Toyota on the mend?

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I read that too! 65k for a Sequioa would be nuts.

    Maybe Gary was talking about the LandCruiser?


    Even if he was, Toyota isn't offering 0% for it (20854 zip code).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    $2910 is the average incentive per car, and that IS high. No question. Hard for anyone to make profits at that level.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    On a $25k Camry over 48 months that is a loss from 0% financing of about $5000

    Just looked back and that's also way, way off.

    It's actually $2,635.15 at 5%,

    You're off by nearly 100%.

    I will cut you some slack and say either your calculator is on the fritz or you are using the wrong formula in Excel.

    Use the PMT() function.

    The formula is:

    PMT(rate, # of periods, present value)

    So for your sample it's:

    PMT(5%/12, 48, 25000) = $575.73 payment

    Change 5% to 0%, and it's $520.83. Over 60 months you end up with the $2635 savings.

    ***

    FYI - Sienna and all Scions are also excluded from the 0% for 60 months.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I am not sure which CU you use. Mine is at 7% unless you borrow against savings. Most people with anything on their credit will pay over 7% so our figures just do not match up. I will stick with my assertion and believe it to be correct.

    Here are the rates from Alaska USA FCU, one of the largest CU in the USA. I can guarantee you will not get the 4.950% unless you got a lot of money in there. Banks are higher than that. Most now are paying double digit rates under 775 credit score. My guess is most of the 71% were below 775 score.

    https://www.alaskausa.org/current/rates/ConsumerLoanRates.asp#OtherSecured
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not qualify for 4.95% = not qualified for 0% from Toyota.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    OK, Toyota is selling a stripped Corolla LE in San Diego at $16,307 without any rebates. The 0% financing takes away the additional $1000 incentive. The payment with NORMAL 7% financing is $322.90. The interest over 5 years which they are offering is $3066. The payment at 0% is $271.78.

    On Edmund's TCO the 2010 Corolla has an $2906 financing over 5 years, a Camry $4596 over 5 yrs.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    From MSN Money:

    National Averages: Low - 3.24% Average - 5.42% High - 10.99%

    Look at that average - right about where I was saying.

    Rates are much, much lower than you think right now.

    And once again, the only people that qualify for 0% for 60 months from Toyota have great credit, and those are the ones getting 3.24%.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Your guessing again. Toyota is hurting if they sold 71% of their cars last month at 0% financing. You would never convince me the bulk had great credit.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Gary says, " I will stick with my assertion and believe it to be correct."

    OF COURSE you will. Have you ever not?

    Not very many people have credit scores 775 and up. Less than 20% of Americans.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    payment with NORMAL 7% financing is $322.90

    Except that's NOT normal.

    Normal is the 5.42% average I quoted from MSN (vs a random high number you pulled out of the blue).

    To qualify for 0% you have to be at least average, don't you agree?

    Payment at the NORMAL 5.42% is $310.88.

    Incentive is $2346 rounding up, which is less than the $2910 average.

    Your assumptions are still off. You're using high rates and high prices (64 grand, seriously?).
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    since the corolla, a top toyota seller, is a 21k max vehicle, there isn't a lot of room to move with incentives, either discounts or financing.
    compare that to a 35k silverado, there is a lot more room for incentives and to still make something when you sell one.
    you can put some big incentives on a Tundra and it doesn't move the average much, because they don't sell in large volume.
    basic math..
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,956
    edited April 2010
    Someone did mention earlier that the polls showed educated informed buyers still vastly preferred foreign makes to the domestic filth. If you are not educated and informed, then you must be ignorant and uninformed????

    I suppose you could be in between???? :P ;)
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,956
    Proof of GM capability when there is a level playing field is China where they now dominate (600,000 cars sold in first three months).

    I don't think that's proof of anything other than confirming reports that GM is known to make better cars and trucks in China than they do for the American market. I've read and heard reports that GM actually cares about quality in China and doesn't decontent their vehicles inside and out until they all look like Geo Metro's inside.

    I also heard that some of the GM Chinese interiors are actually quite nice, but that the same quality never makes it over here for whatever reason. My theory is that they have a reputation to uphold in China, whereas they have no reputation to keep up in the US, so why even try? :P :cry: Oh well, there's always foreign makes for US customers.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,956
    Drumroll.....

    This is current to today.

    Mission Federal (one of the largest in SD County) Starting at 4.49 % for new cars. (Goes up as your credit gets worse). You'd have to be insane to pay over 5% for a car loan right now (or know deep inside your credit sucks and you'll never pay for the car anyway or pay it back in full for that matter). When you know you'll probably default the rate doesn't really matter at all now does it?

    At California Coast Credit Union you start at 3.98, some at 4.98. You have to be someone with bad credit to pay 5% or more as I said before.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    since the corolla, a top toyota seller, is a 21k max vehicle, there isn't a lot of room to move with incentives, either discounts or financing.
    compare that to a 35k silverado, there is a lot more room for incentives and to still make something when you sell one.
    you can put some big incentives on a Tundra and it doesn't move the average much, because they don't sell in large volume.
    basic math..


    Ah, but then there is the down payment.

    Remember, we assumed the LOAN was over $16,000. Everybody's gotta put something down, 10 or 20% cash, or a trade that is worth at least a few thousand.

    So even on a $21k MSRP Corolla, you deal down to, say $19k, trade in a $5,000 vehicle, and so the loan is $14k, so the incentive is even less than we thought.

    We should compare Corolla to Cobalt, Silverado to Tundra, etc. To keep a level playing field.

    The math has been done for us, the top 4 in incentives per vehicle are GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Nissan.

    Sure, Silverado costs more than Corolla, but is the average GM transaction price HIGHER than Toyota? I sort of doubt that. Anyone know and have a source?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Toyota is hurting if they sold 71% of their cars last month at 0% financing

    Hurting less than GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Nissan. That much we know.

    Yet another thing that you overlooked is the fact that many models have 0% only for 36 months. Not 60 months.

    That makes a big difference when calculating the cost of the incentive.

    For the RAV4, for instance, the 0% is only for 36 months. Rates are lower for shorter-term loans, so shop around and you'll find 2.9% pretty easily.

    For a 20k loan, assuming you trade in 5k or so.

    The huge incentive? Want to guess?

    Less than $907.

    Whoop-de-doo. That brings the average way down.

    Same for the Prius. 25k car, say about 5k down, you borrow 20k, the 0% has the same value of $907.

    Same for Highlander. Let's say it's 30k so you borrow 25k. The "huge" incentive? $1133.

    $20,000? Pure fantasy. That was assuming a $65,000 loan amount at an 11.5% interest rate.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    that is complete crap.
    if you figure in a 7k discount/trade that makes the comparison even worse.
    21 minus 7 = 14, 35 minus 7 = 28.
    not only that, chevy sells just as many silverado's as toyota sells corolla's.
    probably more.
    how about tahoe's compared to sequoia's?
    you still don't get it? sorry, but i am confounded by this.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I think people are also making a mistake in considering incentives as a top line figure. You have to consider profit margin. If you get a larger margin, you can give a bigger incentive and still make out better. There are several other factors that may play into incentives. Some incentive is really already priced in on most vehicle pricing, so using a gross incentive value can be misleading. Also, there can be periods of time when you are better off selling at little profit, or even a small loss, to make a dent into fixed costs (as long as you fully cover variable costs). Cash flow can be critical, just look at the airlines - as long as cash is flowing in they still fly while incuring financial losses.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm not understanding exactly what you're trying to say.

    The average Chevy costs more than the average Toyota? I don't know, that why I asked. How is that complete crap?

    I can't defend myself because I don't even understand what you are attacking.

    Yes, GM sells more trucks. Lexus sells more than Cadillac. My guess is it evens out.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I understand that higher price, higher margin cars can afford an automaker more margins for incentives.

    But Lexus prices go well beyond Cadillac, plus they do more volume. Hybrids are also expensive and carry big margins, and noone sells more of those than Toyota.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited April 2010
    I think you are trying to say $2346 is a big incentive for an inexpensive car like the Corolla.

    If that's what you meant, just come out and say it, first of all. And yes, it is, but it's still far less than the $3000 cash on the Cobalt.

    The RAV4, Prius, and Highlander all have small incentives, and many models have no 0% offers at all.

    Look at GM. $1500 cash for the Aveo, an even cheaper car. $3000 cash for the Cobalt, well more than the Corolla, and it's less expensive to boot.

    Chevy boasts "$3793 average finance savings" for the HHR.

    "$4151 average finance savings" for Malibu.

    Avalon will have bigger incentives than Corolla simply because of the higher price, but what about the Impala? They have 0% for 72 months, 6 years! Chevy says "$5034 average finance savings".

    This is straight from Chevrolet.com. I think those numbers are inflated, but they show that Toyota's 0% for 60 months on Corolla/Camry/Avalon are right in line with GM, maybe even a little low for the Avalon.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I suspect Camry has a much larger manufacturing profit margin than some of its competitors. Plus it generates a lot of cash flow for Toyota. I doubt Toyota is losing money like some think. They may be experiencing a reduction in margin and cash flow, but I'd guess they are still making a profit. Toyota has offered 0% before all of this. I got it on an 09 several years ago during a Toyotathon. My point is that an incentive by itself doesn't necessarily mean all that much without deeper analysis and that sort of analysis probably requires more financial and product line pricing data than we have available to conduct it.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I think you are trying to say $2346 is a big incentive for an inexpensive car like the Corolla.

    If that's what you meant, just come out and say it, first of all. And yes, it is, but it's still far less than the $3000 cash on the Cobalt.


    This can be misleading also. The current Corolla is a rather new vehicle while the Cobalt is old enough that its tooling may already be paid for. In that case the larger incentive may actually impact profitablity less than on the Corolla.

    Again, the danger of top line only analysis.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I agree, figuring out the real costs can be very complex and the prices consumers pay have little to do with that.

    Having said that, GM and Ford were first to strike, trying to gain conquest sales with extra rebates for import owners.

    Toyota responded in March. Incentives were similar on the volume models (Corolla, Camry), but still less on most others.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    i think most people reading my posts understand my point, even if you don't.
    i will just leave it at that.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Corolla does so much volume they have far more economies of scale than the Cobalt ever will. Especially when you look at global sales.

    I doubt GM ever made a penny on the Cobalt. They probably lost money. $3000 cash back? Transactions prics are at Yaris levels. That's crazy.

    Good news for GM is the Cruze has gotten great early feedback. It may actually be competitive, like the Malibu is in the mid-size class. GM *needs* for the Cruze to be a good car. Cruze owners may become future Buick/Cadillac owners.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    When I reply to you I quote you so it's clear exactly what I'm responding to, and I'd appreciate if you showed me the same respect I show you.

    Your posts lack punctuation/white space and can be difficult to read.

    Trucks have big incentives, that brings up GM's incentives average? Is that your theory?

    The $3000 on the hood of the Cobalt contradicts that. So do the amounts Chevy says you'll save by financing an Impala, Malibu, or HHR. All of those have above average incentives for below average prices.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Originally Cobalt probably was a loss leader. Now its a fleet car like Crown Vic. The $3K incentive probably just brings it down to what Enterprise pays. Regardless, I think Toyota is not hurting that much right now despite the bad press and cheerleaders rooting against it. My concern on Toyota is longer term. As Hyundai and D3 (or at least D2) continue improving they have the potential to permanently reduce margin at companies like Toyota and Honda. Of course, if the economy keeps improving it may result in D3 and Hyundai increasing their margins instead. It should get interesting down the road.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    i said i was done. just move on. maybe i made my point to others or maybe not. it is not a big deal.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,956
    if you figure in a 7k discount/trade that makes the comparison even worse.
    21 minus 7 = 14, 35 minus 7 = 28.


    I don't think you'll find that many people trading in a 7K car for a 21K one. For a 35K one yes, but not 21K.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The average price of a new car is currently a bit over $29k so I guess that skews buyers more towards $35k instead of $21k.

    Car prices are rising after years of staying flat (MSNBC)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    In the end the consumer wins when the halo effect Toyota had is gone.

    I feel bad for Honda - they're in the spot light now. One small slip and the media will be all over them.

    Hyundai is in a good position because they're rising up, but still seen as a bit of an underdog. If they slip up the media won't make as big of a deal.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,698
    >One small slip and the media will be all over them.

    Transmission problems for years. VCM problems on V6s. Brake wear problems. CRv AC compressor problems. Other problems specific to certain models. All those haven't affected them much, although people do post that now they'd had it with their Honda here on Edmunds. It used to be they would be attacked by the faithful for posting such heresy with claims they must not actually own a Honda and are just posting to undercut the good vehicles.

    Oh wait. That does sound like the way it was with toyota-lexus for years. Maybe Honda does need to watch out. ;)

    Have they been having runaway acceleration?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If you look in NHTSA's complaints database you'll find UA for just about every model. I found 2 for the 2007 Ody on the first page alone.

    I guess the "halo" is a blessing and a curse. It helps sell cars, sure.

    But then you're under the microscope. Perhaps Honda was in Toyota's shadow recently, and got away with it? I'm not sure.

    Personally, I think every make has its flaws. When they rely too much on reputation, they risk falling off the pedestal and on their face.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,698
    >Personally, I think every make has its flaws. When they rely too much on reputation, they risk falling off the pedestal and on their face.

    That is exactly right. They all have had their flaws through the decades.

    Those who self-righteously ridiculed other brand's problems through the last many years need only to look at the real history of their own favorite brands happening here and now.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,698
    edited April 2010
    :P "House of Representatives investigators said they would hold another hearing in May to review possible electronic problems in runaway Toyotas."

    From the article cited.

    Guess toyota-lexus IS climbing back to the top of the heap!!!

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Did you ever see the "Brand Problems Swept Under the Rug" thread?

    Almost makes you want to take the bus.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I see a rubber floor mat from a different model on the floor in front of that Camry, must have been stuck in the pedals. ;)
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    I didn't realize that Toyota was going to take the fight to Nissan and Honda directly :P !
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,698
    Sad. The two other cars look fairly recent and in good shape. The owners of those two have to be disappointed also.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Competition between the imports is brutal. ;)
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Just goes to show that Toyota is on top of Nissan and Honda! :P
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,698
    But I sure wouldn't say that toyota-lexus vehicle is mending. All that sheet metal crumpled.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ignore that photo, it's just some pyramid scheme. :D
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    LOL! I so badly want to come up with an appropriate pun here, but alas a good one escapes me. :-(

    Who knew that Evil Kneivel drove a Camry when he wasn't on his bike?

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

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The Chitwoods are now using Camries in their thrill shows.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Don't complain, you guys asked Toyota to "get on top of things ASAP". ;)
  • smadisonsmadison Member Posts: 3
    Definitely hitting an oldie but goodie here. Not to beat a dead horse, but this thread came up as I was investigating a problem my daughter had recently with her 08 Prius and wanted to jump in with our details:

    First off, a few caveats - I'm an Engineer, and have approached this in a typical engineering fashion. I'm not an automotive engineer, but I did do quit a bit of MechE studies and earn my living as a Software Engineer, and I've got a pretty good handle on both the mechanical and electrical diagnostics. In addition to the Prius, which my daughter drives, we've got a VW Bora, an Audi Q7 and a Porsche 996, and I'm constantly tinkering with all of our cars to find out what makes them tick and how to make them tick better.

    On Saturday, 24 April 2010, my daughter was driving over Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz, CA when she rounded a corner and executed a panic brake due to completely stopped traffic. She was able to keep the car under control and avoid collision. ABS likely was engaged. It's likely that the Stroke Sensor failed at this point. One or more calipers continued to be engaged after she stopped stepping on the brake pedal. She drove another several miles in this state, and experienced brake fade when she tried to come to a stop at a traffic light. When she finally pressed fully on the brake pedal, secondary braking was engaged and the wheels locked. She fishtailed, but was able to maintain control of the vehicle and avoid collision. She immediately parked and called me. Vehicle was towed to nearest Toyota dealer. Diagnostics indicated a DTC C1247 Stroke Sensor Malfunction, but upon electrical reset all mechanical functions resumed normally.

    Brake failures are pretty frightening, especially when it's your inexperienced teenage kid behind the wheel. However, I suspect that failures of this nature are fairly endemic to all regenerative braking systems. No extent of mechanical controls would be capable of balancing the engine and brakes, so you've got to trust these things to a computer. And I can guarantee you that all software has bugs, especially around edge conditions. It's simply impossible to test for everything, all you can do is document and learn from your field data.

    That being said, I would certainly hope that these situations have been heeded and improved by Toyota. I'm reading stuff here that's five years old, which what appear to be ample field reports. Toyota needs to step up to the plate and take immediate action on this stuff, and stop dismissing it as Edmunds/GM propoganda.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    image

    Or maybe the Camry reversed? :D
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