lots of interesting and valid points.....but the matrix and tundra are "not hits"?? They don't sell 400000 units a year for sure, but they seem to be doing well overall. Everyone always complains about the tundra only being a "7/8ths" truck, but what about the matrix?? In what way is that model not doing well??
Also, while the the xB and xA appeal to older drivers as well, the tC has been a bonefied hit. Where's the mention of that???
yes some are valid points while others seem easily arguable? perhaps even personal opinions? they also fail to mention the new cars toyota is pushing out, and like you mention the tc is a hit and its not even mention, with scion releasing a sports coupe and maybe future supra, things are looking better and better everyday with toyota's suppose "bland" image, while i agree 5 years ago toyota did look bland compare to honda or as they mention hyundai, they were being too conservative, but with the new cars that toyota is releasing, the little conservative steps that they used to take are turning into giant leaps of change.
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Hater n****s marry hater b*****s and have hater kids.
people can write whatever they want, it all comes down to a product that is superior to their competition.... when you buy a toyota basically you will have no problems in 10 or more years with schedule maintenance...
One of the odd assertions is that Scion should have an older buyers age. A survey carried out some time ago actually found Scion to have the youngest buyers in the industry. (Mazda 3 is the car to have the youngest buyers).
And GM thinks Toyota would just make industrial espionage? That is a pretty bold statement. Sounds like something you would hear from a company that really struggles...
people can write whatever they want, it all comes down to a product that is superior to their competition.... when you buy a toyota basically you will have no problems in 10 or more years with schedule maintenance...
PERFECTLY STATED ...........................
They can walk the walk, they talk the talk, they can name the age,..................... NOTHING CAN STOP TOYOTA.................
What a nonsensical editorial! 17 paragraphs full of anti-Toyota talk, then at the end she says how none of the above will have any detrimental effect on Toyota sales. Why bother even writing and/or publishing such worthless blather?
FUnny they say Toyota has been seen as being arrogant like GM was when they were on top of the world. THen they say this
Quote:
Despite these challenges, CNW sees no decline in Toyota sales, "not by a long shot." The firm concludes that "unlike the Big Three past and present, Toyota recognizes at least most of these issues and is actively confronting them."
so it would seem that where GM and the others screwed up Toyota is actively trying to overcome what could become problems inthe future.
ALso the espionage thing is maybe going a little far. RIght now Toyota leads in hybrid development and production. WHy would they want to crash the other manufacturers party to get information. THe others dont seem to be able to do it on their own so they are teaming up. I am sure Toyota could bring something to the table for them and maybe even make their own product better if they were allowed to jion the hybrid consortium.
And like the auto research firm said they are not slowing down by a long shot. With all of their new vehicles that have already been introduced and the ones that will be introduced in the near future they have a lot going for them.
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Chris
PLEASE DO NOT GET RID OF THE OLD TN AS WE KNOW IT.
Matrix sales may have declined in last 2 years but I thought it initially did well; not sure what cars they're comparing against (i.e. Civic Si?) but it outsold Pontiac Vibe by 3:2 ratio.
(Pontiac dealers complained "just because the thing says 'Toyota'")
One (of many) advantages Toyota has over others is that they have reserved product line in their Japanese market; there are around 70 distinct TOY-LEX models in Japan, compared to what - about half of that number they've released here in TOY-LEX-SCI lines.
Matrix not doing well? They can say "screw that" and bring a comparable existing model:
Corolla Runx: http://toyota.jp/corollarunx/exterio...lly/index.html
Directly compete it with traditional Civic Si, Focus Hatchback, VW Golf.
Camry/Avalon too conservative? Toyota Mark-X and Crown Series are there.
They can make these cars US ready to add to or substitute existing line up in no time.
Not gonna be like GM - "we're releasing 10 new cars in 2-years" (all designed in a hurry - many have recalls) or like Nissan/Infiniti who had to replace almost an entire line (although they did a decent job with quality on most) to avoid extinction.
in regards to the matrix, I actually heard that sales picked up starting in aug/sept. due to higher gas prices. Granted, this was info straight from the car dealership, but still. Corolla sales picked up even in the face of a hot new civic.
Matrix sales may have declined in last 2 years but I thought it initially did well; not sure what cars they're comparing against (i.e. Civic Si?) but it outsold Pontiac Vibe by 3:2 ratio.
(Pontiac dealers complained "just because the thing says 'Toyota'")
One (of many) advantages Toyota has over others is that they have reserved product line in their Japanese market; there are around 70 distinct TOY-LEX models in Japan, compared to what - about half of that number they've released here in TOY-LEX-SCI lines.
Matrix not doing well? They can say "screw that" and bring a comparable existing model:
Corolla Runx: http://toyota.jp/corollarunx/exterio...lly/index.html
Directly compete it with traditional Civic Si, Focus Hatchback, VW Golf.
Camry/Avalon too conservative? Toyota Mark-X and Crown Series are there.
They can make these cars US ready to add to or substitute existing line up in no time.
Not gonna be like GM - "we're releasing 10 new cars in 2-years" (all designed in a hurry - many have recalls) or like Nissan/Infiniti who had to replace almost an entire line (although they did a decent job with quality on most) to avoid extinction.
The only problem with doing that is they seem to not go for the world car route very much. Just because something does well in Japan or the US or Australia doesnt mean it will do well in a nother part of the world. Obviously the Camry, Land cruiser and some others have done well. ALso the vehicles that are specific to Japan seem to make their way over here as Lexus branded vehicles. I know there are more available than waht is in teh Lexus line.
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Chris
PLEASE DO NOT GET RID OF THE OLD TN AS WE KNOW IT.
The only problem with doing that is they seem to not go for the world car route very much. Just because something does well in Japan or the US or Australia doesnt mean it will do well in a nother part of the world. Obviously the Camry, Land cruiser and some others have done well. ALso the vehicles that are specific to Japan seem to make their way over here as Lexus branded vehicles. I know there are more available than waht is in teh Lexus line.
That's not true. They frequently sell the same vehicles in multiple markets. In fact, there have been instances where a car did poorer than expected in one market, so they merely introduced it in another instead of cutting production. (Specifically, when the Scion xA initially did poorer than expected in the US, they merely started selling a "Toyota xA" (note: the car is called the Toyota ist in Japan) in a half dozen markets in the Middle East to use up that production.) Ford or GM can only dream of being that flexible.
Did anyone read in consumer reports that a 3 year old GM product has the same reliablility as a 10 year old Toyota? (I think those were the right numbers)
Did anyone read in consumer reports that a 3 year old GM product has the same reliablility as a 10 year old Toyota? (I think those were the right numbers)
Yeah I dont remember where I saw it but I read that somewhere. Pretty discouraging for GM. I know my 97 Corolla was probably the most reliable car I have ever owned. My Camry has had some thing sgo wrong with it but it is now pushing 12 years old. I would still feel comfortable driving it anywhere right now. FIll it up with gas and go.
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Chris
PLEASE DO NOT GET RID OF THE OLD TN AS WE KNOW IT.
The most reliale american product I've ever owned was a 1994 Dodge Spirit that I drove to work...but it had a Mitsubishi 4cyl engine....and even it had some problems. My Ford Ranger is due to go in wednesday to get worked on. Im trying to sell it for a Tacoma and of course something goes wrong before I can get rid of it. The most reliable cars I've owned have definitely been the Toyotas. I had a 1984 Supra that was very reliable and a 2003 Corolla...a 2004 Sienna and now a 2006 Rav4. I would have a problem buying anything I would use as my primary vehicle, especially new, that is American made until they can produce them more like Toyota does.
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