jap made toyotas vs us made

[93cr250]

not sure if this is the right section to post this in but i have always wondered how jap made toyotas or even hondas and nissans compare to us made ones. We have a 95 and a 96 camry both us made obviously so i have nothing to compare,

[Yuko]

Some parts are slightly different but overall both J-Vin and TMMK Camrys are the same. But some do suggest that the Japanese assembled Camry are put together better and has nicer paint.

[LynchburgCSI]

It's been discussed. Search around.

[zythr]

Originally Posted by 93cr250

not sure if this is the right section to post this in but i have always wondered how jap made toyotas or even hondas and nissans compare to us made ones. We have a 95 and a 96 camry both us made obviously so i have nothing to compare,

Japanese made Toyotas are better.

[fenixus]

There is TONS of slightly different minor things for J-VIN cars, even most of bolts are different. You can see that when browsing parts listing on www.toyodiy.com/parts parts marked with (J) are for J-VIN cars and ones marked with (L) are for North America.

Generally people say J-VIN cars last longer with less trouble than North American counterparts (either TMMK for Camry or TMC for Camry Solara).

[Billiam]

I believe TMMK also built the Solara...at least the gen-2.

Until someone shows me hard proof that J produced vehicles are "better" than N. American produced vehicles when comparing apples to apples, then I raise the B.S. flag on this one. I think it's people's perception/misconception that J produced vehicles are certainly superior because deep down in our subconscious we can't or don't want to believe that the American worker cares as much or has as much skill as their Japanese counterpart. For those who don't believe, try reading up on The Toyota Production System (TPS) and just how consistent the build process is from plant to plant amoung identical vehicles.

Utter nonsence, IMO.

[pmesfun]

^I agree.

[fenixus]

yeah, it sounds like BS to me too
my both Solaras are Canada made and are all right

[71Corolla]

I've owned both, same year 1993 same colour same just about everything. The J built car is a better car, but not anything dramatic. The NA produced cars have some cheap stuff installed from the factory, like terrible struts, they are truly wretched and don't last worth a damn. The made in U.S. amplifier is terrible, cheap capacitors that dry out and explode.

I did not notice any difference between the quality of the paint, and I actually thought the NA produced car had a better body structure. The doors looked to be better stamped and folded together, and better sealant applied. The overall structure also felt stiffer and better put together. But overall, not much to chose between the two IMO, I would own either.

Now the NA produced Toyota's I've looked at produced today, different story. I found the lack of quality quite shocking.

[pmesfun]

NA cars produced today is a different story. Although my dad's car has no annoying problems. QC is just not as good as older Toyotas.

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

NA cars produced today is a different story. Although my dad's car has no annoying problems. QC is just not as good as older Toyotas.

It's starting to happen to some Japan produced models. My next door neighbour has a 2006 Prius, which is put together flawlessly. One of the best assembled car I've seen, very tight and consistent body seams, perfect. Maybe even better than my Lexus. I looked at a new Prius with him just for fun, the quality is not as good. Cost cutting is creeping into everything.

[Silent Runner]

Just looked, mine was made in Japan! Yey! But only really for the cars built back then. I think after a few years of North. American production, they were probably pretty close. It was sad to see however in one of the recent recalls, that it was the US sourced accelerater pedal that caused the problem with corrossion. Come on, we need to be better.

[71Corolla]

I don't think many Gen3 Camry's sold in Canada were made in Kentucky, I could be wrong. The only ones I've seen were the specialty models, like a 2 door or the "Sport" model. All the rest I've seen were imported, I could tell because they had no daytime running lights.

Also the coolant overflow tank is different, and the door handles almost never have the "aircraft" lights in them. Even more rare is to have both the lights and the tweeters in the door handles.

[Billiam]

Let's not confuse design/engineering/parts supplier quality with actual build quality....2 totally different things. The best assembly shop in the world can't "build out" a quality issue if it starts in the design and/or engineering phase or the parts supplier drops the ball.

I remember when the current gen Camry hit the market there was the early issue with the 6 speed autos failing and some hesitation in the throttles of the 4 cylinders engines. I read post after post on various sites about how those "darned American workers screwed up the once vaulted Camry". However, the transmission in question was actually designed and produced in Japan. At the time 1 out of 10 Camrys sold in N. America were produced in the USA. So guess what? 90% of the failures were "American" produced Camrys. Guess who the public blamed?

The assembly workers did not produced the tranny, or the software that contolled the throttles or the squeeky braked pads and a few other issues that effected the early current gen.

Don't blame the American worker (if you actually are). Blame Toyota's designers, engineers and parts suppliers for not fully doing their job.

That said...I still firmly believe that Toyota, on average, produces very well designed, well built, reliable vehicles and that's why I've owned so many over the years.

[bdy0003]

I have a 03 Camry J-Vin and 05-Camry 4-Vin.

From my experience, the build quality of the J-Vin is tons better than the one made in the USA. The USA made one isn't bad, but you can def tell the quality is sloppier than the one assembled in Japan. Design, engineering, parts quality treated as similar.

Originally Posted by Billiam

Let's not confuse design/engineering/parts supplier quality with actual build quality....2 totally different things. The best assembly shop in the world can't "build out" a quality issue if it starts in the design and/or engineering phase or the parts supplier drops the ball.

I remember when the current gen Camry hit the market there was the early issue with the 6 speed autos failing and some hesitation in the throttles of the 4 cylinders engines. I read post after post on various sites about how those "darned American workers screwed up the once vaulted Camry". However, the transmission in question was actually designed and produced in Japan. At the time 1 out of 10 Camrys sold in N. America were produced in the USA. So guess what? 90% of the failures were "American" produced Camrys. Guess who the public blamed?

The assembly workers did not produced the tranny, or the software that contolled the throttles or the squeeky braked pads and a few other issues that effected the early current gen.

Don't blame the American worker (if you actually are). Blame Toyota's designers, engineers and parts suppliers for not fully doing their job.

That said...I still firmly believe that Toyota, on average, produces very well designed, well built, reliable vehicles and that's why I've owned so many over the years.