Soon we will see.

Have to agree with you

[Frontier1]

Scions will soon be here.

As much as I like the concept and execution of the Scions I can't help but think this will further dilute sales from other in house brands such as Yaris.

Can there such a thing as too much Toyota? Soon we will see.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/718374--toyota-s-funky-scion-coming-to-canada

I have to agree as well
Toyota, Lexus, Scion and they are talking about making Prius a brand.  Starting to look a lot like GM.

[TopGun]

.....Success has made it cocky. It has been expanding in an undisciplined fashion. It has been in denial about the peril it faces. Now Toyota is “grasping for salvation,”...

Hey I posted that October 2nd...interestingly, I got no response...huh...'magine that.

Toyota, Lexus, Scion and they are talking about making Prius a brand.  Starting to look a lot like GM.

All Toyota...all the time...the hits just keep coming folks!

[[ EMT ]]

Scions will soon be here.

As much as I like the concept and execution of the Scions I can't help but think this will further dilute sales from other in house brands such as Yaris.

Can there such a thing as too much Toyota? Soon we will see.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/718374--toyota-s-funky-scion-coming-to-canada

I have to agree as well
Toyota, Lexus, Scion and they are talking about making Prius a brand.  Starting to look a lot like GM.

Good on them if they can be as huge as GM, at least, when Toyota suffers more financial difficulty, we, in North America won't be bailing them out with our taxpayers money...except for places where they have their factories.

[ArticSteve]

Could you stop it with the taxpayer nonsense? For the record, GM has been "bought" by the governement, so in no way has it been free money.

      

If you hoped the auto bailout had ended when Chrysler and General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, you might want to stop reading.

The Detroit News reports, "The Treasury Department plans to inject up to $5.6 billion in new capital in GMAC -- the latest effort to help the auto finance giant, a government official confirmed late Tuesday."  The government will accept preferred shares of stock in return.  "The new government infusion would be on top of $12.5 billion in government support extended since December. In May, the Treasury Department injected $7.5 billion in GMAC, took a 35.4 percent stake in the company and appointed two directors."

It would be GMAC's third federal bailout loan.  The New York Times explains, "as the Obama administration contemplates a third rescue of GMAC, the onetime finance arm of General Motors, federal officials, automotive executives and analysts all say the company is - just like the biggest Wall Street firms - too big to fail."

The company's role in the American auto industry is pivotal.  GMAC is now the primary finance company providing loans to those buying General Motors and Chrysler products.  Chrysler's former finance arm, Chrysler Financial, is in the process of shutting down and originates very few new loans.  GMAC also provides the financing that helps most GM and Chrysler dealers operate, and, in the years before the recent financial collapse, began investing in subprime mortgages.

GMAC, however, is not doing well.  CNN Money notes that the company "has lost $4.6 billion so far this year and has posted losses in seven of the past eight quarters, as vehicle lending has plunged along with demand for cars and its subprime mortgage loans have gone bad."