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Comments: 1-15, 16-24
I told the dealer to install XM satellite radio because the JBL audio system supports this add-on. While they did have it installed at time of delivery, they failed to ACTIVATE my free 6 months of service. I kept on bothering them about it, but only THREE months later did they finally do it. Toyota On Front is the MOST TERRIBLE dealer in all of Canada.
I also told Toyota On Front to install the rear Park Pilot system (4 sensor) before delivering my car. They only installed 2 sensors.
I later had Dave Nicholls Toyota install the other 2 successfully.
I had a front dash rattling noise which Downtown Toyota fix successfully.
The front passenger seatbelt panel wasn't aligned properly in the interior. Downtown Toyota fixed it.
I have the well-known 3-4 gear transmission flare. However I don't want it fixed because that may involve a brand new transmission. I don't want dealers touching my car anymore. They are not capable of putting anything back together properly.
The XM satellite reception is sometimes poor when I'm far from metropolitan areas. This was not so in the same places back in my old Toyota Echo. On that car, I had done the install myself.
In-built Homelink garage door opener doesn't recognize my home garage nor cottage garage codes. I asked dealer about it and they said they cannot help me because they'd have to come to my home.
This car has excellent thrust. However, 268hp is too much for a FWD car in 1st gear. You cannot launch this car fast in 1st gear because it spins the wheels too much. And then the traction control kicks in... launch is useless. Too much torque steer in 1st and 2nd gears.
Excellent JBL audio system. 6 speakers (rears are actually coaxial) and 440W. Bluetooth phone capability. In-dash 6CD changer which reads MP3s and WMAs. Available XM radio add-on. Steering wheel controls, too!
The car handles very well because it has a front cross brace, and rear cross brace. As a result, however you cannot fold the rear seats. The car also comes with larger wheels and tires. Also, it has a sport suspension and body kit. 0.01 cD lower drag, too!
The car does not absorb any bumps though. You will feel the road surface through your seat. Steering does communicate well back to the driver.
The car sits too low, so you must be careful with all sidewalk curbs, ramps and speed bumps. The maximum speed for speed bumps is about 30km/h. I must keep my tires a little over-inflated, else the car will scratch its nose when going down my condo's garage ramp.
Brakes cut-off very well and resist fade a long time. Excellent, sensitive brake feel.
Excellent interior room for front and rear passengers! Lots of legroom for all. Headroom can be a concern in the front if you like your driver's seat back to be more upright. Getting in and out of the front seats is difficult. I have to use the steering wheel as a handle. I frequently smash my head when getting in. Steering wheel doesn't tilt upwards far enough. Once you do sit down, the driver's seat offers an excellent lumbar support adjustable via a button.
Can I ask why you would want to purchase another Toyota when you have had several problems with a car that has been driven less than 10,000 miles and received such poor service at the dealer? Don't tell me, Toyota is the best right? Well, your review says otherwise. Try a domestic, you just might be surprised.
I have a 2004 Camry SE V6 and am very pleased with my car. Currently has 50K miles on it. I ride with the tires over inflated (works well) since I hate the low/rough ride. Concerning extras you bought from the dealership, it sounds like you should have stayed with doing it yourself. The excessive costs of dealerships have me going to other places to do the extras. Toyota service I have found to be excellent and I do take my car there for the maintenance. Hate the long wait, but none the less, I have been pleased with the service. Jacksonville, FL USA.
Garage Door Opener: For my Highlander with Homelink, I had to read the Garage Door Opener manual to program it. For that particular opener (new LiftMaster with random codes) you have to open the light cover on the lifter motor and push a button during the Homelink programming process. It's convoluted, but just follow the directions in the Toyota Owners Manual and the lifter's owner's manual. It actually has nothing to do with Homelink; you would have to push that button on the lifter to program any remote opener.
Ditto what the last poster said. My Altima has Homelink and it does require a careful read of your owner's manual to get it up and running with rolling-code garage door openers. Pretty much every opener is rolling-code now with only rather old units having the single code. I'm guessing that's the problem. Good luck.
I have a 1992 Toyota Camry with the 3vz-fe V-6, and the A-540E auto transmission. It has over 300,000 miles on it.
It is ALL original, except for the front and rear struts, brakes, and the usual maintenance items such as spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, timing belt... etc... It has always had timely maintenance performed. It was painted once. The exhaust system is 100% original (stainless steel system). All wheel bearings, tie-rod ends, C-V joints and suspension bushings are also original.
This is a JAPAN built Camry. I believe that the JAPAN manufactured vehicles, (even other brands) are built to higher standards and with higher quality materials and components than their domestic manufactured cousins, Toyota, Honda etc. These domestic manufactured vehicles seem to have more problems and shorter life of their components.
As some of you realize, there are a lot of parts that are made for domestic built "imports" by the same domestic suppliers for domestic brands such as FORD, CHEVROLET, CHRYSLER etc. This accounts for the apparent downfall in quality and reliability in the newer TOYOTA and HONDA "imports" today.
I am currently debating buying a domestic manufactured Toyota or a Japanese built Lexus. Honestly, I'm leaning toward the Lexus BECAUSE it is made in Japan. If I can find a Japan built Toyota, I will buy THAT.
I am not sure all Lexus models are made in Japan, but maybe it is true for now. Some city in Canada has been advertising about how proud to have the first Lexus plant outside of Japan. I think it is Montreal.
"I am currently debating buying a domestic manufactured Toyota or a Japanese built Lexus. Honestly, I'm leaning toward the Lexus BECAUSE it is made in Japan. If I can find a Japan built Toyota, I will buy THAT"
If you want to contribute to the worsening woes of your fellow Americans, our country gives you that freedom. However, the WORST vehicle we ever were cursed with (and that's a MILD way to put it) was a JAPANESE BUILT Honda.
Don't be prejudiced against American/Canadian made cars. Yes a 1989 Camry can go 200 or 300k miles, but so can an Oldsmobile Delta 88 or a Pontiac Bonneville with the 3800 V6.
Be honest when looking for a new car, truck, SUV or van... do your homework on price, options, safety, is it a new/redesigned model, how is it in snow, how quickly will I see rust, MPG, comfort, power, NVH, smoothness of ride... and so on. Don't listen to the media or online reviewers entirely.
I don't care about resale value, personally, because I believe that you should drive a vehicle into the ground, and at 20 to 27k miles per year I have run a few into the ground. Although most of my cars have been old 10-18 year old Ford and GM products, which rusted out before they wore out.
I drive a late model domestic now, and hope to keep it until it has in the 150,000 mile range... I figure I can still sell it at that point for a few grand, because it will only be 5 or 6 years old by then.
Thanks for reading - don't pick a car based on hype - pick based on value, quality, and comfort - give US cars a shot, and when you do you can feel good knowing that you did your part to help a fellow American... or Canadian neighbor.
I was saddened to hear that 13,000 more Americans are now jobless thanks to citizens who prefer to send their money to Japan. Saturn's closing puts the entire town of Spring Hill, Tennessee in a terrible financial bind, and leaves thousands of children without health insurance.
On a more positive note, I was ECSTATIC to read that even bankrupt GM sold more cars in the past year than Toyota, and Ford's sales drop in September was less than HALF the drop experienced by Toyota and only ONE FOURTH the drop experienced by Honda. Maybe patriotism is still alive in the hearts of a few Americans.
This weekend two friends of mine who know I'm a mechanic, auto buff and member of several car clubs asked me to help them test drive and pick out new Fords. Both were import owners (1 Nissan, 1 Toyota). I was happy to be of service, but our Ford dealership is selling their cars so fast there were very few Focuses and Mustangs, and ZERO Fusions to look at. Both friends opted for Mustangs. The Ford used car lot now has two more late model Japanese cars to go along with the half-dozen 2005-2007's they already had. A few people in this country DO care about their fellow citizens.
I was in a car show over 300 cars, and saw quite a crowd gathered around the new Hurst Challenger Camaro models and new Corvettes last night. I am very proud of the enthusiasm I saw with our new domestic cars together. I saw one new Nissan Z twin turbo 450 hp nice car, but I disliked the styling, but at least it was one decent fun car from Japan.
"I was saddened to hear that 13,000 more Americans are now jobless thanks to citizens who prefer to send their money to Japan. Saturn's closing puts the entire town of Spring Hill, Tennessee in a terrible financial bind, and leaves thousands of children without health insurance."
13,000 more people are now jobless because the Big 3 outsource their jobs. Those 13,000 people could now get a job at the U.S. based Honda and Toyota plants.
To the "Patriotic" Ford enthusiast - Your idea of "Patriotism" is very scary. Perhaps you would like to start your own dictatorship, where the markets are closed, and everyone is forced to buy your products.
If so, please do it far away from the USA.
"The Ford used car lot now has two more late model Japanese cars to go along with the half-dozen 2005-2007's they already had."
Yes, and most likely they purchased the other half-dozen at auction, because they know which used cars sell.
"However, the WORST vehicle we ever were cursed with (and that's a MILD way to put it) was a JAPANESE BUILT Honda."
Well the worst vehicle I've ever owned was an American built Dodge.
I've had great domestics and great imports, and I've had bad imports and bad domestics. The worst of my imports happen to have been German, but I've also had excellent German cars.
None of the Japanese cars I've owned gave me any trouble whatsoever.
I've had a few really nice American built cars as well.
Nothing is black and white, everything has shades of gray.
(Stop attacking Japanese built cars, you lose any credibility you might have when you do that)
"13,000 more people are now jobless because the Big 3 outsource their jobs. Those 13,000 people could now get a job at the U.S. based Honda and Toyota plants."
Problem plagued Toyota is now CLOSING plants. They are currently battling hundreds of roll-over lawsuits and two huge recalls of hundreds of thousands of vehicles for major safety defects.
Honda's sales dropped by more than FOUR TIMES what Ford's did in September (20% versus only 5% for Ford). No doubt word of Honda's disposable" transmissions did them no good. I doubt either of them, or the notoriously unreliable Nissan will be hiring ANYBODY.
There may yet be a tiny trace of patriotism left among car buyers in the U.S. It's just sad that those who choose to destroy our own companies are so unconcerned about their fellow citizens that they have to make attempts to justify their lack of compassion for their neighbors.