Toyota quality down the drain. UPDATE

[02whiteLE]

Hi,
As those of you who regularly visit know, my '08 Camry has gone from a great car to a quivering pile of dung in under 3 months.
Acting upon my own personal feelings of growing disgust with the car, along with my wife's feelings, and those of you kind enough to share your thoughts on the subject, I've decided to get rid of the car and get something else. After discussions with my selling dealer, Toyota Financial, and my live-in attorney, I decided to accept the offer of buying my car back by the selling dealer, for a moderate loss.
My wife and I went last night to look at several different cars, and ultimately decided to purchase a 2008 Saturn Aura. While Saturn's reputation may not be as lofty as Toyota's, this Camry has soured me on the Toyota experience, and I sincerely doubt I will ever own another. Buying a Saturn really is the easiest process you'll ever find, especially since I have family that works for GM, so I get family discount. 3.6 liter V6 with 6 speed automatic, dual climate control, leather interior, etc.. In short, it's a very nice car. I'm getting sidetracked, so back to the real story.
After signing paperwork to buy the Aura, my wife went to the Camry to drive it over to the Toyota dealer, which is right down the block. She stopped at a traffic light in front of the dealer, where my beloved Camry quit running. Talk about timing.
Would not restart, so we (read: I) had to push the car onto their lot.
So there you have it: 2008 Toyota Camry, 15,000 miles, dead as a doornail on a busy road after dark.
To top things off, the dealer decided at that point that they're not sure they want to buy it. In addition, they're not willing to pay me the agreed upon price, because they want to sell it first. I've sold enough cars in my life to know that if I sell a dealer a car, they pay me for it, or the bank for it, before the car is resold. I insisted. They resisted. We ended up leaving it there and telling them to fix it, then we'd proceed from there. The sales manager tried to refuse to let me leave it saying he's not going to accept responsibility and that he'll "have it towed". My wife suggested he go ahead and tow a car that's been left with the service department for repair. He then recanted.
At this point, I'm so incredibly pissed off, I don't know what to do. I've already bought the new car, based on verbal and written documentation from Toyota. I'm not going to try to get out of the Aura, but I also don't want anything to happen to my credit as a result. Believe me, my wife and I discussed it last night, just telling them to jump off a bridge, and keep the damn car. I've worked very hard to get a credit score that is good, and while it may not seem like a big deal to some people, I'm proud of it, and don't want a dumbass at Beechmont Toyota to be the downfall of it.

[wiccanferret]

At what point can you just claim it as a lemon? Because it obviously is. I hope this works out for you...sounds frustrating. You don't buy a brand new car and expect to be stranded more often then if you would've paid $1500 for an old car and just done oil changes...

Good luck with your Saturn. From what I've seen those seem to be one of GM's flagship vehicles...

[Camry5genrocks]

Not to be disrespectful, But you should have checked the better business bureau before doing any business with that dealership.

http://cincinnati.e-asp.net/Nis4/bbb...92000000004879


The BBB processed a total of 10 complaints about this business in the last 36 months. Of the total 10 complaints in the last 36 months, 7 of those were closed in the last 12 months.
Eight Sales Practice issues
One product issue
One service issue

[02whiteLE]

Originally Posted by Camry5genrocks

Not to be disrespectful, But you should have checked the better business bureau before doing any business with that dealership.

http://cincinnati.e-asp.net/Nis4/bbb...92000000004879


The BBB processed a total of 10 complaints about this business in the last 36 months. Of the total 10 complaints in the last 36 months, 7 of those were closed in the last 12 months.
Eight Sales Practice issues
One product issue
One service issue

I fully agree with your statement. I'll be the first to admit that I went there because they are the "closest" and I've bought there before with no problems. I do know that I will use whatever ability I have in life to dissuade anyone I can from going to this dealership for service, sales, or any other reason.

[spoon059]

Lemon laws refer to vehicles that continually have a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety. I think there is some difference depending on state law, but you must have the defect repaired multiple times and have it rebreak multiple times before it is considered a lemon.

This is a brand new vehicle covered by a manufacturers warranty. The warranty covers just about everything on your vehicle that could be wrong. Take it to another dealer to have it fixed if yor dealer won't. Write letters to Toyota complaining, do something.

Getting on this board and complaining isn't going to get your car fixed. Complaining to the sales manager, who has shown he doesn't care now that it is sold and that he has no desire to help you, isn't going to get your car fixed.

Take your Toyota to a competing Toyota dealer in the area and see if they cannot appease you. They might go above and beyond to steal your potential future business from the competition.

Other then that, if you have a written contract from your Toyota dealer that they will buy your vehicle (within a certain time frame or mileage), sue them for the money.

[lammydi]

I really feel for your frustration. It look like you'll have to get your "live-in" attorney back on the drawing table with the dealership. I commented you for continue fighting the uphill battle. Please keep us posted.
Best of luck to you with a different car.

[Aceventura9586]

I'm sorry that you had to go through this kind of experience. Its never good to have your trust in a reputable company soured by something as this. Curious though, what possessed you to go to Saturn, other than family ties. I'm meaning no Honda? I know price is a big factor.

[robob2]

Originally Posted by spoon059

Lemon laws refer to vehicles that continually have a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety. I think there is some difference depending on state law, but you must have the defect repaired multiple times and have it rebreak multiple times before it is considered a lemon.

This is a brand new vehicle covered by a manufacturers warranty. The warranty covers just about everything on your vehicle that could be wrong. Take it to another dealer to have it fixed if yor dealer won't. Write letters to Toyota complaining, do something.

Getting on this board and complaining isn't going to get your car fixed. Complaining to the sales manager, who has shown he doesn't care now that it is sold and that he has no desire to help you, isn't going to get your car fixed.

Take your Toyota to a competing Toyota dealer in the area and see if they cannot appease you. They might go above and beyond to steal your potential future business from the competition.

Other then that, if you have a written contract from your Toyota dealer that they will buy your vehicle (within a certain time frame or mileage), sue them for the money.

I did a search for Ohio lemon law and found this:

http://www.ohiolemonauto.com/quiz.html

It sound like the law for Ohio says that if the car has been to the shop 3 times for one problem or a total of 30 days for combined problems and the car is not fixed it is considered a lemon. You may fall under the 30 day rule, if not keep taking it back until you do. I would recomend talking to a lemon law lawyer, it won't cost you anything for initial counsil and might get you more of your money back. Many lemon law lawyers will take the case and not charge you anything - they get paid by the auto manufacturer if they win and don't get paid if they lose.

Good luck with your situation!

[02whiteLE]

Originally Posted by Aceventura9586

I'm sorry that you had to go through this kind of experience. Its never good to have your trust in a reputable company soured by something as this. Curious though, what possessed you to go to Saturn, other than family ties. I'm meaning no Honda? I know price is a big factor.

Family ties were the biggest factor. Other than that, I've ilked Saturns since they've changed their entire lineup. The Aura is a good looking car, and after driving one back to back with the Camry, it seemed like a logical choice. The 100,000 mile warranty definitely helped me get over any reliability concerns.
Thanks, I'll definitely keep you all posted.

[mtnet2000]

Trade it in for a 4Runner I'm so glad that I got rid of my 07 Camry!

[TRD VVTi]

It sucks that you have had a bad experience.

It seems to me that you would have sold your car to Toyota first. That would make more sense.

I bought a piece of crap car once and the dealer REFUSED to take the car in on trade. Yep, you read that right. I was going to purchase a different car from them but they didn't want their problem prone car back and refused to trade for it. Needless to say I traded it in elsewhere.

It would have been foolish of me to purchase another vehicle before I sold mine if I could not have handled the additional financial burden (which I couldn't at that time).

Your story and ranting in this forum has been completely one sided with the appearance of nothing good EVER happening. Then you make a completely unwise decision and rant about that as well. I no longer believe that you are a victim of bad luck. I feel that you've made some of you own luck by your own actions.

Good luck to you.

[02whiteLE]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

It sucks that you have had a bad experience.

It seems to me that you would have sold your car to Toyota first. That would make more sense.

I bought a piece of crap car once and the dealer REFUSED to take the car in on trade. Yep, you read that right. I was going to purchase a different car from them but they didn't want their problem prone car back and refused to trade for it. Needless to say I traded it in elsewhere.

It would have been foolish of me to purchase another vehicle before I sold mine if I could not have handled the additional financial burden (which I couldn't at that time).

Your story and ranting in this forum has been completely one sided with the appearance of nothing good EVER happening. Then you make a completely unwise decision and rant about that as well. I no longer believe that you are a victim of bad luck. I feel that you've made some of you own luck by your own actions.

Good luck to you.

Wow, where did that come from?
First off, I can handle the financial burden. My Camry payment is $200 a month, because I put nearly 50% down, and stretched the terms since I got a good rate. The Aura payment is higher, since I didn't do a down payment, but I will put the proceeds from the Camry toward the Aura loan.

Go back and read my posts from the past two months. I had nothing but gushing reviews of my Camry. When it went to crap, my feelings on it went to crap. If you feel they're one sided, and only speak negatively, aloe green is a pretty nice color. There, a compliment on the car.

What is unwise about getting something in writing offering to buy a car, and then purchasing another car. I believe most people would call that preparation. I hardly think that if I went to sell the Camry, and then asked a salesperson if they'd be so kind as to drive me to a competing dealership so I could buy a new car if they'd oblige. Why not buy the new car first, then go and drop off the old car, especially since, as I stated, I had an offer to buy it back, in writing, from the dealership.

[TRD VVTi]

A promise to buy a car isn't the same as the car is sold.

I find it hard to believe that you can't seem to get the car fixed, or even sold.

I've had several experiences with people who can't be pleased. They usually have buyer's remorse. When that happens, there isn't anything reasonable that you can do to make it right.

They start off happy and then it all goes to hell...

You had an '07, got rid of it and got a Magnum. You weren't happy with the Magnum and got an '08 Camry. You weren't happy with the Camry...

[Erock08SE]

It really doesnt matter what type of car you buy, its always a hit or miss regardless the manufacture of the car. You can go out and buy a brand new Benz and have it crap out on you. With the demand for camrys and other popular models, companies are forced to build cars as fast as possible and therefore causing lemons. Yea toyota is having problems like every other car company but it doesnt stop me from recommending family, friends etc to buy a toyota and it hasnt stopped me from buying my 08 camry se. It sucks your toyota died out on you, and hopefully you will have better luck with your saturn.

[02whiteLE]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

A promise to buy a car isn't the same as the car is sold.

I find it hard to believe that you can't seem to get the car fixed, or even sold.

I've had several experiences with people who can't be pleased. They usually have buyer's remorse. When that happens, there isn't anything reasonable that you can do to make it right.

They start off happy and then it all goes to hell...

You had an '07, got rid of it and got a Magnum. You weren't happy with the Magnum and got an '08 Camry. You weren't happy with the Camry...

Let's not forget that I still have the Magnum. I was, and still am QUITE happy with it. My commute doesn't make keeping the Magnum as a daily driver feasible. The Camry was always intended to be nothing more than a commuter car. No mods, no extras, just a simple, reliable back and forth car. I could get the Camry fixed, it's been in the shop several times. I'm not going to pay for a car that I need to return to the dealer 2-3 tmies a week for different problems. It'd be one thing if it was 10 years old. It's not even 3 months old, though. It's definitely a case of buyer's remorse... I wasn't happy with my '07 Camry, so I shouldn't have bought an '08. Who said I couldn't get the car sold? I said if I sold it to the dealer, they wanted to put it on their lot and sell it before they paid me for it. I'm not a bank, so I'm not going to be a part of the dealer floorplan. I'm quite capable of being happy. Very simply, give me a brand new car that runs like a brand new car. numerous electrical gremlins, followed up with several trim pieces breaking, and ended with the cars refusal to stay running at 15,000 miles is not acceptable. It wouldn't be acceptable to you, either. Camry's are fine cars, and since I've had several, I can say it with some degree of knowledge. This Camry is a piece of junk. End of story.