Comments on: Is Toyota headed down the toilet?

By: Williams Laurich

Williams Laurich — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:01:43 +0000

Toyota executives are currently testifying before Congress about the safety issues that have led to the recall of millions of vehicles. They insist that “We are confident that no problems exist with the electronic throttle control system in our vehicles.”

By: Neuromarketing

Neuromarketing — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:12:10 +0000

Your choice of Fiat isn’t totally inexplicable. Often long on styling and short on quality, Fiats are like a sexy but high-maintenance boyfriend/girlfriend. You know the car isn’t a wise choice, you know you will rue the decision later, but you just can’t help yourself in the moment.

(Not all Fiats are sleek and sexy. If your Fiat was an ugly one, it was probably the value-oriented part of your brain that made you buy it. “Yes, it’s junk, but look at the price!”)

-Roger

By: Kheepe Moremi

Kheepe Moremi — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:09:39 +0000

Do not write off anything Japanese as yet, Toyota included. The Japanese have three distinctive capabilities that come in handy in the face of setbacks. These are:- 1) resilience, 2) ability to bounce back and 3) self reliance. The first two, according to Peter Schwartz, in his book, The Art of the Long View, were built up over the years, partly because, the Japanese had to constantly live with the “four devils,”namely, earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and unwise leaders. With regards to self reliance, Schwartz argues that, ‘people in Japan save money not because they want to take over the world, but because they know they might have to rebuild after disasters.” My sense is that this applies equally to Toyota. I suspect that Toyota has built up a strong brand balance sheet from years of strong and predictable brand earnings that they can now draw on to offset their current brand liabilities at least for now.

By: Brendon

Brendon — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:29:33 +0000

I briefly owned a Toyota Corolla about five years ago, before a nasty accident. I enjoyed driving it, but the build quality was just not good and the hooter was pathetic. It sounded like a toy car.

Afterwards I bought a Renault Scenic. I won’t buy Renault again for various reasons, but compared to the Toyota Verso it was far superior in build quality, space, essential features like airbags all round and price.

I’ve never heard the hooter on a Toyota Verso, but will bet good money that it can’t match the Scenic there either!

By: MLH

MLH — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:38:01 +0000

When VW gave away its greatest brand power: reliability and longevity, Toyota took it over.

A dealer manager told me a few years ago that the new Toyota models would not be built to last; he was right. Toyota is giving away its greatest brand power…

Another manufacturer is sure to take it over and may have the savvy to make a greener model.

Cars are like ad agencies. Once you’ve reached the top, there’s only one way you can go and always dozens of others clawing their way over you to take your place.

By: hds

hds — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:38:03 +0000

Does Honda market in SA?

Most people I know regard it as even better than Toyota for the same cost. I’ve had three Japanese cars–my first car at 16, a used 1986 Nissan Sentra; when I graduated college, an Acura Integra (Honda’s upper end), and a few years later, a Toyota Corolla. Great cars all.

Hyundai still feels like their not-as-clever little brother.

By: Mark P

Mark P — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:19:23 +0000

Compare the build quality between your Hyundai and the two you passed up – Toyota Auris/Yaris. Far better on the T-brand!!

Beware – yer gets wot yer pays fer…always!!

Engineers face delicate choices between: weight saving and strength, to name but one.

Of the hundreds of moving parts in any vehicle, if only one shows signs of early wear, you are very fortunate.

By: mj

mj — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:30:30 +0000

German cars are overpriced,overengineered and
overrated.When you have a problem its a big expensive problem.

By: Ladyfingers

Ladyfingers — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:21:37 +0000

Hyundai’s reliablty rating is currently very good. The Koreans are trying extremely hard to beat the Japanese at every aspect of engineering. And, in some areas they are winning.

It took a Korean company (Hyundai) to produce the first relatively affordable Asian rear-wheel drive grand tourer coupé since the 80s (the Genesis Coupv), a move which compelled Toyota, long the most boring car company around, to revive their much loved Hachiroku in the form of the aforementioned FT-86.

You can’t be complacent when you’re in second place. Toyota–and I say this despite how much I loved my ultra-dependable old KE-70–had become thoroughly complacent, boring, uninspired and passionless. The recall is proof of it.

By: blogroid

blogroid — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:14:01 +0000

personally i’ve always preferred Nissans and/or Volksies… still drive a ’78 beetle [mainly around the neighbourhood... roadblocks are an issue] Feel much about Audi’s the way you now feel about toyotas, which i never liked. So much so, i wont spell the name with a capital