Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-50
"At 11:53: Where are your facts?" The entire comment is nothing BUT facts. I don't understand the point of the question.
6:39 remembers back in the 90's. So do I... but I buy new vehicles drive more than most and saw imports decline... dramatically since then. With engines and transmission issues.
I drive 50,000 miles plus in under 2 years. Let's talk 2004 to present; my GM's have been flawless. I can use the word junk as well and apply it recently with imports. 17 years ago my Hondas were better, not now.
I agree, see consumeraffairs.com on Honda/Toyota recent issues. It's not the 90's anymore.
6:39 is basing his opinion on ONE Ford he bought two DECADES ago that had very high mileage, and ONE Toyota that is 17 years old. This is not a very sound basis. That is like basing my opinion of all domestics on my 1960 Studebaker.
Here are some facts, not opinions:
1.The Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in the United States for 12 years, trading off with the Honda Accord once.
2.The Camry has had far better ratings than any domestic car ever has concerning 'best buys', 'quality', and 'reliability'.
3.In J.D. Power's recently released study, they rated 19 different types of automobiles... large trucks, mid size cars, etc... Toyota took the number one spot in 11 categories, Honda took two, and Hyundai took one. Which leaves only FIVE for the ironically named 'Big 3'. Dodge wasn't even mentioned, which shouldn't surprise anybody who knows anything at all about cars and trucks.
You people can feel free to try and sell Grand Prix's or whatever other kind of sub-par domestic junk you want on here. Toyota owners are smart enough to spend their money on something that's proven to last. Anybody reading this that is swayed into buying a Grand Prix, or any other Ford, Chevy, or Dodge, before a Toyota, deserves the misery of owning and being stuck in one.
It's when I hear comments like "I've never had a domestic transmission failure in any of mine, nor do I know anyone who has." I know that someone is biased or are not telling the whole truth. During the nineties and up to recent time I was largely responsible for keeping my family's cars in running condition. Basically stuff from "big-3". It's not a time I think back on with fond memories although I learnt a lot about cars that's for sure in chronological order:
Four different Taurus V6 autos with that "famous" 3,8 engine. Spacious and comfortable, but just plain crap build quality. In the end I knew how to swap head gaskets in the blind. And the transmissions consistently blew before 100K or thereabout.
A Lumina 3,1 that generally was good but with a bad engine that needed replacement after 80K. Leaking head gaskets and a blown rod bearing.
Then a Voyager that we worked on endlessly with unreliable electrics. Dozens of smaller things as well as a transmission swap
A near new Probe with transmission problems, leaking compartment, bad electrics, stalling problems and gods know what. I sold that one after repairing replacing it with a Camry.
Then more Mopar junk buying a 300M that was a few years old but bought with a blown engine. We swapped that but the year later the transmission blew. The build quality on this car was just a nightmare: AC, emissions system, fuel pump, window lifters, starter, generator etc. Basically all electrics imaginable blew before 140K and in the end it was scrapped less than 7 years old.
The problems didn't stop until we started buying Toyotas and Hondas. We had a couple of Camrys that were seriously good. Bought second hand and run for many years with little problems. Now we have a couple of newer Camrys incl a 06 that so far both are looking good: No problems what so ever.
"Anybody reading this that is swayed into buying a Grand Prix, or any other Ford, Chevy, or Dodge, before a Toyota, deserves the misery of owning and being stuck in one."
Having been "stuck" in several Ford, GM and Chrysler vehicles for 250,000 miles or more with no mechanical problems at all, I'll take my chances with them any day over any import.
I agree with comment 2nd Sep 2008, 10:01. I rarely see Camry's with high mileage. I've even been on Ebay looking at different makes and such. If you look at all the Camrys for sale, you will find that at at least 80% of them say "Low mileage one owner" with all under like 50,000 miles. Meanwhile, you can look at domestics like Impalas, Taurus' and Intrepids (even ones with the dreaded 2.7 motor) with tons of miles on them. Not saying Ebay is a very credible source for car reviews, but that tells me that people don't tend to keep their Camry's very long, yet I hear of people constantly arguing on hear about how great they seem to be with 300,000 miles on them. Hmm. Just last week my 2002 Dodge Stratus rolled over 180,000. Do I want a gold star? No. But this is my second Dodge, and one of many domestic cars that I have owned that I will have had for well over 200K with minimal work. On the other hand, my wifes 2003 Nissan Altima, another one of those "bullet-proof" imports, is sitting in my garage awaiting a new transmission at about 75K. This will be the third time for the same repair, among numerous other wallet draining expenses for it. Moral? Imports are not always better. Period.
To 23:05;
I made the comment you refer to, and I still have not personally seen a Camry with over 130,000 miles on it. A friend recently asked me to help him find a good older small truck for his son and I looked only at the Ford Ranger simply because these are the most reliable small trucks built. I was amazed to see Rangers with over 220,000 miles literally all over the place. One had 310,000 miles. These trucks all looked and ran great. My family's companies use Ford Rangers and 300,000 miles out of a 2.3 4-cylinder XL with virtually no repairs is typical, however they usually don't LOOK all that good after that many hard-use miles.
As for other domestics, I'm a mechanic and car enthusiast and drive all different kinds of cars. We usually own 3 to 5 cars at any given time. We have put over 325,000 miles on one Ford with less than $500 in repairs, 240,000+ miles on a Dodge with only two timing belts and one hose replaced and 277,000 on a 1977 Buick LeSabre with ZERO repairs. That's representative of all the domestics we've ever owned. We have owned 3 imports, and not a one of them made 100,000 miles without very major problems. After owning and working on imports and seeing how horribly under-engineered virtually everything on them is, I'm no longer comfortable with them.
I was "stuck" in my Corvette LS1 Convertible this holiday weekend. It was a shame to suffer so much.
Yes, 21:08, I know just what you mean. I was "stuck" in my Grabber Orange Mustang and my Redfire Pearl Fusion all weekend too. Such a chore. If they are true to form I'll probably be "stuck" in them for another 200,000 miles. Life is hard.
"I was "stuck" in my Corvette LS1 Convertible this holiday weekend. It was a shame to suffer so much."
Yes, I have the same problem - those Corvettes are built so darn low to the ground I can't climb out of them.
It's like sitting in a very small bath tub.
Don't feel too bad though, like my daddy used to say - if you work real hard & save some money maybe you can buy yourself a real car, at least one that isn't made out of some kind of new-fangled plastic.
I bought the convertible Vette. Just stand up, it's worth the mere 5 grand more. I have a truck and SUV as well.
I purchased my first and last TOYOTA in 2007. I purchased a TOYOTA CAMRY, what a joke, and I am so disappointed. I am warning everyone I know do not purchase this piece of junk. Problems I am currently having; Struts (almost 1,000 dollars for the dealership to replace) and the struts are only sold from this dealership, throttle body problems (this car is losing power and has a very noticeable vibration), and my CD player no longer works. I have a little over 100,000 miles on this horrible car. No more Toyotas for me.
13:11 I doubt it. The newer Vettes are usually referred to as C designations when discussing.
The model mentioned was redesigned to allow easy entry with redesigned sills and shallow entry. Our Acura TL was actually similar in entry exit. The power lumbar Vette seats have had no complaints from my senior friends and family. I have taken 800 mile trips, nice ride and 28 MPG on interstates.
I found getting out of my sons Viper a contortionist effort, but the newer Vettes are easy. Entry in and out.
I doubt you actually rode in a newer model. My older ones were like that, not the new generation whatsoever and they ride great.
A lot of people have walked around cars in a lot only and not taken a ride, let alone long distances in these cars.
Comment 10:12 is all too typical of late model Toyotas. That's why Consumer Reports dropped their "recommended" rating in 2007. Entirely too many problems.
Our Dodge was sold at 240,000 miles in perfect running condition. It NEVER had the struts (or anything else replaced).
Our Buick made 277,000 miles before it was sold and it never had a single repair.
J.D. Powers currently lists a Ford and a Buick as the best in long-term reliability based on long-term surveys of cars over 3 years old.
Toyota has lost its place as a builder of reliable vehicles. We've owned Japanese cars, but never again.