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Toyota on the mend?

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Comments

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    A bad rep in the USA did not hurt like an act of God. That and our shrinking dollar value. I am not so sure it is a strong Yen or an extremely weak Dollar causing the pain. If they are hoping the Dollar will regain its value they are probably in for a long wait. Better expand here and forget importing cars.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited May 2011
    Nissan will be next to report so we may get some indication of how much of it is a rep problem or how much is the quake and the high yen.

    "In the U.S., however, Toyota had not yet fully recovered from last year’s unintended acceleration fiasco when the Japan earthquake hit. As a result, Toyota posted a lower market share for the fiscal year even as the company spent 26 percent more on incentives compared to the previous year. Other highlights of Toyota’s U.S. performance for the fiscal year, calculated by Edmunds.com include: 1.8 million vehicles sold in its 2011 fiscal year, up slightly from 2010 fiscal year, but well under the pace of the overall industry; market share falling to 15 percent to 16.6 percent; costly incentives climbing 26 percent, despite lower incentive spending in the January-March 2011 quarter; an increase in the number of days it took to sell a Toyota vehicle, to 51 days from 44; and falling lease penetration to 21.9 percent in its second half from 25.4 percent"

    Great Quake Downs Toyota's Profits (AutoObserver)

    image
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited May 2011
    "Less reliant on Japan for vehicle production, Nissan demonstrated it was less shaken than Toyota by the country’s devastating earthquake in March, posting a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said at Thursday’s news conference announcing financial results that the automaker would return to normal production levels globally in October after the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant disasters disrupted production at Nissan plants and its suppliers’ factories in Japan."

    Nissan Stirred Not Shaken by Quake (AutoObserver)

    Let's try the Q4 charts for comparison:

    image

    image
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not discard, train them, or let them volunteer somewhere to make good use of their time and for team/community building.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    A bad rep in the USA did not hurt like an act of God

    I would say a bad RAP in the USA...

    :D

    To be honest I'm surprised they are making any profits at all. Probaly from sales of stock piles. Surely profits will disappear and we should see losses soon.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I know you consider it a bad Rap. I think they deserved some of the bad reputation for lies told to Congress and the American people. They must have fixed something as the complaints of SUA have diminished. Was it just the poorly designed accelerator or the poorly designed floor mats? Among other issues they tried to coverup at the top echelons of the company.

    I do praise them when due. Like keeping people working at their loss during hard times, as in San Antonio.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    A reporter is interested in speaking with consumers who wanted to purchase a Honda or Toyota but decided to purchase something else because inventory was tight.

    If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to pr@edmunds.com and include your name and email address.
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    Hurtful!! :surprise:
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I think Toyota will come back strong before the year is out. I expect they learned from their quality lapses. I think all they need now is more comfortable seats! I hope Detroit really has competitive products today (in the past I've always been hurt when I fell for that line and bought one). Otherwise when Toyota is back, given their cash flow it could get ugly again. Personally, I'd hold off buying a new car right now unless absolutely necessary. Japan will end up getting back in the game with deals and Detroit will have to follow. Car sales pricing is probably artificially pumped up right now.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Their "quality" problems have cost them a lot of money too.

    "Recall and warranty costs increased by ¥30 billion during the fiscal year, even though many of the recall costs were incurred in the previous year. And those increased costs aren't expected to peak until later in this fiscal year. That cost estimate does not include legal expenses or lost sales from the recalls. The negative publicity from recalls caused Toyota to increase its spending marketing and cash-back offers to buyers in an effort to hang onto sales.

    So even as high gas prices should be lifting sales for its fuel-efficient models, Toyota finds itself facing unusual struggles for a company that could seem to do no wrong just a couple of years ago.

    "Toyota has been socked with one thing after another," said Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs. "They had not yet recovered from last year's (recall) fiasco when the Japan earthquake knocked out some of its production."

    Toyota production picture improves (CNN Money)
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

    Meanwhile, the 2011 Nissan Titan took home an acceptable rating in the rollover evaluation while the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, 2011 GMC Sierra and 2011 Ram 1500 netted marginal scores.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards


    So does that mean that Tundra sales will be taking off? Means something only to Tundra owners. Not a big deal. But post on........
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    ? Your hate for the Tundra adds nothing to the discussion... um about Toyota's :confuse:

    But post on.......
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    I have owned a Tundra. It's probably my least favorite truck. Oh, it was up to the usual dependable Toyota quality level, but I never liked the looks of it, plus it steered too hard, turning circle required a runway to turn around, the bed flexed too much on washboard roads, way too much, and it wasn't that comfortable. Just my opinion, but they still don't have the American truck right.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    but I never liked the looks of it, plus it steered too hard, turning circle required a runway to turn around, the bed flexed too much on washboard roads,

    Did you look at the truck before buying it or did it appear ugly and uglier as you discovered how bad the ride and the bed flex could be? Just curious as most won't buy a vehicle that doesn't appeal to them. Course if it was a tax free gift I'd take one too.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    ? Your hate for the Tundra adds nothing to the discussion... um about Toyota's

    Hate has nothing to do with it. I'm just trying to find relevance.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    How 'bout a longer test drive next time? Just sayin'...some of those things should have been easy to pick out.

    Winning the Top Safety Pick designation doesn't mean as much in the pickup segment as it does, say, in the minivan segment, but it could still hurt Dodge and GM when it comes to Harry Homeowner buyers who also use their trucks to haul their families around.

    Gas prices are more likely to hurt GM/Dodge truck sales than a lousy safety score, though.
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    Did you look at the truck before buying it or did it appear ugly and uglier as you discovered how bad the ride and the bed flex could be?

    You know, it was a shiny black when I saw it, had tons of great options, was a limited, had factory DVD, and I like Toyotas generally. But it was a disappointment, and just not up to my expectations. The longer I owned it, the less attractive it seemed to get. I don't know.... :confuse:
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    How 'bout a longer test drive next time? Just sayin'...some of those things should have been easy to pick out.

    My fault, no test drive at all. I normally drive Ford trucks, but thought I'd try this one, and expected it to be like other Toyota cars I have had. It wasn't. Only kept it 6 months, went back to Ford. Which I don't test drive either, but have never been disappointed.

    Did like the roll down back window on the Tundra though, nice feature.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I guess I put a huge amount of weight in to my test drives. A lot of cars surprise me, in good and bad ways.

    Example: on paper, the Kia Optima seems like the ideal car. 200hp, modern tech, nice styling, 6 speed manual, good MPG, etc.

    I test drove one with my brother. While nothing is out of line with this class, the class generally consists of boring sedans, and indeed it was ... boring.

    The Sportage is a lot more fun to drive, even with less HP, no DI in the engine, and more curb weight. So both cars surprised us, the Sportage in a good way, the Optima in a bad way.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Spy Shots: Scion FR-S caught prepping for 'Ring runs
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Prius V Still On Fall U.S. Launch Despite Quake (AutoObserver)

    image
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 57,139
    What was fun about the Sportage? I'd have imagine the height alone would kill any handling ability.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's all about the subjective things - shifter feel, clutch, steering. It just seemed to like being tossed around, changing directions quickly.

    The Optima is your uncle's car. The Kia is you're nephew's car, the cool one who's still a college student.

    It also had vices - poor visibility among them.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Fall? Wasn't it originally scheduled for June, maybe July?

    Seems like they did push it back a bit.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I heard "late summer".

    Around here that's Fall, lol.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Back in January Autoblog said just "summer" without the late part:

    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/toyota-prius-v-detroit-2011/
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 57,139
    I suppose the unicorn factor of a manual current-gen Sportage might have helped too. Can't imagine it being very tossable though, I suspect my fintail with a new set of tires could keep up with it on a course :shades:

    I see a Sportage or other soft roaders as my nieces car, if my niece just joined a sorority and is still living on the parental dole. Any nephew of mine would be driving a normal car or maybe a legit off roader. And yeah, the C-pillar on that thing looks to be about 6 feet wide.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, but there's the unicorn factor with the Optima as well....both were manuals.

    I could look up skid pad numbers, but that misses the whole point - subjective feel is just as important, if not more.

    People pick a manual because they want involvement, and the Optima doesn't offer that. The Sportage does.

    We drove the Sportage first. We both liked it. Then he took the wheel of the Optima. He didn't say anything, just waited for me to try it, to see what I said. Sure enough, we both felt exactly the same way.

    By the way, it only took about 10 yards or driving to come to that conclusion. It's the steering.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 57,139
    I can believe it, leave to Kia to make a soft road mall cruising SUV to be better to drive than their most competent ever sedan.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I wonder if they both have Electric Power Steering? The Sportage's is simply tuned better.

    I generally prefer the more linear feel of the old-school hydraulic power steering systems. EPS = numb city.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 57,139
    I have only driven one electric steering car, loathed it. I wonder if that's the case.

    Sonata is probably an identical ride, just with much more excessive "styling"
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 15,905
    My GF's Elantra has the EPS and I really don't have a problem with it. Its not the most communicative steering ever, but I think that has a lot to do with the car itself more than anything.

    My V6 Genesis has the traditonal pump driven assist, but I have driven a V8 Genesis with the EPS and really couldn't notice any difference.

    2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I put the "for its class" disclaimer above because I think most of the mainstream FWD sedans are just as boring. They have to appeal to a broad audience, so it's least common denominator stuff.

    For me a car doesn't need to be mega-sporty or anything, though, so long as it has some personality. The Sportage had that.

    First electric PS I sampled, I think, was on the Saturn Vue - it was terrible. I think they've gotten better at tuning them, but hydraulic is still more linear with feedback.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 57,139
    Every car has personality, some are just more memorable than others ;)

    I think the electric steering I saw was in a Malibu, it was terrible too. My mother's Camry has normal steering, but it feels as numb as anyone could imagine with electric.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited May 2011
    Toyota, Scion, and Lexus all in short supply:

    http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA73943512.PDF

    Toyota still leads in sales per dealer, despite the shortage of cars to sell. Lexus sells the most luxury cars per franchise, too.

    Ideal supply is 60 days, and Toyota has 46 days' inventory. Lexus only 32.

    Stand outs?

    Viper - 321 days' inventory
    Ram - 123
    Fiat 500 - 148, but at least it's dropping
    BMW truck - 11 days (!), the X3 is hot...
    Flex - 113
    MKS - 150
    Escalade EXT - 140 (gas prices no doubt)
    Cobalt - 146 days even though the Cruze is for sale already and popular (39 days)
    HHR and Impala are very short (strange)
    Avalanche/Silverado in trouble, same for Sierra and Yukon.

    Must be the IIHS crash tests. KIDDING.

    ZDX bombed.

    Element is just old.

    Lots of Hondas are in short supply.

    Hyundai/Kia are in short supply probably because everyone who can't find a Honda/Toyota buy one of those instead. Just 25 days for the two brands combined, WOW!

    Mazda is struggling to sell its sports cars and the Tribute.

    Mitsubishi is struggling badly with the Outlander. I bet the Outlander Sport, its little brother, cannibalized it.

    Nissan, oddly, has plenty of supply. They're the least affected Japanese brand.

    Subaru way short at 36 days.

    Audi is short, but VW has excess.

    There you go. FWIW, anyone shopping for a car, check those out, as they are a STRONG indicator of what incentives will appear in the future as automakers look to clear out those models 100+ days of supply.

    Hmm, Fiat 500 Abarth, anyone?
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Hmm, Fiat 500 Abarth, anyone?

    We have to wait another year for the Abarth, don't we? :-(

    Toyota could blow them away if they stuck the Yaris' engine in the iQ and strapped a small turbo on it, along with giving it a handling package. Could sell the whole thing for under $20K, I'm sure. But such a thing would never occur to Toyota, the king of blah.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, but the 500c is here. I like that roll-back cloth top. Wonder if my kids would fit OK in that back seat? Looks to be the same size as the coupe's.

    Unless sales pick up soon, rebates will appear in short order.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    How is Fiat supposed to sell any cars? They have no dealers to speak of. Why did they take over Chrysler if not to get the dealer network? Closest dealer to me is about 100 miles. None in San Diego County. In all of Orange and LA County is only 3 dealers. Some one screwed up in the Fiat planning dept. Not even "Found in A Toilet" here.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited May 2011
    Someone on Answers was trying to buy an HHR and the dealer price was way out of whack with Edmunds TMV (and there's like $8,000 in incentives on it).

    Only thing I could figure out was that there were only 7 HHRs within 500 miles of the poster.

    Very odd - no news about Chevy limiting production.

    This is a bit closer to Toyota news:

    Secrets Of The Toyobaru (AutoObserver)
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    How is Fiat supposed to sell any cars? They have no dealers to speak of

    So true! A huge problem for them right now. The first dealer within a 50-mile radius of me finally came on-line about 3 weeks ago, and the San Francisco dealer isn't supposed to be up and running until November! So I can drive 40 miles to buy a 500 and for its warranty service, or I can drive half as far to own a Mini which sells for not much more with the equipment I would want....seems like a no-brainer....

    The iQ will sell at 1200 dealers nationwide....put a sport package on it and a faster engine under the hood (along with a manual of course) and I would be THERE. But this is Toyota, so you can forget anything remotely like that....

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 19,305
    edited May 2011
    There's a Fiat dealer about 15 miles from where I live.
    A Mini dealer is maybe a mile further.
    A Toyota dealer probably splits the difference between the two.
    2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Slowest product launch ever? I think we've seen 786 concepts.

    I guess they're in no hurry, at least Subaru isn't, since they already can't build enough of what they're selling now.
  • busirisbusiris Member Posts: 3,490
    In the state of SC, there is only one Fiat dealer, and it won't be open for business until June 1, 2011.

    And, its practically in NC, in a town immediately outside of Charlotte, NC.

    Man... I thought MINI dealers were rare....Fiat seems to have added a new definition to that term.

    I would have thought the Chrysler dealer network would have been used much more intensely in setting up the Fiat sales organization.

    You can't sell out of an empty wagon...or, in Fiat's case...no wagon!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Something is goofy for sure. Fiat is handed Chrysler on a silver platter by Obama. And they can't even use the Chrysler dealerships to sell their very limited model lineup. Does Fiat plan to sell any models that compete with Chrysler models?

    I suppose we are a bit off the Toyota subject. But they are busy getting their factories back up to speed.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They'd better else soon they won't have any cars to sell...

    Here at work I felt the effects of the Tsunami for the first time directly...we ordered some computers and they are on back-order because some of the chips are sourced from affected areas.

    They literally cannot supply us with our orders. We're hoping June.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited May 2011
    "Toyota and Salesforce.com announced today in Japan that they have formed a strategic alliance to build "Toyota Friend", a private social network for Toyota customers and their cars.

    "Social networking services are transforming human interaction and modes of communication. The automobile needs to evolve in step with that transformation. I am always calling for Toyota to make ever-better cars. The alliance that we announce today is an important step forward in achieving that goal."

    Toyota And Salesforce Form Social Network Alliance (AutoObserver)

    In other Toyota news, 2012 Prius V Wagon Hopes To Upend CUV Ranks

    image

    The numbers are way different, but it sure didn't look all that much bigger inside than the Prius sedan when I eyeballed one at the auto show.

    Launch has been delayed to mid-October though. (link).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's not big, but it might just hit the sweet spot.

    Look at the RX - it probably offers about the same amount of room inside, and just look at the volume of sales.

    So it doesn't have to be huge to be successful.

    The tsunami delays are a bummer because gas prices will have likely gone down by the time it launches.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/2012-toyota-prius-v-first-drive-review/

    ...there's up to 35.9 inches of legroom out back, which is 1.4 inches more than the Honda CR-V can offer. With the thrones up, there's a full 34.3 cubic-feet of cargo room, and that number swells to 67.3 cubes with the back seats folded. As Toyota points out, that's more room than crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Element, Ford Escape or the Nissan Rogue can offer.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/nhtsa-closes-corolla-steering-investigation-w- ith-no-defects-foun/
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