Toyotaness

[AutobahnSHO]

Oh, my Miata's A/C compressor, alternator and PS pump all have over 200K on them. I don't see the big deal.

The "big deal" is domestics don't last that long. Seriously, the OEM fuelpumps on the gen1 Taurus conked out at almost exaclty 80,000 miles on the dot. Alternators and waterpumps were almost as bad.

but when they put their mind to building something cool, they can.

TOYOBARU.   

[2o6]

They have some good shit in the lineup. HiLux is a pretty cool truck. Land Cruiser is a beast and always has been. 4Runner has always been a great midsize SUV. There's something cool about the FJ, even though it's not for me. In the past few years, SC430 and MR-2 Spyder were both awesome IMO. Their cars are generally vanilla, but when they put their mind to building something cool, they can.

If they updated the MR-2 Spyder and re-released it I'd scoop one up when the LR2 is paid off.

Hilux and Tacoma are pretty much the same (save for a Diesel option).



Their Vanilla cars are just so well engineered....everything is done in such a manner that shows that real thought was put into the details of how their product comes together, something other manufacutrers don't seem to obsess over.

You could not spend three days of posts freaking out then deciding which shitty mechanic to take it to then bitching about the job they do then saying how wonderful the car is, even after all that.

I took it to the dealer.

[MrH]

This thing is a giant

You're right, no other OEM don't put any thought in how things go together...

[2o6]

This thing is a giant

You're right, no other OEM don't put any thought in how things go together...

That's not what I mean.

I'm just admiring the thoughtfulness that Toyota put into their product. (Anecdotal, based upon what I have personally experienced)

[TurboDan]

Hilux and Tacoma are pretty much the same (save for a Diesel option).

How are they the same? For starters, they're differently sized. Hilux is smaller. The Hilux also has a fully boxed frame - and springs, suspensions are completely different on the HiLux. It can handle double the payload (though it can tow less than the Taco). Also, have you seen the interior of the '12 Hilux? It's head over heels better than the Taco. Hilux is also built on the IMV platform. I don't believe the Taco is.

Their Vanilla cars are just so well engineered....everything is done in such a manner that shows that real thought was put into the details of how their product comes together, something other manufacutrers don't seem to obsess over.

Huh? What other cars have you driven to make you think Toyota is superior? Toyota makes perfectly fine mainstream cars but "attention to detail" isn't one of their strong suits. If you read reviews, they're universally panned by automotive journalists for poor fit and finish. The Lexus division is better in this regard but I find the mainstream brand's product to be rather thrown together, haphazardly designed and cheap-feeling. As I mentioned, there are huge exceptions to this, but Toyota's cars are actually somewhat under-engineered for my taste.

[2o6]

I thought the Hilux and Taco were just badge jobs, but I am wrong.





The

How are they the same? For starters, they're differently sized. Hilux is smaller. The Hilux also has a fully boxed frame - and springs, suspensions are completely different on the HiLux. Also, have you seen the interior of the '12 Hilux? It's head over heels better than the Taco. Hilux is also built on the IMV platform. I don't believe the Taco is.

Huh? What other cars have you driven to make you think Toyota is superior? Toyota makes perfectly fine mainstream cars but "attention to detail" isn't one of their strong suits. If you read reviews, they're universally panned by automotive journalists for poor fit and finish. The Lexus division is better in this regard but I find the mainstream brand's product to be rather thrown together, haphazardly designed and cheap-feeling. As I mentioned, there are huge exceptions to this, but Toyota's cars are actually somewhat under-engineered for my taste.

Ignore the interior. I'm talking about how their cars are put together; mechanicals. How easy they are to work on....how elegantly simple they're made. Yeah, they're a bore to drive, but they do boring so very well.

[Onslaught]

In the last 5 years Toyota has fallen off in interior quality if you ask me. And I can pull a front bumper cover off with just my hands on a most of their normal cars like the Camry or Corolla. Trust me, I've done it before.
I'm not saying they make crap. But they don't put out as much good stuff as they have in the past.

I still think they make good trucks and SUV's.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I like how Toyota thinks it's a good thing to make the gas and brake pedals hyper-sensitive on/off switches. Modulation not required.

[2o6]

In the last 5 years Toyota has fallen off in interior quality if you as me. And I can pull a front bumper cover off with just my hands on a most of their normal cars like the Camry or Corolla. Trust me, I've done it before.
I'm not saying they make crap. But they don't put out as much good stuff as they have in the past.

I still think they make good trucks and SUV's.

I have noticed that too. Quality of my car isn't as good as either of my brother's Corollas. And interior of my car is better than my brother's 2011 Camry (pre facelift).

[TurboDan]

I have noticed that too. Quality of my car isn't as good as either of my brother's Corollas. And interior of my car is better than my brother's 2011 Camry (pre facelift).

The new Camry seems to have remedied the issue somewhat. Hopefully they're on the right track. I had a Rav4 as a rental last year and it was horrifically craptacular in the interior department. More rattles than I've ever heard in any other car that wasn't a taxi.

[sportyaccordy]

This thing is a giant

You're right, no other OEM don't put any thought in how things go together...

I dont think he said that...

And in any case, some OEMs don't

[ifcar]

Toyotaness (noun): An intangible attribute that makes owners praise the reliability of even an unreliable car.

[Soup DeVille]

Read the issues I had. Most of them are wear related or are issue that are known with the car. Not uncommon with any car, and the car has always run like a champ.



Gas tank - previous owner related.

Cooling fan - blown fuse

airbag light - bad clockspring; Toyota should do something about this, but it too is a very simple fix

alternator - these things break. 80K for the stock unit is par for the course



That's about it.

Alternators don't generally burn out without cause- that may be related to your other electrical gremlins.

In fact, I've never replaced an alternator on a newer vehicle. The Civic has 160,00 miles on it, on its fourth set of brakes, second clutch, and second set of front wheel bearings and struts/shocks. Fourth set of tires too.

Same alternator.

[2o6]

Alternators don't generally burn out without cause- that may be related to your other electrical gremlins.

In fact, I've never replaced an alternator on a newer vehicle. The Civic has 160,00 miles on it, on its fourth set of brakes, second clutch, and second set of front wheel bearings and struts/shocks. Fourth set of tires too.

Same alternator.

Voltage regulator died, a known issue with 2007 MY cars. When I bought the car, I knew it was bad, but it was sort of half-working (battery light would only come on sometimes) but then it finally stopped working correctly altogether.

[sportyaccordy]

Alternators def die, if they didnt rebuilt alternator shops wouldn't exist.

[2o6]

It didn't die in the manner that most alternators do (burn out and stop charging) but the voltage regulator died. There's a few guys on the Yaris forums that take it apart and fix them (there is literally just corrosion on the inside of the unit at the voltage regulator; it just needs cleaned out) but I just opted to buy one from a newer model year Yaris. (dealer part is $600, OEM won't work right).

[GoCougs]

Then again, what don't you state as "fact"?

This is decent Internetry.

[Soup DeVille]

Alternators def die, if they didnt rebuilt alternator shops wouldn't exist.

yes, but usually something causes them to fail: or they spin out the front bearing at 200,000 miles.

[Soup DeVille]

It didn't die in the manner that most alternators do (burn out and stop charging) but the voltage regulator died. There's a few guys on the Yaris forums that take it apart and fix them (there is literally just corrosion on the inside of the unit at the voltage regulator; it just needs cleaned out) but I just opted to buy one from a newer model year Yaris. (dealer part is $600, OEM won't work right).

Its a $600 fucking alternator?

Jesus Christ man.

[2o6]

Its a $600 fucking alternator?

Jesus Christ man.

$225 OEM unit.

[Soup DeVille]

$225 OEM unit.

OK, you're going to have to explain this one to me: The dealer sells a non-OEM part for three times the price? Since when do dealwers sell non-OEM parts?

Either something about your terminology is wrong, or this is one screwy setup.

[2o6]

I meant it's $225 for a 3rd party OEM spec part.


But it never works right. Causes the battery light to stay on.

[Soup DeVille]

I meant it's $225 for a 3rd party OEM spec part.


But it never works right. Causes the battery light to stay on.

So, $225 for an alternator that they know is bad, or $600 for one that works.

OK, so remind me again why this car is so great.

[TurboDan]

Why would anyone buy a car with a battery light on in the first place?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Why would anyone buy a car with a battery light on in the first place?

[Rupert]

Especially if they have all the money they can want via financing?

[Soup DeVille]

Why would anyone buy a car with a battery light on in the first place?

I've done so. Of course, that was on cars that cost marginally more than $600 for the whole thing, and a rebuilt alternator was $30...

[AutobahnSHO]

I like how Toyota thinks it's a good thing to make the gas and brake pedals hyper-sensitive on/off switches. Modulation not required.

amen bro. Whiplash every time I drive the van. I guess it feels "more powerful" to have the gas pedal go to 20% engine power with the pedal 1% down.

[2o6]

I've done so. Of course, that was on cars that cost marginally more than $600 for the whole thing, and a rebuilt alternator was $30...

The unit I bought was only $75.

[2o6]

I don't really have to justify anything to them. I can still call it a good car, and seems like the trouble areas have been addressed....so hopefully nothing else will happen.