It was bound to happen, and it happened sooner than I thought.

A lil sooner than I expected too

…inevitably

That means Toyota will start being plagued with the problems that GM’s been having. It’s just impossible for a corporation as gigantic to be perfect.

I agree, sooner then I expected as well.

gm even sells any car? i mean… actually sell and not just give them away for a rebate that will soon pass the 120%, ie actually GIVING people money to drive their cars?

GM has been reducing its rebates, so yes fan, they are actually selling cars. This news doesn’t really come as a surprise though as anyone that hasn’t lived under a rock knew it was coming.

What goes up must come down.

Not only has GM reduced their rebates, Toyota has been taking them on, the Tundra has more rebates than both Silverado and F150 right now. As it should, since its not quite the truck everyone at toyota is bragging it is. I feel that toyota will not be able to hold this possition for very long, 2 years at most.

I agree with Mujician. I’ll give it two years at most.

Good, it’s official. Now American auto industry, you see what works. Step up to the plate. I’m going to research what the sales were in the U.S during the same time frame.

Exactly. Fact is it’s a very competitive auto market is the US. Camrys are incentivized as much as other makes as far as I can see. Something to ponder,I still would have bought my 300C instead of an Avalon even with all the Chrysler saga and some mechanical problems. Style and power still sell well.

Interesting read. Thought I’d post. This was a record 1st quarter in global sales for GM too. From the GM site:

GM Announces Record First Quarter Global Sales of More Than 2.2 Million Vehicles

Growth in China Fuels 20 Percent Asia/Pacific Region Climb
Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela Growth Spurs A Sales Surge of 17 Percent In The Latin America, Africa and the Middle East Region
Russian Sales Increase More Than 127 Percent to Set European Record; Chevrolet Has Record European Q1, With Sales Exceeding 100,000 Vehicles
Sales Leadership Shown in Emerging Markets
DETROIT – General Motors sold a record 2.26 million cars and trucks around the world in the first quarter of 2007, according to preliminary sales figures released today. GM global first quarter sales were up 67,000 vehicles, or 3 percent, compared with sales of 2.19 million in the first quarter 2006. Global market share is estimated at 13.0 percent, compared with 13.1 percent a year ago.

“GM posted record sales in the first quarter driven by exceptionally strong demand in emerging markets,” John Middlebrook, GM vice president, Global Sales, Service and Marketing Operations, said today. “We saw more than 20 percent growth in the Asia/Pacific region and had 17 percent growth in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region. We’re also very pleased to see 6 percent growth in Europe where we sold more than a half-million vehicles and established a new sales record.”

Chevrolet, HUMMER and Cadillac are showing signs of global success.

Chevrolet global sales of 1.04 million vehicles were up 4 percent compared with a year ago. The brand grew by 33 percent in Europe, 12 percent in Asia-Pacific and 19 percent in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

GM also retains its strong luxury truck portfolio growth, evidenced by HUMMER sales that grew 37 percent in the Latin America, Africa and the Middle East region. Globally, HUMMER recorded 15,000 vehicle sales. With the Hummer H2 mid-cycle enhancement, addition of the V8-powered H3 Alpha in North America and start of production of the right hand-drive H3 in South Africa, HUMMER products are well-positioned to respond to demanding customers’ needs.

Cadillac posted a sales increase outside of North America in the first quarter, thanks to 89 percent sales growth in Europe, a 55 percent increase in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and 47 percent growth in Asia/Pacific.

Several of GM’s regional brands also experienced notable growth in the first quarter of 2007.

Opel and Vauxhall sold 443,000 vehicles in the first quarter of the year. Vauxhall was up 6.3 percent and Opel was up about a half percent with 1,200 more vehicles sold this year under those nameplates compared with Q1 2006. The brands achieved segment leadership with Meriva and Zafira – in the monocab segment – and second position with Astra in the popular compact segment.

Saturn sales in the United States and Canada were up 19 percent, based largely on the popularity of the new 2007 Aura, Sky, Vue and Vue Green Line Hybrid and Outlook crossover utility vehicle. Saturn expects stronger sales this year as it continues the launch of the Outlook crossover and welcomes the Ion small-car replacement, Astra. Saturn is undergoing the most extensive product renaissance in its history.

GM Daewoo sales of 35,000 vehicles were up 31 percent, outpacing South Korea’s strong market growth on the back of its Winstorm SUV and Tosca medium car.

Global sales highlights include:

First quarter 2007 global sales of 2.26 million vehicles, up 3 percent, set a record for first quarter sales.
At 1.36 million vehicles, Q1 2007 sales outside of the United States accounted for about 60 percent of GM’s total global sales, growing at close to 10 percent compared with Q1 2006, outpacing the industry average growth rate of 5 percent. Global industry sales of 17.41 million vehicles were up 3 percent. The industry has seen a 10 million vehicle increase in the global automotive market in the past five years, and the market should hit almost 70 million in 2007.
In the Asia/Pacific region, GM sales of 388,000 vehicles were 20 percent higher than the previous year’s first quarter, and GM China sales of 290,000 vehicles posted a more than 25 percent sales increase compared with 2006. GM remained the top-selling automaker in China and sold 100,000 vehicles in a month for only the second time. GM sales in the region set a record for the quarter and exceeded industry growth levels.
In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region, GM sales reached an industry-best 269,000 vehicles, a record for Q1 and up 17 percent in volume compared with 2006. GM saw volume increases in 10 Latin America, Africa and Middle East markets in the first quarter of 2007. Sales in Brazil were up 12 percent for the quarter.
In Europe, GM also set a quarterly sales record with deliveries of 554,000 vehicles, up 6 percent. Growth in Russia, up 128 percent, led the increase. Cadillac, Corvette, HUMMER, Saab and Chevrolet set European sales records for their brands. Chevrolet achieved record sales of 101,000 vehicles, up 33 percent.

Fellas, check your facts, the only incentives and rebates being offered on the Tundra, are on the Base model. The larger versions with the 5.7L engine are being sold, (without incentives) faster than they can build them. The interesting thing is that evne with the incentives on the base model, I would bet that Toyota is still making a profit on them, unlike the General, who must sell cars at a loss just to move the metal.
This overtaking will not be a temporary situation, consider this a permanent scar on the American auto industry.

That’s what happens when you’re asleep at the wheel…for 30 years.

Yum

I still will not buy one of their appliances. The Tundra is a disappointment- even the Nissan Titan looks better and it has 3 years under its belt.

Recently I drove a 2007 Avalon and almost fell asleep at the wheel. What a piece of sofa on wheels! Even a 1980 Buick that my dad owned had better feel with the road.

Toyota congrats on selling the most appliances. Do you know how you compare with Sears??

Up to now, Toyota has gotten off easy in the media, not least because of the perception that it’s a maker of green machines, when in fact it has recently chosen to build some of the hugest and most grotesque petroleum swillers known to man.

Lets not dwell on the fact that Toyota recalled more cars than it sold in 2006, the sludge buildup issue plagues the 1MZ 3 Liter v-6 and the 5SFE 2.2 Liter I-4 engines (installed in Camrys and Siennas, among others), or the very un-Toyota-like cost overruns on the US factories that will build the XXL Tundra. Lets not even go to the place where we point out the obvious fact that, an excellent largely well-deserved reputation for reliability notwithstanding, Toyota has little to get an enthusiasts’ mojo working overtime.

The worm will turn because it must. And I lately I can see how. GM may have had the Pontiac Aztek as its post child of lameness, but the other day, I was stuck behind a loaded GX470: a top-heavy v-8 powered, $47,000 Lexus-badged variant of the Toyota 4 Runner. I don’t care how many Priuses Toyota sells, how do you explain the GX470? Ugly, thirsty, ill-handling-where, pray tell, is the social consciousness here? What’s the appeal? Somebody tell me. Cynical insults to the intelligence of the American people are hardly thin on the ground, but this is not just a Lexus, its a landmark.

Toyotas chickens must come home to roost. Now that Toyota is bigger than GM, we can expect it will have the answer-the way GM always has to- for all its crimes and misdemeanors, real and imagined. So take heart, American carmakers. Like the good book says: To everything, there is a season.

Toyota: Nowhere to go but down

As toyota is not dumb enough to manufacture something as worthless as the Hummer, they are only going to surge forward. Tht is the true difference between the japanese and american approach to the automobile.

Sorry Jeff in Canada, you must be from Canada. Because ower toyota dealer along with all others in ower state arn’t selling very many across the board. Granted we also have a Ford dealer, and comparing the two trucks side by side sure as hell doesn’t work for the toyota’s. Especially the towing differance at 10200 max (toyota) and 11000 max (F150) and payload 3050 max (F150) and toyotas weak as hell 2000???

This may be good for GM. They should focus on building better cars rather than more cars. Now they have a target, rather than being the target.

This will go about 10 to 15 years after which Hyundai will unseat Toyota as the top seller worldwide.

Bound to happen… It’ll happen to Toyota also one day.

What’s with these GM sympathizers? I can’t wait until these American car companies go under. For too long, these FAT CATS from Detroit have been living it up, selling complete and utter pieces of **** to everyone while forgetting to reinvest the money back into the company’s research and development. Merle Haggard recognized it about twenty years ago that Fords and Chevys didn’t last ten years LIKE THEY SHOULD.

Once you buy a Toyota or a Honda, you would have to be an absolute moron to ever go back to an american car. I don’t care if chevy ever builds a “competitive” product ever again. I know that God forbid I ever had to take my american car in for repairs, I’d be preparing myself for the ****tiest customer service experience imaginable. It’s not just about the quality of product, its about the quality of life of the ownership experience.

Because the American car companies going under would be sooo good for the economy. Wake up.

Was a huge GM fanatic. The service pissed us off so we just got an Infiniti. My dad is a big Earnardt Chevy fan and look at the stretch he took to switch car companies!!! That is unheard of.

Thanks toyota! Your turning the world into a bunch of me-too zombies!

oh and enkonu… i believe the FJ Cruiser is as worthless as a Hummer; and so is the Land Cruiser.

Ray……..um, I have owned 3 Toyotas in the past. 1 good, 2 were huge pos. Sorry but the Asians auto makers arent the perfect companies many would believe.

This still doesn’t mean that they will sell more units throughout the whole year. I drive a Lexus and I must agree that Toyota’s perception is not entirely deserved.

*First – They are not as trouble free as many swear they are. Not even Lexus – as I’ve had my share of problems many problems.
*Second- The number of recalls more than doubled in 06. This number was already almost twice that of GM.
*Third -Green cars? Where? Oh, the Prius? Don’t let their clever marketing fool you into believing that the Prius is so environmentally friendly. The problem with the Prius is how it is produced. It produces eight times more harmful pollution than a standard Civic during the production process. GM didn’t say that another Japanese car company did (Honda). For the lame, 25% of the emissions a car produces during its calculated life occurs during the production process. This means that you have to drive a Prius for fifteen years before you start to outweigh the damage caused by the production process of the same. People surveyed answered they planned to keep their Prius for three years before trading it in (Doesn’t sound to green to me).
Fourth, The sludge is a reality. What’s funnier the service guys at Lexus act like they’ve never heard of such claims. Hmm…
*Fifth – While American automakers have to deal with labor unions (which are only good for shark bait) and expensive health insurance costs, the Japanese government is being acussed of keeping yen artificially low, giving Japanese automakers a clear advantage.
*My Last Point- As Americans we need to start looking out for the best American interest. Some of us pride on bashing our own while everyone else bashes us. I am currently in Europe and can’t wait to get back to the U.S. on Friday. I love that place and everything it is made out of. Come back fighting GM! My next car will have your name on it. Anyone who doubts these points look them up. They’re all facts.

People like “enkonu” and “Ray Sinclair” are pretty much worthless to respond to for anyone outraged by their comments… I started to respond, but realized there is not much to say to someone who thinks it’s great if the American auto industry goes under and GM builds peices of ****. Their hatred for GM really has to do with their political leanings than the auto industry. Who in hell “hates” a car company anyway? Get a life.

Congrats to Toyota. In reality, this helps everyone. Competition is a good thing. And it will make both companies stronger. However, I must agree, this will be very shortlived. Keep your fingers crossed for the new Zetas.

I for one welcome this news. GM’s vehicles are improving by leaps and bounds since the turn of the century, but this may be the kick in the pants that really gets their priorities straight. GM has to be #2 for a few years before they can learn how to act like #1 again.

The Ford Taurus was the only glimmer of hope in the American car industry for the last 20 years along. It was the Best Selling sedan in American and it was Quality made. Then followed by an equally intriguing car with the Best Selling “World Car” in the Ford Focus. But then Ford goes to sleep. And had Ford kept coming out with NO Nonsense vehicles they would have been the World’s largest automaker surpassing lowly GM before the year 2000.

But then the Ford family got involved and screwed things up. And ergo the Ford product line has been taking stupid pills ever since!

And then over at Chrysler -Lee Iaccoca left the company. He was the one that brought Chrysler back from the brink. Then the idiot left at the top of the company had no real vision for Chrysler’s future.
The only thing he had in mind was taking a ****, his wallet, and a good retirement package. So what else better to do than to sell off the company popular in Stutgart Germany. But before he left or was fired I forget- he said his selling of a controlling portion of Chrysler to M-Benz -that it was to be a merger of equals?
After the merger was completed that false sentiment lasted for about 6 months to a year- then Damiler’s management fired immediately upper Chrysler management and said we are not equals you will do as you are told – we own you!
But the reason I point this out are the candied asses at the tops of companies today. The only ones at the Top are well heeled kids of the rich or heirs that are wealthy but they have no real vested interest other than a family legacy, presitge or their pocket book.
Essentially American companies do not know what they are doing.

and to that extent I agree with what Mr. Iacocca said in the recent USA today article and that is there is No Leadership in our country and I think that goes beyond corporate boundaries as well.

And By the way. I say thank you to Mr. Lee Iacocca whose book I read like so many others about the problems he faced in the automobile industy years ago.

And to those that think that Toyota’s rise to the top will be short lived are in for a big surprise. Toyota will continue to kick ass. And you know what I’m glad. hey and I am as American as Apple Pie. But I won’t support American companies that don’t support us.
And my antitheisis for American Car manufacturers goes beyond mere product line. You need to see the Bull **** that all american automotive manufacturers are involved in. I mean in totality are the people at the tops of these companies and the people they hire at the top have anything to do with the working man and women of this country. The answer is absolutely NO!

And by the way the New Tundra is no flop it is one nice Truck. The New Chevy is a piece of **** in comparison regardless of what Motor Trend’s GM “loving” editorial staff tells the general public.

And as much as I like the F-150 and would pick that any day of the week over any other truck in the Market.
I would’nt do so now because of Ford’s policies on many things. So Rock on Toyota and Rock on Honda!

I do like the New Honda Ridgeline that is one super truck.

The problem is simple- there is no “Professional” Management installed at the very tops of american corporate giants.

You want to see a real company take a look at Honda they will kick the **** out of american companies decades after General Motors and Ford goes out of business! This company is very smart they have gone into every avenue of transportation from Jet skis to Jet Airplanes.

For you stupid Hick – and dumber than stink Chevy boys- that keep buying your piece of crap Dale Earbhardt “crap” edition of the long defunct Chevy Monte Carlo and for you morons that buy the Chevy rust bucket Truck as they say – nothing Rusts like a Chevy Truck-. Keep believing in your bull****. I don’t like GM – to me and most General Motors is Arrogant and Stupid and that’s about it. I would Never touch a GM product.

The world will blow right past ya.

The one last thing I need to say is if I were to buy an American car- it would probably depend on if Chrysler could be spun off into an American’s hands who knows what they are doing with the company.
The new Avenger is nice and the Dodge Ram Truck is also nice. But MB needs to sell them- I don’t like their snobbery- I could get a much getter Luxury car in a Lexus for about half the price. To that Extent I would agree with Mulally.

“Jeff”, correct … this will NOT be as temporary as some would hope it might be.

“Madcapp”, correct … you reap what you sow.

If a Mr. Boone Pickens is correct, $4/gallon … here it comes. Toyota’s reputation for fuel efficiency will increase its lead.

To Mr. Piablo, i cannot be blamed for the choices that GM makes. And its not necessary for u to try so hard to read inb/n the lines (u cld be doing somethine better with ur time). This has nothing to do with politics but simply good engineering practice and wise business decisions. Its unfortunate tht GM has poor leadership. BMW is clearly unsurpassed and is simply the yardstick by which all automobiles shld be measured. U have to drive one to know tht.

Who said I tried hard? You couldn’t have made it more simple. If you want to prove me right, just keep typing and explain yourself. Explain why the Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and their Lexus equivelants get a free pass. Not sure what BMW has to do with this…

People need to realize that if GM ever reclaims their throne which is already very unlikely, they’ll never get back to the top when it comes to global sales. In certain countries Toyota and other Japanese automakers have brainwashed the minds of the buying public into believing that they’re the best thing out there which of course is not always the case but compared to the crap Detroit spews out, they come real close. As for myself, the only “American” vehicle I’d willing to drive personally is a diesel Ford SUV or maybe if free, a CTS.

Frankly, I’m more interested in seeing how the intense competition between Japanese automaker turns out as Suzuki, Nissan, and Honda are slowly gaining greater marketshare on certain segments that Toyota just can’t beat. As big as they are, some do things much better. Such as the Swift vs Yaris…

I hope purdue is right.

Cry me a river Ray, I know plenty of people that have had better luck with there Domestics than there Imports. Just because your family had a bad experiance doesn’t make the whole company a three eyed monster. And yes the new Silverado is as good as they say it is. My 02 Duramax is the best truck I have ever owned period. It will be a snowy day in Hell before I’ll ever buy a new Tundra, but thanks for trying.

Ha Ha Ha Ha, funniest line here, (but most true):

GM has been asleep at the wheel for 30 years.

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188

Toyota is gonna catch the GM bug, just a few places down on LLN they show how their business model that allowed them to prey on the lowest common denominator is now catching up to them. And with it will go their advantage. If GM plays it right and ford and chrysler capitalize onit you could see a resurgence of the Big3, not just domestically but worldwide.

woooo to celebrate i will go out and buy a camry!

Ray gave it away. He’s still soar about his pos Caddy from 17 or 18 years ago! His car’s company hurt his feelings.God get a life. The difference in quality is no longer dramatic. As far as Infiniti goes, a current colleague of mine has a 2002 I35 which he purchased new. The car has left him stranded 3 times! It only has 78K! He still likes it though.

MHW, imports includes european. I’m talking Toyota and Honda. If you know plenty of people who have had more problems with these cars than with domestics, my hat’s off to you. I live in California, which is perhaps the largest market in the US for Japanese makes, and Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has had any trouble with their Toyotas or Hondas.

My father recently got himself a new Corvette. The check engine light keeps lighting up. Knowing that this will hurt his trade-in value, he keeps taking it back to the dealership, who can’t fix it. One day he drove it off the dealer lot and the rim came off of the assembly. After having it towed back to the dealer, the dealer denied having tampered with the front wheel. Not a 1/2 hour before, he was signing off on paperwork that told him they removed the front wheel. They wanted him to cough up an additional 1200 bucks for a new rim and parts. My father had to threaten a law suit in order for them to take action. I can’t make this **** up…

I’m happy for you that you like your truck, hope you never run into any trouble with it. As for myself and my family, never again will we own an american car, whether or not it is built in Canada or Mexico. The only supremacy I see for domestic makes is in nextel cup racing. JUST MY OPINION.

Where is GM Sales in all of this? I want to see him look like the bull****er he is.

rerone youre right how can you be mad about something over 15 years ago thats just stupid but i hear that all the time from former GM owners how there 93 corsica was a POS really i thought all cars built then were garbage to the cars today u cant compare old GM to new toyota its just not fair. -Toyota Sucks-

RERONE,
If you believe any of the **** about the quality of domestics being on par with the imports, than you’re living in denial. My brother and his friend got new cars in 2000. My brother bought an Acura TL and his friend bought an Impala SS.

My brother is an accountant and drives all over the place. His friend’s work is about a mile from his house. Needless to say, the Impala had been a total piece of **** from the get-go. It leaked oil during the first year of ownership, and gave its owner a bunch of problems. After about 60,000 miles, my brother’s friend traded in the impala for a new Tahoe. He had it a week before it left him stuck. Brand new, $35,000 plus piece of ****. Meanwhile, my brother is enjoying the car when he should be enjoying it most…150,000 miles and counting, no more payments…no problems ever…I have plenty of examples. We need not go back 15 years…

but thanks for your concern anyway. I’m glad SOMEONE will be in line to buy the pieces of ****…we need to keep Dale Jr. in a Chevy, afterall…

taurus4ever,
we buy 6 month old Taurus’s with 10k miles for around 9 grand. Weakest resale I’ve ever seen.
Same with Chevy’s. Without the kneejerk rental companies keeping them afloat, FordDodgeChevy would ALL be out of business. The only reason rental agencies still buy them is cause they don’t CARE about resale (tax writeoff) or reliability (they only keep them 6 months).

Ray – I know I’m probably talking to a brick wall, but you have had an individual experience. Your individual experience cannot be attributed to the whole. Anyone here can refute your arguments with stories of their own about how good their GM vehicle was. I have personally owned 4 Chevys, and every one of them treated me fine, because I treated them fine. My father-in-law owns an Impala SS, and that thing rocks…even for a FWD car.

Your stories sound more like dealership issues, not GM. And that’s unfortunate. I think customer service on a whole is going down the tubes. But that is not GM when the dealer won’t give you a rental. And how many years ago was this? By that logic, we can all say Toyotas and Hondas are peices of **** too but that would be a lie.

Your hatred for Caddie reminds me of someone who used to post here….BrokenCadillac… You wouldn’t be talking about an SRX that you bought would you?

Would you spend 9k for an ex rental? The way I bash on them I sure wouldn’t =) And yay my old Ranger almost hit 200,000 miles on the original trans engine and rearend. Too bad some idiot had to go crash into it =(
Every American car my family has owned since the 90’s has been reliable. The 89 Mazda B2200 had trans issues and could not stay aligned. Some Mitusubishi my sister had was crap. The 01 Focus was junk but the 03 Mustang has had no problems and I beat it like a stepchild. But I do hear people having problems with GM’s but My buddy’s Tundra has not been the most reliable truck…

toyota gives ma an erection mmmmm toyota i love what you do for me

To all you brainwashed Japanese car lovers that say everything American is ****, according to the last JD Power dependability study Mercury, Cadillac, and Buick all ranked ahead of Toyota and Honda. And there were plenty of imports dwelling near the bottem. It doesn’t matter what kind of car you talk about, someone somewhere is going to have a horrer story about how it let them down. The Domestics are making huge strides in both quality and style, but its clear that its falling on deaf ears.

Losing our auto industry will mean bad things for the future of our national security. With no manufacturing base, what will we ramp up to produce war machines? The North won the Civil War with industry, and industry is how we won WWII as well. If these trends continue, along with our massive trade deficit, foreign debt, and privatization of military services, it’s safe to say we will no longer remain the global hegemon. We’ll be in the future what Britain is today; a has-been finance center with no real power to speak of.

As long as we’re exchanging stories as some sort of superior evidence. A neighbor of mine said he would only buy Toyotas. He had an 80’s supra, a 1990 Camry, then an Avalon. He said they’ve been great cars. Knowing how and where he drives is revealing. He’s a Doctor, drives to the Hospital at 31 mph and drives home. Round trip 10 miles. Of course his car is perfect. Any car would be under that kind of use. He’s an old woman. Over the years Toyota engineers figured out they could improve durability by making the cars uninvolving and boring,i.e.;people wont want to here the engine scream if they can’t hear it in the first place.

Does anyone think Sinclair would fill out a Consumer Reports Survey truthfully?

Here’s another. A single mid 40’s woman at my office. She drives a 1993 Camry. Again it’s painful to drive behind her or worse, to be a passenger. She drives as though in a funeral procession. My point again the car’s manner encourages this driving style. But once again no other car will do for her except Toyota. Her car’s reliability has little to do with the brand.

Yet another. Road in the back seat of a friend’s 03 Lexus es300. It had 70K miles at the time. He loves the car. There was an annoying squeak coming from the rear package shelf. Of course from the drivers seat it may not have been noticeable.

Truth is you don’t really see many cars by the side of the road anymore. Not even Jaguars.

^^LOL! Very true. Lucas electric anyone?

Toyota is still the Gold Standard when it comes to quality and value that is something the rest of the auto industry needs to realize. And this recall stuff on Toyota is no stain to Toyota as Sinclair mentioned. Toyota is going no where but UP UP and UP!

Their recalls are minor but the media in this country inspired by the Big three want to blow it totally out of proportion saying its major and its not.

Now to address the idiot on resale value. As for the resale of the Taurus the fact of the matter is Ford sold so many that drove the resale value down, but it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Quality of the car.

As for the Quality of the Ford Taurus is equal to that of a Toyota Camry ok. Just is.
I driven and sold both cars ok. So i should know! And I do.

The problems with Ford as of late- they just could’nt
get off their dead asses in the last decade or 10 years to do a redesign. If someone wants to film a movie called Dumb and Dumber II than that desciption would fit Ford quite well. But Ford’s has more problems than just product line its in the way the company has been managed. And I have to say – If all Allan Mullally can do is cut cost for Ford and not come out with the right product then Ford will eventually die or forced to sell the name to the Japs.

And I know this is going to seem like an oxymoron.
But currently I would’nt consider another Ford vehicle because of poor product line, the groups Ford’s upper management has been paying homage too, and the things Ford considers important media attention while not coming out with Great product. And as far as I’m concerned Ford can go out of business if they don’t change.
They have two huge image hurdles to clear with this american if they ever expect to sell me another Ford. One stop your BS in not only bad product, but more importantly what Ford “considers” important things to say and do in the public eye.
I’m sure old Henry Ford might be turning over in his grave if he saw how his heirs are running the company?!

his high priced salary that Ford is going to do even worse than where they are today. And so far all of the models that are slated to be forthcoming are not that impressive to me and probably most americans. Still the area that needs to be address is a car that gets awesome gas mileage when gasoline prices are expected to rise to well above $4 to maybe even $6 dollars a gallon this summer. Then I will really laugh my ass off at the Asshole who bought Earthmoving SUV’s

Ah yes, finally it’s happened, thank god, finally a manufacturer that actually knows how to build quality cars (and you can banter all you want about how Toyota has quality issues now, regardless they’re not as significant as GM or Ford’s quality issues) has taken over GMGarbage as the largest in the world. Finally!!

FordTaurusForever: I agree with you about the media over hyping Toyota recalls, if they were objective they’d notice Big 3 recalls are far worse.

Sweet, now we have to c what happens when China enters the market

Instead of worrying about out doing each other, Toyo, Honda, GM, Ford, and DC should be more concerned about the Koreans! I predict in another 5-10 years they are going to be major players.

Toyota actually did some exciting things back in the eighties. Some of you may remember an AWD Corolla and an AWD Camry! Also, there was the AllTrac Turbo.
Those were the days…

If anybody didn’t see this coming, they must’ve been asleep.

Maybe a lot of my problems have been dealership related, but guess what asshole, I can’t be driving my american car back to its factory, which may even be in Canada or Mexico, to get it fixed. In order to save any type of warranty there may be on your car, you HAVE to have it serviced at the dealership.

It just so happens that EVERY time I had to deal with GM repairs, or routine maintanance, I have had a TOTALLY ****TY EXPERIENCE, EVERYTIME. I have never had any problem with the service from Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or Lexus.

To say I have had isolated experiences is one MAJOR reason why Chevy, Pontiac, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, Buick, and Saturn combined are now # 2 to Toyota, Lexus, and Scion. Service Experience is a major, major reason why people who own american-built Toyotas never come back to any american makes. I don’t care if the quality of a chevy ever does get on par with the Japanese makes. It’s service, stupid. Quit living in denial.

And for those of you who need more excitement behind the wheel of a car, you obviously are NOT with the right woman…

It shows how many idiots are in the world when Toyota, the maker of the most bland cars on the planet, has the most buyers. American cars have style, soul, and performance. Jap cars are only economy cars…people carriers that will serve no other purpose than that. What annoys me the most is that Americans support Toyota, a company that is out to weaken the American economy and strengthen Japan’s. Have your camry and prius… I’ll stick with the Corvette, Solstice, Mustang, XLR, Sky, Hummer, Escalade, V-series, Ford GT, Viper, GTO, Camaro, Firebird, G8, and all the other American cars that do more than just carry people around.

And another thing, from a business management stand point, if you are going to take the time and spend the money to engineer a car, appealing to the most common denominator is pretty wise…not like engineering a Ford GT that some of you guys will drool over but won’t ever drop a penny for. JUST MY OPINION

Good. Pretty soon everyone will know the ****TY quality of Toy Ota’s bull**** they call a vehicle. Keep the garbage flowing, Toy Ota!

Toyota is the top automaker….. of hovercraft cars.

Hate to say it but most foreigners, oops I mean new immigrants purchase imports. They by nature have no allegiance to the USA, It really doesn’t matter how good a Ford or GM car is, they did not have parents leading them to certain brands. Their parents probably did not even have a car. Therefore Toyota,Lexus,Scion have an immediate advantage with new arrivals.

Last time I checked Toyota,Lexus,Honda,Infiniti dealers do have repair/maintenance shops. An independent auto repair manager I know had a 1990 Lexus LS. He had to replace the air shocks. granted the car had 170K miles. His cost $1600. If that had been a European or American car he would not have been so casual about it.

The Toyota FJ is hardly boring…now tell me which GM car isn’t boring…not including the Corvette of course.

Ray Sinclair – So it’s a bad business decision to create the Ford GT and any vehicle similar to it? Car manufacturers should not build expensive sports cars? If that is your view, why are you here? Here’s a website you might find more enjoyable… http://www.siennaclub.org

Oh, and I almost forgot… I would love to know what your idea of what the “right woman” is considering you prefer a Camry over a Ford GT. LOL! ‘She makes a pretty cost efficient meat loaf and enjoys a good rerun of Matlock!’

Ray, you think your bad experience with dealers and their service departments might be just a teeeeeeeny bit related to the fact that you act like a huge asshole? Nawwwwwwwwww, not a chance.

Well, whether or not I’m an asshole, I get great service from my japanese-make dealerships. But you ALL are right. There’s absolutely NO reason why Toyota surpassed GM. I mean, c’mon…How many thousands of cars does GM sell fleet to rental car companies and cities, and law enforcement agencies, and yet they still had their asses handed to him. This despite certain areas of the country where you could go all day without seeing a single Toyota or Honda, and yet Toyota passed them. Even when you can now buy any GM product, which may very well have a better warranty for hundreds to thousands of dollars less than a comparable Toyota, and yet, well…as they say…look at the SCOREBOARD. You don’t need to take my word for it. I’m not even part of the equation here. I buy my Jap cars and drive them for at least 12 years…I have had no need to buy anything in recent years…I’m not one of the 9 million people purchasing a Toyota every year. It’s not just me, many people buy these cars and drive them ’til they turn to dust. And I don’t drive like an old lady… But fine, have it your way. I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO HAS RECEIVED ****TY-ASS SERVICE CONSISTANTLY FROM GM DEALERSHIPS, WHO HAVE SERVICED CARS WHO HAVE ONLY BEEN ****TY TO ME BECAUSE I’M AN ASSHOLE, AND THEREFORE I’M THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO HAS MADE THE SWITCH TO THESE JAPANESE MAKES FOR SUCH REASONS. That’s why I pay more for a car of equal quality, equal customer service, less of a warranty, etc. Whatever. Somebody’s going down the tubes, and nobody may want to admit who it is, but it certainly isn’t Toyota, you worthless pieces of ****…but thanks for the compliment.

the toyota FJ is a warmed over RAV4, call us when it gets a dedicated design.

Ray, there may not be something wrong with your car but there’s clearly something wrong with you.

Your tone. They have a spot for you on The View. Why don’t you audition.

Hey Ray, Toyota passed GM worldwide, not in US sales. So your personal observation about GM fleet sales and the wide swaths of the country with no Toyotas yet Toyota STILL overcoming GM really doesn’t hold water. Last I checked GM smokes Toyota in domestic sales.

Again,you don’t get it. Get over Toyota. The US auto market does not belong to any one company. And it never will. There will be no clear dominator in the US market anymore. Just look at the rise of Hyundai. There beating Toyota in some comparisons tests. Hell, don’t forget about Kia.They’re not just diluting sales for GM, and Ford. And the Chinese aren’t even here yet. There was never a way for GM and Ford to keep 50% of US car sales to themselves unless we lived in a closed economy. Fact is,there are stigmas and prejudices that change from generation to generation. The Korean car stigma is disappearing. Someday so will the idea of a Chinese car. And they will be taking sales from the larger players.

The US auto market is the most competitive in the world. THAT IS A FACT!

Deantj has proven my point exactly. You all think that Toyota will head downhill because of quality…not true at all. If they ever begin to treat customers the way GM does, then maybe…but I think they know where their advantage is, and I’m not so sure that will happen anytime soon…get off the sinking ship and shut the hell up already…

Well they just fought a lawsuit over sludge buildup? Wouldn’t the Toyota thing to do be admit the problem and get everyone new motors? Ugg, you people are always “well my PERSONAL experience blah blah blah.” Proves nothing.

All my friends with Toyotas agree that Toyota service departments are very average. My friends simply maintain that they don’t need the Toyota service department. Makes since, Toyota is a plebeian brand with millions of cars on the road just like Chevy.It’s not considered a premium or upscale brand. You don’t get Premium treatment.That’s why they created Lexus. To Lexus credit they did raise the bar on customer service. I’m able to differentiate my BMW service experience in the early 1990’s, which was terrible, from my sister’s BMW experience now which she says is excellent. But that brings up a point, how do you guys know so much about Toyota service unless you’ve needed it?

I work somewhat for GM, and yes, rebates are down. Sales are remaining pretty steady with the slightly slashed rebates. People love the Impalas and Tahoes, and rightfully so.

@HalGameGuru

The underpinnings of the FJ are from the 4Runner and Tacoma. It also looks nothing like the RAV4. What exactly do you mean by “warmed over RAV4″?

This is my first time to comment on LLN, though I get onto the website at least once a month to hear the constant import versus domestic bashing which seems to be all this website is about. It’s funny to see know matter what story you open, especially domestic ones, Lamborgini Z always seems to be on there at one point bashing anything domestic just to stir up the pot. Just like GMnumberone, whom is missed lately, he should be ignored. Though he writes intelligently as opposed to GMnumberone, they still have the same objective, to piss people off on this website and turn it into something other then talking about cars and the automobile industry. Look at the times Lambo Z is on the website, it’s all over the place. Does he have a life? kids, wife, or a girlfriend or something else to do. It strikes me a true auto enthusiast has more to do then insult on the web. Lamborgini Z as you call yourself, you are not an American as a true American would not want to see the failure of any American Company whether it be cars or dish washing liquid as this cost Americans there jobs and economy.You must be European. It’s great that foriegn automakers are investing in America, they should, we are the one’s with the money that buy there cars. Considering one of the oldest foriegn manufacturing plants in this country is Honda (Marysville, OH) and it is only a 25 year old facility, the foriegn manufactures have not dealt with American policies such as workers comp, EPA, American retirees, disability and on and on as much as they are still young in this country. One thing I notice living close to the Honda plant that produces the Accord is the constant turn over rate at Honda is pretty high, the same goes for the Toyota plant outside of Lexington, Kentucky. Someone looking for a blue color position at either of these plants must become employed first with the temporary employment service, Manpower, in order to even get a foot in the door. They have an ad in The Columbus Dispatch every Sunday for Honda workers “with a chance to be hired fulltime at 7 to $10.00 an hour.” Not exactly economic booster type hiring practices and pay scale. It takes 6 months to one year to become a fulltime Honda employee. I realize some of this is to swap the good and bad potential employee’s but it’s also to weed out people that may incite union membership, which I agree has alot to do with the issues of American automakers, especially on quality fifteen years back. Lmaborgini Z, it’s obvious you believe you are the know all be all of automotive quality, but obviously you are not as you have not driven every car available in this country. If your only domestice experience is a base model rental Impala or the Berretta your friend had in high school then shut up and stay out of the domestic features and just rant and rave on the import stories. All cars are the same in this decade, some are faster, some are pricey, some are cheap. A car that cost 60k should be put together differently then one that cost 20k, but sometimes that is’nt the case. BMW has reliability issues that a Camry or an Impala don’t have, so it’s all hand in hand. Once everyone that is a follower of what the mainstream media through TV and magazine publications gets over the perception of quality thrown at them everyday, it will be seen that it is all the same good and bad. Lambo Z, perhaps a hobby other then the internet might do you some good.

Hi Ray Sinclair, you are an idiot. So you had a Caddy 15 years ago that was obviously used so who knows how old it was when you bought it. Yes there were certainly issues with quality of domestics as well as there dealership network practices back then. Great strides have been made. Tried to buy a Honda lately? A new one I mean. They treat you like an uneducated fool if you try and negotiate a price with them, because they don’t negotiate because they know if you don’t buy some Consumer Reports worshiper will. My brother (whom believes Honda is the second coming of Christ)has a loaded 2004 Honda Pilot. Very nice SUV, though a little feminie for my taste, he has had issue after issue with it. Honda used a bolt that was too long on the timing belt cover that cut the timing belt while driving at 35 mph’s. Fortunatly covered under warranty and later became a recall. Yes Honda has those too and just like GM it takes a few episodes of the same situation to make it a recall.
You truly are a pshyco Ray. What normal person gets this upset at a car company let alone people whom he is speaking with via the internet. You don’t even know much about cars because earlier you stated your buddy had a 2000 Impala SS that cost 35k. There is no such thing as a 2000 Impala SS let alone the fact that a 2007 cost 30k. Get your facts straight before you make up BS stories to prove your invalid point about bad service experience 15 years ago. It’s mentality like yours that is the downfall of this country.
Ray , get some treatment before you hurt yourself or someone around you. Perhaps some 500 mg of Zoloft or something to get you through the day without worring about your bad Caddy service experience 15 years ago. Move on, better yet move away.

by the way Ray Sinclair, California is mighty populated to say you know that no one with Honda’s or Toyota’s has issues with there cars?

the FJ cruiser is a staid toyota model with new body panels and interior materials. They “say” its based off the 4runner, and it may well be i mistook the 4’s in the names, but the dimensions and “underpinnings” are far closer to the rav4 chassis than the 4runner/mega cruiser chassis.

its a retro styled body kit on a basic toyota chassis.

Lamboz get a life, you are my new best friend.

And by the way…I’m not upset at all…read the headline-I’m happy. But I’m also realistic about this year. While I do think Toyota will take GM once and for all sometime in the future, I realize this statistic accounts for only the first 3 months. I know GM will probably do something like employee pricing or low financing to generate more sales to remain no. 1 for the year… I’m perfectly fine….and happy as hell…thanks for the concern, though. As for medication? Don’t think I’ll need it now that I don’t have to deal with GM service anymore…hopefully not for a long time. Thanks though anyway. And, like PrimeGTP said before me, Lamboz get a life, you are MY new best friend as well….aaaahhhhhh, sigh. GM still sucks. Anyone out there with me?

The Toyota FJ is hardly boring…now tell me which GM car isn’t boring…not including the Corvette of course.

Comment by rodeo40, posted on April25 at 9:04 am

cts
h3
ssr
solsticegxp/saturn redline
silverado
any voxhall
any opel
any holden

Ray, you just cherry-pick evidence to support your point and heavily rely on personal experience and NOT facts.

I’ll give you the CTS, but only the 08 version and the solstice. Don’t know anything about the voxhall, opel or holden. I’m just as patriotic as anyone and want to see GM do well, but I need to see some long term quality and innovation before I put my money down. By the way the last GM car I drove was an HHR…whoever was on that design team should be fired. Not really bad looking, but crap nonetheless.

Really? Cherry Picking?

Go ahead and look up Cadillac recalls for 1993-failed fuel lines leading to underhood fires. I was one of the lucky 40 or so whose car caught on fire. FACT.

You were one of 40? ONE OF 40????? 40 caddies catch fire and all of GM sucks? You’ve got some issues bud. What, did you forget your icecream cone in the raging inferno? I’d be pretty angry too if a burning caddie melted my icecream cone.
Not to mention, that was 1993! Toyota was a different company then as GM was. As I said earlier, just keep talking, we’ll see where your bias really comes from. And yes, cherry picking. Anyone can find stories to support their agenda. It’s a bit different though when you open your eyes and accept truth.

LamboZGetALife – It’s a pleasure. If LamboZ is the product of an overly liberal family. So many of his views will have a ‘what everyone else should be doing’ kinda ring to it. He’s young, with a little help he’ll come around.

Ray Sinclair, 1993? Do you know what year it is now? Thank you for the nice compliments. Again, show me a 41k
Seville built in 1993. Do not exist, they never cost that much back then, in 2000 or 2001 they did.
There is still no such car as a 2000 Imapala SS, did not come out as an SS until 2004.
Ray, I don’t think you would know a brand new car if it hit you in the street.
Anyone who would rant and rave on an automotive enthusiasts website about an old car could not afford a new car because I doubt someone like that could hold down a job for very long.
Something tells me that perhaps you either A) work at Jiffy Lube and claim to know cars. or B) the porter at the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car at the BFE International Airport in BFE, California which would explain how you feel you know cars. You know that 1/8 mile jaunt at 5 mph’s to bring the car up to the renter.
Once again get some help.
Hey I heard Lambo-Z needs a girlfriend? You should e-mail him sometime. You both would make a perfect couple.

There, There Ray, you internet toughguy.

Piablo, Same to you as well. Yea I agree Lambo Z is just a young guy, probably smart, fresh out of college
but still too young to be considered mature. He certainly has that young guy arrogance in his writings. Feels and thinks he is much smarter then what he really is and needs some life experience under his belt.

rodeo40, theyre fun to drive but i said ssr(i dont like the hhr its just blaaah) the fj was not as good as i thought, not terrible neither but in no way”exciting”.
ray = mr.brokencadillac, dude things change, it is 2007 now, were you in a coma this whole time?
lamboz get a life, you sir make me laugh, those were some good posts.lmao.

Seriously, I think this is BrokenCaddilac reincarnated. He took a hiatus after we schooled him for thinking it was okay to be violent against Hummer drivers because they knew what they were getting into.

Nobody gets a second chance to screw me over. Sorry. That’s the way I operate. Hey, you know what? September 11 was almost SIX YEARS AGO! Get over it, man. There are many people today who WOULD make that statement. I don’t believe ANYBODY on this page would say it. Is it Different? Yes, definitely, but yet I did have this personal experience, and you guys sound like the dumb****s for even commenting about it. You won’t change my opinion. I have had no trouble with jap makes since 1993, so being the intelligent minded person that I am, I’d have to be an absolute moron to shop with GM. Judging by Toyota’s sales, I’d have to say a lot of people are with me on this. Maybe nobody here, but somebody’s buying up the Toyotas.

How did 2 japanese cars, the Camry and the Accord, ever overtake the Cutlass, which was one of the best selling cars several years back. And later the Taurus. How did they do it? By building a better car and offering great service. Well you all say that GM is building better cars…where are the sales? When is the Accord or Camry going to be outsold by the Malibu. Maybe this next Malibu, which looks a lot like an Acura TL without the sun in its eyes will gain some traction. ‘Til then, there really isn’t much of an argument that you can make.

By the way, I will correct myself. It wasn’t an Impala SS. It was the impala that most resembled the SS…Black, 5-spoke rims, spoiler, top-of-the-line. Had it been today, it would have been the SS model, considering GM is badging everything including ****ty little Cobalts, big dorky trailblazers and HHR’s with the SS badge. Once again, I don’t care enough about GM to distinguish it. But thanks to the nerd who corrected me. Keep it real, son.

You guys seem to be the ones who can take it in the rear over and over and enjoy it so much that you encourage others to do the same. Good. Good for you I say.

And perhaps none of you are old enough to remember, but Cadillacs were that expensive in 1993. I paid cash.

The insurance totaled the car out and I got about 30 grand. And purchased a 2 year old Lexus LS400. Life has been wonderful ever since. I use the Lexus as my beater now.

the biggest pos i ever had was a 1989 toyota pickup but i would have no problem buying a tacoma….why…..cars get better. i wouldnt limit my choices today over something that happened over 10 years ago. didnt audi change? yes, they went from painted turds to sweet ass cars.yeah gm has a long way to go for sure, so at least keep an open mind if anything.and i wish all the gm haters would at least not bash the people here who happen to like 1 or 2 of the cars in gm`s entire lineup. for me its the NEW cadillacs (i agree the old ones were ugly and stupid pos`s)and the c6 lineup, the rest ….meh.

The cars might change. The service, as I continue to hear from GM drivers, hasn’t. That is a big part of it. It’s what I’ve been saying all along. I have had no reason to go back to GM.

Believe me, I have owned a couple of Cadillacs, a few chevys, including a Corvette that I owned for so long that I’m a lifetime member of the local Corvette club even though I no longer own one. The Corvette club meets once a week. There’s over a hundred members, many of whom buy new Corvettes, silverados, Tahoes, Cadillacs, etc. I hear all the time about the service. Things haven’t changed that much.

So, go ahead and keep accusing me of cherry-picking, but I have not had a bad experience with jap cars or service yet. Like I said, my beater, a ‘91 Lexus, a sixteen year old car, still is washed by the dealership every time it goes in for routine maintenance or oil changes…no charge. What reason do I have to change my opinion? Because GM cars LOOK BETTER today than they did before? In my opinion, Lexus and BMW have the best designs across the full lineup today. I wouldn’t drive a BMW, but I understand the popularity of them. Anyway…

Suppose you are a football coach, and you have to choose a play. It’s a relatively important game, and you’ve got the ball. You’ve actually narrowed your choices to 2 plays. The first play has never ever failed you. It has always worked beautifully and gotten you a lot of yards. The second play looks good on paper, but it has never ever worked out right or been successfully executed. What would you do?

If I’m the coach, I’m going with the play that has always worked and never let me down. And I’ll keep choosing that play until it stops working. Then, and only then, would I consider going with the other play.

But before I’d ever get back to GM, I’d go through Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Hyundai, and Kia. I’ll probably be dead before I’d ever find my way back to GM.

Now I think I’m embarrassing myself by having beaten this dead horse to dust. You all can have your opinions. I’ll maintain mine. Good luck to all. See you in another article.

deantj, get an education. Do something productive. Your just jealous because your intelligence level holds you back from being capable as speaking as I do. This is the best you can do, call me a bunch of jr high names.
Yea, not too insulted by the way.
Maybe you should consider some English courses.
I will run circles around you any day.

Ray, Ray , Ray. I feel so sorry for you. It’s really hard to believe anything you say.
By the way, your showing your age, “nerd”. That’s the best you can do as well. You have been hangin out with Potsy and Ralph Mouth too much.
Hey I heard deanj needs a friend.
Dean, what a manly name.
Internet Tough Guys.