Re: Does Toyota have a quality control crisis on their hands? Not OT!

I'd go with a Dodge Caliber or PTCruiser. The Caliber is getting rave
reviews by buyers. The PTCruiser already has an excellent reputation for
quality according to Consumer Reports, even though it is made in Mexico and
has a cheap sticker price. A friend has a Ford Focus and loves it. If you
need a big car, go for a Dodge Charger if you want something cool looking.
It has a good sticker price too. If you need big and high mileage, you
could take a chance with the Ford Five humdred but it is not super reliable.
Some Buicks have a decent repair record.

We went with Honda this time around having owned American and Toyota's
recently.


"X Y" <XYZoo@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:12822-44EF50D0-54@storefull-3318.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Article in the Wall Street Journal points to a big surge in quality
> problems at Toyota. According to the WSJ, Toyota had more recalls than
> new vehicle sales in the US last year: 2.26 million new vehicles sold,
> but 2.38 million vehicles recalled! This flies in the face of the
> reputation for high quality that Toyota has enjoyed. In Japan,
> prosecutors are investigating possible "professional negligence" for
> shirking recalls for eight years! Toyota's president is quoted making
> an apology saying "I take this seriously and see it as a crisis". A
> huge recall on the current Sienna is thought possible, because of
> allegedly poorly designed locking devices for the rear seats.
>
> Has Toyota quality been over-rated? Maybe that next car should be a
> Ford or Chevy product. XY
>
>
>[/color]

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:_BJHg.1265$xQ1.299@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
> I'd go with a Dodge Caliber or PTCruiser. The Caliber is getting rave
> reviews by buyers.[/color]

I can't speak for the Caliber, but if it is the update of the Neon (an
execrable vehicle)
I'd be wary of it.


The PTCruiser already has an excellent reputation for[color=blue]
> quality according to Consumer Reports, even though it is made in Mexico
> and has a cheap sticker price.[/color]

We rented an '06 PT in the midwest this spring, and the one thing I kept
thinking for a week
was "Thank God it's a rental and I don't have to drive it again after
Thursday!"
It was tiresome on a 200 mile trip, fairly noisy, fairly uncomfortable, and
gave mediocre
gas mileage. (My Avalon gets 5 mpg more on the highway than the little
four banger.)

A friend has a Ford Focus and loves it. If you[color=blue]
> need a big car, go for a Dodge Charger if you want something cool
> looking.[/color]

You may think it looks cool. It reminds me of an armored car. But beauty
is in the eye
of the beholder. I am just turned off Chrysler products and have been for
some years.
[color=blue]
> It has a good sticker price too. If you need big and high mileage, you
> could take a chance with the Ford Five humdred but it is not super
> reliable[/color]
..[color=blue]
> Some Buicks have a decent repair record.[/color]

Buick is the only GM product I'd even consider. For some reason, they seem
better built than Pontiacs and Chevrolets.[color=blue]
>
> We went with Honda this time around having owned American and Toyota's
> recently.[/color]

Happy motoring in the Honda!

I have an '05 Avalon Limited, and the mileage is super for a big car:
typically 30+ mpg on the highway. I like the new Buick Lucerne, and
Buick has an amazing pearly white metallic with gold highlights; one of
those colors that seems to actually change with the viewing angle. This
paint is absolutely striking, and more impressive than the Avalon's
conservative pearly white. The white seems to be the Avalon's
"trademark color", and it is an extra cost option. I chose the Avalon,
in part, because several critics called it a Lexus in everything but
name, and at a more modest price. It has been a good car. No
complaints. XY