Originally Posted By: Noey
Toyotas sell to the reliability fetishists and paranoids out there who are ignorant to reliability in all cars these days and overstate the issue, they're simply terrified of any mechanical issue
That's me! For the past ten years when my VW gave grief I would drive an hour to three hours for repairs or service that I could not do. Even today renting a car requires a 40 minute drive, each way. I could use a local garage but dropping the car off for a day or three is not acceptable to me--how do I get to work in the meantime?
Yes, I am terrified of mechanical problems! Comes from poor choices, like living in the sticks and not having a spare vehicle--or not replacing vehicles every few years.
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and either have absolutely no taste or aesthetic sense whatsoever and sacrifice that on the alter of so called invincibility. I know that sounds cynical, but every time I drive in a Toyota I simply cannot wait to get out of it, it just reeks of cheap. The materials, the finishes, the ride, the overall style..event that unique Toyota smell... I have never experienced the "Quality". Sorry if I offend.
No, I agree, our Toyotas are definitely low rent. I hate the steering feel, the throttle tip in, and in my Tundra I hate the trans programming. I prefer leather seats, the ones in my VW were great for wear; speaking of which, they also had some idea of lumbar support.
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So, anything that strays from the formula...booooring inexpensive sedans appealing to booooring people...
Works for me. I don't skydive, scuba, take crazy risks... Boring is fine to me. I like driving to work with the windows up, no radio on or listening to classical music. How exciting does it have to be to roll down the road at 60-70mph?
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don't cut it in the sales dept. Once a maker steps into another category, they are summarily judged far differently. Convertibles=sporty. A Solara? really? Tundra? really? Do Americans equate Toyota with that all American Pick up truck? These might be perfectly adequate cars, but the image Toyota has so cleverly crafted all these years basically puts them in a marketing box they really cannot get out of.
Pretty sure Toyota has not gotten such kid treatment. Echo was a flop, Yaris slightly better, Scion has not taken off, and Venza is in its death throes. Tundra was always put down and never has lived up to sales expectations.
For the record I still kinda like my Tundra. Four normal doors and a 6.5' bed. That setup might be available today new, but I don't think it was when I bought two years ago. No options, plain jane, suits me well. Its failings are things other trucks have issues with too (mpg, sky high height).