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Toyota Motor Corp. tumbled to third place in Consumer Reports' annual quality survey, while Ford Motor Co. narrowed its gap with the Japanese, leaving the other domestic car manufacturers in the dust.
The results of the influential survey, which were presented Tuesday to the Automotive Press Association, were a blow to Japan's leading automaker, which has long set the standard for quality in the automotive industry. But they offered some much-needed good news for Ford, which is struggling to stem a decade-long decline in U.S. market share.
Ford gains,Toyota slips in quality survey (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071017/AUTO01/710170333 - broken link)
Here's my take: the reason Toyota slipped a bit is because of the sheer mass of new Toyota's being sold. Making the supply meet the demand requires longer shifts, new hires, etc, etc. While Toyota still makes a fine automobile, theyre just supremely busy trying to ramp up production to meet the demand for their cars, speeding up the process, and perhaps leading to a few more quality issues. Add to the fact that many of them are made here in the states adds to the problem too. All the Toyotas Ive owned that were made in Japan were completely bulletproof, almost to the point of being hilarious (as in WHY WONT THIS MOTOR DIE!?!?!). Ever since they started production here in the states, Ive seen their quality diminish slowly. Theyre still phenomonal no doubt, but not like their imported cousins, which seem better built and more reliable.
Nice try John,what you failed to mention was Toyota Motor Corp. made it into the top ten with Lexus,Scion and Toyota brands.Toyota had 17 vehicles on Consumer Reports list of the 39 most reliable models-far more than any other auto maker.While looking at the 2008 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability list it is noted that not 1 Ford product was at the bottom of the catagories(small,family,luxury,wagon/minivan)while Dodge,VW,Chevy,Cadillac,Mercedes-Benz,Hyundai did make that list.It is noted that a Toyota Motor Corp.product was in the top in all catagories.To be fair the article said Toyota "is showing cracks in its armor"and no longer will receive automatic recommendations.Don't blow the horn too fast.
I've owned a lot of different cars and I'm pretty good with maintenance. My 93 Corolla that I ended up giving to my step father has almost 300K and is falling apart, except for the motor and trans. My 99 toyota tacoma is very solid and no quirks. I also own a 2006 ford mustang GT and this car is a big improvement from previous fords. I think domestic cars (not all but some) are much better than the past and can be just as reliable as japanese cars. I know someone who has a 1998 ford f150 and has 300K miles without any major problems.
I've owned a lot of different cars and I'm pretty good with maintenance. My 93 Corolla that I ended up giving to my step father has almost 300K and is falling apart, except for the motor and trans. My 99 toyota tacoma is very solid and no quirks. I also own a 2006 ford mustang GT and this car is a big improvement from previous fords. I think domestic cars (not all but some) are much better than the past and can be just as reliable as japanese cars. I know someone who has a 1998 ford f150 and has 300K miles without any major problems.
I dont think the there is any doubt that domestic corp can make a long lasting reliable vehicle. The issue has always been with consistancy.
How many out of every 1000 will have minor/ major defects?
Where the Japanese have stood firm is that although uncommon they too have produced a lemon. The difference is percentage.
Example I owned a 1998 Ford ranger 4 wheel drive. It needed more warrenty work done on it than all of my Japanese vehicles combined...
I owned a 1989 olds cutless supreme same story.
My 2000 tacoma is my first japanese vehicle to have a failure. A water pump at 116,000 miles.
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