Some Early Visitor Comments
Site manager comments by James Bleeker
Visitor Comment: 2002-05-26
Hi! Just wanted to compliment you on a great site. It is
very informative, especially since prospective consumers can contact those
owners of high mileage vehicles through email. I have already bookmarked
this page, and perhaps in time I'll post my car for its high mileage ... and
by the way, it is a Toyota Corolla!
Visitor Comment: 2003-02-19
I own my third Lexus - a 2002 GS 300 with
6,400 miles beginning with the third day after taking delivery
(new) a couple of semi-major repairs, plus one minor annoyance
after another, however Lexus was there to make things right.
For the past six months, or so, a medium high
pitched combination "moan/rattle" coming from the right front
quadrant, not too loud, but noticeable in the cabin. The dealer
has made great effort to find and correct the problem, including
new shocks/struts and a couple of other adjustments (suspension
area) all to no avail.
I have come to the conclusion that this is a
body or lower dash problem and only there when driving slow over
very easy bumps in the road - some days worse then others. I
don't know weather to insist that LEXUS pull 20% of that dash to
the firewall to investigate, or replace the car. I am very
disappointed in the car at this time. For the price I paid plus
the reputation of the maker, account for a lot of heartache, I
feel it should be right. Not to sell them short, Lexus is
trying.
If by chance, someone out there has had a
similar experience , a response would be appr[e]ciated.
Site manager commentary, dated 2005-07-24:
This should serve as a reminder that not
every vehicle that comes off the Toyota assembly line is
flawless.
Visitor Comment: 2003-04-08
I really like this website and I feel it
provides a lot of useful information. However, I do have a
suggestion as to how you might be able to improve it. I have
been trying to find information on the average longevity of
different makes and models of cars because I am in the process
of shopping for a used car and I am trying to find a good one
that will give me a very low total ownership cost per mile.
Recently I came across a statistic which said that "Of more than
5.5. million Camrys sold since 1983, more than 85 percent of
them are still in operation," I found this statistic on a
website with the URL: http://money.cnn.com/2002/12/10/pf/autos/auto_theft/
After reading that statistic, I figured that
one could compare the longevity of different car makes and
models and perhaps even estimate the expected lifespan of a
particular car model by comparing the number of registrations of
a particular model with the number of sales in the year that the
car was new. For example, if one knew the number of Ford Escorts
or Toyota Corollas that were sold in the US in 1988 and also
knew the number of 1990 Ford Escorts or Toyota Corollas that
were still in operation or still registered then one would be
able to make a guess as to which of the two models was more
durable. The model with the highest ratio of current
registrations to 1990 sales would likely be the most durable.
One could also calculate the difference in the longevity of the
two car models. For example, if the 1987 Toyota Corolla had the
same ratio as the 1990 Ford Escort, then one could say that the
Toyota Corolla would have a lifespan of about 3 years longer
than that of a Ford Escort.
I would be very interested if you would be
able to find this information!
Site manager commentary, dated 2005-07-24:
The general idea is sound, and shortly after
creating this site in April 2001, I checked with the motor
vehicle registration departments of several states. None offered
the data that would permit a useful measure on durability and
some declined to offer any data, saying that such would
constitute an "invasion of privacy." Auto manufacturers may have
muzzled state officials; if you don't like it, speak to your
state legislator.
Visitor Comment: 2003-04-23
I wish I checked here before I bought my 97
Jeep G.C. -
I[']ve never been towed before until this year - four times...a
.15 rating vs. Toyota .91? Duh...
Site manager commentary:
The 0.15 and 0.91 refer to auto Reliability
Percentranks, an earlier Auto on Info measure of automobile
reliability which ranged in value from 0.00 to 1.00. This
measure of reliability has been abandoned for this latest
version of Auto on Info, as their computation is too time
consuming.
Visitor Comment: 2003-04-26
Comments: [S]ince
1969 I've owned 11 cars, 8 purchased new, 3 of them "big 3" and
5 of them Toyotas. I'll never buy another 'big 3" ... the Chevy
and the Saturn, both of them purchased new, were outright junk.
The best cars I've ever owned, [and] likely ever will, were a
1976 Toyota Corolla sedan and my 1989 Toyota pickup. I've still
got the pickup, which my son says I'll be buried in, and wish I
could get the Corolla back, although I also currently have a
1991 Camry. I loved that Corolla.
Site manager commentary:
At age 39
years, the Toyota Corolla had cumulative sales exceeding 30
million in over 140 countries, per the Daily Yomiuri at
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20050820TDY04002.htm.
Visitor Comment: 2003-08-13
I have owned
Toyota's since 1988. My first truck lasted me 12 hard years and
I got over 175K out of it. My next was a 1994 4Runner w/a 4cyl
5spd. Best vehicle I've ever owned (built in Japan)! So, when my
truck came due for replacement, of course, I got another Toyota,
a 1999 Tacoma (SR5 4WD Extended Cab 6cyl 5spd). Then, to satisfy
a bigger SUV need, I got a $43,000 2001 Sequoia SR5, loaded.
Both the Tacoma and Sequoia have been nothing but trouble. [...]
Site manager commentary, dated 2005-07-24:
Toyotas made in
North America should best be left for people with Big Three
experiences. Those with made-in-Japan Toyota experiences should
best stick with made-in-Japan Toyotas.
Visitor Comment: 2003-09-26
Thanks for this! Beautifully organized and
created.
Visitor Comment: 2003-11-11
Nice site! Just got a decal 150,000 mile from
www.highmile.com for my 188,867[-mile] 1990 Camry.
Visitor Comment: 2003-12-06
You site is amazing. I don't know why you
take the time to put all these facts and figures together and to
draw (properly) the conclusions you do, but it has been a great
service in my quest to find out if I should get a Honda (yes) or
a Volvo (no). You almost have me buying a Toyota, but I find all
their car designs on the ugly side.
Visitor Comment: 2004-02-06
Interesting reading you have. Sadly, The
Detroit 3 have backed themselves into a corner and there is no
honourable way out. The Detroit 3 manufacture [....] Ford is
finished, they will either be joined to some other company or
??? General Motors, due to its size, which is continually
shrinking has more clout. Chrysler is already joined up. Sadly,
we Americans make junk, purchase junk and think it is normal and
acceptable. Once upon a time such a third world situation did
not exist in this country. As much as I would rather drive a
Mercury - my personal vehicle of choice, I will never. We have
a Honda - not because we really want it, but because it treats
us right. It is safe, built to last and to be dependable. I
don't wonder if it will catch fire in my garage, or stop in the
middle of traffic, or have major problems until well up in
mileage. My last Detroit 3 vehicle was a 1997 Windstar van.
[...] The risk is far too great in purchasing a Detroit 3
vehicle. One individual may own a Chevy or Ford and have
wonderful service, the next may have abysmal service. Such does
not exist with Toyota or Honda. I wish I could drive a Ford, I
truly do, but Ford will not let me.
Site manager commentary, dated 2005-08-07
and updated 2010-04-21:
To review a brief chronology of Ford fires,
incinerations, lawsuits, and actions taken by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration through May 2008,
click here.
In fairness, it should be noted that Ford
Motor Company has almost certainly improved the quality of three
of its products. However, it will likely be at least another
four years before we know whether there is any product of Ford
that has reliability and durability that comes close to the
reliability and durability of a typical made-in-Japan Toyota or
Honda product. For detail,
click here;
for summary,
click here.
Disclosure |
Site manager is currently a
shareholder of Ford Motor Company (2010-04-27). I am not,
and have not been, a
shareholder of any other motor vehicle manufacturer. |
Visitor Comment: Late 2004 or early 2005
Hi!
Just stumbled upon your Reli[ab]ility
website. I am SO impressed with your "thoroughness". I have
followed CUs results for years, but now have much more data.
Since doing that, I have become a Toyota man. ("How'd that
happen?") Even at near salvage, Toyotas have proven to still
have many miles left in them. I am currently on my 18th old
Toyota. CUs charts have always been extrem[e]ly reliable,
themselves. Thanks for putting so much effort into the website.
It is now one of my favorites! Thanks!
Visitor Comment: Late 2004 or early 2005
I've been amazed at how your site has opened
my eyes - I own two 2002 S. Korean cars at this time and have a
2005 Toyota Prius on order for delivery late next summer. I
plan to drive this car 10-12 years and plan to replace the
batteries (if they need it) at the recommended 5-6 years (about
$2000 in current prices). I drive above the average 21,200 miles
per year so will see significant savings on my fuel costs. I've
recently rented a Pr[iu]s from Enterprise rental-car and found
the car a[n] absolute revelation and felt as if I'd had an
epiphany. [...] Frankly, I shall never buy another US
engineered or built vehicle, and may even shy away from Toyotas
built or engineered in the US. The facts speak for themselves.
I've read some letters to automotive trade magazines saying that
these "Consumer Guide" type writings have "ruined the
expectations of the car purchasers" (this coming from a VW/Audi
salesman). Wow, then how come a friend of mine was so
disappointed with his new Audi, that he traded it off at a HUGE
loss and had to step down to a Mazda 3 just to get a set of
wheels? Hmmmmm...... Conversely to the car salesman's whining,
I think my friend should have read Consu[m]er Report[s] and your
site before plunking down tens of thousands of dollars on an
Audi. How could I trust Ford or particularly GM or Chrysler
(which are currently working together to develop hybrid drive -
how many decades, never mind years, after Toyota started
spending money to begin their development?) to actually "get it
right" with regards to hybrid technology, when in some 100
years, they can't even get the basic manufacture of automobiles
down to a science? No way. Toyota yes, or maybe Honda, perhaps
even Subaru - except that GM bought 20% of Subie from Nissan
during the Asian financial crisis, and everything GM touch, they
SCREW UP. Kind of like the Midas touch in reverse. GM should
plan on gradually closing out it's car business, just as
Studebaker did. It took from 1954 to 1966 to close out Studie,
which failed mostly due to poor management and shiftless workmen
(sound familiar?), so I'm guessing GM might last another
decade. For the sake of our economy, I'm glad to see Toyota
putting money into the US in terms of building factories, I just
hope our workers are up to the requirements - and I'm not
convinced that they are. Keep up the good work.
Visitor Comment: 2005-07-22
Hi Mr Bleeker
I'm a reader of your web site and enjoy your
conclusions and calculations. After studying all possible
information for 18 months and waiting for 9 1/2 months, my 2005
Toyota Prius arrived. Having taken 28 years to "get it through
my head" that the big 2 1/2 either will not or cannot provide
decent products (despite an IQ of 127), I finally "wised up" in
2002 and bought a Hyundai Sonata, which (up until now) has been
the best car I've ever had. (Part of my reluctance to "buy
foreign" was because my father was in the auto industry, and I
am a dedicated car nut as well as born, raised and living in
Michigan - though have literally lived all over the country and
in the UK as well). Hopefully, the new Prius will be far better
than even the Sonata (and from your figures and stats, it should
prove to be so). I am already getting approximately 200% the
gas mileage that the V6 Sonata does. (My wife took over the
Sonata). Just so you know, I'm obtaining approximately an
average of 54 miles per (US) gallon by measurement, and somewhat
less by the Prius's computer (which inaccuracy I do believe
stems from the fact that it can only compute as high as 99.9 mpg
even when regenerating or running on electric-only, when in
fact, the true MPG is obviously higher during those times).
Hopefully, I'll be able to run this car for 1/4 million miles
and 12 years, so by the time I'm 60, I can buy something -
hopefully Toyota will still be making the best - to "last the
duration" until and after I retire at age 66 or 67. I've had
the car since the 8th and it is absolutely terrific. If you are
of a mind to retire the Corolla, you won't be sorry if you buy a
Prius. It is, by the way, both engineered and built in Japan.
I'm afraid I have to agree with you on the possibility that US
designed/ engineered and built Toyotas are not of the same
quality overall as those developed and built in Japan. My last
(ever) "American" car (a 1999 Dodge Neon) was in fact built in
Mexico, had head gasket problems (2 times), and [...]
Visitor Comment: 2006-05-04
My experience
with Toyota has been a love affair from the first Corolla in
1975 that went 350,000 miles, then a trouble free 78 Celica, 86
Van, 82 Truck, 91 Previa, 97 Camry, 90 Lexus ES250, 92 Lexus
SC300 (WOW), and another 91 Previa bought with 120,000 that
currently has 253,000[,] including original drivetrain and
exhaust. Due to the growth of our family we were forced to
grudgingly purchase a Ford Van. Soon we had more repairs and
bills than all our previous Toyotas combined. Since the 70's
I've been watching what Toyota owners experience vers[u]s what
the "Big Three" owners do and it's night and day. Look at the
resale values alone. Look at all the Class Action Lawsuits and
who they're against. [...] Toyota has owned Consumer Reports for
decades and rightfully so. I love Chevrolet's "AMERICAN
REVOLUTION" lie. Aveo made by Daewoo in Korea, Avalanche in
Mexico along with.... If that's an American Revolution th[e]n my
American made Camry is the Star Spangled Banner! Mark my word,
Toyota is going to stomp the "Big Three" and they deserve to[o].
Sincerely,
A hard working
American who won't blow any more of his hard earned cash on junk
vehicles, named C[****] C[***].
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