the last thing you want is to be in the outside lane with the Toyotas that can't stop.
Here we go- why is everyone having a dig at Toyota? OK they haven't handled the present issues very well at all ( very badly in fact) but let's keep a sense of perspective here. Generally, they have very good build quality and are fairly unburstable
Moreover, almost all manufacturers do recalls for numerous issues ( including Peugeot as I recall, Jim!) and Honda have done one recently. That doesn't make models like the Accord anything other than a well- built and tried car
On a personal level I have two Toyotas and a Lexus ( and will buy an FT 86 when it appears). Last weekend, I did 400 miles in a 2006 T-Sport Corolla which has been chipped up to 228BHP It still runs- albeit with EBC greenstuff pads- the standard 4 wheel discs plus drum auxiliary for the parking brake. It has not been subject to a recall becuase it has a standard accelerator cable set-up, goes like stink, handles extremely well and has features and finish which are characteristic of many cars in a much greater price range.
So, let's get real here shall we?
Rant over
G
PS Akio Toyoda is NOT my uncle
Light blue touch paper and stand clear !!!!!
Calm down, Was just a wee bit of jesting
I also own a Toyota as my daily drive an '03 MR2 Roadster, a fantastic car (for sale if anyones intrested).
I'm fully aware that all manufacturers have 100's of recalls a year, some saftey related and some not, I have 4 lever arch files on top of my box bursting at the seams with recalls for Peugeots from the last 3 years, and I can have a good laugh at them too !
The two main reasons the Toyota thing is all over the press is
A: Toyota trade on there reliabiliy, if you build yourself up on that, then have a major global recall, your going to take a big fall, bit like an MP getting elected using a manifesto of family values, then getting caught with his pants down with a hooker !
B: like all manufactures, Toyota where too busy looking at the balance sheets, and hoping it would all go away instead of trying to fix the fault when it first surfaced, and it wasn't until there was huge public/press pressure over all theses issuses that they admitted the faults excisted and issued the recalls. Having seen the accelerator pedal recall paperwork all I can put the reluctance to issue a recall down to is penny pinching.
At the end of the day all cars are crap, they all have bits of poor design and bits that fall off/malfunction everything from a £100k supercar, to a £50 Kia, there all crap, but they also have there good points (well maybe not the Kia). Toyotas in my experence are among the better cars as far as build quility and reliability go (Morgan, Aston Martin and TVR being among the worst), and I would buy another anytime if it was what I was looking for. But it still won't stop me having a light hearted "joke" about them if I feel it may amuse.
