Toyota-
look over your shoulder – no the other one – no the other one – no the other one…

This news isn’t surprising. We all know it’s going to happen which is actually fine. While Toyota continues its quest for global domination as they sell millions and millions of more cars their recall rates are going to quadruple too.

This is actually good news for GM, because as they restructure, and cut fleet sales and focus more on retail sales, improve their quality and come out with better vechicles they can use the down time to achieve this. They also are #1 in the markets that are really going to matter in the upcoming decades like China and India.

Being #1 isn’t everything. You don’t see companies like Mercedes Benz and BMW on a global conquest do you?

Number 1 comes with alot of press. First the press will love them, then they will find a way to slice and dice their positive position as #1. Its very lonely at the top! Good luck…still some butt ugly cars and trucks.

SS4LIFE is right, China and India will be the determining factor in who sells the most globally in the near future. But really who gives a ****, whichever makes a vehicle that I want at the time I need to make a purchase gets my money.

Yeah Veda I concur. Don’t let my LLN post name fool anyone. I’d buy from anyone if they offerred something that I liked, for the right price. Toyota would also get my money if they came out with something decent, or brought back the SUPRA, CELICA or MR2!!!

With GM’s current designs, toyota is in trouble.

Pack, Jags, Colts, Giants

Wasn’t this news last year and it didn’t happen??? I don’t believe it will again. Toyota is going to start loosing ground, even with the media on their side.

I am Giants fan, and I think they will upset only their fans. They good at it lately (since Tuna left the town).
The point of the story however is not that Toyota is #1 by 7,000 cars based on almost 10 million sales. The point is that Toyota is very profitable at doing it. Sadly GM isn’t. GM has great war chest (30 billions based on LLN articles) but it also holds 30 billion loans and lines of credit 9per same source). Toyota is richer and therefore will afford more battles to loose and invest more into battles to win.

Who didn’t expect this?

Veda: “But really who gives a ****, whichever makes a vehicle that I want at the time I need to make a purchase gets my money.” I agree, but what if there’s more than one you want?

SS4LIFE: “I’d buy from anyone if they offerred something that I liked, for the right price.” The trick is, for the automakers to know what you want. And for the government to let them make it.

autonut: I disagree. I’m a Pewter Pirates fan, and witnessed firsthand the transformation of Eli Manning into Peyton. Unless he turns back, the Giants will win. Seahawks have a slight chance (the Packers’ youth), Jags are a good cold-weather team, but the Patsies will be laughingstocks if they get anything less than perfection. My local team, the Chargers will lose. But I hope they win, if the colts wear blue jerseys at home.

I thought Toyota already did this 5 months ago.

Why is this site such a Toyota hating place? They’re in this position for a reason. To just say they suck shows that your opinion sucks.

I had a corolla 10 years ago and beat the living **** out of it and it just kept running. I ran a 1.2 litre engine in the middle of stinking hot summer, loaded with 4 people and luggage, and floored it for 40 minutes climbing up a mountain (British Columbia) and watched all the other cars saddled on the side of the road with overheated engines.

Real life experiance is worth more than moron generalities.

I think it reveals a lot about the automotive press which seems to be practically salivating in anticipation of writing the article saying Toyota is number one. They cant wait. I have seen no articles written saying what a shame it would be for GM to be knocked out of first place. No one in the press is cheering on GM to stay on top. I think the press genuinly wonts GM to loose. How ridiculous.

I think people love to tear down heroes.
GM has sold a lot of junk to a lot of people, and only recently started putting in a decent effort/investment.
So they deserve all the grief they get.
Toyota just needs to make sure they don’t get drunk with power, and don’t forget how they got here, like GM, Ford, and Hyundai have.
Stay humble. Build it right. And they could lead for another 76 years, or more.
DrFill

Go GM! Specifically Cadillac! 09 CTS-V here I come!

Photo finish…

Toyota will be the largest. I don’t see how GM would maintain their title and I am not even going to speculate because then I will just be disappointed and the import humpers will make a huge deal of Toyota overtaking GM which was supposed to be obvious and inevitable. Good job GM though

Reuters is reporting that GM beat Toyota by 3,500 units.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN2362036320080123?rpc=44

With all due respect to the deceased, but what the hell does Heath Ledger have to do with this story?

…or Amy Winehouse.

Toyota is taking down their “mission accomplshed” banner at HQ.

New banner going up instead.

“Day late, Dollar Short, Close but no cigar, don’t spend your bonus, Coulda, woulda, shoulda.”

Don’t forget, China is probably the biggest emerging market in the world…and the Chinese HATE the Japanese because of the atrocities committed by the Japanese in WWll And Buick is considered an upmarket, premium name plate. As long as GM keeps its focus on product, etc., they will continue to out pace the Japanese in China.

Imagine where GM would be if they actually woke up and started making all good cars.

Toyota = losers by 3500 cars. Those 3500 cars will haunt them all year.

Amazingly slim margin.

just another Toyoya failure. They’re pretty good at that.

Ricardo – I guess you were right. I just never thought GM could even have a chance at retaining its title considering Toy was up by 200k in Q1. That’s like ALL the Tundra’s Toy [wanted] sold. So it is a pretty amazing turn around.

However, I disagree with you on the fact that GM will get beaten in 2008. Unless Toyoda picks up ALL the rental sales that GM got rid of and continues to offer nearly 10k in incentives, it won’t be able to maintain its momentum anymore

Whole lotta southan’ redneck hicks on LLN …

And I don’t like either of these companies or their cars, really … I’m just commenting on … the commenters.

Oh, and I used to be a die-hard GM fan. Years and years ago. The fact that they’ve lost my respect and are close to losing their place as #1, is nobody’s fault but their own.

Hanging chads…I demand a recount! Not really, I seriously do not give a damn.

95% increase in Russia? Damn. Still, 3,500 units isn’t that big of a margin so I’m gonna wait until the final numbers come out to draw a conclusion.

Hear that? Its the sound of the media’s bubble bursting. They have been salivating in anticipation to write the story that Toyota is now #1 for a long time. I guess they aren’t going to get their wish. If Toyota keeps making such horribly styled vehicles, they never will.

I just don’t understand why so many of you people have this hatred for Toyota and Lexus. There also seems to be this huge disdain for anything Japanese which is disturbing at times. The fact is, even with the recalls (and keep in mind every car company has recalls, especially the ones that sell the most vehicles, go figure), Toyota makes some of the best made cars and trucks in the world. I have a ‘95 Lexus SC400 with 141k miles on it with a few select modifications. Only issues I have ever had with the car is a power steering leak.

I love cars that appeal to enthusiasts, no matter where they come from, no matter who makes them. I love vehicles that are fun to drive, and are meant to be driven. I realize my SC is hardly a sports car, but with a few mods it is a very fine touring machine that’s decently quick. It’s my second Lexus as I’ve owned a ‘98 SC300 and I loved it until a drunk bastard totalled it.

LexusSoarer: I’m sure there are many who hate Toyota the same way there are those like DrFil who continually profess their disdain for anything from Detroit. They do it because they simply have no other avenue of being noticed other than to post venom in the hope of raising the ire of others.

I believe what irks the majority of intelligent contributors to this forum when it comes to Toyota is that they seem to have lost there soul when it comes to car making. Where are the Celicas? Where are the Supras? where are the MR2s? Nobody posts on the this site because they’re into their cars as an extension of their toaster. We are all enthusiasts or we wouldn’t be here. Toyota has the most boring lineup of appliances of any manufacturer, as if there only goal is numbers and not the slightest consideration given to the passion many still have when it comes to what we drive.

I miss the old Toyota, and like many I would purchase one if they currently built anything- anything- that inspired me. Right now they simply do not.

I’m just a fan of GM, which is why I’m happy to see this. I agree with johnnycanuck that they’ve (Toyota) kinda lost their soul. Most things they’ve come up with lately lend thereselves to their quest to be number one. A car I always thought was awesome was the MR2, not the spyder, but the MR2. What a badass car. Sadly they haven’t done anything to raise the pulse in quite some time.

J-Chronic
Toyota’s goal is to be the best car company in the world. Period.
Mission accomplished!
GM can give away all the sleds they want. Who cares?
It’s over for them.
This year, next year. What’s the difference?
They lose money every year
Toyota always gets paid!
Silverado falls
Tundra rises
Sun rises
Sun sets
It’s the law of the West!
Enjoy
DrFill

GM is doing a good job with their turnaround, relatively speaking.
But that’s also like saying the Knicks are playing well.
Or the surge in Iraq has helped.
DrFill

The Toyota Supra was better than the Vette, or anything else out there. It just Didn’t make enough cash.
Toyota is a business. Gotta get paid.
They don’t like being the best, and not getting paid for their excellence. All Rate of return, baby!
The Lexus LF-A will fix this gap, and Toyota will rebuild their once sporting image, and come full circle.
While Corvette will start to slid downhill soon enough…..
Toyota will start to take over that market too.
Remind you of anything?
DrFill

Jonnycanuck, there are a lot of interesting cars made by Toyota that are sold elsewhere: not in US or Canada. I think Toyota does not sell those interesting cars, because they were not bought in the past to satisfy conversion to the unique requirements of our respective countries.
In Europe there is RAV-4 with 2.2L diesel and 180 HP attached to near 300 lbs of torque that motivate all wheels via manual 6 speed transmission. Or the same motor installed into a car slightly larger then Matrix? Not a Celica, but fun to drive with all that torque and 40 mpg combined rating.

BTW, saw the latest edition of news – it did not happen. Toyota gained the crown of largest automaker. I don’t know if they glad to have it with all the recalls. Those things are expensive.

DrFullofit: if nothing else you’re consistent. Good to know there a still contributors who can slag each other on this site without resorting to sexual stereotyping. You’re still an ignorant prick, but a well meaning ignorant prick. Game on!

J-Chronic
And you’re still an simple, sorry, son of a bitch.
But an accomodating simple, sorry, son of a bitch.
Cherrie-oh!
DrFill

Witty and insightful as always, thanks, Bill O’Reilly.
DrFill

Toyota is still number one. ok no matter how many ex-GM dolts want to believe the bogus news. Toyota will continue to roll and GM Stumble. Too many idiots follow GM

Actually DrFill the Supra wasn’t better or faster stock then the C4 Corvette. Even the MKIV twin turbo Supra’s weren’t quicker than the C4 ZR1’s that had the MercCruiser engines with 405 actual HP. For the 90’s those were quick vette’s.

I loved the Supra and I hope Toyota eventually brings it back just as long as it isn’t a Hybrid and fugly looking…

SS4Life
Go to MKIV.com, look up publications, hit Motor Trend, and relive history, circa 2/95.
Or Road& Track, 3/93
Or Car & Driver……
Write a 1000 word essay on it.
I want a report on my desk by 9AM!
DrFill

Yeah, I checked it DrFill and nowhere does it say that the Supra MKIV was faster then the ZR-1. It shows in a comparison test that it won vs the Firebird.

Also I saw it and it shows one of them all automatics, and it had it vs an LT-1 but nowhere does it say the Supra was faster than the 95 ZR-1… because it wasn’t!

Forgot reading comprehension here is somewhere south of Sesame Street.
If you need an Audiobook, let me know.
http://www.mkiv.com/publications/motor_trend/2_95/MotorTrend-Feb-95-4.jpg
It’s was not just faster. It was Better.
Many other examples of the truth, not revisionist history, at MKIV.com
Syclone did 0-60 in 4.6
So did Supra in C&D.
And the Supra was many times the sports car any tarted-up Jimmy was.
Let’s keep one foot on the Planet earth.
Supra ruled the sports car world until Toyota got bored, and decided if this was that easy, why not take the rest of the automotive world over?
Smart move!
DrFill

Too bad they’ve all dissolved IN THE RAIN since then.
Did they sell 2 or 3 of those? I heard they sold it for all of a couple of months.
I’ve never actually seen one, so it’s about as legit as the Easter Bunny to me.
We all know the Vette couldn’t compete with Supra. I guess you think the Syclone is better than the ZR-1, huh?
DrFill

GM FTW!

They still make the Vette dillhole!
Again, I gave you a link.
Take a look at it, if you dare.
DrFill

Dude.
Unless you are on a Commodore 64, the page has an enhancement where you can blow up the text!
Click on the page and it will double in size, or just adjust it thru your tololbar.
Jesus H Christ!
DrFill

Who cares?