Why Did You Buy A Toyota?

[Gods_gift]

At work the other day we were having some friendly banter about cars we drive an I got asked why did I buy a Toyota?

To be honest my choice was driven by the need for reliability, space and comfort.

Then I was asked how is a Toyota more reliable than a German car?

I replied you know when you watch skynews and you see some 3rd world dusty **** hole warzone what cars do you see them driving? - Toyotas, cause they can take an awful pounding and run forever.

http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-192734-panoV9free-hrth.jpg

So forum members I ask: why did you buy yours?

[Davrav]

Alleged bomb proof reliability, reasonable economy and the fact that a versatile 4WD SUV suits my daily commute and my general family and recreational needs.

[Hoovie]

Re Japanese V German - I think that is down to form v function.

If you want to be looking cool next to your car on the hard shoulder with Rubber Band tyres and over-stated wheels and DRLs, buy German.

If you want to be the person who gets to their destination, buy Far East.

Now Toyota over other Japanese (or Korean) makes ...I am not sure that Toyota is particularly better or worse then Honda or even Nissan in quality but I have had good dealership backup from Toyota on my Celica GT4 15 odd years ago and on my RAV4.2 6 years ago, so graviated towards another Toyota when I wanted a change end of last year and that pushed me towards the RAV4 rather then a Sportage or Hyundai (and the CRV is ugly)

[Gods_gift]

I thought that from the front the CRV looks like two different cars stuck on top of one another.

[junebug1701]

When I was looking for a small SUV my needs were reliablility, utility, driving enjoyment, and fuel efficiency. After several test drives and comparing features, it was a toss-up between the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. Having personally owned a couple of Hondas and being pleased with them, and knowing several family members who were satisfied Toyota owners, it was a tough decision. In the end it was the features and the better available engine that made the difference. So I'm happy I chose the Toyota.

[Big Kev]

I chose the Rav 4 because I wanted a Passat CC, but my mother-in-law's daughter wanted us to get a Rav.....capiche....?

Still like the Passat, but no regrets as the wee French wummin would sing.....so far has been exemplary, hence the reason now subsequently wife has a three door Rav (she obviously has something against the Passat, eh.....?)

Dominated Kev (oh it's sore, but ah need the money.) ?

[jedi134]

We got one because, she wanted one, then she wrote it off, and wanted a auto Freelander, now I have the Rav after getting it repaired.........I didn't want the !Removed! thing but its now grown on me, and is quite a useful vehicle.

[Manxrav]

Had both Japanese and German built cars and as long as it is Japan built, it,s good enough for Me.

Regards Clare

[CharlieFarlie]

I bought this My second only Toyota for the legendary build quality and reliability that comes with Toyota ownership.... I have owned Many German cars also...............

[CharlieFarlie]

I bought this My second only Toyota for the legendary build quality and reliability that comes with Toyota ownership.... I have owned Many German cars also...............

Re Japanese V German - I think that is down to form v function.

If you want to be looking cool next to your car on the hard shoulder with Rubber Band tyres and over-stated wheels and DRLs, buy German.

If you want to be the person who gets to their destination, buy Far East.

Now Toyota over other Japanese (or Korean) makes ...I am not sure that Toyota is particularly better or worse then Honda or even Nissan in quality but I have had good dealership backup from Toyota on my Celica GT4 15 odd years ago and on my RAV4.2 6 years ago, so graviated towards another Toyota when I wanted a change end of last year and that pushed me towards the RAV4 rather then a Sportage or Hyundai (and the CRV is ugly)

A very balanced view there then ?.. I expected better from You Mate .

[Daveyonthemove]

I bough mine because it was the best specced, best looking and most powerful diesel car on the local Peugeot dealers forecourt.

I wasn't even considering a new car, I just went to visit a mate who works there. Impulse buys can be expensive

[Tony Barnsley]

I've just bought (Collect On Tuesday) mine, I thought I wanted better fuel economy but ended up settling for a Rav coz I liked it, plus the level of refinement was much better. I could have gone with a Hyundai or Kia with a similar level of toys . . . but I've seen some of these after 5 or 6 years and they look 'tired'.

The legendary solid build and reliability of Japanese vehicles is something I wanted, as I see my car as a workhorse and need it to work.

[Big Kev]

I've just bought (Collect On Tuesday) mine, I thought I wanted better fuel economy but ended up settling for a Rav coz I liked it, plus the level of refinement was much better. I could have gone with a Hyundai or Kia with a similar level of toys . . . but I've seen some of these after 5 or 6 years and they look 'tired'.

The legendary solid build and reliability of Japanese vehicles is something I wanted, as I see my car as a workhorse and need it to work.

izzit a '180 tony or did you get frightened off....?

Big Kev

[DominicPriestley]

I bought mine for a number of reasons....

Other half has a Yaris, which has been bomb proof.

Dealer is absolutely fantastic (West Riding Toyota)

The Rav is a great tool and has that little utilitarian feel.

If they can build land cruisers which do 250k without blinking, they get my vote.

[CharlieFarlie]

I've just bought (Collect On Tuesday) mine, I thought I wanted better fuel economy but ended up settling for a Rav coz I liked it, plus the level of refinement was much better. I could have gone with a Hyundai or Kia with a similar level of toys . . . but I've seen some of these after 5 or 6 years and they look 'tired'.

The legendary solid build and reliability of Japanese vehicles is something I wanted, as I see my car as a workhorse and need it to work.

izzit a '180 tony or did you get frightened off....?

Big Kev

Kev its whether its a 2.2 diesel that is the question ?? ALL the cars with 2.2 2AD engines are just as likely to have problems whether fitted to the Auris. Avensis, Rav or whatever.. The engines are all the same its only the injectors and engine management that differ..

Congrats on the car Dave I hope You get a great one.. Engines aside I love the Rav4.....

[anchorman]

I've worked on many cars over the years and on a pure one for one German v Japanese the Jap vehicles are consistently more reliable than German. However, the waters are getting muddy and as global manufacturers are beginning to build vehicles all over the place, things have shifted a little bit and the original Toyota buiding in house and only using Denso electrics/electronics has become more of a Toyota design using many suppliers and for the most part it works but sometimes it doesn't. We are lucky in that the RAV is a Jap built product so the vehicle is fundamentally sound. So is the UC and the Prius. If you build vehicles in the Czech Republic then you use local people and there are few workers in the world that think like Jap workers. They have an almost robotic loyalty to their employer and quality unlike other breeds including the brits. Now consider the engine in our diesel RAVs. The car is definitely aimed squarly at the USA - the biggest market for it. For that reason Toyota needed an engine for the Euro market and its strict Euro emmission standards so the 2AD was born. Whatever anyone thinks, the design is fundamentally sound - it is way up there in terms of its spec. OK we've seen some evolutionary development that is now being rolled out in either replacement early engines or 2AF guise but my feeling is that a large amount of the initial development will have been the 4.3 with a 2.0l or 3.5l V8 and our diesel encarnation did not get the development it should have done. We now have the best package - a well developed 4.3 with a well developed modern diesel.

Going back to my working days on German cars, well they were never as good as the reputation that emerged with the Beetle. In the days of Allegro's, Escorts, Hunters (yes, you've screwed them all, British car workers with you're laxidasical attitude to quality and you're bolshy demands) the Beetle was simple and reliable vehicle that didn't disolve into a pile of rust while you accepted it from the couldn't give two ***** dealer.

Although the German cars are technically very sound they are not as good as we would believe and to this day I have people telling me about VW, Audi, BMW and Merc problems. They simply do not gel as well as they should and trouble free motors are the exception and not the rule. We are partly to blame for wanting all the toys concievable in our A to B transport and now emmissions and sfaety are turning them into multi function computers.

Going back to my original one for one comparison I firmly believe that the secret is in repeatability and the masters of mass production are the !Removed!. It applies to tellies, watches, computers and cars. The Germans can't quite match them.

[rambler]

Years ago when my dad died i owned a J reg Vauhall astra diesel.This was fitted with ££££'s of hi fi ,base boxes etc etc,it was very very loud.

Then i decided to ' grow up ' a little and get a reliable car to just drive in,i tried Hyundai,Rover,Suzuki.....i'd always discounted Toyota as a old peoples car...sorry.

But none of them came close to Toyota for build quility,so in 13 years i've owned.....5 Yaris's,1 Land Criuiser Colorado ( which i still miss ),and 2 Rav4's.

Despite the issue's i've had with this Rav4,at 109'000 miles it still feels almost like new,and so so comfortable,i never thought a vehicle at this mileage could do this....its amazed me.

Asominic said ..if the land cruiser can do 250'000 with no issue's...thats good enough for me.

[anchorman]

ALL the cars with 2.2 2AD engines are just as likely to have problems whether fitted to the Auris. Avensis, Rav or whatever.. The engines are all the same its only the injectors and engine management that differ..

That's a sweeping statement Charlie that simply isn't true. It IS true that early models from 2006 to late 2008 can have some oil consumption and then some knock on reliability issues we all know about. After 2008 the 2AD was coming out of the works just as dependable as any other brand or engine.

You have had a bad time with yours but I don't know of anyone else that has had the same bad luck and experience tells us that once a new engine is fitted to an early model then it is cured and the owner has a very reliable car.

[Hoovie]

Don,

While I have nowhere the experience of working on the range of vehicles you have, what you have said rings very true with me and my belief.

My first company cars were all Austins - Ambassadors and Montegos and they were, TBH, all pants - in the 13 months of having the Ambassador, I also had about 10 Sierras (i.e. Hire Cars while the Flying Pig was being repaired yet again!). I had a 405 and the Sunroof leaked on that - the dealers response ... Design fault so cannot be fixed, Citroen BX - great ride but awful drive really.

The German Makers seem to be in some kind of gimmick and gadget loop, with Audi, BMW and Mercedes trying to keep outdoing each other and, IMO, have generally ended up now with overly flashly and tacky products that are priced at a premium level and in reality don't live up to the promise of their price tag. Some of what they do is fantastic - the BMW Engines, the Audi Quattro system, but other stuff is just rediculous - the iDrive , the Audi headlights , Rubber Band Tyres, etc.

If I am spending my own money I want a car that is right up there in reliability, which in my (limited) experience (but also confirmed by surveys) of just around 25 cars over about 30 years of driving means Japanese

Oh, and the icing on the cake for me is that all the cars I have the fondest memories of and enjoyed driving the most have been .... Japanese.

So it is a done deal for me

[CharlieFarlie]

ALL the cars with 2.2 2AD engines are just as likely to have problems whether fitted to the Auris. Avensis, Rav or whatever.. The engines are all the same its only the injectors and engine management that differ..

That's a sweeping statement Charlie that simply isn't true. It IS true that early models from 2006 to late 2008 can have some oil consumption and then some knock on reliability issues we all know about. After 2008 the 2AD was coming out of the works just as dependable as any other brand or engine.

You have had a bad time with yours but I don't know of anyone else that has had the same bad luck and experience tells us that once a new engine is fitted to an early model then it is cured and the owner has a very reliable car.

My apologies I should have said any cars up till late 08.. My point was that ANY car with the 2AD in any state of tune remains a risk.. up till late 2008

The later cars in the words of the Dealer I have been using have been without fault.....

I think We should avoid this becoming another engine thread ??

Other than the mechanical woes of the 2006 to late 2008 cars fitted with the 2AD engines it seems that Toyota still have that bulletproof reputation..

But cars are not just about engines and mechanicals .. The interiors of top end Toyota's are extremely well specified and pretty well finished.. The few squeaks and rattles are usually easily fixed.. But they are there....

None of My German cars have ever had any to fix.. If We are to let this thread develop into a German V Japanese build quality thread then I fail to see how it can be a fair battle ? The German cars cost a heap more coin so should be better !

[Hoovie]

Charlie, one comment on your German Cars ... You have said that you usually buy nearly new and trade after a year at most, so to be fair, you have not tended to run them in the time that faults are likely to occur. With your typical buying habit, you really should see very little issues on ANY car, I would venture to say.

[shcm]

Because I've experienced how as a component supplier Toyota make you jump through hoops of fire and more, to get the products to the standard they require.

Having said that, many EU VMs have caught up in recent years, though whether the increasing mountains of paperwork make the products better in the same proportion is debatable.

Oh and I went on an unplanned test drive with some bloke from Derbyshire and it is all his fault why I have this current 4.3

[firemac]

Don,

While I have nowhere the experience of working on the range of vehicles you have, what you have said rings very true with me and my belief.

My first company cars were all Austins - Ambassadors and Montegos and they were, TBH, all pants - in the 13 months of having the Ambassador, I also had about 10 Sierras (i.e. Hire Cars while the Flying Pig was being repaired yet again!). I had a 405 and the Sunroof leaked on that - the dealers response ... Design fault so cannot be fixed, Citroen BX - great ride but awful drive really.

The German Makers seem to be in some kind of gimmick and gadget loop, with Audi, BMW and Mercedes trying to keep outdoing each other and, IMO, have generally ended up now with overly flashly and tacky products that are priced at a premium level and in reality don't live up to the promise of their price tag. Some of what they do is fantastic - the BMW Engines, the Audi Quattro system, but other stuff is just rediculous - the iDrive , the Audi headlights , Rubber Band Tyres, etc.

If I am spending my own money I want a car that is right up there in reliability, which in my (limited) experience (but also confirmed by surveys) of just around 25 cars over about 30 years of driving means Japanese

Oh, and the icing on the cake for me is that all the cars I have the fondest memories of and enjoyed driving the most have been .... Japanese.

So it is a done deal for me

I share your sentiments, Hoovie, in that I've always bought Japanese (or Korean once, a Kia Pride - cracking little car) when spending my own cash. It's my wife's fault that we've ended up with a driveway full of Toyotas: when we lived in Paris she wanted a Yaris auto and it was a brilliant little car but we had to get rid of it when we moved back to the UK. As I didn't fancy the joys of French Autotrader, we traded it in for a UK-spec RAV, which has proven to be probably the best car overall that I've ever owned.

Having said that though, I had two BMW company cars, a 325i & a 520d estate, both M-Sports & I loved them. No question but they are the best driving car you can buy and I would have an M5 tomorrow if it wasn't silly money to buy - but there's always the lottery...... Never had any problem with i-Drive or the RF's despite all the b0ll0cks talked about them in the press.

All our Toyotas have been excellent, Yaris, RAV's, Land Cruiser, Aygo & the only criticism I could level at them is that they are not inspiring to drive. The Yaris was a hoot in Paris but that was due to its size, handling & acceleration (1.3 petrol) and it was in its natural environment. The RAVs & LC are great cars but just a bit boring.

I reckon Honda's are also good (probably even a little bit better than Toyota build-wise) but they are even more boring that Mr. T's offerings. I wouldn't touch Nissan with a barge pole; since their tie-up with Renault and all the parts sharing that has gone on, their reliability has gone to the dogs. In addition their design language is definitely from the 3-year olds in the sandbox - the Crashqui & Junk being two of the most appalling pieces of **** around, IMVHO.

[jedi134]

What about this one then post 32 onwards, not wishing to get banned again, but its all gone quite on this front, hopefully we can discuss :D

http://www.toyotaown...ic=132721&st=30

[dervdave]

I bought a Toyota after seeing a mate at work having one after the other for years with very little grief and getting impressive dealer service.